Page 67 of Summer Longing
“Oh, I want only alittleice,” the customer said.
“It’s all going to melt down,” Elise assured her. “Trust me, we’ll probably have to add more before we’re done.”
The woman’s husband ordered a type of iced tea they already had prepared, and Elise let Cynthia handle it while she went to prop open the front door. The fog had lifted and the day was going to be beautiful.
When she was alone again with Cynthia, she said, “See? It’s all pretty simple.” At least, it was simple until they got a big rush. She hoped that wouldn’t happen before Fern came in later in the day. She was spending the morning back at the house, experimenting with blending tea with the kelp.
Elise didn’t want to think about Fern.
“So, you grew up in Chatham?” she said to make conversation.
“Yes, born and raised.”
“But you didn’t want to spend the summer there?”
Cynthia shook her head. “My parents are way too in my space and the town is just…it’s uptight. I like it out here. The people are so chill, all the artists. It’s so free.”
Yes, Elise remembered that sense of freedom when she’d first experienced Provincetown. Now, real life had caught up with her, and she felt the walls closing in.
“Plus, I had sort of a rough year. My boyfriend and I broke up. This just felt like a clean slate.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Elise said.
Cynthia shrugged. “The worst is over. But that’s why I really wanted to work here with you guys—brew some tea, calm music, a view of the water. It’s great.”
“Well, thank you,” Elise said. “We’re happy to have you.”
For the next few hours they fell into a rhythm with a steady, manageable flow of customers, a flow that was interrupted when Rachel appeared with Mira.
“Is it that time already?” Elise asked, caught off guard.
“I think so,” Rachel said, checking her phone. “You said Fern would be back here by now and you’d be done.”
“You’re right. I don’t know where she is. But it’s fine—thank you so much. I’ve got it from here.” She peeked into the stroller and found Mira wide-eyed and alert. She seemed to kick up her legs at the sight of Elise, and Elise’s heart flipped.
“I have to run—but I’m around later in the week if you need help,” Rachel called from the stairs.
“You’re the best,” Elise said, then shot off a text to Fern asking about her ETA. She moved the stroller to the far side of the shop and pulled Mira into her arms. “Hey there, little one,” she said.
When she glanced behind to offer some explanation about Mira to Cynthia, the girl quickly looked away. Had she told Cynthia they had a baby? She didn’t think so. But Cynthia didn’t ask any questions, not even a polite “How old is she?” or the usual comments about how cute she was. In fact, the appearance of the baby seemed to shut Cynthia down completely. It was odd.
More customers came in. Elise tucked Mira back in the stroller and set it in the corner of the room, away from the flow of foot traffic. Cynthia managed the register while Elise prepped all the orders. From the other side of the shop, Mira began to cry.
“I have the timer set on this turmeric ginger—just finish it for me?” Elise said, moving out from behind the counter and rushing over to the stroller. A wailing baby wasn’t exactly in sync with the Zen vibes of the store. As soon as Elise picked her up, Mira quieted. Elise walked in circles, patting her back.
The tide of customers slowed until she was once again alone in the store with Cynthia. The girl remained silent, rinsing cups in the sink while Elise paced with Mira.
Was this Cynthia’s idea of good manners? Showing a total lack of interest?
Or did she not ask questions because she knew some of the answers?
No, that was crazy thinking. And yet…
Elise turned to examine Cynthia’s face, her heart beating fast. She searched for features that matched Mira’s, all the while telling herself she was just under stress, sleep-deprived.
She checked her phone. What was keeping Fern?
The kitchen table was covered with small bowls of loose-leaf tea and diced-up kelp. Olivia sat between Fern and Jaci and across the table from Marco, the four of them busy mixing various combinations of tea with the kelp, scooping the leaves into tea bags, and labeling them.
