Page 100 of Summer Longing
Jaci said something in response but Olivia was distracted. Was that her mother’s voice downstairs?
The first season of any business was trial and error, and Elise and Fern were still figuring out the patterns of their regular customers and the flow of tourists. They had debated what time to open that morning, wondering if they should adjust to some sort of late holiday schedule. But since they had been awake since dawn, and Rachel was available to watch Mira, they opened the doors not long after nine and found themselves alone behind the counter.
“You smell good—like lavender,” Fern said.
“It’s Ruth’s body lotion,” Elise said. “I’m obsessed with it. And she puts all her stuff in those cute little blue jars.”
“I know. They’re everywhere at Shell Haven.”
Elise walked over to the shelves of tea tins and rearranged a few, thinking. She turned back to Fern. “What if we sold some of her products here?”
“Skin-care products?”
“Why not? Think about why we became interested in tea in the first place. It all comes down to wellness, and if a product falls under that umbrella, we could carry it in the shop.”
Fern nodded. “That’s true. And she created Liv Free. She knows what she’s doing, so I’m not worried about quality.”
“I guess it just becomes a question ofourbrand,” Elise said. “Are we a tea shop or are we a tea-and-sundries shop—”
The front door’s bells chimed, heralding the arrival of Bianca Barros. Elise noticed immediately that Bianca was wearing white, not black.
“Bianca,” Elise said. “This is a new look for you.”
“It’s a new day,” Bianca said. “I am turning a corner.”
Elise and Fern looked at each other. “Well, that’s great,” Fern said. “It’s nice to hear you so optimistic.”
Bianca walked closer to the counter, squinting at the chalkboard menu.
“Can we get you something?” Elise said.
“Yes,” Bianca said, leveling her eyes at her. “I want my house back.”
Fern, clearly at the end of her patience, let out a loud groan. “Haven’t we exhausted this topic, Bianca?”
“No, I don’t think we have,” she said. “I’m moving back to town. Two winters in Florida were enough. I am done being displaced. I’m prepared to make you a fair offer on the house—I’ll pay what you two paid Pilar for it. But not a penny more.”
“We are not selling the house,” Elise said. “We told you, renting it out is just temporary.”
“Why did you move back in if you’re renting it out?” Bianca said.
“We didn’t move back in,” said Fern.
Bianca crossed her arms. “I know the truth about that baby.”
Elise’s heart began to beat fast.She’s bluffing,she told herself.She doesn’t know anything. Fern walked to the door and opened it.
“I want you to leave,” Fern said. “You’ve been provoking us long enough. I’m sorry that you’re unhappy with your life, but I’m not going to let you come in here week after week and take it out on us.” Elise wanted to throw her arms around her wife.
Bianca didn’t move. For what seemed like a very long time but was probably no more than half a minute, no one said a word. Finally, Bianca walked to the door, but before she left, she turned around and said, “That baby was left on your doorstep. It should be reported to the police. Now, I’m willing to stay out of it. But I want my house back.”
Olivia was surprised to find her mother in the Barroses’ kitchen and even more surprised by how jittery and off she seemed. Her mother apologized to Lidia for stopping by so early. “I really just meant to drop this off. I didn’t think anyone would be awake.”
Lidia, distracted by the drama with Jaci, accepted the gift bags and mumbled her thanks.
“We should go,” Olivia said quickly, and she hustled her mother outside.
“I didn’t expect to actually see anyone,” Ruth said. They walked along Commercial, just now coming to life, heading back to Shell Haven. “I just needed to clear out the kitchen. And I wanted to go for a walk. So, two birds with one stone.”
