The clasp of her hand wasn't particularly strong, but it was surprisingly soft. Unexpectedly, I wanted to hold onto her longer and had to remind myself to let go.
"It's Washington. I dropped my ex-husband's last name years ago, but you can call me Tallulah."
Divorced, like me, which explained why Blossom's father was living in Georgia now.
"And you can call me Jamison," I said.
I reclaimed my seat, with Manuel sitting to my right. He and Blossom leaned toward each other and started talking quietly.
Tallulah sat to my left, and she smelled amazing. I couldn't place the scent because it wasn't a combination I had smelled before. The fragrance was unique and earthy. A little bit enticing, if I were being honest.
The waiter appeared at the table, a young man with a slicked-back ponytail. "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Can I startyou off with a drink while you decide on your dinner?" he asked with practiced enthusiasm.
"Water for me, please," Blossom said.
"Me, too," Manuel said.
"I'll take a glass of cranberry juice, no ice," Tallulah said.
Interesting choice.
I ordered a glass of red wine. When the waiter left, an uneasy silence settled over the table. Manuel and Blossom remained wrapped up in each other, leaving Tallulah and me to fill the conversational void.
I cleared my throat. "Manuel mentioned that you own an herbal store?"
"I do, but it's a little more than an herbal store. Simply Well is the name, and it's in the arts district downtown, in a building that was recently bought."
"Are you talking about the Freedom Capital Building?" I asked. My role as a commercial banker meant I stayed abreast of all the major business moves in our city.
She nodded, adjusting one of her necklaces. The pendant looked like raw rose quartz. "That's the one. My center is on the ground floor, and we offer yoga classes, reiki and reflexology, herbal consultations, and meditation workshops, that sort of thing."
"Interesting." I kept my tone neutral. I didn't want to let on that I was skeptical about alternative medicine and wellness as a viable business. "How long have you been in business?"
"Ten years this fall."
Shocking. The industry seemed oversaturated, the margins were slim, and startups had a high failure rate. "Impressive. Congratulations."
"Thank you." There was a slight edge to her voice, as if she'd heard the surprise in mine and didn't appreciate it. "I love the work I do and have managed to find loyal, regular customers."
Blossom glanced up from her menu. "Mom's being modest. Her workshops always sell out within days, and she has a great reputation in the community, which is why she has so many repeat customers. People trust her and know she's not one of those fakes offering generic solutions that don't work."
Tallulah waved a hand dismissively, her bangles knocking against each other like wind chimes. "She's making me sound much grander than I am."
"Doubtful," I said thoughtfully. "Your business has survived a decade in a tough industry. You must be doing something right."
She smiled briefly at the compliment. "You're in banking, is that right?"
"Commercial banking. In a nutshell, I finance deals for businesses of all sizes."
"Sounds..." She paused, searching for the right word. "Rigid."
Was that a compliment or an insult?
"It can be," I admitted. "Though we're allowed to color outside the lines on occasion. Helping a business owner secure the right financing solution is very satisfying work."
"I'm sure it is, but in all honesty, numbers and spreadsheets have never been my strong suit. I do what I have to and leave the rest to my accountant." She let out a little laugh, but her dark eyes studied me with curious intensity.
"What do you consider your strength?" I asked.
