Page 59 of Finding Basil
The lotions and oils were already set to be produced, the pouches of organic herbs would be packaged, the shampoo was in development, and Herb taught Basil each step of that process. They each brought their strengths and knowledge.
Cordelia found them a small shop on the outskirts of Foggy Basin’s main street. It had been a one-bedroom, small Victorian, and it was perfect for selling specialty items. With the very last of his money, what hadn’t been spent on the wedding and reception, he’d purchased the building, and they were in the process of renovating it for their store.
Basil’s Herbista Apothecary.
He loved the name. The play on barista, the old timey name of apothecary, all of it.
An old friend of his set up the website for him, got the domain name, and they were set to begin their own business, doing what they loved. Growing herbs, making them into organic, fresh products. Selling the herbs themselves in beautiful pots and boxes.
Juan had a label maker of thin metal that he’d used to make their labels for the boxes and terra-cotta pots. Sabrina had helped with their general décor, a simple Scandinavian design that was minimalist and beautiful.
The counters and shelves would be lightly stained wood, while the metal was all black iron.
They’d sell everything associated with herbs, including gardening supplies. And they had an apartment upstairs for their one employee.
Steve.
He’d gotten out of the hospital and stayed on his meds. It was like a new man had emerged. It was he who asked how he could work off the damage he inflicted on Herb, and Basil suggested he work in the store. Steve even offered to let Basil or Herb watch him taking his meds.
Sure, it bothered Herb some. Having Basil’s ex working so closely with them, but Steve didn’t seem to be hung up on Basil at all. He flirted terribly with everyone that he came across and that included women too.
Until the store opened, he worked hard with the contractors, painters and plumbers to watch over everything as the renovation came along. He even paid for his own remodeling of his rooms.
With everything going so well in every other part of their lives, they had the time to worry and argue over the wedding. Not that they had much say. The women in Basil’s family had taken over everything. They were lucky to be invited.
“The seating chart is finally done,” Basil said cautiously.
“Okay, what are you not telling me?”
“Um,” he said, laughing. “Your parents and my parents will be joined by Lila and my grandparents.”
The rest, fine, but Lila? “You know Lila won’t be happy if she doesn’t shock and awe them all night.”
“I think it’s going to be fine.”
Herb seriously didn’t care. His parents were conservative socially. They didn’t go to parties that got any rowdier than a game of charades. Their social group comprised professors and lawyers, doctors, and artists. They’d never thought outside the box in their lives, being perfect content in their box.
When he said he’d bought a house he’d never stepped into and he was changing his life, his mother asked if he’d like to see her psychiatrist.
“This is going to be fun. I think a few shots of tequila and a bite or two of that cake we ordered…”
That was a hell of a day. During the cake tasting, he and Basil were salivating the entire day. They skipped breakfast and didn’t snack at all, so at three that afternoon they were more than ready to taste all the delicious cakes.
Almond vanilla, chocolate creams, lemon and lavender, blood orange…it was hell trying to choose. The second round of cakes were brought out and right off, they both fell in love with the light malt chocolate and caramel cake with the addition ofsmoked chili peppers, dried and mixed into the batter. It was quite spicy and delicious, but the light orange imbued frosting that went with it was cooling and fresh. The best cake either had tasted.
Sabrina ate three pieces, taking the plates that were in front of her mother and grandmother to finish off theirs.
“This is fantastic,” she said before starting on the third piece. “But spicy for the kids, maybe, and the whites.”
“Sabrina, that’s rude,” Basil said, embarrassed.
Herb figured they meant his parents, and he said, “Well, yeah, they’ll likely need a gallon of milk for a chaser.”
The baker sat with them and said, “Well, if you’d like, we can do a small dessert table to go along with the buffet. Tres Leches cakes in small ramekins, strawberry shortcake is a favorite with the kids, or an ice cream bar.”
Basil’s eyes were so round and his brows so high, Herb knew he wanted all the things she said. Herb told her, “How about all of it?”
“Ice cream bar and a dessert…?”
