The steady stream of patrons has finally come to an end. We even have a few open tables now.
“Great,” she says enthusiastically. “Your shop is super cute.”
“You know a lot about tea.”
“My grandma loves it, so I try different types when I visit her. Loose leaf is new to me, though…” She trails off when Ash walks through the door, her eyes going wide. “Who isthat?”
“The pain in the tail.”
“That’s Rowan’s cousin?” she whispers.
“Yep.”
She makes a disappointed noise. “Why are the bad ones always so hot?”
“The age-old question.” I smile when Ash reaches the counter. “Hey.”
“Hello.” The councilman’s eyes move to the woman beside me.
“This is my friend, Nadine,” I say to him. “Nadine, this is Ash.”
He inclines his head, offering her a brief greeting.
“Are you here for your Irish Breakfast?” I ask him.
“I came by to ask you if you’d like to run a booth at the ice cream social.”
“Do I have to serve ice cream?”
“No, I assumed you’d sell tea.” Dryly, he adds, “Considering you run a tea shop.”
“Oh, Kit!” Nadine exclaims. “You could sell matcha ice cream!”
“All the ice cream will be free and distributed by the town council,” Ash says. “However, if you’d like to donate ice cream, you are more than welcome.”
“I don’t know,” I say to Nadine. “Does it taste like grass?”
Because that’s my opinion of matcha in beverage form. But who knows, maybe it tastes better frozen and smothered in sugar and cream. I mean, really, what doesn’t?
“It doesn’t taste likegrass.”Nadine laughs like she thinks I’m ridiculous. “It’s so good.”
“I have no idea how to make ice cream.”
“Your mom does. Her ice cream is amazing.”
She’s not wrong. Mom’s homemade ice cream is the best.
I turn my attention back to Ash. “When do you need an answer?”
“By tomorrow afternoon. Maknihl is working on the stands. We need a list of participants so he knows how many to make.”
“What all would I have to do?”
“Plan decorations. Set up, stay at the stand while the social is going on, and then clean up. We’ll take care of stand transportation.”
“When is the ice cream social?” Nadine asks.
“Next Saturday, from two to five,” Ash answers.
