Tea Leaf Secrets by Susan Gabriel

Author:Susan Gabriel
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wild Lily Arts

22

Violet

Violet answers the phone at the tea shop. It’s Queenie.

“Tell Spud this isn’t about him,” Queenie begins. “I just need some time away. Until I can get my head straight.”

“Where are you?” Violet asks.

“I’m calling from a restaurant in Charleston.”

“Charleston? But why?” Ava looks over at Violet as though she can tell something’s up. Violet’s eyes widen to confirm her suspicions.

“I don’t want to talk about it right now,” Queenie says. “I just need some time. Please tell Spud what I told you.”

Violet agrees that she will, and before she can say anything else, Queenie hangs up.

“Everything okay?” Ava asks.

“I’m not sure,” Violet says. “Something’s going on with Queenie.”

Ava’s eyes soften. “I like Queenie. I hope she’s okay.”

Violet thanks her and asks Ava to cover the front while she goes back to call Rose. Rose picks up on the first ring.

“Queenie just called from Charleston. She says she needs some time away to think.”

“I was afraid something like that might happen.”

“What do you mean?” Violet asks.

“She must have read the diary, Vi. She was waiting for me here at the cottage, and it was sitting on a table in my studio.”

Violet pauses. “Earlier today, she accused me of acting strange. She said both of us were—you and me. So, she must have known we were keeping something from her.”

“This can’t be good,” Rose says.

Violet agrees.

“Does she know anyone in Charleston?”

“Not that I know of.”

They both are quiet, but Violet’s brain won’t shut up. She glances out into the tea shop, seeing that Ava could use some help.

“What should we do?” Rose says finally, sounding as clueless as Violet feels.

“I guess the first thing is to tell Spud,” Violet says. “He’s probably worried. I’ll run home after the lunch crowd clears out.” She pauses. “I shouldn’t have read her tea leaves,” Violet adds.

“What makes you say that?”

“They predicted her world was about to turn upside down,” Violet says. “And there was something about her taking a long trip. Maybe that planted a seed.”

“Maybe the tea leaves were right,” Rose says. “Both those things have happened.”

Violet hadn’t thought of that possibility. Ava comes into the back to grab some fresh scones, and Violet apologizes for taking so long, but Ava tells her not to worry.

“Have you ever known her to do this before?” Rose asks.

“Never,” Violet says. “Have you?”

“Never.”

“Well, I guess we just need to let her do what she needs to do,” Violet says, noting a bit of worry in her voice. “I mean, she’s in her sixties not a sixteen-year-old. She’ll call us if she needs us, right?”

“She will,” Rose says. “But I imagine she’s devastated.”

“Those Temples can create a ruckus even from beyond the grave,” Violet says, before remembering that Rose is a Temple, too. She apologizes.

“No, you’re right,” Rose says.

“How are you dealing with Spud being your dad?” Violet asks.

“I asked him about where he grew up and about his family this morning,” Rose says. “Talk about awkward.”

“But Spud’s one of the most easygoing guys on the planet,” Violet says.

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