Page 8 of Storm in a Teacup
“Hello, hello!” Rachel calls out as she enters the kitchen of the café by kicking the swinging door open with her foot. She’s lugging a sack of flour that probably weighs more than her, so I am deeply impressed.
I take the sack off her hands with a grunt and drop it down on the metal counter behind me, causing a small cloud of white to float up around it.
“Thank you, flour queen,” I say, bowing to her.
“Of course,” she says, offering a half-hearted curtsy before brushing a bit of flour from her navy-blue jumper. “I was up early anyway. I’m heading to Loch Gelly to get some water samples. The last time I tested there, I found a smaller percentage of microplastics than in my initial sample, so I want to see if it’s still going down or back up. Noting the rate of fluctuation is important when measuring how exactly this is affecting the marine life in those waters.”
I nod with a squint, my attempt at a studious face. “Aye, well let me know what you find out.”
She rolls her eyes. “Sorry. I could have just said I’m testing thewater.” Rachel is in the process of getting her Ph.D. in Marine Biodiversity, hence the water testing.
I wave her away. “Talk to me like I’m a fellow genius. I appreciate it.”
Rachel slides up next to me and starts to shuffle through my handwritten recipes—likely searching for ones to steal, the little thief. Without looking at me, she says, “Oh, I ran into your neighbor outside.”
I pluck the recipe for lemon curd from her fingers and place it back in the correct slot in my box. “Who? The elderly woman who owns the antique shop? She’s nice.”
“No, the one around our age with that gorgeous red hair. I don’t know her name. She’s told me, I know she has, so I’m scared to ask. It’s been too long.”
“Isla probably knows it.” I close the recipe box on her, nearly snapping her fingers, because I need it kept in perfect order. Then I start to count my ingredients, ensuring I have everything I need. Flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cornstarch, the list goes on. It’s too soon to start baking anything, but I need to make sure I have all the supplies I need before our grand opening at the end of this week.
Rachel leans against the counter, facing me. “I’m sure she does, but I never remember to ask.Youcould also ask for it.”
“I will when I eventually meet her.” I crouch down because I am not seeing bread flour. I have cake and bleached white, but…ah, there it is.
“You could meet her sooner rather than later. She’s cute,” she says in a sing-songy voice.
I stop my counting, scowling up at her. “Och, I knew you were up to something. I’m not interested. I’m sure she’s very pretty and very nice. It doesn’t matter.” I stand up straight.
“Fine. I figured I’d give it a try.” Rachel clears her throat and assesses me like she’s running an experiment in her mind. “Ben, there’s something I want to talk to you about.”
I slap my hand over my heart. “If you’re asking my permission to propose to my sister, the answer is an enthusiasticyes.”
She holds her hands out in a halting motion. “Slow down, cowboy. I may be in love with her, but marriage is not on our minds yet. No, I mean something with you. Now, you can tell me to back off if I’m overstepping.”
“Okay…?”
“I saw you a few weeks ago.”
She pauses for so long that I think that’s all she’s going to say. “I saw you too? We see each other all the time. I saw you three days ago.”
Her lips purse. “No, I mean, at night. I was heading to Isla’s from Hoot and I took a wrong turn, as I do, and I saw you. In an alley. Making out with someone.”
My eyes narrow at her as I’m still unsure of where she’s going with this. “I do that from time to time. I’m no monk.”
“I wasn’t aware you did it with men.”Ah. That’s where she’s going with this. She holds her hands up in surrender. “I’m just saying, as someone who also fancies multiple genders, I’m here to chat if you want.”
I swerve away from the topic. “Look at you saying ‘fancies.’ British already, are ye?”
“Fine. It sounds like I’m overstepping. I won’t bring it up again.”
I sigh. “It’s fine, Rach. I just don’t want to make a thing out of it. The bloke you saw me snogging was just some bloke. There have been other blokes. There have been other lasses. I’m just having some fun.” I look at her seriously. “Can we keep thisbetween us, though? I mean, have you mentioned it to Isla?”
“We can keep this between us, sure, but I did technically tell Isla already. However, I did not specify the apparent gender of the person, nor did she ask. She only said she was glad you weren’t holed up alone in your flat.” She chews her lip. “I won’t say anything else to her about it. I’m not trying to out you, Ben. It’s yours to tell when you’re ready, not mine. I just want to be sure that you’re okay and to let you know I’m happy for you, no matter what.”
I mumble, “Thanks,” as I continue my count of supplies.
“David has been asking about you. I mean, he never stopped.”
