Page 2 of Ashes to Ink

Abby didn’t think that Thea’s boyfriend, Dimitri, would beable to move a whole high school into the strip, but if there were a way, the Montgomerys would likely make it happen.

“Your family really is pretty amazing.” Abby grinned asAdrienne rolled her eyes.

“Oh, don’t tell the guys that. I mean, you can tell me,Thea, and Roxie. It’s true, and it’s sort of what we do. We are the touchstonefor the Montgomerys.”

They both laughed at that because even though it might betrue, every single one of the Montgomerys had theirown touchstones when it came to what those around them needed.

“So, have any good tea for me today?” Adrienne asked. “Ihave a long project coming up, one that’s gonna takeme a few hours and a few sessions. I could use all the energy I can get. Andwhile I love coffee from Thea’s bakery, I think I’m in the mood for tea today.Something to keep me wired, but something flavorful as well. I can head over toThea’s later for something sugary, or even a sandwich for some protein, buthere is where I want my tea.”

“Well, you’ve come to the right place. Let me set you upwith some chai. I know that’s your favorite.” Abby went around the counter andbegan working. She knew the exact blend her friend favored and even had themilk Adrienne so dearly loved to put in it. She’d make a latte if she could,but she only did that when she visited Thea’s bakery. Here at Teas’d, it was all about the blends and steeping.

“That and some of that peppermint one for later. It is theholidays. You have some peppermint, too, right?” Adrienne bounced from foot tofoot as if she’d already had her caffeine for the day. Knowing Adrienne, sheprobably had but wanted more. Abby was happy to oblige.

“Oh, I have the peppermint. I also have that white chocolatepeppermint bark one that you love.” Both of them smiled, and Abby watched asAdrienne rubbed her stomach with her hand, her eyes comically wide.

“I might have to come back for that later.”

“I can always stop by with some tea. That is what I’m herefor.”

“You’re going to be a delivery person for tea as well?”

“I can. Only for my friends.”

Abby didn’t actually serve brewed tea all that often. Mostpeople came to Teas’d for stock rather than just a cuppa. But she did have a couple of places to sit outside,as well as one inside. It was winter in Colorado Springs, so sitting outside wasn’tsomething that people did often.

But Abby knew some did like to sit outside thebakery at the other end of the strip, drinking their hot cocoa or coffee andbraving the cold just because they were Coloradans, and that’s what they did.

And while it didn’t happen often, she loved when people camein for a cup to go, or even stayed to drink out of her ceramic mugs. She hadpainstakingly searched forever for the cups that she wanted and had ended up justgoing to Jake Gallagher to have them made.

Jake was an artist. He sculpted with his hands and with hisheart. He’d made the mugs for her, as well as other things she could sell inthe store.

She knew that he made art. Real art. And though shethought of her teashop as its own kind of art—the way it made others feel wasart itself—she knew Jake was in a realm of his own.

With any other person, he might not have tried to help heras he did, but they had a good relationship now, and she liked that their workingrelationship meant that she could sell his wares and still use everything thathe made for her and her customers.

The Gallaghers were connected tothe Montgomerys through marriage, and Abby was tiedto the Gallaghers through Max since Jake’s brother Murphyhad been one of Max’s best friends.

It was odd how everything seemed to tie together and be soclose—yet so far away.

She might have felt that she was on the outside looking inonce, but that wasn’t the case anymore. The Montgomerysand the Gallaghers wouldn’t allow that.

And while both families had given her space to breathe, theyhadn’t given her enough room to bury herself. No, she wasn’t thinkingphysically, she would never do that. Never to herself, never to Julia, andnever to Max’s memory.

But she had needed some time to figure out how to be a singlemom in this world. A mom without a real job and with only a savings account fora dream that she’d never thought to have realized in the timeframe she wasforced to work in.

“That smells delicious,” Adrienne said. “Seriously delicious.”

Abby smiled, knowing today would be a good day, because ithad to be. There was no other option when it came to tea.

“Here’s the chai, just for you. I put it in a to-go cup, butif you want it out of a mug later, just let me know. I don’t know how you andyour elbows are doing today.”

Adrienne rolled her eyes. “That was Ryan’s fault, not mine.He startled me, and my elbow broke that mug. I paid for it. I went right up toDenver to ask Jake for another one. I am still so sorry about that.”

Abby just smiled and shook her head, handing over the tea.“I know it wasn’t your fault. I was just teasing. Though I do have to watch outfor all of you over at the shop. You are a wild bunch.”

Adrienne threw her head back and laughed. “That we are.Although, I do have to say, Ryan might be the wildest of us all.” Adriennewinked.

Abby frowned at that but didn’t say anything. Was Adriennetrying to match up two of her single friends? She wasn’t sure if she was readyfor anything like that. Or if she could think about Ryan like that at all.