Secrets And Tea

Chapter 15

Rionna wailed as the words she could sense were exactly what Thomas would have said spilled from Damien's mouth. The grief she had been fighting back day after day finally came out. She should have felt mortified that after a beautiful day being pampered by this man she was now bawling like a toddler into his shoulder, but she felt comfort there. Understanding. Something that no one else seemed to provide for her since hearing of Thomas's death. 

As her crying subsided to soft sniffles she wiped her cheeks with her sleeve and then slid from the man holding her to sit on her chair.

"I'm sorry," she said, "I must be getting close to my period."

Damien nodded, letting her excuse for the breakdown slide. 

"You aren't saying anything?" she asked him.

"Hey, I'm a man. What I do know about women menses cycles?" he said putting up his hands, "If it's because you are about to bleed that you are sobbing then I'm going to leave it at that."

Rionna laughed lightly at his words. He was a strange man. Clearly he had women in his life or he'd be calling her on her bullshit.

"Do you have sisters?" she asked softly.

"No, I was the only child," he said, "My mom used to give that reason a lot as I grew up."

"Ah, mamma's boy." She teased.

"Hey, dad was no different. He was practically putty in my mom's hand. She asked him to do something and he would prance about like she had told him that he was a king or won the lottery," Damien said, "It was interesting watching them."

"They sound lovely. I hope they come to visit some time and you bring them by the shop." she said, "I would love to meet them."

"I'll be sure to bring them by when they get around to coming out," he said, "You going to let your hot dog burn?"

"OH my god," she cried out as she grabbed the stick and yanked her hot dog back from the flames. Groaning as she saw the charred log on the stick. 

She grabbed the provided tongs and carefully extracted the hot dog from it's skewer and tossed it directly into the flames before putting on a new one. 

The two sat comfortably talking about things unrelated to Thomas. 

In the background the ghostly specter of Thomas watched his comrade in arms and his girlfriend talk. A smile playing on his lips as he leaned against the house. 

"You did good boy. That young man is a perfect match for our young Rionna," stated the elderly woman beside him.

"Thank you Mrs. Joplin. I wasn't sure he would go through with this," Thomas said to the woman.

"Dear. That man went through thick and thin with you. I don't think he would shy away from doing this favor for you. Besides, they were meant to be together. You can see it in the stars above." she said.

Thomas hummed, he had seen the signs long before his death. It had been denial on his part that he had just brushed off the signs as nothing more than stupidity and insecurity. Now, he knew the signs for what they had been. A premonitions of what was to unfold. The twist of fate that everyone so strongly denied was real, because to believe it was to realize your life was not unplanned but planned out to a tea.

He snorted at his little misprint of the word in his head. He just hoped that the secrets that Damien had would not sever the bond that he could see growing between the man and Rionna. The light blue shimmer of rope between the two was dull but getting stronger as they were in each others company. 

Damien said goodbye to Rionna at his front gate and told her he would see her at the shop tomorrow. 

The moment her car disappeared down the road he went inside his home to get a little more work done before he slept. 

The sun was hot as it beat down on Witch's Cove. Damien had been working on the fence since the early afternoon after going to the mainland for the wood and posts. Swiping at his brow he looked up at the sun and tossed down his hammer and gloves.

"I need a drink," he muttered as he stripped off his belt and tossed it aside. He grabbed his truck keys and drove to the tea shop. 

Customers were lined out the door as he pulled up. Tourists stood on the side walk almost up to the hotel and were trickling in one by one as people exited the shop. Damien whistled. He couldn't believe the line.

He took his spot and waited as the line dwindled slowly. He wondered what was happening that the little shop was so busy.

"I heard that this place was awesome. The owner apparently doesn't take normal orders. If you ask for a house special she blends you the perfect tea." the woman in front of him told another, "I want to see if it's true."

The moment he saw the front doors he saw a poster in the window of the shop stating that those who bought something from the gift shop would get a free tea leaf reading done by a resident of Witch's Cove.

Quirking his eyebrow Damien wanted to snort at the fact that it seemed this was what was drawing the large crowd to the shop. 

As those who left were giggling away and talking about their readings.

He stepped into the cool interior. His gaze going to the table surrounded by curtains and a pair of women sitting across from each other. One was looking inside the tea cup while the other sat pensively in her seat gnawing on her lower lip.

"Damien. Glad to see you. Can't talk now sorry," Abigail said as she scurried by with her tray.

Damien could see Rionna behind the counter measuring tea leaves and pouring the hot water over the loose leaves. She would let it sit for a bit before handing it to the customer to take in fancy china cups and plates.

The cashier's beeping and cha-ching as the drawer opened was dull noise compared to the people chatting happily while they ate their dessert and drank their tea.

Abigail had two helpers with her running around grabbing orders and clearing tables before the next customer could sit down.

A gift shop which had been sectioned off from the tea shop was completely filled with customers as they browsed the wares that were on the shelves. 

Damien approached the counter and gave his order of iced tea with lemon and a baguette sandwich.

Rionna smiled at him as he approached her side of the counter where she was working.

"Hi," she greeted, "Hot day today!"

"Yeah. Did you want to meet at the beach later for a swim? After work I mean?" he asked.

"Sure, I'll meet you there. I have to run home to change." she said, "What are you working on today?"

"The fence. I just went to the main land to grab the stuff today. The electrician is almost done with the house and then I can get my appliances in."

"Great. I'll have to get you to make your famous ribs then" she said, "See you later."

Damien nodded and headed out of the shop. He headed for his truck and to the house where he sipped on the ice cold brew in his palm and stared at the half finished project.