The Tea Shop on Lavender Lane (Life in Icicle Falls) (15 page)

The house only got better as they walked inside. It had hardwood floors, which would be lovely once they’d been refinished, and the windows let in plenty of light. She’d definitely dress them in lace curtains.

“You could have your tearoom down here and live upstairs,” Todd said.

And then she’d have to pay rent on two spaces. She bit her lip.

“You know, there are all kinds of partnerships. In some, one partner puts up the money and the other provides the expertise and creativity. And most of them work,” he added with a smile.

What if he risked his money and she failed? She felt her feet suddenly growing very cold. In fact, her toes were starting to get frostbitten. She shook her head violently. “It’s a great idea, but I couldn’t.” She moved toward the front door.

He blocked it. “If you’re worrying about whether or not I’m a good business risk, Blake Preston at the bank can vouch for me. He’s your brother-in-law, right? He’ll give you an honest answer.”

She could make a go of this. Correction. She could have
made
a go of it. Now, with all the money that would be involved...she didn’t dare try.

“And I know people who can vouch for you,” he went on.

“But you don’t know what happened before I got here.” It was hard to say that and not cry.

“This is a small town. Of course I do.”

“I wouldn’t be a good investment.”

He made a face. “Because you had a setback? Everyone fails at some point. If you don’t fail at something, you’re not doing much. Hell, I got canned from my first two jobs.”

“You did? Why?”

“I had a problem working for stupid people. It turns out I’m better suited to having my own business. At least now when I tell the boss he’s making a dumb move, he listens. Come on,” he said, taking her by the shoulders and steering her away from the door and back inside. “Let’s talk a little about what you’d do with this place.”

They talked more than just a little. Another forty minutes, and they’d discussed everything from where she’d put the till and a glass counter with chocolate truffles for sale, to where she’d position the tables and what she’d use for china.

“I could mix and match,” she said excitedly. “A lot of women my age aren’t into fine china, and that means their grandmas are dumping it right and left. I could pick up what we need at garage sales and stores like Timeless Treasures here in town.” She turned in a slow circle. “Some pretty, old-fashioned pictures on the walls, lace curtains at the windows...”

“There’s a shop that sells lace here in town,” Todd said. “You know it?”

Tina’s Lace and Lovelies. Boy, did she. She nodded.

“The outside of this place needs paint. What color should it be?”

“I think white is fine. Maybe paint the shutters lavender to match the lavender along the front walk. That would complement the lavender theme for the menu. Lavender cake, lavender–white chocolate scones,” she said dreamily.

“Sounds good,” Todd said. “How about going over to Zelda’s and crunching some numbers? Let’s see if we can make this work.”

Hadn’t they just had breakfast? “What time is it?”

He checked his phone. “Twelve-thirty.”

Wow! Time flew when you were having fun rebuilding your life. “Okay,” she agreed. Why not explore the possibility?

* * *

Samantha poked her head inside Cecily’s office. “Feel like grabbing something to eat at Zelda’s?”

Cecily had half hoped Todd would call to see if she wanted to meet him at Herman’s. That had been a little unrealistic, she decided. Their relationship was still new, and they didn’t have to spend every waking minute together.

Except wasn’t that what you did when your relationship was new and exciting?

Well, never mind. He was probably busy working. “Sure,” she said.

A few minutes later, she and Samantha walked into Zelda’s, and she saw what Todd had been busy doing. Suddenly she felt the same way she’d felt when she and Bailey were kids and Bailey had gotten jealous of her blond Barbie doll and cut off its hair.

With a sisterly smile on her face, she started for the table where Todd and Bailey sat deep in lively conversation with only one thought.
I’m going to kill the little brat.

Chapter Thirteen

C
ecily wrestled down the jealous thought that had roared into her brain like an angry beast. Of course there was a simple explanation as to why her sister and Todd were having lunch together and why neither of them had bothered to call her.

Not that they needed to. It was a free country. Bailey could have lunch with anyone she chose. So could Todd. Cecily didn’t own him.

But she’d believed things were starting to get serious between them. She’d also believed that about two other men and been wrong. Was she going to be wrong a third time?

Bailey and Todd were so engrossed in their conversation neither one saw her and Samantha approach the table. “Anything good on the menu?” Cecily asked, making Todd jump.

Bailey looked up, her face the picture of delight. “You guys, guess what we’re talking about doing?”

Having wild monkey sex on the bar at The Man Cave after hours? Running away to Vegas?
“I give up,” Cecily said. “What?”

“We’re talking about going into business together,” Bailey announced.

“Of course, we have a lot to work out,” Todd added.

“You don’t know each other,” Cecily blurted.

“We’re working on that,” Todd said with a smile.

And doing a darned good job of it from the look of things.

He slid down the banquette and patted the spot where he’d been sitting, inviting Cecily to join him. “Sit down. We’ll tell you all about it.”

“This is kind of sudden,” Samantha said, taking a seat next to Bailey.

“Yeah, but great timing,” Todd said.

Maria Gomez came over to take their orders. “The Sterlings have you surrounded,” she teased Todd.

“Works for me,” he said and grinned at Cecily.

Cecily wasn’t so sure it worked for her. Since when had she become so insecure? Oh, yeah. Since Fiancé Number Two.

* * *

Samantha and Cecily placed their lunch orders, and Todd returned to the subject of business. “I think we might have a good idea. I recently bought the Halverson house on Lavender Lane. You know it?”

“I do,” Samantha said. “Great commercial location, especially for something like a kitchen shop.”

“Or a tearoom,” Bailey put in, “which is what we’re talking about doing.”

“You’d be competing with Bavarian Brews,” Cecily said. Even as the words paraded out of her mouth, she questioned her motives. Was she being cautious on her sister’s behalf or trying to discourage her from working with Todd? Maybe a little of both.

“Not really,” he said. “Different retail experience, probably different clientele, although we’d get some crossover.”

“And it won’t be just a tearoom,” Bailey added. “We’ll sell tea and tea accoutrements, cute kitchen items and chocolates. Sweet Dreams chocolates, of course.”

“How are you planning to finance this?” Samantha asked.

“I’ll put up the money,” Todd said. “Bailey can do the work, be in charge of the menu and create the inventory.”

“It’ll be a while before you see a profit,” Samantha mused. “Although you already know that.”

He nodded, and the next few minutes were taken up with talking profit and loss, projected growth and a salary draw for Bailey.

Finally Samantha said, “Sounds like a winner to me.”

Todd turned to Cecily. “What do you think?”

I think this is a recipe for romantic disaster.
“So, basically you’d be a silent partner?” Silent partners didn’t get that involved, right?

“Semi-silent,” Todd said, “since the place needs some renovation.”

How cozy. They’d be working together on the house. “Mmm,” Cecily murmured. “So, you’d be both Bailey’s partner and her landlord?”

“Of course, we’d want to see some sort of agreement that ensures Bailey’s going to profit from this arrangement,” Samantha said.

Bailey frowned at her older sister, and Cecily could imagine what she was thinking. Nothing like trying to make an adult decision and having your bossy big sister swoop in and take over. But Samantha did have a point.

“We Sterling women watch out for each other,” Cecily said to Todd.

“I can see that,” he said. “No worries. I have no intention of screwing your sister.”

Cecily cocked an eyebrow, and, realizing what he’d just said, Todd quickly reached for his coffee and took a drink.

Their food arrived, and talk continued. Cecily picked at her salad and argued back and forth with herself as the conversation swirled around her.
This is a great opportunity for your sister....
Is she attracted to Todd?...
Good relationships are built on trust....
Can I trust him?...
Can I trust her?...
Of course I can.

“I’m excited just thinking about this,” Bailey said with a smile. “And I haven’t felt that way in months.”

And only the rottenest of sisters would try to discourage her new dream.

* * *

Talk about great timing. Everything was lining up as if it was meant to be—him getting the Halversons’ place for a song and now finding someone who could pull together a tea shop/tearoom. The Man Upstairs was certainly watching over him. Or maybe it was his cosmic reward for contributing to Bailey Sterling’s defense fund. Not that she’d needed it. He’d heard her legal fees had been minimal, and, at her insistence, everyone was going to get their money back.

A much easier task than giving the poor kid her confidence back. What had happened to her would’ve shaken
anyone’s
confidence.

But he had a feeling about Bailey Sterling. There was something special about her. She wasn’t drop-dead gorgeous like Cecily, but she was cute in a girl-next-door kind of way, and she had a smile that was nothing short of infectious. Not that he was interested. He was with Cecily, after all, and he was no two-timing weasel. Anyway, only a fool tried to mix business and pleasure.

But a man couldn’t help noticing how a woman looked. In fact, he was sure half the men in town had noticed how Bailey Sterling looked. Probably his biggest worry would be whom she married. Maybe Cecily could steer her toward a local guy. The last thing Todd wanted was to start a business and then have his partner get married and go skipping off to some other town.

He doubted she would, though. She was too passionate about food and too fired up about this idea. Like her sisters, she was smart. She obviously had good people skills, since everyone in town appeared to like her. She sure had the connections. The Sterlings were small-town royalty. People would frequent the place simply because of who she was. Oh, yeah. This could be a very good thing.

Or a big pile of shit. He thought of Cecily’s lack of enthusiasm as they’d all talked at lunch. He was no dummy himself, and he knew a forced smile when he saw one. Was she jealous of her sister? Untrusting of him? Both? Man, oh, man, he’d better watch where he stepped.

* * *

Cecily got in touch with her rotten side later that evening as she and Bailey sat at the kitchen bar in Cecily’s condo and ate crab salads, their mother’s latest book propped open in front of them.

Previous failures can cast a long shadow. It’s important to step out of that shadow. If you don’t, you’ll never take advantage of new opportunities and you’ll never grow.

Bailey tapped on the book. “Mama’s right.”

“Have you told her about this idea?” Cecily asked.

“Yep, and she thinks it’s a good one. She thinks I can do it.”

“Of course you can, but maybe you shouldn’t rush into doing this with Todd Black. He’s got the house, plus a half interest in the business. What are
you
getting?”

“Half the profits. Duh.”

Cecily stabbed a piece of crab with her fork and shoved it in her mouth. She looked up to see Bailey eyeing her. “What?”

“I don’t understand why you don’t want me to do this. Is there something wrong with Todd? Something I don’t know about? I asked Sammy about him, and she said he’s a good businessman.”

“No, there’s nothing wrong with him. It’s just...”

“Just what?”

“Well, we’ve been seeing each other. It could get awkward.”

“Seeing each other?” Bailey looked at her in surprise. “I thought you were seeing Luke.” She frowned. “Except I did wonder why you were sitting so close to Todd.”

“That’s why. Luke and I are friends—that’s all.”

Now Bailey studied her salad. “So, you don’t want me to have my tea shop because you don’t want me around your boyfriend.”

That sounded petty—probably because it was. “No.”
Yes.
“Like I said, it could be awkward.”

Bailey frowned earnestly. “Cec, this is strictly business. You don’t have to worry that I’ll steal Todd.”

“I know,” Cecily lied. She was being silly; they weren’t little girls fighting over Barbie dolls. They were grown women.

“You’re right,” Cecily said. “I’m sorry for being unsupportive. It really is a great plan, and I’m behind you one hundred percent.”

Later that night as she and Todd played darts at The Man Cave and she listened to him talking about the tea shop and how smart Bailey’s ideas were, she mentally amended her earlier statement to her sister.
I’m behind you 50 percent.
And that was being generous.

No matter how much she was or wasn’t behind her sister, the talks continued, and come June the decision had been made. Bailey and Todd were going into business together. Samantha and Blake were consulted, and a contract was drawn up and signed.

The family gathered at Schwangau to celebrate, and Blake raised his wineglass to Bailey. “Here’s to success.”

“To success,” everyone echoed, although Cecily’s was a faint one.

“Have you come up with a name yet?” their mother asked.

Cecily remembered the family gathering on Mother’s Day, when Samantha and Blake had announced that they were expecting. Another happy event, she thought wistfully.
You’re jealous. You bitch!

“We’re going to call it Tea Time,” Bailey said.

“Cute.” Mom obviously approved. “You could decorate using some cute little clocks around the walls and maybe on the tables.”

“Oh, I like that,” Bailey said.

“I was just over at Timeless Treasures and saw that Stacy had an anniversary clock in there,” Mom said.

“What’s an anniversary clock?” Bailey asked.

“It sits under a glass dome, and the pendulum twirls. If you like, I’ll get it for you. You could set it by your cash register.”

Ideas continued to flow, and as they did even Cecily began to catch the excitement. The tea shop was going to be charming. And she was happy to see her sister excited about life again.
Okay, sis, I’m behind you...60 percent.

* * *

Todd was taking care of the paperwork and necessary permits, which left all the fun to-dos for Bailey, such as planning the decor, the menu and supervising the kitchen remodel.

“We’re going to have to turn this into a commercial kitchen,” she said to him as they assessed the working space in what would be the future home of Tea Time. “That means we’ll need a combination standard and convection stove, a commercial sink and dishwasher, an ice maker, a cooler. I don’t think we’ll need a walk-in. A French-door reach-in should work, considering the size of the room.”

Todd nodded and typed notes in his iPad.

Bailey chewed her lip. “This is going to cost a lot of money.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll make it work. I’ve already been over to the bank and talked with Blake Preston. Anyway, you have to spend money to make money.”

“I don’t mind spending money,” Bailey said, smiling. “Well, your money—but I don’t want to go over our budget.”

“I appreciate that, partner,” he said, smiling back.

Partner.
She loved the sound of that. It was so nice to have someone right there with her every step of the way. And there’d been quite a few steps—coming up with a business plan, applying for permits so they could remodel the kitchen, talking with contractors, checking out the items she wanted to sell in the shop and looking for china. She’d bought some things from Stacy at Timeless Treasures, and Janice Lind at The Kindness Cupboard had promised to alert her if any useful donations came in.

Bailey had continued to work for Olivia in the mornings, but every spare minute she was at the house, working with Todd and Pete, whom Todd had drafted to help paint the place. Except for the trim, which Bailey had yet to decide on, the outside was now done, and it was time to whip the inside into shape, which would involve painting an accent wall and refinishing the hardwood floors, all of which Todd was doing himself. The kitchen work they’d hire out.

So far he hadn’t so much as blinked as she listed the things they’d need. And he was so supportive, so positive. No wonder Cecily was crazy about him.

“Anyway, I have to leave some money in your wallet so you have something to spend on my sister,” Bailey teased.

“Good point,” he said.

“How long have you guys been going out?” she asked casually. What did it matter? They were an item. Although when she first got to town, Cecily and Luke had been an item.

“Not long,” Todd said. “It took a while to convince her she wanted to be with me.”

“That’s hard to believe.” Okay, that was probably not appropriate.

He grinned. “Yeah? Where were you when I needed somebody to put in a good word for me?”

“What makes you think I would have?” she retorted, matching his tone.

“Hey, I’m not so bad.”

You could say that again. For one disloyal moment, Bailey wished she’d met Todd first.
But you
didn’t,
she told herself,
and he’s into Cecily, not you.

He was sure into her cooking, though. One day she stopped by the house on her lunch break with a plate of chocolate cookies for him to sample while he painted the accent wall.

“Oh, man, these are incredible. You can bake for me anytime.”

Just what every baker wanted to hear. “I’m going to make them part of the chocolate tea. We can also serve those white chocolate–lavender scones I made for you last week, along with a chocolate fondue and chocolate mint tea. Oh, and a Sweet Dreams truffle.”