Page 19 of Holiday Cheese and Capers
“And this hair!” Blythe’s curious fingers moved on to Bayard’s head, combing through his crazy white fluff of a mane. “ I love how unabashed it is! Wild, yet distinguished. And so soft. Like spun moonlight, dear heart. You must tell me your secrets. Do you use jojoba oil?”
“Just an Ordinary shampoo…” Bayard laughed nervously, attempting to edge away.
Behind them, Exandra stripped off her parka and balled her hands into fists. She made a sound that might charitably have been described as a cough. But it actually sounded much more like a possessive growl to Minerva.
“Blythe, this is Agent Exandra Thorne,” Bayard said, trying once more to step back politely, but Blythe stepped along with him. Her hands were still tangled in his hair and she wound herself against him like a vine. “She’s investigating?—”
“Oh, aren’t you tall!” Blythe commented, barely glancing up at Exandra. “Quite striking. I hope you can sew. Must be tough to find clothes. Now, Bay… May I call you that? I can’t wait to show you around the Creamery. I have a feeling you’ll reallygetthe artistry and love that’s gone into this place. You must sit right beside me for the workshop.”
“Well, I, uh… I mean… that is… we….” Bayard struggled to find the words to explain that his first duty was toward the group. He wasn’t accustomed to being fawned over and he wasn’t sure he liked it.
“Get. Off. Him.” Exandra poked Blythe in the shoulder. “Can’t you see you’re making him uncomfortable? Give the poor guy a little space.”
“Oops. My bad. I’m just a hands-on kind of witch.” Blythe shrugged. “I can’t help myself.”
Bayard stumbled a bit, catching himself with his cane as Blythe reluctantly released him.
“No, that’s okay, I just needed a moment to get my bearings.” Bayard tried to smooth over the situation. They were scheduled to be here for another two and a half hours. He didn’t want things to get awkward.
A moment later, she was linking her arm back through Bayard’s.
“Why didn’t you say you needed help getting your bearings, silly? Let me give you a quick tour. You’ll get those bearings back in a jiffy. Hurry, now! We’re running late and we have to get all the Yule cheese wrapped before nightfall.”
Exandra moved to follow them, but no matter where she positioned herself, Blythe somehow outmaneuvered her, standing between Bayard and the agent, creating a barrier.
“Everyone is welcome to join us, of course,” Blythe called over her shoulder. “So long as you limit your energy to good vibes only. Here at Meadowsweet Creamery, we have zero tolerance for bad vibes. Don’t make me perform a chakra alignment on you!”
With this statement, she shook a warning finger at Exandra.
Exandra’s jaw clenched so hard, Minerva worried she might crack a tooth.
“Shall we follow them?” Zephyr offered his arm to Minerva with an amused smile.
“I do think we’d better,” Minerva answered. “I’m a little worried about Exandra.”
The interiorof the main creamery was chaotic, yet organized at the same time.
Traditional copper vats sat alongside the modern equipment, all of it decorated with painted flowers, suns, moons, and peace signs. A cadre of small, stocky men with elaborately braided beards moved efficiently through the space, ushering the production along.
Dwarves, Minerva recognized. They all wore tie-dyed work clothing, clog-like sandals, and matching scowls.
“Those are my special helpers,” Blythe explained, still clinging to Bayard’s arm. “They’ve been with me for forty years! They understand cheese the way I understand sunshine—it’s in their bones.”
One of the dwarves, a grizzled fellow with a bright orange beard, stared ominously at Bayard as they passed. So much for good vibes only. Bayard shuddered.
“Now, then,” Bayard said, gently extracting himself from Blythe’s creeping grasp under the pretense of addressing the group. “Who wants to learn a little more about cheese production?”
Jasper’s hand was the first one that shot up.
“Thank you, Jasper,” Bayard smiled wryly, before continuing with the lesson. “Traditional cheddar-making involves a process called cheddaring. It involves stacking and turning the curds repeatedly to achieve the proper texture and acidity. But what makes Meadowsweet Creamery’s cheddar so special is the cloth-binding process. I’m sure the group would love to hear more of the details directly fromyou, Ms. Meadowsweet.”
“Oh, but you explain it so well, Bay-Bay…” Blythe sighed, booping his nose. She moved to stand close beside him again, but before she could get there, Exandra positioned herself between them. Undeterred, Blythe stepped directly in front of the giant agent and placed her hand possessively on Bayard’s shoulder, forcing Exandra to choose between stepping awkwardly to the side or colliding with her.
Minerva caught Zephyr’s eye and had to suppress a laugh. This was getting ridiculous.
“The, ummmm… cloth-binding…,” Bayard continued. He stepped back a pace and used his cane to create a pocket of air between himself and their clingy hostess. “The cloth allows the cheese to breathe during aging, creating a more complex flavor profile than wax or plastic wrapping.”
“But it’s not just any cloth,” Blythe interjected in a singsong voice, finally focused on something other than Bayard. “Come, my pets, let me show all you the wonders of the wrapping room. This is where the real magic happens. Magic that I’m counting on all of you to be a part of!”
