Tannin to be extracted from the tea leaves. ‘Bitter stuff, that Tannin.’”
“I was wondering when the accent would show up,” Nana feigned.
“Hush. This is a Taylors of Harrogate tea. Their teas were voted Best Cup of Tea in England . I’ve decided to use them exclusively. And if I’ve done my homework correctly and made this pot to specifications, it should be superb. Utterly superb.”
“Yes, Eliza.”
“Only the best for our customers, right? Okay, here we go.”
Maddie poured from the hand-painted teapot, first into Nana’s cup, then into her own. Following each sip, they discussed the flavor and quality of the tea giving today’s sample two thumbs up. Maddie added their comments to the list of other flavors they’d sampled over the past week.
Finally, she sat back to read over her notes. “Seems we both enjoyed the Earl Grey, the English breakfast, the Lemon and Herb Tisane, and the Scottish Breakfast tea. I liked the Peppermint Tisane, you did not. You liked the Raspberry and Rosehip Tisane, I did not. And we both loved the Yorkshire Gold. And during the holidays we’ll offer the Spiced Christmas tea—remember how good it smelled?”
“My goodness, what a lot of teas to keep up with. How will your customers—”
“ Our customers.”
“How will our customers know what to choose?”
“Lanie will include a description of each flavor we offer on a page in our menu. She’s already doing a mock-up for us. I’m hoping she’ll bring a rough draft when she stops by after work. I found some gorgeous watercolors of teacups and English gardens, that sort of thing, by an art student at UT. She was thrilled when I offered to pay her for the prints to use on our menu. We’ll write a blurb about her on the back. Remind me to show those to you later, will you?”
Nana pushed the lever to roll her chair back. “I will, but for now you must excuse me. I think I’ll go rest for awhile.”
“I’ll help you lie down,” Maddie followed, taking their cups to the sink.
“You’ll do no such thing. Gretchen will be happy to help me. Gretchen?” she called, rolling into the hall.
“Right here, Rachel. Ready for your morning nap?”
Maddie watched as the plump, cheerful nurse greeted Nana with a ready smile. In the weeks since her return from England, she’d come to love the newest member of their family. Gretchen’s warm personality made for a relaxed atmosphere despite the chaos of all the renovations. Maddie couldn’t imagine how they’d managed without her all these years.
“Sweet dreams, Nana. I’ll go over our sandwich menu with you after lunch, okay?”
“Howdy, Miss Cooper.”
“Oh!” Maddie turned as Brad Chapman walked through the back door. “Oh, hello, Brad—I didn’t hear the door open. You gave me a start! How are you this morning?”
Clearing the table, Maddie took a good look at her contractor. He was definitely a man to behold—tall, muscular, tanned, and unusually polite. Quite the gentleman, in fact.
“Fine, thank you. And you?”
“Fine as well,” she answered playfully. “Would you like a cup of tea? I have a delightful English Breakfast tea that’s quite good.”
Brad’s face broadened in a smile. “That’s kind of you to ask, Miss Cooper. But no, I’ll have to pass. I want to finish that built-in hutch this morning before I start in here. The industrial refrigerator and stove should be delivered today.”
“Oh, that’s great! I can’t wait to see how they’re going to fit.”
“They’ll fit real good, Miss Cooper. You have my word. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll head on into the dining room to work. The rest of the crew should be here any minute.” He tipped his ball cap, a gesture she always found amusing, and disappeared into the hall.
Yes, Mr. Chapman, I do believe it’s time I arrange a little rendezvous for you with Miss Lanie Morgan . . .
As Maddie continued washing the dishes, she remembered how Lanie had scoffed at her the
“I was wondering when the accent would show up,” Nana feigned.
“Hush. This is a Taylors of Harrogate tea. Their teas were voted Best Cup of Tea in England . I’ve decided to use them exclusively. And if I’ve done my homework correctly and made this pot to specifications, it should be superb. Utterly superb.”
“Yes, Eliza.”
“Only the best for our customers, right? Okay, here we go.”
Maddie poured from the hand-painted teapot, first into Nana’s cup, then into her own. Following each sip, they discussed the flavor and quality of the tea giving today’s sample two thumbs up. Maddie added their comments to the list of other flavors they’d sampled over the past week.
Finally, she sat back to read over her notes. “Seems we both enjoyed the Earl Grey, the English breakfast, the Lemon and Herb Tisane, and the Scottish Breakfast tea. I liked the Peppermint Tisane, you did not. You liked the Raspberry and Rosehip Tisane, I did not. And we both loved the Yorkshire Gold. And during the holidays we’ll offer the Spiced Christmas tea—remember how good it smelled?”
“My goodness, what a lot of teas to keep up with. How will your customers—”
“ Our customers.”
“How will our customers know what to choose?”
“Lanie will include a description of each flavor we offer on a page in our menu. She’s already doing a mock-up for us. I’m hoping she’ll bring a rough draft when she stops by after work. I found some gorgeous watercolors of teacups and English gardens, that sort of thing, by an art student at UT. She was thrilled when I offered to pay her for the prints to use on our menu. We’ll write a blurb about her on the back. Remind me to show those to you later, will you?”
Nana pushed the lever to roll her chair back. “I will, but for now you must excuse me. I think I’ll go rest for awhile.”
“I’ll help you lie down,” Maddie followed, taking their cups to the sink.
“You’ll do no such thing. Gretchen will be happy to help me. Gretchen?” she called, rolling into the hall.
“Right here, Rachel. Ready for your morning nap?”
Maddie watched as the plump, cheerful nurse greeted Nana with a ready smile. In the weeks since her return from England, she’d come to love the newest member of their family. Gretchen’s warm personality made for a relaxed atmosphere despite the chaos of all the renovations. Maddie couldn’t imagine how they’d managed without her all these years.
“Sweet dreams, Nana. I’ll go over our sandwich menu with you after lunch, okay?”
“Howdy, Miss Cooper.”
“Oh!” Maddie turned as Brad Chapman walked through the back door. “Oh, hello, Brad—I didn’t hear the door open. You gave me a start! How are you this morning?”
Clearing the table, Maddie took a good look at her contractor. He was definitely a man to behold—tall, muscular, tanned, and unusually polite. Quite the gentleman, in fact.
“Fine, thank you. And you?”
“Fine as well,” she answered playfully. “Would you like a cup of tea? I have a delightful English Breakfast tea that’s quite good.”
Brad’s face broadened in a smile. “That’s kind of you to ask, Miss Cooper. But no, I’ll have to pass. I want to finish that built-in hutch this morning before I start in here. The industrial refrigerator and stove should be delivered today.”
“Oh, that’s great! I can’t wait to see how they’re going to fit.”
“They’ll fit real good, Miss Cooper. You have my word. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll head on into the dining room to work. The rest of the crew should be here any minute.” He tipped his ball cap, a gesture she always found amusing, and disappeared into the hall.
Yes, Mr. Chapman, I do believe it’s time I arrange a little rendezvous for you with Miss Lanie Morgan . . .
As Maddie continued washing the dishes, she remembered how Lanie had scoffed at her the
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