Chapter Fifteen

Kate spent all day Friday washing and ironing table linens, polishing silver, and shopping for exotic teas and whole-bean coffees. She pulled out her recipe book and settled on her favorite finger sandwiches—tiny cream puffs filled with a variety of chicken, egg, and crab salads. She also decided on a mixed green salad with toasted pine nuts, dried cranberries, feta cheese, and a dressing of balsamic vinegar and extra-virgin olive oil, with a hint of crushed garlic and fresh ground pepper.

Paul and Danny borrowed folding tables from the Presbyterian church and set them up in the living room. Later that evening LuAnne and Livvy stopped by to help set the tables with Kate’s ivory tablecloths and matching napkins, her grandmother’s antique china—supplemented with an inexpensive silver-rimmed set—and centerpieces of chrysanthemums and fall foliage.

Kate pulled out her teapot collection, remembering the friend or family member who gave each one to her, and placed them on the tables. There were elegant pots, tall and stately; cute little squatty pots; some with whimsical artwork; and even one that was designed to look like it was upside down. Kate loved them all, mostly because they reminded her of the one who gave it to her. She especially adored her mother’s silver teapot, given to her mother and father on their silver anniversary.

When the decorating was complete, she stood back to survey the room. Even with the dark paneling, oversized fireplace, and the flock of milky sheep on the slider, the room was beautiful. Who would have thought she would someday have her own tearoom? It was another of God’s little unexpected blessings. She smiled at the whimsical thought.

SATURDAY MORNING dawned bright and beautiful. At 7:30, Paul gave her a quick kiss and left to go fishing with Eli and Sam.

At precisely 9:58, everything was ready. By 10:23, Livvy and LuAnne had arrived to help, and by 10:39, the doorbell started ringing.

Faith Briar ladies of all ages, shapes, and sizes poured through the front door wearing their tea-party best, some with hats and gloves. Renee made her usual splashy entrance with Kisses in her arms. She wore a wide-brimmed hat with a froth of pink silk roses that matched her Laura Ashley rose-print dress, white gloves, and strappy heels. She fluttered her fingers, took over conversations, and made her rounds as if in charge of the tea.

Kate told herself not to be bothered by Renee’s behavior and concentrated instead on the laughter and happy chatter that soon filled the little parsonage.

The women obviously knew each other well. Another advantage of small-town living, Kate thought. She could hear snatches of conversation about children and grandchildren and friends who had moved away. Of course, the ladies of Riverbend Community knew each other and chatted about the same things, but this seemed, well, different. It seemed like family.

Livvy caught Kate’s hand and squeezed it. “This is wonderful, Kate!” She gestured to the living room, where the ladies were taking their seats at the tables. “We’ve so needed something special to get our minds off the fire.”

Kate made her way to the front of the room and smiled at the little gathering. “Welcome,” she said. “It’s wonderful to see you all here. I’ve met some of you before today, and others for the first time, but I’m hoping we can all get better acquainted during this time of fellowship and fun. This tea party is simply my way of saying thank you for making me feel so welcome in your community—and in the Faith Briar family.

“Let’s ask God’s blessing on this occasion and on the food,” she said. “Then let the tea party begin!”

THE DAINTY FINGER SANDWICHES were passed around, tea poured, salad served. Fresh fruit and crème fraîche and petits fours.

The conversation turned naturally to the pumpkin festival with dozens of questions and comments and ideas being tossed back and forth among the tables. While Livvy then LuAnne gave the women the latest details, Kate and Phoebe took out fresh trays of the tiny puff sandwiches and served each table. The excitement seemed to grow as the women talked about sewing projects and baked goods they could sell.

The auction seemed of special interest, and as Kate poured fresh tea from her mother’s silver teapot at each table, the women peppered LuAnne with questions.

Livvy, who was helping Kate pour tea, sidled closer. “I’ve just had a brainstorm,” she whispered. “Why don’t you show the ladies one of your stained-glass pieces?”

The light dawned, and Kate smiled. “To get a buzz going for the auction?”

“How about the piece you showed me yesterday—the Tiffany-style lamp? Would you mind showing it? It might trigger some ideas. We’ve got other artists at Faith Briar. Phoebe paints with watercolors, Abby does ceramics. Maybe yours will encourage them.”

Livvy clinked her water glass with her spoon. “Ladies, we have a treat in store today. I’ve just asked Kate to show us the stained-glass piece she’s planning to donate for the auction. She doesn’t talk much about it, and she certainly doesn’t know I planned to say anything about her artistry today, but her artwork is exactly what we’re talking about that will bring in the kind of money we need to rebuild Faith Briar.”

“I’ll be happy to donate it,” Kate said. “Working with stained glass is a passion of mine, but since we moved, there just hasn’t been time. I’m hoping to get started again soon. I’d planned to put up one of my pieces for auction, but I couldn’t make up my mind which one”—she grinned at her friend—“until Livvy here mentioned the lamp.”

Kate stepped into the spare bedroom. Her supplies were still in boxes, but a few of her favorite pieces were on a high shelf in the closet. She opened the closet door, reached for the heavy table lamp, and held it close, almost as she would have a baby. How could she part with it? It was the last piece she made in San Antonio, in the studio she missed terribly and would never see, or use, again. A touch of homesickness nipped at her heart.

But the lamp would bring in more money than any of her other pieces of art. Hugging it close, she turned to go back into the living room.

She had almost reached the doorway but was still hidden from view, when she heard Renee’s voice.

Her breath caught in her throat as she listened.

“. . . and I don’t mean to criticize, but really, pots and pans hanging from the ceiling like she’s some sort of TV chef? And the antique china...and the silver? It’s Gorham, you know. Albemarle, and at least a hundred years old. Sterling. It must have cost a fortune. I can only imagine how the money could have gone to better use, like feeding the poor or something...Putting on airs, that’s what she’s doing. Trying to show us mountain women how highfalutin entertaining should be done.”

Kate halted midstep and frowned. Surely she wasn’t hearing correctly. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up straight; her cheeks turned warm. She counted to ten and ordered her feet to stay put, then took a deep cleansing breath.

It didn’t help. She increased the count to twenty and considered other options: locking herself in the bathroom, leaping out a window, tearing into the living room and confronting Renee.

All three were appealing. With a deep sigh, she dismissed them all.

Instead, she put her shoulders back and shot another prayer heavenward. Her prayer list was getting longer by the day: Grace, forgiveness, humor, and now strength and a healthy dose of patience.

She plastered a smile on her face and rounded the corner into the tearoom.

“Ah, there she is.” Livvy’s voice was unnaturally bright. “We were getting worried. And there’s that beautiful lamp.”

The women were subdued as they gathered around to examine her artistry. Kate did her best to keep the atmosphere upbeat, light, and joyful, and to keep from glaring at Renee. It was a struggle.

After Renee’s tirade and the resulting subdued mood, Kate expected the ladies to leave early, but surprisingly, most seemed genuinely reluctant to say good-bye. She was relieved when Renee excused herself, saying she needed to get Kisses home for his nap.

The atmosphere brightened considerably once Renee left. At least a dozen women stayed to help with cleanup. Millie, the church secretary with a vibrant smile, trotted to the sink and started rinsing the china.

“Honey, I love these dishes,” she said. “I just bet they were your grandma’s—or someone else special like that.”

Kate could have kissed her. She grinned. “Yes, they were. I treasure them. I use them for special occasions.”

“And the silver service?”

“A gift to my parents from their friends on their silver anniversary.”

“I thought so,” Millie said with a wink. “I think we all figured that.”

Livvy, LuAnne, and a handful of other ladies who had been working around the kitchen stopped to listen. A few others drifted in from the living room where they had been clearing the tables.

There were murmurs of understanding, words of support for Kate and Paul, and mentions of how glad they were to have them as part of the community. The ladies’ expressions of compassion and their gestures of love spoke louder than words.

Abby Pippins came over and gave Kate a hug. “We all figured you overheard the mean things that were said. But you need to know that Renee doesn’t speak for the rest of us.”

Kate took a deep breath. “Thank you all for staying to help, but more than that, thank you for understanding.” She paused. “Honestly, I thought the day was ruined. But your love—a reflection of God’s own—has done much to help me through a difficult day. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

LuAnne had tears in her eyes as she made her way through the tangle of women to stand by Kate. “This here is one classy lady,” she said to the others. “She’s worked tirelessly to put this tea together, and let me tell you, she’s diggin’ in scary places to see that justice is done in this arson case. And at great personal cost.”

She looked over at Kate. “Darlin’, can I tell them about the death threat?”

Almost as one, the women gasped.

“Death threat?” Abby said and put her hand to her rather ample bosom. “Oh my.”

“Like on TV?” Dotty wanted to know.

“Absolutely,” LuAnne said. “And is she gonna stop pokin’ her nose into this business? You can bet your sweet bippy she’s not. This lady is as smart as a whip, as brave as a mountain lion, and as sleuthy as Miss Marple.”

“As a what?” Dotty asked, cupping her ear. “A marble?”

“Miss Marple,” LuAnne said a little louder. “Miss Marple.”

Kate grinned and hugged LuAnne. Smart, brave, and sleuthy. Never mind that sleuthy wasn’t really a word. All in all, it wasn’t a bad image.

THAT NIGHT, KATE SAT ALONE by the fire, reflecting on the day. Her feelings were mixed. It had ended well, but she was still disturbed about Renee’s comments.

She examined her own heart, wondering what God was trying to teach her in this. Had her actions triggered Renee’s words? Was there any truth to the accusation that she was putting on airs?

In this little town, would it have been better to have put together a simpler gathering? Did it really offend Renee—or any of the ladies—that Kate seemed to have blown in from the city with her gourmet recipes, fancy cookware, and fine china? Did they feel she was trying to show them how things really should be done? Did they really think she was putting on airs?

She had told herself she wanted to put on the tea as a gift to Faith Briar in this desperate time of need. But in reality—and it hurt her to even consider it—had she wanted to show off her skills, her pretty dishes, her flair for cooking?

Was Renee right?

She bowed her head. Oh my, Lord! I prayed that you would refine me, that you would help me simplify my life, but I didn’t expect it to hurt so much. Help me do what I know must be done.

Paul was already asleep when she crawled into bed. She turned out her light, and lay there in the darkness, staring at the ceiling. Her knee ached from all the activity of the day. But it didn’t hurt half as much as her heart did.