Secrets And Tea

Chapter 16

Rionna stepped onto the porch carrying a bag filled with some side dishes she had picked up at the local Grocery store. Reaching up she knocked on the door to Damien's home and stood waiting. 

The yard was looking great. She noticed that there was a swinging bench situated among flowers that had been planted long ago. The edges lined with large stones making it look beautiful and clean.

She was impressed by the amount of work that Damien had done in the many weeks since he had bought the house. He clearly knew a thing or two in various aspects of house and yard work. 

The door opened and Damien stood looking fresh from a shower. His hair was damp and the smell that came out of the open door was delightful and had Rionna's stomach grumbling. 

"Come on in," Damien offered stepping aside to let her enter the house. 

Rionna took a step in and looked around. The foyer sparkled like new. Tiles replaced the hardwood flooring in black and white. The foyer centered along a hall that had some open archways that would no doubt lead to the den and kitchen. 

"Wow, this is amazing. You are doing so well on the house," she commented as he took the bag from her fingers.

"Thank you, go ahead look around. Supper will be ready in half an hour," suggested Damien  as he exited the hall into one of the archways. 

Rionna took his suggestion and slowly gazed into the first archway where a fireplace was. No furniture was in it yet. The drywall was covered in a light green color. The smell of fresh paint hung vaguely in the air telling her he must have just painted the room. 

Looking into a second archway she saw it was a bit smaller again no furniture here the walls were covered in a muted beige. The floor was still covered in plastic and the smell of paint was stronger in this room. 

She noted the window was open to air out the room a bit more with a fan blowing outwards.

The next few doors revealed a closet, and a bathroom then a stair way to the right and across from that was the kitchen where she got a full view of the jean clad covered buttocks as Damien was bent over looking into the stove. 

She could smell the bbq sauce and some potatoes. 

"God that smells good," she said. 

Damien straightened and pulled off the oven mitts before closing the door again.

"It does, come make yourself at home. I'll pour us some drinks." he said, as he went to one of the cupboards and pulled out two wine glasses which he filled with cranberry juice and soda. 

"I didn't know if you like wine so I opted for this concoction instead," he said setting the drink before her on the table.

"Tell me a bit more about Witch's Cove. I've listened to a few tour groups this summer so I know some history. Why did you stay rather than leave?"

Rionna swirled her drink a bit before answering him.

"I never dreamed of leaving Witch's Cove. I always had a thing for tea and learning how to make it. I went to japan for a week long course on tea making. I took university studies online about herbs and their uses. I learned about their benefits and which ones can safely be mixed together. The day I had bought the building I'm in now was just before Thomas went off to the military." 

She looked at him with bright eyes, "He had helped to gut the store and start renovations along with my dad and mom. I had a binder which I had created when I was sixteen with all the stuff I wanted in my shop."

She smiled softly, "Once the interior was redone and everything passed inspection. I ordered the tables from our local carpenter and started my orders for dried herbs from our local orchard and greenhouse."

Damien listened quietly as she talked about her dream and how she achieved it.

Pain filled her as she thought about Thomas, "He was supposed to come home. I had dreamed of showing him how the tearoom looked and to try it. I never heard from him. I would find out after he left that he had been home for a day or two but never once did he call me."

She saw brief instance of anger appear on Damiens face.

"I wanted to talk to him. To apologize for my words the day he told me he would be leaving the island for the military."

She felt a tear escape, "I wanted him to come home."

Damien walked over and engulfed her in a hug. Wondering why Thomas hadn't even reached out to her during those times he returned home.

"I'm sure he wishes that he had done those things too," soothed Damien, rubbing her back gently.

The timer went off and he grabbed the gloves and opened the oven and pulled out the food.

A pan of BBQ steaks and potatoes in tinfoil were steaming as he set them on top.

He grabbed two plates and placed one steak and potato on each and then handed her one of the plates to fill with her choice of sides.

Rhianna took her plate and added the sides to it. She didn't know why she always talked about Thomas to this man. She had thought she was over the crying and internal anger but each time she was with Damien she felt like she had to talk about him.

Supper was delicious and she listened as Damien talked about Thomas and his life in the military.

"He talked about you everyday. He told me that he knew he had hurt you the day he left. He wanted to come back as a hero for you to be proud of." Damien said, "His dying word were that I find you and tell you he was sorry for the pain  he had caused you."

Rhionna was sobbing once more at those words. The words she should have been the one to utter to the man she loved with all her heart.

Damien's arms were around her again. Holding her tight. Through her sniffling she felt his body shudder and realized he too was silently crying for the man he had served with.

She patted his back lightly. Her heart melting for this man. He was so unlike what she felt military men should be like. He wasn't stern or demanding but sweet and generous.

He made her smile and did things for her that Thomas could no longer do for her. He was slowly filling the aching hole in her chest.