Chapter eleven
Tammy practically skippeddown the seaside lane, humming happily to herself and unable to contain her excitement. Today was dedicated to putting the finishing touches into her new tearoom before the grand opening tomorrow. She had so many little tasks left to complete—adjusting pictures, stocking display jars, testing recipes. There was still much to do, but she buzzed with eager energy, ready to check items off her list.
With a bubbling excitement in her chest, Tammy approached the charming tearoom, her eyes taking in every inch of it. The soft morning sunlight cast a warm glow on the exterior, making it feel even more inviting. Her eyes lifted to the new freshly painted sign above the door and her heart swelled. Thanks to Reverend Townsend putting the word out and Pharis agreeing to help, everyone would know the café was now a tearoom. Not only that, they’d know she was now the new proprietor too.
Hurrying over to the blue door, she pushed her key into the lock. She had a long list of last-minute details to attend to, but every task was going to be a labour of love.
Stepping inside, Tammy breathed deeply. The freshly painted lemon walls and ocean-themed decor filling the cosy space never failed to lift her spirits. This charming tearoom represented her dreams coming true, a chance to start fresh in idyllic Seagull Bay.
Tammy rolled up her sleeves and got to work. She spent the next hour tweaking the decor, fussing about, adjusting the quaint pictures on the walls, arranging the tables and chairs just so, and ensuring that every decorative element contributed to the cosy atmosphere she wanted to create, stepping back periodically to judge the overall look.
The dangling shells of the wind chimes tinkled as she moved them near the front window where they could best catch the ocean breeze. The charming carved whale figurines were carefully rearranged into a playful pod on the round oak hostess stand, and the large seascape painting of a lighthouse was centred precisely next to the cork noticeboard. Her heart swelled with a mix of anticipation and nerves—her dream was about to become a reality.
Satisfied with the decor, Tammy headed to the kitchen to take stock of supplies. She had already bought all the necessary ingredients but wanted to organise the large stainless steel commercial refrigerator. Soon jars of clotted cream, lemon curd, fruit jams, and delicate finger sandwiches filled the shelves. The personalised chrome Earl Grey and breakfast tea canisters were given prime real estate on the wooden countertop next to the complicated coffee-making machine.
Tammy was just giving the gleaming oval hostess stand one final polish when the jingle of the doorbell announced a new presence. Tammy turned to see Pharis’ grinning face as he strolled into the tearoom with a huge wicker picnic basket in hand and a mischievous grin playing on his lips.
‘Pharis! What are you doing here?’ Tammy exclaimed, momentarily distracted from her flurry of activities.
‘Afternoon, busy bee,’ he replied cheerfully. ‘Thought you could use a quick break from all this hard work before your big day. How about we take a little break and have a picnic on the beach?’’ He held up the overflowing basket as temptation, the delicious scents of fresh bread and salmon wafting from it.
Tammy’s eyes widened in surprise, and she glanced around at the still-incomplete tearoom. ‘Oh Pharis, that’s so thoughtful and I appreciate the gesture, but there’s so much left to do...’ Tammy gestured helplessly at the room behind her.
He waved a dismissive hand. ‘Trust me, Tammy. The tearoom will still be here after you’ve eaten lunch. You need a moment to relax.’ Tammy opened her mouth to protest. ‘It’ll keep for an hour,’ Pharis cajoled, his hazel eyes twinkling. ‘You need to refuel or you’ll run out of energy. Come on, I’ve brought some food samples for you to try of my farm-fresh food too, thought they might be nice additions to your menu.’
As much as Tammy wanted to protest, she couldn’t deny that the idea of a brief escape was appealing. Pharis made a convincing case—a short break would renew her focus. And those samples could be perfect for the tearoom if they were as tasty as the other ingredients he’d provided. ‘Alright, you’ve convinced me, but only for a little while. I can’t afford to be away for too long,’ she conceded, grabbing a blanket for them to sit on. ‘I can spare no more than forty-five minutes for this picnic lunch.’
Pharis grinned triumphantly. ‘Deal.’
They found a quiet cosy spot on the beach away from the holidaymakers and Tammy spread out the chequered blanket she’d brought with her. Soon they were settled on it with a light breeze ruffling their hair.
Pharis unpacked an amazing spread—freshly baked bread still warm from the oven, goat cheese and fig preserves, smoked salmon and dill sandwiches, mini quiches, and dainty pastries that looked almost too beautiful to eat. For dessert, tiny lemon tarts that made Tammy’s mouth water just looking at them. Tammy couldn’t help but smile at the effort he’d gone to.
As they savoured the flavours, Pharis shared stories about the origins of the different foods and their potential appeal to her customers. He had such passion when discussing his ideas for new programs and partnerships he was considering with his own business. His easy-going charm and entrepreneurial spirit captivated Tammy, and the food samples he’d brought were absolutely delicious—she told him they’d be perfect additions to her menu. Tammy found herself getting lost in his enthusiasm, gradually forgetting about the mounting to-do list waiting for her back at the tearoom.
Time seemed to stretch and slow down, and Tammy’s initial worries melted away. She felt surprisingly at ease with Pharis, his carefree attitude infectious. For the first time in a while, she was able to let go of the stress that had been building up within her.
Glancing at her watch, Tammy saw almost an hour had passed. ‘Oh dear, I really should be getting back,’ she said, scrambling up and brushing crumbs from her dress.
Just then, not far from them, she noticed a lone figure strolling along the shoreline, accompanied by a massive dog. Her heart skipped a beat, and a twinge of awkwardness settled in her chest. She recognised Declan’s familiar gait. Tammy felt suddenly self-conscious about being discovered picnicking with Pharis.
‘Erm, Pharis,’ Tammy began, her voice tinged with uncertainty, ‘I think we have company.’
Pharis turned to follow her gaze, and a knowing grin spread across his face. ‘Looks like your friend Declan is taking a stroll.’
As Declan approached, his dog playfully bounding alongside him, Tammy felt a sudden surge of guilt. She forced a smile and gave a hesitant wave. ‘Good afternoon, Declan.’ Declan drew closer and eyed their cosy setup with thinly veiled irritation. ‘Taking Fernando for a walk?’ It was a stupid question as it was clearly evident he was. Tammy attempted to act casual. She wanted Declan to see there was nothing romantic happening with the beach picnic.
However, the usually friendly Declan walked past without so much as a nod, a hint of annoyance marring his handsome features. Tammy’s heart sank, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that their once-solid friendship had been strained by something more than his display of grumpiness.
Once Declan was out of earshot, Tammy couldn’t help but feel a sense of frustration building within her. Tammy turned her gaze back to Pharis, embarrassment turning to indignation. ‘Well! That was rather rude, wasn’t it?’
Pharis merely chuckled. ‘Don’t let it trouble you. Some folks just have no manners.’ His nonchalant reply only irked Tammy more, but she bit her tongue.
Irritation about the whole awkward situation as well as feeling guilty about the time she’d wasted bubbled to the surface. ‘Pharis, thanks for the picnic. It was a lovely gesture, but I really should get back. I can’t afford to waste any more time.’
Pharis raised an eyebrow, his playful demeanour not diminishing. ‘I was only trying to get you to relax for a spell,’ holding up his hands innocently. ‘I told you we’d only be here for an hour. We’ve got a few minutes left.’
Tammy huffed, her irritation directed at both the situation and Pharis. ‘What?! I haven’t got minutes to waste. Y-you show up unannounced, delaying me with this picnic when there is still so much to do for the opening. I need to be back in the tearoom making final preparations. This was nice, but I have work to do.’
