Page 2 of The Magical Bed & Breakfast

“Can I?” Kate motioned with her head toward the tables.

“Oh, yes, please, anywhere you like. I have a selection of tea blends. I’ll bring out a pot for you. Did you have something special in mind?”

“Whatever you think is best,” said Kate, as she eyed the scones in the glass dome on the counter and the muffins on display arranged on a four-tiered tower. A jar of cookies coated in sparkling sugar crystals made her mouth water. She had a moment of baking envy. Why didn’t her own efforts look this delicious? Hers were drab and crumbly in comparison. Maybe she needed to take lessons.

Kate took a seat while the owner busied herself, and took a moment to relax. The sky outside was bright now, streaks of pink and orange giving way to the blue of the day with gusting clouds overhead.

“I love this time of year.” A yellow-flowered teapot in a sage-green cozy appeared along with a matching china plate, displaying three scrumptious treats. “These are on the house today. I was hoping you would come by and check out my little shop.”

Kate blinked in surprise. “You know who I am?”

“Oh, everyone does. It’s a small town. We’re all so excited to see the inn come back to life. I’m Ivy, by the way.”

The woman held out her hand and Kate shook it. She glanced around. She was the only customer. Odd, since the place was usually packed anytime she came by.

“My morning rush arrives a bit later than Holly’s next door. I don’t usually open for another half hour. But I’m so glad I did. The wind woke me up this morning telling me to hurry up as I had somewhere to be. So I did.”

“You want to join me?” Kate motioned at the chair across from her.

Ivy grinned and slipped into it. Another teacup appeared to match the one in front of Kate, and Ivy poured the steaming amber liquid into both of them. Kate took a deep whiff. It smelled marvelous. She picked up the delicate cup with its pattern of tiny buttercups, blew on it, and took a careful sip of the hot liquid. It swirled over her taste buds, and she couldn’t help but close her eyes in a brief moment of bliss.

“That is so amazing. Wow.”

“You like it?”

“How could I not?”

“Oh, some don’t. But since you do, I’m certain we’ll be friends.”

Odd choice of words. How could anyone not love this tea blend, with its hints of clove and blackberry and something indefinable? It was both down-to-earth and winsome. Astonishing, really.

“I wish I had something like this for the inn.”

Ivy tilted her head. “A tea blend for your inn? I could create one.”

“Really?”

“Yes, you know, one that would be named after it. I’d also sell it here, of course, but you could serve it. We could work on it together if you like, cross-promote.”

Kate glimpsed Ivy crossing her fingers at the edge of the table.

“That would be…I…thank you.”

“When can I come by to see the inn to get a sense of what to add into the blend?” Ivy had tilted her head, waiting.

Her motive was so apparent, Kate laughed. “Ah, you want a tour.”

Ivy grinned. “Caught me. Weareall on pins and needles trying to guess what you’re doing in there. You’re quite the topic of conversation. Several bets are on as to what the inn will look like and when you’ll open.”

“It’ll be a while yet. So much to do. I thought I had an idea of the work involved when I bought the property, but the reality is much more labor intensive than I dreamed.”

“You’ll still call it the Hazard Inn though, won’t you?”

Kate frowned. “It doesn’t sound safe, though, does it? A little too close to hazardous,” which was also how Kate felt whenever she thought about her basement. She shivered.

“The tea will warm you up,” said Ivy.

“I thought I might name it after me, my last name, and call it the Mayfield Inn.”

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