Page 54 of The Magical Tea Shop

“You can imagine, can’t you? Although I will say, they all wanted a flower. They thought I was crazy, but they didn’t want to be excluded from my flower-bestowing. Holly ran with the popular crowd, so I was a continual embarrassment.”

“You were imaginative.”

“By the time I graduated, I had changed it up again, and I was all about the environment and saving the forests. After graduation, I bumped around for a few years volunteering in the community and trying different jobs. I worked briefly in a Goth clothing store. I was a receptionist at a veterinary clinic. I waited tables at Leo’s diner. Finally, I went away and took business classes before I came back home to open the tea shop. In fact, this spring, I believe it’s time for a new me. Perhaps it’s time for a new you, too.”Or a new us.

Jaxon fell silent and focused on Montgomery trotting along, blissfully unaware of the sudden undercurrent between them. Had she shared too much? Jaxon was so easy to talk to. He always acted so interested in what she had to say.

Jaxon glanced over at her and, for an instant, she got lost in his eyes.

He coughed and took a breath. “I love springtime,” he said. “The wind—what is it with wind and springtime?”

“Winds of change bring the hope and promise of what will be.”

“I wanted to talk to you about that. About…change.”

“I like change,” Ivy said decisively.

“You do?” He angled his head, and Ivy had to think about her statement. “Change within parameters. I love it here in Hazard. I don’t plan to change that. I do enjoy changing up my menu and planning for the future.”

“About that.”

“Thank you for the new lease. I feel secure knowing it’s squared away. Such a good omen. Business has picked up. I can’t believe how transformative new menu items are. I should’ve done it long ago. I even had a new customer from out of town, who’s purchasing property in the area.”

She cast a side glance at Jaxon who started coughing again. Ivy patted him on the back. “Are you alright?”

Jaxon made a strangled sound, even as he kept walking. Montgomery stopped to sniff the grass. “Did he say what his name was?”

“Derrick, I think. He only wanted a scone, said he wasn’t much of a tea drinker. I tried to convince him to try a cup of a new blend I’ve been working on. I just added some Earl Grey to it. I expect I’ll have it perfected soon. I used to love chemistry class and this feels a little bit like that.”

At Jaxon’s expression of genuine interest, Ivy tingled to her toes. “You want to know about my tea blend?”

“Sure.”

“Lots of science involved. I’m working to create an aromatic calming combination. I’ve decided to establish a house blend and thought I would name the best ones I’ve created so far. But naming is harder than I thought it would be.”

“Like what have you come up with?”

“Peacemaker?”

Jaxon shook his head.

“How about Serenity?”

“That was a sci-fi movie.”

“You would know that. Okay, how about Quietude? Calm with attitude?”

Jaxon shook his head in mock horror.

Ivy laughed. “Okay, so, not good.”

“What if you incorporated the history of the area? Georgian Colonial blend or Rebel blend,” he suggested.

“I’d need to do more research.” Ivy was delighted with the idea of a Georgian Colonial blend. It was right in step with what she’d suggested at the board meeting. Her mind took off imagining her successful new tea blend at the fundraiser, combined with her scones and savory sandwiches. But which scone and which sandwich and…

Jaxon was watching her.

“Sorry, my mind’s running a mile a minute. I offered to help with refreshments for the fundraiser. I can’t wait to introduce my new Georgian Colonial blend.” She gave a happy little jump.

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