Chapter Four
“Was the shop easy to find?” Maddie asked, standing behind the counter.
Several tins of tea were stacked next to the cash register and a steaming cup of tea sat on a coaster in front of her.
The store smelled incredible. Between hints of vanilla, orange and chocolate, I was pretty sure I never wanted to leave. Who needed food when something you drank could smell so good?
“It was super easy to find.” Lucky was by my side, and I didn’t want to fully come inside the tea shop.
“Oh, you don’t have to stand there with him. Come on in.” She waved us over, but I was still hesitant.
“Are you sure?” I asked.
“Totally.” She motioned again, and Lucky took her up on the offer, sidling right up to me as we made our way into the store.
“The other girls haven’t gotten here yet, but that’s really no surprise.” She giggled. “My sister lives the closest, and she still manages to arrive after everyone. Would you like some tea? We have every kind imaginable, plus some.”
“I can’t believe how amazing the store smells.” I nodded, glancing at the wall where all kinds of colorful teas and tins sat on the shelves.
“I’ve always had a passion for tea. I’m just grateful I have so many blends that don’t have caffeine.” She patted her belly. “Do you like orange?”
“I love orange.”
She pulled a tin down and opened the lid, shoving it toward me. “Would you like to try this one?”
Cinnamon and orange filled my senses and I knew I’d found a new favorite drink.
“That would be wonderful. Thanks.”
“Is there something I can help with?” I felt bad having her make me a cup of tea when she looked like she was about to give birth at any moment.
“Oh, I’ve got it. You just sit.”
Lucky had already fallen asleep by the register, and I wondered how he managed to be such an angel at times.
“So Gina’s got a blind date and she’s really freaking out,” Maddie began telling me as she slid the steaming mug over to me. “What she doesn’t know is that I set her up with Billy.”
My heart fell to the ground, but I kept the smile plastered on my lips. Between seeing the woman in red last night and hearing this news, I knew I really needed to let the idea go of hanging out with him for fun.
I mean it wasn’t like I accepted any of his offers, and I wasn’t sure his offers were official dates anyway, and since all I could think about was sex when I was around him it was just a bad idea all the way around.
“Do you think she’ll be surprised?” I asked, attempting to squash my disappointment.
“Beyond, but I think it’s a good fit. She’s finally gotten out of a horrid relationship with a guy that should have been tossed off a ferry long ago, and she needs to see that good men really do exist.”
“And Billy is that kind of man?” I asked, catching the wistfulness in my voice.
“He really is. Despite his rugged exterior, he has a heart of gold.”
My chest tightened a little bit.
“I think they’d make a super cute couple.” And they would. I fully meant that.
“If nothing else, it will help get her feet wet and Billy’s always up for a good time.”
“Does Billy know she’s the one he’ll be meeting?”
“I don’t think so.” She shook her head and took a sip of tea. “I can’t actually figure him out when it comes to dating. I know he does. I mean…he must date. Look at him.”
I chuckled. “He definitely is cute.”
“Cute?” Her brows arched. “Try hot as hell.”
I couldn’t keep the smile off my face.
“What I’d love is if they somehow miraculously hit it off.”
“Have they not hung out much before?”
“Not really at all. I’ve tried to not-so-subtly push them into situations where they’d interact, but it’s like watching two ships sailing in opposite directions or whatever the saying is.”
I laughed and took a sip of the tea, which temporarily shoved Billy out of my head. It tasted that good.
“I didn’t even know tea could taste like this.”
“Thank you. That’s one of my most popular blends.” She beamed from ear to ear.
“I can see why.”
A bell jangled behind me, and I spun around to see Holly and Gina bounding in.
“Tell her it’s going to be fine,” Holly moaned to her sister as she pulled Gina next to her. “She’s acting as if she’s going to die by showing up to meet this poor fellow, whoever he is.”
“Come on.” Maddie smiled. “You don’t think I’d set you up with Ted Bundy, do you?”
Gina’s eyes widened, and she glanced at me with a horrified look on her face. “I hadn’t even thought about that. You do know the person, right? Like really well? I don’t feel like being found in a million little pieces off the coast of Washington.”
“Of course, she knows him,” Holly said, grabbing an empty mug and filling it with water. “I mean kind of. Wait. You do know the guy, right?”
Maddie flashed her sister a dirty grin and I couldn’t help but laugh. I could tell Holly was teasing, but Gina remained terrified.
“Jenny will be here any second to watch the store and then we can go to lunch,” Maddie informed us.
“Don’t try to change the topic,” Gina said. “I need reassurance right now. Do you realize I haven’t been on a date in over six years? Wait. I think it’s seven.”
My heart was already softening toward Gina. I could totally relate. I couldn’t even imagine being set up on a blind date. Thankfully, this one would have a happy ending for her, but still. She doesn’t know that now.
“Have I ever steered you wrong in life?” Maddie asked, placing her hand on her hard-to-find hip.
“Should I answer that honestly?” Gina joked.
“Probably not,” Holly muttered under her breath and I chuckled.
The bell jangled again, and I turned to see a young girl, probably in her late teens, rushing into the shop.
“Sorry I’m late,” she said breathlessly. “Class ran late and then—”
Maddie shook her head. “It’s no problem at all. School’s most important. Always. We’re just headed out for lunch to gossip and well, gossip.”
Jenny smiled in relief and quickly wrapped her hair into a bun and fastened it with a clip.
“There’s just a few online orders left to fill in the back,” Maddie informed her as Jenny spotted Lucky.
“Lucky,” she nearly squealed.
“You know him?” I asked surprised.
“Who doesn’t?” Her expression beamed as she scratched his ears. “He’s infamous.”
“Infamous?” My brows pulled together.
“Oh, yes. This boy gets around. He was actually at the pound over across the way and set to be…” She made a motion of her finger slicing her neck. “And then our shelter got wind of him and brought him over on the day before the awful date. Anyway, he was at the Fireweed Shelter and got adopted three times and brought back just as many. He even broke out of the shelter. He made headlines.”
Lucky looked up at her like she was a traitor for tarnishing his flawless reputation.
“Anyway, he must have found his perfect home because I haven’t seen him making the rounds for months. Nice work.”
“He lives on Hound Island now.” I scratched Lucky’s back and he smacked his chops.
“Aah.” She shook her head. “Probably better there if he gets loose. Fewer places to have to look for him. Kudos to you for turning him around.”
“Oh, he’s not mine. I’m just the pet sitter.”
She nodded. “Well, he’s way calmer so you’re doing something right while his parents are away.” She jumped up. “Off to package tea.” Jenny gave Maddie a hug and disappeared into the backroom.
“I just thought of something.” I grimaced. “If we’re going to lunch, I can’t bring Lucky inside and I—”
“Jenny can watch him,” Maddie offered. “Or we can eat outside under the heat lamps.”
“Would you be too cold?” I asked, feeling guilty for making a pregnant woman sit outside in the cold because I wasn’t planning ahead, but as a pet sitter I couldn’t just let someone else watch Lucky. If something happened I’d never forgive myself.
“Not at all. Those heat lamps they have nowadays are amazing.” She glanced at Gina and Holly. “Is that okay with you?”
“Totally,” Holly replied and Gina nodded.
“Then we’re set.” Maddie pulled a colorful scarf out from under the counter and wrapped it around her neck. “Can you believe I used to wear this as a belt? I doubt the ends even touch now.”
Holly giggled and rolled her eyes. “It looks amazing as a scarf and you have to be the cutest pregnant woman I’ve ever seen.”
“It’s true.” I nodded in agreement and followed everyone out the door with Lucky by my side.
“So can you give me a hint about this guy?” Gina asked, slowing down her pace to walk with me and Lucky. “Is he tall, dark, and handsome? Is he a blond surfer dude? Is he a lumberjack? Does he—?”
“Nope. I’m not giving you one single clue.” Maddie flashed an evil grin in our direction. “I know you. If I say one little thing that you might not like, you’ll stand him up and I wouldn’t want you to do that to him.”
“Ugh. You’re so annoying.” Gina turned to me. “So are you dating anyone?”
“Nope.” I shook my head and a shiver ran down my spine. “I haven’t dated anyone in years. My job makes it kind of hard to meet people.”
Maddie glanced over her shoulder with furrowed brows. “Are you sure it’s the job that makes it hard or is it that you just don’t want to date?”
This woman was good. Too good.
“Well, since you asked…I suppose I haven’t made it a priority in recent years.”
“How many years?” Holly chimed in.
“A couple three…” My voice trailed off as we stood in front of the restaurant. The deck overlooked Puget Sound, and it was packed even though there was a definite chill in the air. The heaters were in full rotation. I spotted a golden retriever sleeping underneath someone’s table and felt immediately better about trying to bring Lucky.
“So six years?” Holly’s brow arched and my shoulders sank.
“I stopped counting.” Which was the truth.
“Well, maybe Tiffany is the one who needs to go on the blind date,” Gina offered all too exuberantly. “I’d gladly trade spots, and I’ll take the next one you set up.”
I grinned and shook my head. “Nice try, my friend. I’ve got Lucky to keep me warm at night.”
Maddie requested that we sit on the deck and the server sat us quickly, and Lucky found his place under the table, taking his cue from the golden retriever. I said a silent prayer that he wouldn’t bolt after a bread basket or cup of clam chowder.
I was the only one who opened the menu and began scanning for lunch when I realized the table was silent and they were all looking at me.
“What?” I shifted nervously in my chair.
“So you say your job holds you back from dating, yet don’t you kind of stay in a certain vicinity? Like, I don’t know a fifty-mile radius or something?” Holly smiled, sitting back in her chair.
“I tend to focus on the greater Seattle area and the West Sound, yeah.”
“Then theoretically you could date someone. See them in between your stints…”
“I suppose.” I nodded, feeling like my sister had already contacted these ladies ahead of time.
“We all have our stories,” Gina mused, circling her finger around the empty coffee cup. “I’ve been stuck in a relationship with someone who was less than ideal because I kept wanting to believe he was a better person than he was. He always had the words and the stories, but his actions rarely ever lived up to what he told me.”
“I can understand how that goes.” I nodded, pushing my own feelings away.
I wasn’t one who liked to dwell on the past, and my dating past was so many years ago, I barely remembered it in the first place.
“I think I liked the idea of being attached so much that it didn’t matter what the reality was. Even when night after night, I’d hear the same stories about having to work super late or how he had to go into the office on the weekends…” She rolled her eyes. “My relationship was such a cliché.”
“But you loved him.” I cocked my head slightly.
“I loved the idea of love.” She pouted. “And I think I played the part really well.”
“Then what tipped you over the edge?”
“It’s nothing I’m proud of…” She glanced at Maddie and Holly. “But I think the only reason I confronted his cheating and everything was because it became public knowledge. It was one thing to be the fool in private, but it’s quite another to walk down the sidewalks knowing that people have seen your boyfriend with other women. I didn’t want to be pitied.” Gina’s eyes brightened with tears and Holly clasped her hand.
“No one would ever think you’re the fool or pity you.” Holly’s smile was kind, and I could see the bond between these three women was strong.
I thought back to my own bad relationships and while cheating wasn’t part of the problem most of the time, at least that I knew of, I understood Gina’s point. I generally didn’t leave the relationships until my friends started asking why I let so-and-so talk to me that way or treat me some other way.
The server came over and everyone ordered the fish and chips special, so I decided to do the same. After he left I took a deep breath and let it out silently.
“For me, I think the biggest problem is being tired of putting myself out there and giving it my all only to have the guy trample all over me in return,” I confessed.
Maddie nodded.
“I always tended to ignore all the little things that my boyfriends would do, not realizing those tiny infractions tend to add up to some big problems. With my last boyfriend, I finally realized I’d had enough when he was berating me in the middle of a department store because I’d just bought an expensive face cream. I know it sounds ridiculous, but it had been building for years and who in the world causes a scene like that in a store? Besides, it was my money so I really had no idea who he thought he was. It was mortifying. I remember looking over at a mom and her little girl, who had her mouth open as she watched my boyfriend yelling and screaming and tossing samples on the floor.”
“Yikes. If he was willing to do that in public, I can’t imagine what he did in private.”
“Exactly.” I nodded. “In private, I let his behavior slide and I seemed to do that with everyone I dated. I ignored the fact that they’d stay out all night or pick fights over absolutely nothing. It wasn’t until I got the outside perspective that I decided to do something about it.”
“Like not date again?” Maddie chuckled.
“Exactly.” I grinned taking a piece of bread from the basket our server just delivered.
“You get stung enough and it’s easier to just throw in the towel. I mean when you have great friends, a career you love, and a supportive family, who has time for a guy?” Gina asked.
“That’s the key,” Holly began. “You need to find that perfect someone who complements you, who only makes you better and adds to your life.”
“Has that been my problem all this time?” Gina chuckled.
“Well, I learned that after dating for over a decade I just can’t pick ‘em.” I grinned. “So I’d rather stick to companions who are loyal, loving, and adventurous. They never give me lip and they don’t pick arguments.”
“Yet they still keep you warm at night. Sounds right up my alley.” Gina let out a relaxed sigh. “Now, how do I get through tonight’s date without jumping off a cliff?”
I chuckled and shook my head. “Beats me. But if you survive, you’ve got to call me tomorrow with the details.”