Page 18 of Bride in Blue
“I have a difficult time… relating to people.”
“Oh.” Cassie looked around the room. “Thank you for letting me stay here. I’ll quickly make the bed and then I can be on my way.”
Max stood back up. “You don’t have to leave yet,” he said softly.
“We have already intruded long enough. I know I destroyed your store yesterday. My father and I should just head out of town.”
Max didn’t say anything. “Why don’t you come downstairs and have some breakfast.”
“I really shouldn’t.”
“Why not? You have to eat before you head out of town.”
“I don’t want to be indebted.” She looked him straight in the eyes. “It comes with too high of a cost.”
“You wouldn’t be indebted, Miss Stockton.”
“Cassie. You may call me Cassie.”
“Cassie,” he agreed. “I’m Max. How about we go and eat breakfast?”
Cassie nodded and followed him down the stairs to a dining room. Everything was decorated in the same deep wood with splashes of color on the walls. The floors were hardwood without any carpets.
“Mr. Gladstone would shred them if given the opportunity,” he told her.
He left Cassie at a dining room table and disappeared behind a door leading away from the room. He returned with a pot of tea and a cup that he placed in front of Cassie.
“Thank you,” she said, swishing the pot a few times to better brew the tea. “Are you having a cup?” He nodded and returned with another cup and a small pitcher of cream and a box dangling from his finger.
He placed the box in the center of the table and sat down across from Cassie. She poured her tea and then placed the pot in front of him. Adding a drop of cream, she watched the brew turn a lovely beige color.
“Father only drinks coffee. Tea was too expensive.” Cassie stirred her tea and placed the spoon on the saucer. “I do prefer tea though. I would get a small box of tea for the holidays from my employer. I’d use those tea leaves over and over again until there was no flavor left.” Cassie shook off the memory. “Do you prefer coffee or tea, Max?”
“Tea. My mother was Irish. She had tea brought over every few months. It was like an adventure going to the docks to pick up her packages.” He smiled at the memory. “I did make coffee for your father this morning. I don’t think it was very good though. I’ve not had much practice.” He pulled the box back towards him. “Would you like a pastry? I brought them from the bakery this morning.” Cassie hesitated. “Or I can make you eggs and toast. I’m not much of a cook. I have someone that makes meals for me in the evening, but on the weekends I’m on my own.”
He pulled the string from the box and took out a pastry wrapped in paper and placed it in front of her.
It was a cream tart with a drizzle of jam on the top. Cassie’s mouth started to water. “Do you have one too?” she asked.
Max nodded. “I had Maybelle package a variety of sweets since I wasn’t sure what you would like. But you look like a cream tart type of girl.”
Cassie giggled and took a bite of the tart, allowing the sweetness to explode on her mouth. “Oh, this is so good,” she said between bites.
“You mentioned a Mrs. Pennyworth told you to come to the haberdashery yesterday.”
Cassie nodded and swallowed her bite. “I met her in Ohio. We were trying to figure out where to go to next.”
“Next?”
“Yes. We boarded a train from New York, but it only took us as far as Ohio. So, we needed to figure out where we were going from there.”
“How long were you in Ohio?” Max asked.
“About three hours. Just long enough to have dinner and purchase a few things at the mercantile there.” Cassie watched him turn his tea cup around three times before taking a sip. “She, I mean Mrs. Pennyworth was the one that told me to come to Creede.” Cassie pointed at Max’s tea cup. “Why do you do that?”
Max looked at her, embarrassment appearing on his face. “Do what?”
“I apologize. I didn’t mean to intrude. It is rare to see anyone deliberately turn their cup like that. I noticed you opened and shut the door in the store three times as well. What does it mean?”
