“Are you okay, Ms. Green?” Ms. Lina called from downstairs.
No, she was not okay.
She opened her bedroom door and walked to the top of the landing.
Ms. Carolina stood at the bottom of the stairs in a pink night dress and robe. Her thick black and gray hair was platted in a braid that lay over her shoulder.
“I’m sorry for yelling. I didn’t mean to disturb you, I’m just so?—”
“You don’t have to explain, mija; you’ve been treated very badly since you arrived here.”
“No, being treated badly is what brought me here. Your overbearing neanderthal of a nephew just continues to make it worse.” She gently thumped her fist against her chest as if it would dislodge the emotions from her heart. “I never imagined I could feel so much hurt and anger at the same time. I just…”
“Don’t want to hurt anymore?”
Lauren teared up and looked away.
“Come down mija, let us ‘talk in silence’ as my idiot-nephew likes to say.”
Ms. Lina laughed, and Lauren pursed her lips together because she refused to smile at anything associated with Sheriff Stillwater, not until she was laughing maniacally at his downfall.
Ms. Lina walked Lauren to the sitting room and directed her to the cream chesterfield with mauve paisley swirls. The couch was more beautiful than the one she owned.
The frame woodwork was ornate, and the material was satiny to the touch. Lauren’s grandmother would’ve had this couch wrapped in so many layers of plastic no one would’ve been able to ever see its true beauty.
If Lauren had one kink, beautifully designed furniture was it, and Ms. Lina’s whole aesthetic for the bed and breakfast was decadent and lavish while still being comfortable and cozy.
Even with Shrouded Lake off the beaten path, she couldn’t understand why this place wasn’t at least half booked months in advance. The interior, the outer grounds, the view of the mountains and skyline, this place was a hidden treasure she was grateful for being directed to because the place in Pigeon Forge wasn’t even a close second based on the website.
When Ms. Lina reentered the room, she carried a pair of porcelain cups and saucers on an etched sterling silver tray.
“I’ve had high tea in England and attended a tea ceremony in Japan,” Lauren said as Ms. Lina set out an array of pretty cakes and short breads. “This feels like what I imagined a tea party would feel as a child. Gentle, cozy, luxurious, yet playful.”
Ms. Lina poured thoughtfully.
“Our family was originally from Argentina. My and Santiago’s father’s parents migrated to the Americas over a century ago. Many years later Mateo, Santiago’s grandfather married Chenoa, the descendant of the Freeman line. Contrary to popular belief, people from many origins have lived freely in these mountains for centuries. At different periods of time, they even lived compatibly as a strong community. One day I’lltell you about how it all changed, but that’s a tale for another day. Tonight is for releasing some of your hurt so you can sleep peacefully. At least for tonight.”
Lauren wondered if the older woman had heard her struggling through dark nightmares last night.
“This tea is made specifically from herbs found only here in Shrouded Lake. Saige made it as an aid to help me with my nerves.”
Lauren remembered the satchel Saige had given her at the shop. She’d told Lauren to keep it with her; she’d forgotten all about it until now.
“You seem so grounded, so…at ease. What are you anxious about Ms. Lina?” Lauren asked as she took a sip of the tea.
It was not a gentle tea. Lauren coughed.Way too bold to be dispensed from flowery cups.
Once her coughing subsided, she felt a warming effect. She took another sip and then another. It was actually very soothing after the initial shock of bitterness.
“This house is my home, but it is also my business. To continue having a home, my business needs to improve… You may want to slow down, mija. This is a medicinal, you only need a little.”
This was the mellowest Lauren had felt in months.
“Was this the situation Ms. Audrey said she wanted to address with you over the phone last night?”
Lauren finished the cup and placed it on the saucer, waiting for Ms. Lina to finish hers before pouring herself another cup.
“Tell me about your numbers?”
