Chapter 10
Washington: Land of the Coffee Pixies
“Sencha is Japanese, right?” Nadine asks as Rowan goes over the steep temps for each of our teas. It’s Monday, her first day at the tea shop.
I printed out the notes I shared with Ryder, deciding that having an easy-to-grab cheat sheet would be handier than keeping the info on my phone.
“Correct,” Rowan says.
Nadine knows a lot more about tea than I realized, certainly more than I knew when I first arrived in Moss Hollow.
Rowan hasn’t objected to her presence in the shop, though I can tell he’s uneasy about allowing another newcomer into his tea kingdom. But he knows how busy he’s going to be come autumn.
I’m feeling a little melancholy today, consumed with thoughts. The bond, of course, is on my mind. And the gnomes. The roof and attic repairs, too.
It’s a rainy afternoon, but thankfully a little cooler. Each day has been warmer than the last, and I’m starting to wonder how hot Vermont is going to get. I assumed summers here would be cool like they are in coastal Washington, but the temps havebeen in the mid-eighties. It makes me miss the cold Pacific ocean and mild afternoon walks along the shore.
At least the tea shop is a pleasant place to spend a drizzly afternoon. Other people must think so as well. We’ve been busy all day. It’s just now slowing down as people start thinking about dinner.
A human in her early twenties with curly red hair and an abundance of pretty freckles stares at the tea menu, looking overwhelmed by all the options. Her companion, a brown-haired man about the same age, looks uncomfortable, like he doesn’t want to be here.
“I’m happy to answer any questions you might have,” I say.
“What’s Ruby 18?”
“It’s a Taiwanese black tea, unique because it’s a hybrid of a wild tea bush and Assam,” I say. “It has flavor notes of cool mint. Some people say they detect vanilla or molasses as well.”
“Do you like it?” she asks.
“I do, but I’m also a pretty big fan of black tea. What types of tea do you typically enjoy?”
“Just tea. You know, in tea bags.”
“I think there’s a good chance you’ll like it. It tastes like regular bagged black tea, except better.”
“I’d like to try it,” she says. “Can I get a personal pot?”
“Of course.” I turn to her companion. “Anything for you?”
Hescowlsat the menu. “Do you have coffee?”
The time has come.
“I can make some for you, if you don’t mind waiting a few minutes,” I say, ignoring Rowan when he turns to look at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Regular or decaf?”
“Regular.” The man looks relieved. He gestures to the disposable paper cup Nadine sets on the counter for her customer. “No fancy cup. That type is fine.”
“No problem.”
I prep the woman’s tea and send them off to a table with a timer. Then I retrieve our new French press from the cabinet.
“When did that show up?” Rowan asks.
“Today. Hudson stopped by while you were at lunch.”
“First hot chocolate and now coffee?” Rowan jokes…kind of. “What is the tea shop coming to?”
“Tea is lovely, but sometimes, you need something stronger. I’m happy to offer a nice cup of coffee for customers who want it.”
