“There will be no smacking mommas or anyone else, but we’ll do the North Carolina Tea Tray.” Vanessa handed her menu back with a smile. “I think we’re all set, then.”
“Good choice.” The waitress collected the menus and went to the kitchen.
Vanessa said, “I know I said we weren’t going to talk about work at all, but I have to say one more time how impressed I am with you. I have college graduates working for me that don’t have the attention to detail and project-management skills that you display.”
“Thank you. I do take some college classes. I qualified forthis Career and College Promise program we have. I don’t know if it’s just a North Carolina thing or not, but I really love taking the classes. I get high school credit and transferable college credits too. I’m concentrating on business and project-management-type courses.”
“A’s in all of them?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Vanessa lifted her teacup. “Here’s to you, Misty.”
Misty lifted her cup and tapped it to Vanessa’s. “Thank you.” She sipped her tea. “Have you ever been to Paris? Like the tea?”
“Yes. I have, but I’ll be honest: I didn’t get to experience it like a tourist. I’d love to go back.”
“What’s stopping you?”
“From going to Paris on vacation?” She lifted her teacup and saucer to take a sip, and to buy a moment to collect her thoughts before she answered. “I can’t say that I know why. I’ve got tons of vacation time saved up. I work all the time. I guess… I just haven’t… made the time.”
The waitress came to the table carrying a lovely three-tiered tray filled with delectables.
Vanessa sat wondering at the fact that she never extended any of her work trips to see the sights. She was always so eager to start the next project that it never occurred to her to stay on.
Thankfully the waitress pulled her from her reflection. “If you haven’t been to tea before, you start at the bottom for the first course of savories and tea sandwiches, then move to the scones. Our jams are all made in-house. Then, to top it all off—dessert.”
Misty clapped her hands together silently. “Thank you for letting me pick this place.”
“You earned it.” She lifted a small sandwich and took a bite. “This one is good. It’s like a really spicy pimento cheese.”
“That’s my favorite.” Misty took the other. “Yes. Just like I remember it.”
“So, tell me about school. Clearly you’re an honor roll student.”
“I am. I like the studies and everything, but I’d really rather be at work.”
“Why is that?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m not very popular. I don’t do a lot of the things the popular girls do. It’s fine. I don’t care.”
“I know how you feel. I used to be the same way. I was even younger than you when I started Vanessa’s Fine Vintage Frills.”
“A business?”
“Yep. When I was in junior high school, I dreamed of being a fashion designer. All the kids teased me, but they all came to me for fashion advice. I guess it was the price to have friends. I wasn’t confident enough to say anything when they picked on me.”
“What did you make?”
“I’d go to swap meets and sales with my cousin, then I’d alter and embellish the clothing or handbags and sell them. It was a pretty good little business.”
“That is so cool. I have zero fashion sense. I’m the least girly girl in our school. I get picked on for the opposite.”
“I’m sorry. No matter what the reason, it’s unkind. I still remember the nicknames and jokes they made. I’m doing so much better than those girls now, but those words still sting.”
“I do know what you mean.”
“I wish I had some good advice for you, but honestly I didn’t handle it well. I don’t know what someone should doin that situation, but I will say this. If you need fashion advice, consider me on speed dial for you.” Vanessa took another sip of her tea.
