“I don’t personally like milky tea,” Spencer says. “But my granny used to say milk first, then tea. Something about preparing the cup for hot liquid since teacups are so delicate?”
“My Nana used to say the same thing,” Fergus chimes in. “Mind you, she also added about six cubes of sugar, no matter how tiny the cup was.”
The others join in the conversation, each of us describing how we like our tea, which evolves into general food and drink preferences, and then a variety of other topics. Time passes in a blur of chatter, laughter, good food, and even better company. By the time Spencer nudges the tray with the last macaron in my direction, my face hurts from smiling so much.
“This has been wonderful,” I say to the group at large, placing my napkin on the table. “I can’t thank you all enough for today.”
Across from me, Evie and Stella exchange looks and Wesley and Leland do the same. From the corner of my eye, I see Louisa nodding. The suppressed grins on all their faces makes me wary.
“One more thing before we go,” Stella says, reaching into her purse, which is hanging on the back of her chair. She pulls out a long, flat box adorned with a sparkly turquoise bow, and holds it out to me. “This is from all of us.”
I stare at the box without taking it. “You guys, I said no birthday gifts this year!” I asked them to donate non-perishable goods or money to the community services center instead of buying me presents. Plus they’ve all bought tickets to the center’s winter ball fundraiser in January, and those aren’t cheap.Andthey went to a lot of effort and expense today.
“This isn’t technically a birthday gift,” Stella says, thrusting the box toward me until I finally take it. “Your birthday’s not for another few weeks.”
I give her a wry look. “Okay, then ‘technically’ what is this?”
“A completely random and generic ‘we love you and wanted to show you’ gift,” Evie says. “Now, open it.”
I laugh as I slide my thumbnail under the tape and pry the lid off. From the shape and size of the box, I’m imagining a necklace. When Louisa and I were shopping for a birthday gift for Evie early last month, I stopped to admire a gorgeous turquoise and silver necklace in a store window. I considered going back to buy it for myself as a thirty-fifth to-me-from-me gift—turquoise is my birthstone as well as my favorite color—but I didn’t say anything to Louisa. I was afraid she’d buy it for me, and the tiny price tag had a fairly big number.
But as I finally free the lid and set it aside, it’s not the glint of silver and gemstones that greets me. It’s a voucher from a local travel agent for a plane ticket.
“This is so much worse than jewelry,” I murmur without thinking.
Surprised laughter breaks out around me. Louisa is the first to speak: “Umm,what?”
“No, no, sorry.” I jerk my head back and forth, letting out a shaky laugh. I was fighting the burning in my eyes, but I don’t bother anymore. Through the haze of tears, I glance around the table at my friends’ smiling faces. “I thought—oh, nevermind, it doesn’t matter. This is incredible and it’swaytoo much.”
“We were going to buy you a ticket to London, but we didn’t want to pick dates and force you into taking time off when work has been so busy,” Louisa says. “This way, you can choose your own dates, but you’re one step closer to making your dream happen.”
I’m also one step closer to blubbering when a tissue appears in front of me from Spencer’s direction. I accept it, glancing at him long enough to see the small, soft smile on his face. I dab at my eyes as I say, “You’re all the best.” My throat is so tight, I’m back to sounding like a Muppet. “I can’t thank you enough.”
Louisa gets to her feet, holding out a hand for me to join her. She throws her arms around me, hugging me tightly before passing me on to Fergus, who does the same. I make the rounds of the table, thanking and embracing my friends until I’m in front of Spencer.
“I can’t take any credit for your friends’ lovely gift, but if you need help planning your trip…”
My heart stutters at his words, hoping it means he wants to see me again. “I appreciate that. But…does that mean you don’t want me to hug you?”
One side of his mouth lifts. “I won’t say no to a hug.”
He holds out his arms and I step into them. I expect it to be a quick embrace and maybe a bit awkward—wedidonly officially meet today, after all—but Spencer’s arms wrap around me and his hands settle firmly on my lower back. The din of the tearoom and my friends’ chatter fades into the background for an all-too-brief moment and then we’re releasing each other.
A hand touches my shoulder, jolting me back to the present. Fergus comes into view, his hand still resting on my shoulder. “If you’re ready to go, I’ll head out and pull the car around.”
“I can drive Hollie home,” Spencer says quickly. “If that’s all right with her, of course.”
“That’s fine with me,” I say. Evie and Stella, who are standing off to the side, look positively gleeful at this arrangement. They likely think Spencer and I have hit it off and are looking to draw out our time together.
When Fergus turns away to speak to Louisa, Spencer says, “I’ll go bring the car around while you finish saying goodbye to your friends.”
“I’ll go with you,” Fergus says. He gives me a kiss on the cheek and tells me how happy he was to be included today, then says he’ll see me tomorrow at the center.
When he’s gone, Evie says, “What’s tomorrow?”
“The MacKinnon Group is the official sponsor of the center’s December fundraiser, so Fergus and I are having a meeting to hammer out details.”
I expect them to quiz me about Spencer, but Leland and Wesley are ready to leave. After another flurry of hugs, kisses, and thank yous, it’s just Louisa and me left.
