Intermezzo by Patrice Greenwood

Author:Patrice Greenwood [Greenwood, Patrice]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mystery, tea, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Wisteria Tearoom
ISBN: 978-1-952653-00-1
Publisher: Evennight Books
Published: 2021-01-23T00:00:00+00:00

4

Iwoke alone. Tony had managed to slip out of bed, dress, and leave without disturbing me. I lay still at first, remembering our evening together. Finally the smell of baking sweets roused me out of bed. I showered and dressed, fed the kitten, and went downstairs to ask Hanh for some extra pastries to take to my appointment with Mr. Hidalgo.

“It’s not ’til tomorrow morning,” I said. “You could do them at the end of the day.”

Han’s expression of mild disapproval softened. “OK.”

“Do you have everything you need for today? Ramon’s coming in, right?”

“Yes. Should be no problem.”

“All right. Thanks, Hanh.”

She nodded, already focused on the mixer again. Her long black ponytail reminded me of Owen’s. I got out of her way, stopping in at the butler’s pantry where Iz was filling the big urn with water to heat for tea. As always, she looked neat as a pin in her lavender dress and white apron.

“Good morning, Iz. How’s it going?”

“Fine, thank you.” She gave me a fleeting smile.

“Have you seen the gift shop?”

This was the first day she’d come in this week. She shook her head.

“Not yet. I’ll go look after this is full.”

I left her to it and went to the gift shop myself. The Valentines display looked sparse, and the cupboards underneath it were still empty, so I went upstairs to bring down some merchandise. Nat arrived while I was unpacking more of the black mugs I didn’t care for—apparently they were a hit with my customers—and helped me replenish the display.

“Can you come in early on Friday and stand in for me?” I asked her. “I’m taking the day off.”

She gave me a look of mock surprise. “Ellen is taking a day off?”

“Tony and I are going house-hunting. We’re starting early.”

“Ah. Yes, I can come in around nine, if that’s early enough.”

“That would be great.”

She broke down an empty box and folded it for the recycling bin. “What part of town are you looking at?”

“As close to the tearoom as we can afford.”

She nodded. “Good luck.”

“Thanks. We’ll need it.”

Iz joined us, and the displays were soon fully stocked. Since there was room to store more merchandise under the new display, I asked her to come upstairs with me and bring down some boxes.

Kris had arrived and was sitting at her desk. She had on a black velour dress and knee-high black boots. Her only ornament, as usual, was the jet beaded necklace she’d worn since Gabriel had died.

“We’re going to need some more of those mugs with the big hearts,” I said, as Iz came out of the storeroom with the last box of them.

Kris nodded. “Anything else?”

“Valentine cards. And the little heart-shaped china boxes—those are going fast.”

“OK.”

A loud yowl came from my office. Iz froze in the doorway, eyes wide with alarm.

“It’s just the kitten,” I said, hurrying past her. “I’ll take care of her.”

The yowl came again, a piteous sound, a “something’s wrong” sound, not just “pay attention to me.” I hurried to the playpen and saw that the kitten had a claw hooked high up on the screen wall.

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