Tea Shop Folly by Pagels Carrie Fancett

Author:Pagels, Carrie Fancett [Pagels, Carrie Fancett]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Hearts Overcoming Press
Published: 2017-03-02T05:00:00+00:00

Lilly picked at her food. The other boarders had left the table, giving the four of them some privacy in the gas-lit room, with a fancy chandelier hanging over the table. The landlady knew Theo well. He’d boarded there several years. She tried to be quiet lest she say something wrong. And she wanted to hear more of Mrs. Elsner’s comments. She especially wanted to know why the woman implied that Theo’s mother rotated between her daughter’s homes. But if she was wealthy, or at least prominent, why didn’t she have her own home?

“These victuals are right good.” Garrett grinned at Theo’s landlady, who continued to wear the bemused expression she’d had when he’d brought them there.

“Thank you, Mr. Christy. I imagine it is nothing compared to eating at the Grand Hotel.”

“The Grand Hotel does have some mighty fine fixin’s.” Garrett nodded and bent over his plate. He still consumed as much as a lumberjack. How did he stay so trim?

“Theo is my most thoughtful boarder.” Mrs. Elsner dabbed at her mouth with her napkin. “And he’s the only one I’ve had who worked on the locks.”

On locks? Lilly glanced across the table at Theo, who was serving himself another slice of chocolate cake. “I thought you were an engineer.”

“My dear, have you not gone to see our marvelous Soo Locks?” The boarding house owner’s facial features tugged in confusion. “Theo hasn’t taken you?”

“No.”

“Why, they’re an engineering marvel!” Mrs. Elsner gestured to Theo to cut her a slice of cake, too.

“Do you enjoy your work, Garrett?” Theo passed the cake to his landlady.

“Well, it may not be as excitin’ as building the Locks for those huge boats to go through, but I’d say I love my work.” He wiped his face with his napkin. “Seein’ something come alive out of the wood, that is an amazing feeling.”

Theo smiled. “That’s how I feel when I see the boats coming into and out of the locks. It is an engineering miracle and I get to be part of it.”

Mrs. Elsner took a bite of the heavily frosted cake and then set her fork down. “And you, dear, do you enjoy running a business?”

“What?” Lilly and Garrett exchanged a glance before she stiffened and looked to Theo for explanation.

“Your shop,” he offered before sipping his tea.

“Ya openin’ up your Aunt Lillian’s place as a shop?” Garrett frowned.

“I think there’s some confusion.” That head of steam Lilly had worked up earlier resurfaced. “We really need to talk.”

The boarding house door chime rang. Mrs. Elsner rose and went to the door.

A strange expression came over Theo’s face and his eyes seemed to glaze over as he peered past Lilly at Mrs. Elsner’s retreating form. “No. Please not now,” he muttered almost to himself.

“What’s that?” Lilly’s question was ignored as Theo hastily departed the table, a dumbstruck look on his face.

He joined Mrs. Elsner, whose soft words didn’t carry down the hall.

“Wonder what that’s all about?” Garrett shifted, beside her. “If you ain’t eatin’ that ham, I’d gladly take it.

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