The Potter's Daughter - A chapter each week - Complete Novel Available on Amazon

Chapter 15

Will went into the house to get more coffee.  The coffee can Will kept by the automatic drip in the studio was empty.  He opened the yellow cupboard above the counter and pulled down the can kept there only to find few grounds inside.  “How long since we had coffee in the house?” he thought.  Shuffling further behind the sugar packets and cubes, the pink and yellow sweeteners, and the honey, produced no coffee.  Will pulled out three boxes of tea instead.  Holding two boxes in one hand and the other at arms length he tilted his head back to read the label.  This did not satisfy Will so he reached into his pocket and put on his wire frame glasses for another look.

“Ok then,” mumbled Will, “herbal assorted mint, raspberry… no.”  Will set the box on the counter and inspected the next.  “Bergamot.  Ughh.”  Will set down the Earl Grey and turned to the last box that read ‘Black Breakfast Tea’.  Will smirked and nodded his head.  He tapped the box on his palm and scanned the kitchen.

The kettle was on the back of the counter.  Will grinned, set the box of black tea down by the stove, and then filled the kettle with water from the tap.  Will put the kettle on then sat down to wait.  From the driveway came the sound of the pickup.  Abby walked into the kitchen to see her father sitting peacefully watching the stove in anticipation.  Abby stood for a moment contemplating whether to leave him for a while or to get the conversation over with that she had been dreading.

 “Hey there, what are you doing?” asked Abby.

 “I, am having, a cup of tea,” said Will, as if he had been planning a cup of tea all morning.

“Mind if I join you?” asked Abby.  She removed her coat.

“Please do, please do,” said Will graciously.  “I heard the old truck pull in.  I hope it ran all right for you.”

Abby hung her coat on a hook next to the door, “Yeah it was fine, thanks.”

Will brought his elbows to the table, clasped his hands, and then began tapping the ends of his fingers together.  “Hey, Abby, about the Stone Bar --.”

Abby interrupted, “That…”

Will now regretted mentioning the bar.  He had not even had a cup of tea yet.

“I’m sorry,” said Abby.

Will did not miss this window.  “You’re sorry,” he opened his hands to her, “no I’m sorry honey.  I forget myself sometimes.”

“It’s ok,” Abby turned away from Will and walked over to the open tea cupboard.

“I forget myself too,” said Abby.

Abby saw the empty can of coffee and understood Will’s sudden inclination for tea.

“You wanted a black tea?” asked Abby.

“Yeah, the ‘Black Breakfast Tea’, that’s the one I like,” said Will.

Abby took out the honey and two tea bags, one Earl Grey and one black tea, and placed them into two cups.  She then put the rest of the tea back into the cupboard and closed the door.

Abby realized that Will had not had an afternoon caffeine fix and decided she should ease off, or at least be subtle.  She was right to think both were relieved to put yesterday’s incident behind them.  Still Abby’s back was to Will as she straightened the counter and sorted his dishes from lunch.

Will dropped one hand onto his knee, put his back to the wall, and began tapping the table with the other as he watched Abby straighten the counter.

“So what did you think of that big old monstrosity up the hill?” asked Will.

“You should see the place.  Brian and Caroline really know a thing or two and Mitch is doing a great job.  I think it’s going to be a real nice resort.  It’ll stir up a lot of business for the village and lodge.”