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“Oh, our darling niece, it is no different for us. We were drifting through life until you entered it,” Aunt Sarah said, sniffing into her napkin.
“We love you too.” Aunt Marla got to her feet and hugged Mandy hard. “We think of you as our child, Mandy. You know that, don’t you?”
“Of course.” She hugged her back. “I just needed you to know how special you are to me.” Mandy inhaled her aunt’s scent. So familiar and dear.
“What brought this on?” Aunt Marla held her shoulders now.
“Nothing, I just needed you to know.”
“We do, and now we must get to the shop or the locals will get angry if they don’t have their scones and tea on time.”
“Oh look,dear, there’s Joe and Jack Trainer.” Aunt Sarah tooted and waved as they drove down Main Street slowly. Aunt Sarah always drove slow, and not because she wanted to follow the speed limit, no. It was because she was nosey and wanted to see what everyone was doing. “If only I was twenty years younger.”
Twenty would still put them out of range, but Mandy kept that thought to herself. The men were all ambling down Main Street, and she had to admit they were pretty to look at.
“Those boys with them are from the bachelor party I heard Ted discussing, aren’t they, Mandy?”
“I believe so, Aunt Sarah.”
“Are you still catering for their trip up to the cabins?”
“I am, and a few other things. The lodge is too busy, so they asked me.”
“That’s good then,” Aunt Marla said.
Mandy was trying to get her own catering business off the ground. It was only small, and she’d not really leaped into it with both feet yet. She was just doing little jobs, all through word of mouth at this stage.
Just another thing she’d not embraced because was too scared to do so wholeheartedly.
“Hello, Joe, Jack!” Aunt Sarah had the window down now and let out a wolf whistle.
Her aunts had way more get up and go than her, and enough confidence to share with the entire town.
The group of men waved.
“They’ve all been whacked with the handsome stick,” Aunt Sara said.
“Mayor Gripper has had more color planted in the hanging baskets and flower beds, and I think it adds just the right touch,” Aunt Marla said as they pulled into the parking spaces behind the tea shop. Letting themselves in, Mandy stayed in the kitchen while the aunts went and set up the shop.
This place had been Mandy’s salvation for many years. She loved working with food. She’d spent many hours lost in baking, and was grateful that her aunts had bought Tea Total when they’d retired from teaching.
“Mandy, dear, the bachelor party are here to discuss the hampers you are making for their trip to the cabins.”
“Thanks, Aunt Sarah.”
Mandy plated up the scones she’d just pulled out of the oven. She tucked her notebook in her apron and carried the plates out to the counter.
She noticed Ted was here with Jack and Jake McBride, who she’d met yesterday.
“Hi, Mandy.” Joe came forward to kiss her cheek. “I like your hair.” He winked. “You met Jake McBride, I think, when he called in here?”
“I have. Hello, Mr. McBride.”
“Just Jake.” He had a charming smile like Joe and looked like one of those people Mandy had always envied who was comfortable in their own skin.
“Hi, Mandy.”
“Hello, Ted.”
