After hearing that, Autumn’s thoughts were in a turmoil. This had made her totally unsure about everything that had happened between her and Ben so far
Had Ethan been telling the truth? She thought he had. He wouldn’t have lied about something like that. Ethan might have his faults – and she could count them – but lying wasn’t one of them. She’d never known him to do more than tell a little white lie once in a while that her hair looked good when she knew it didn't.
Being Ethan, he was also quite capable of bluntly telling her when her hair looked like the bird’s nest that he’d pulled out of her chimney.
But Ben, out with another woman? That was deeply worrying, and she had no idea what to do now. She couldn’t talk to Ben about it right now. She’d missed her window of opportunity, and he was in his rooms, consulting patients. Much as she’d like her dog, Max, to have had an imaginary ailment right now, the truth was that Max had never been healthier.
If she couldn’t ask Ben what was going on, she could at least discuss it with someone sympathetic.
She lit the fire, watching as the smoke disappeared up the chimney like it should, but she wasn’t taking the pleasure in the smoke-free blaze that she had expected to. Not after Ethan had cast such dire doubts into her mind.
After peering thoughtfully into the cupboards and refrigerator, Autumn decided that they needed more sugar and butter. That was an excuse, of course, for heading out where she really wanted to go.
“C’mon, Max. Time for your walk.”
Delighted that he was going on his morning walk earlier than usual, Max came trotting through from his bed in the kitchen, ready for her to attach his leash. Although the wind was strong, it wasn’t raining. Autumn personally thought that if it got any colder, they’d get the first snowfall of the season soon.
She wrapped a scarf around her neck, put on her gloves, and considered putting a jacket on Max for the walk. Then, she decided it wasn’t cold enough for him. Her dog loved the colder weather and struggled more with the heat.
She headed out, wondering if she’d get a chance to look into the veterinary clinic, where a buggy was even now pulling up. Ben’s season ticket was in her purse, but now, she was unsure if he wanted to go with her. The ticket was his anyway. Maybe she could detour into the clinic and quietly leave it at reception for him. However, she changed her mind about going in when she heard her name being called in piercing tones.
“Ah, Autumn!”
Her heart sank when she saw who was climbing out of the buggy, her hair well coiffed, dressed in a smart white coat and a fur-lined hat. A walking stick in one hand, and her cat’s basket in the other, it was Magnolia Bay’s grand dame, Mrs. Hayman.
Bringing her cat Ziggy for another checkup just to spend more time with Ben? It was just as well the cat enjoyed his outings. Autumn felt a mix of frustration and amusement as she nodded politely.
“Good morning, Mrs. Hayman.”
Giving a quick greeting to the buggy driver, Francis, Autumn walked over to stroke the necks of her two favorite horses, Harvey and Higgins, with their chestnut coats, and flaxen manes and tails.
“Poor Ziggy strained a paw while jumping down from his cat tree. Dr. Hartley has been giving him physiotherapy to help heal it faster. He’s such a skilled vet,” Mrs. Hayman smiled as Autumn moved away from the horses, allowing them to trot away to their next stop.
“We’re lucky to have Dr. Hartley at this practice,” Autumn agreed, suspicious of where this conversation was heading. Mrs. Hayman was not usually nice or chatty to her.
“Of course, I can’t wait to find out more about the young lady he was with yesterday evening.” Mrs. Hayman lowered her voice conspiratorially as Autumn approached. “It’s the talk of the island. I believe they’ve known each other a long time. Isn’t it wonderful how love always finds a way?”
Autumn gritted her teeth. These words felt like daggers, slashing through her sense of comfort and making her feel vulnerable and unsure.
“I am sure you’ll have a great chat with Dr. Hartley,” she said, managing not to let Mrs. Hayman see how upsetting her words were. Being nice to people came naturally to her – apart from Ethan, who definitely managed to find her Achilles heel, but right now, her voice was quivering with the strain.
“You sound a little hoarse,” Mrs. Hayman observed. “Have you been crying?” She actually sounded eager at the thought, as if Autumn’s tears would be the next phase of the gossip following the vet’s new lady friend.
“I had a blocked chimney earlier, and the living room was smoked up. It’s just been fixed,” Autumn explained.
“Ah.” Mrs. Hayman’s voice carried some doubt, as if she wasn’t really sure about the story and thought Autumn might have made it up to save face.
With the morning deteriorating fast, Autumn walked on before Mrs. Hayman could ask her any more disturbing questions.
She left Max outside the grocery store while she went in to buy butter and sugar. A lot of butter and sugar. Tomorrow morning, she’d have to do all the baking at the bed and breakfast, since Jasmine would be busy with her kiosk at the coffee festival.
Then, she hurried out of the grocery store and went further down the road to the place where she hoped she'd find comfort after this upsetting morning. Hopefully, also some wise advice.
Ahead was the shop sign ‘Odds & Ends’ – the quirky name for the store her sister Willow ran. And behind the counter was her dark haired sister who’d gotten the elegant, mysterious looks in the family from their father.
Willow was busy setting out some oil paintings of the island on a shelf, decoratively framed, next to some Magnolia Bay dish towels. The shop was filled with interesting and unusual items. Glass paperweights, painted plates, decorative teaspoons, and hand-dyed scarves. A wide selection of coffee cups and plunger machines was on display in the front of the store ready for the coffee festival, together with several bags of beans and ground coffee.
Willow had also introduced a selection of interesting and colorful cat and dog toys – those were a clever addition given the massive surge of interest in pets on the island.
Autumn’s stomach twisted again as she thought about that.
“Hey, Willow.” Seeing the shop was empty right now, she hurried in with her dog. “Can I bring Max in for a few minutes? It’s cold out.”
“Sure.” Willow replied.
Immediately, Autumn could tell from her sister’s tone of voice that something was not quite right in her world.
“What’s up?” she said. Willow’s perfect oval face was more solemn than usual, too.
“I was going to ask you that,” Willow replied. “I can see you’re upset. I could see as soon as you walked in.”
“I am, but you go first,”
Willow shook her head. “It’s nothing, really. Just a customer who’s been messing me around.”
“But that’s unacceptable!” Willow’s shop was her life. How could anyone dare to do such a thing? “Messing you around how?”
“He’s changed his mind after I’ve committed to the order, leaving me with stock I’ve bought but he won’t take. And let’s not even talk about payment. I feel like I’ve bent over backward these past few days to try to get everything perfect, but that’ll never happen.”
Autumn stared at her sister quizzically. “Are you being too nice to him? Because it seems this effort is all one-sided."
Willow’s passion for her shop meant that she didn’t just bend over backward for her customers, but ended up doing back flips and somersaults to please them. It didn’t usually stress her out this way, though.
“Perhaps I am being a bit too nice,” Willow admitted. “Nicer than he deserves. It’s difficult to stand up for myself, though, when he’s making me feel as if I’m the one at fault.”
"Boundaries," Autumn told her sister. "You need to set them and not let yourself be trampled over. Good service is all very well, but some people don't appreciate it, and you're never going to be able to please them."
“You’re right,” Willow said, making a face and letting out a deep sigh.
“You have how many happy customers in your shop? Almost everyone, that’s who. So don’t let one person start making you feel that you’re doing something wrong. And being difficult about money is unacceptable. I guarantee you he’s not letting his customers treat him the same way.”
It was so rare to see Willow so upset. This customer must be very difficult to have gotten her into this mindset. Autumn wished she could give him a piece of her mind.
“You’ve helped me a lot,” Willow said. Now, the fire that Autumn was used to seeing, was back in her eyes again. “I’m not going to let myself be trampled, and I am going to make sure that he knows how unreasonable he’s being. All I needed was some backup and support and a reminder that most of my customers are happy." She nodded thoughtfully, as if confirming this truth to herself. "But now, tell me about you. What is the matter? Because you look like you've got something serious on your mind."
“It’s probably nothing, but it feels like everything,” Autumn said, hitching herself onto the stool at the counter and telling Max to sit. One wag of his tail in here could cost her sister a fortune in stock.
“Is it to do with the coffee festival? They haven’t roped you into another committee, have they?” Willow asked in concern. “You don’t have time for that, with Jasmine at the pop-up kiosk.”
“It’s not that,” Autumn said. After a quick look around the shop to make sure nobody was out of sight behind one of the shelves, she dropped her voice. “It’s Ben.”
“What about him?” Willow’s eyes flew wide in concern.
“I feel unsure about what’s happening between us. He was seen out in town last night with a blonde. I’ve had two people so far tell me. Ethan, and Mrs. Hayman.”
“Oh, no!” Willow clasped her hands together, leaning on the counter. “Those are not the two I would have wanted to tell me that kind of news. But are you sure it means anything? Maybe she was just – just his insurance adviser, or a sales rep?”
“I’d like to think so. But dinner?” Autumn shook her head. “He hasn’t told anyone that we’re officially dating, and that makes me worried I’ve jumped the gun.”
“Well, have you asked him who she was?”
That was, of course, the sensible solution. Autumn found herself feeling reluctant to do it though. What if it made the bad news official?
“I haven’t had a chance. It’s not something I can call him about. I’d rather speak face to face. I was on my way out to invite him to the coffee festival when the chimney blocked up. The house filled with smoke and I had to make an emergency call.”
“To Ethan.” Willow nodded, as if in understanding of how things had played out.
“Exactly. I was going to take Ben a season ticket to the festival as a gift. I’ve still got it in my purse. I’ll drop it off at the vet’s reception on my way back. It’s for him, no matter what happens between us, or doesn’t.”
“Well, my advice would be to ask him about that blonde. I mean, you two have been close, haven't you? He doesn't seem like the kind of man who'd play the field after you've – you've kissed and been on a few intimate dinners together?”
Autumn’s cheeks flushed. “I hope he isn’t, but you know, sometimes you really can’t tell with people. I need to discuss it with him, but it still feels like a hurdle, and I’m worried about nasty surprises.”
“That’s reasonable, I guess.”
“I mean, I’ve seen supposedly innocent people here turn out to be killers.” Autumn cast her mind back to the horrific series of events that had shaken the island in the summer and early fall.
“That’s also, sadly true,” Willow acknowledged. “But the worst thing you can do is worry. Remember, Mom always used to say, worrying is like toxic chewing gum for the mind.”
“She said that?” Autumn asked. What a wise saying. She didn’t remember it, but it was certainly appropriate.
“Yes, that’s what she said to me more than once. Maybe I was more of a worrier than you.”
“Toxic chewing gum sounds horrible.” Autumn found herself smiling reluctantly at the thought. The words of wisdom from their mother were some of the treasured memories she had.
“Exactly. Don’t waste your energy chomping on that. And I’m sure there’s a reason for Ben’s actions. He hasn't told anyone, but so what? Maybe he's the kind of person who doesn't go announcing his romantic status all over the island. Now, have you seen my new coffee?" Willow's face brightened as she changed the subject in a clear effort to keep her sister from fretting over her romantic problem.
“I noticed the bags when I walked in,” Autumn said.
At that moment, three customers entered the shop. They crowded the shelves, browsing around, oohing and aahing over the items on display. It was easy to see that the three were here for the coffee festival, because they were all wearing jackets with “Massachusetts Coffee Society” on the lapels. How fabulous that this festival was attracting visitors from far and wide, keen to come and enjoy their favorite brews on vacation.
Autumn waited while they picked out some jewelry, dish towels and paintings, plus a few bags of coffee. She made sure to keep Max absolutely still.
“Sit,” she reminded her dog in a stern murmur as the three approached the till. Max was quivering all over with the need to spring to his feet and greet these kind people, one of whom was even looking at him.
“Nice doggie,” the nearest woman, swathed in a pink jacket, said in a pleasant voice, beaming at Max.
His tail thumped the ground. That was okay. As long as he stayed sitting, and the tail was at floor level, it couldn’t turn into a sweeping destruction zone.
The three paid for their items and headed out. Then, taking the path least likely to cause any tail related catastrophes, Autumn guided the now excited Max back through the shop, to look at the coffee shelf.
“See here? It’s called Richmond’s Roasts, and it’s a lovely brand. Medium and dark roast options, and there are a few flavored specialties which are lovely – hazelnut and vanilla – intense, but not overpowering.”
“I need to buy a couple of bags from you. One plain and one hazelnut. That’ll be perfect for the guests tomorrow morning. I’ll stay here with Max while you ring it up.”
“I’m going to recommend a bag of this other one, Bell’s Brew, as well. Bell’s Brew is very tasty, although the supplier nearly exploded when he saw other brands on the shelf here. He tried to make me sign a sole supply contract.”
“That sounds like bullying behavior,” Autumn said.
Willow rolled her eyes. “They’re all as bad as each other.”
“They are?” Autumn asked. The Richmond’s Roasts salesman wanted me to use a different shelf for his brand, and as for the other one who came in yesterday, Carter’s Coffee, he wanted me to remove everything else in my shop. His coffee wasn’t even that good.”
Autumn hadn’t thought that the world of coffee making would be ultra-competitive, simply because coffee drinking was such a congenial activity. But she guessed it was a cutthroat world out there.
“I hope you refused to entertain that idea,” Autumn said.
Willow nodded. “I didn’t exactly laugh in his face, but my mouth twitched. He got the message, I’m sure.”
“So it seems like there’s fierce competition between them?”
“Much more so than last year. Everyone’s trying to edge out everyone else, and it makes me feel uneasy. There’s enough room in the island for a few competing brands, surely?”
Now, Autumn felt concerned. Suppliers bickering and fighting could destroy the success of the festival. She found herself worrying about the event that was going to bring income, fun and activity to the pre-winter island economy. What would happen if anything went wrong?