“Ugh, you’re a hoarder.”
“It’s all your great-aunt’s stuff. I didn’t know what to do with it, and I didn’t want to throw anything away in case you wanted it.”
“Oh. Thank you. That’s really thoughtful. Though I’m pretty sure you can just get rid of everything.”
“There are family albums and sentimental stuff you might want to keep.”
A pain travels from my chest like a prickly ball clogging the back of my throat. Memories of my mother flash through my mind. She loved it here. It should be her inheriting the tea shop, not me. When she passed away, she took everything good with her. This was her happy place. Tea and Christmas were her two favourite things. Just like Great-Aunt Betty.
“Are you all right, Cam?”
I put on a fake smile. “Of course. Where’s the bedroom? I’ll unpack my case.”
Gray opens another door, and I brace myself for what I’ll find, but the bedroom isn’t too bad. He shuffles a few things from the dresser and opens the wardrobe, sliding his clothes to one side. “Is this all right for your royal highness?”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll leave you to it. I gotta get back to the shop. Trudy is down there all on her own.” He pauses in the doorway, his familiar brooding features mar his face. “It is good to see you again, Cam.”
I suck in a breath. It’s good to see him too, but he closes the door before I have a chance to tell him. Growing up, I couldn’t wait for our summer holiday, just so I could spend time with him, even if he teased me. He always made me smile. For so long, I wanted him to be my first. I always thought we would be together until I heard what he really thought of me.
That was my last summer here. Mum passed away the following year, and I threw myself into my work.
* * *
After unpacking my things and tidying Aunt Betty’s…Grayson’s room, I open my laptop. The only reason I could come here was on the understanding that I could still work remotely. I just need the Wi-Fi details.
I walk downstairs into the shop and sit at a small table next to the silver tinsel Christmas tree. Gray must be struggling to keep on top of things here, or he just isn’t bothered to take down the trimmings. I know this town loves Christmas, but having a tree up in April is a bit of a stretch.
He carries a tray from an empty table. A smile spans the width of his face when he catches my eye. So many years have passed, I forgot how infectious his smile is, and can’t stop myself from smiling back.
After setting the tray down, he steps towards my table. “Everything all right?”
“I need the Wi-Fi details. Please tell me this place has internet.”
He hands me a chalkboard from the counter with the details written on. “Can I get you a drink or anything?”
“That would be lovely. I’d love a cup of tea, please. I’d help you, but I need to check my emails and get some work done.”
“No worries. What is it you do now? Betty said you build computers.”
“I build websites. I’m a web designer for a London agency.”
“Sweet. I’ll just get that tea for you.”
The customers filter out. Gray is on his own, cleaning the counter. The other girl working here must have left for the day. He flips the sign on the door to closed and sits opposite me, sliding a cup and saucer next to my laptop.
“Thank you.” I take a sip. The English tea with honey and cream tastes like home. My jaw drops. He remembered how I like my tea after all these years. It’s how my mum used to make it for me. The aroma wraps around me like a blanket, reminding me of Mum’s embrace. Moisture builds in the corners of my eyes as I’m hit with the memory, but I welcome it and take another sip, feeling a little closer to her and Betty.
Gray leans back, creaking the old wooden chair. “So how long are you in town?”
“I just came to sort out this place, then I’m going back to London. The sooner the better. Why you had me come all the way out here, I’ll never know. We could have discussed everything on the phone and let our solicitors handle the details.”
“I wanted you to see the place before you decide to sell it. You needed to know what you were giving up.” He looks around the room as if he’s proud of the little shop. “Betty put her heart and soul into this place, and I’ve worked my ass off here. It’s a good little business. The locals love our cosy corner of Tranquili-tea. You needed to see it before you throw it away.”
“Okay, you have my attention. What was your profit last year?”
He looks at me as though I just asked him what the temperature is on Mars. “I don’t know exactly, but we had enough profit left over to take the staff out for Christmas and give everyone a little bonus.”
