Page 15 of Welcome to Ero-TEA-Ca: We’re Open!

Closing the door, Cass followed Harriet to her living room, where her guest immediately found Mr Whiskers and began scrubbing under his chin. The cat was in heaven and Cass was in hell. What did Harriet want? Why was she here?

“He’s so adorable,” Harriet cooed. Mr Whiskers’ purr motor ramped up a few more notches.

“I agree. Now, what can I do for you?”

Placing the cat down gently, Harriet turned all her attention to Cass, which Cass found slightly alarming. She felt a wave of heat rise from her feet, definitely to do with the menopause, or something hormonal.

“Would you sit down?” Harriet asked. She laced her fingers together and waited. Cass wanted to say no, but once again, her body did the opposite.

The air suddenly felt close. What on earth could Harriet possibly have to say? “Harrie—”

Cass was silenced by a petite hand rising up in a stop sign. “Cassandra, I’m a forward person. If something is on my mind, I like to talk about it, no matter how difficult.”

Cass cleared her throat but didn’t speak.

“I like you, Cassandra, and for the life of me, I’m not sure why. You’re a sourpuss.”

“And you say I use outdated terms,” Cass scoffed, which only led to Harriet smiling at her.

“I thought you’d appreciate it,” she said with a grin. “Anyway, as I was saying, you’re a sourpuss who tried to get my shop shut down before it even opened. I should dislike you. But I don’t.”

“Okay,” Cass replied, not sure what else she could add.

“At first, I thought I just wanted your approval. The thought of having any animosity with my neighbours was awful, so I put my need to know you down to that. But then, I quickly realised I wanted to get to know you, regardless of your opinions. I’m attracted to you—physically and emotionally.

After this morning, I knew I just had to have a conversation with you.

So here I am. Having a conversation. A one-sided conversation at the minute, but I’m hoping you’ll chime in any second. ”

The silence spread over several painful minutes as Cass tried to process what Harriet had just said. Maybe she’d misheard. “Sorry. You like me, as in…”

“I’d quite like to take you out on a date,” Harriet clarified with astonishing ease.

Cass stood abruptly, no longer able to stop herself from pacing.

After another few agonising minutes, she stopped and turned to Harriet, who was casually leaning against the fireplace.

“You’re too young. We’re far too different and I’m not interested in dating.

I don’t do one-night stands. I’m sure it’s very uncool of me, but casual…

anything, isn’t what I want. If I wanted anything, which I don’t, because as I said, I’m not looking to date. Anyone.”

“Okay. Thank you for telling me where you stand on the matter. Although, I’d like to point out I’m only eleven years younger than you, and opposites attract. They tend to balance each other out. But if you’re not interested in dating, that’s cool. I’d like us to be friends, though.”

“Why?” Cass just didn’t understand. She’d been horrible to Harriet from the get-go, and she still had the odd bout of irritation towards her, even now.

Harriet shrugged. “I can’t answer that. I just know that’s what I’d like.”

“Friends?”

“Just friends. I’ve told you how I feel, and I respect your answer so I wouldn’t dream of pushing you. I think we could be good friends, Cassandra.”

“Cass. You can call me Cass.”

The elation on Harriet’s face stole the air from Cass’s lungs. “Great. That’s great. But before we move on, I’d like to apologise for yesterday. I shouldn’t have brought the gift into the café.”

Why did she have to bring that up? “It’s fine,” Cass said as calmly as possible.

“No, it’s not. You were upset and embarrassed. It won’t happen again. I’d really like a clean slate between us.”

Fidgeting on the spot, Cass nodded. “Okay.” She just wanted this over with.

It would take her a little while to process and acclimatise to the new dynamic in their…

friendship. The word felt weird, like it wasn’t quite enough to describe them.

But Cass was sure she didn’t want to date.

After Kendal, she knew she was unlikely to find another human who would put up with her eccentricities.

She’d dated a few women, post-divorce, and every time left her feeling a little more shitty about herself.

No, she was better off alone. Friendship she could handle… maybe.

“Clean slate. I can do that. But you should know I’m not the type of friend who likes shopping or gossiping about the latest celebrity drama. I like reading, coffee, and quiet.”

Harriet took a step closer, and Cass had to fight the urge to retreat. “I can handle that. I’m not a shopper unless it’s for food, and I have no idea about celebs. I think I’ll surprise you, Cass Beaufort!”

Cass wanted to tell her she’d already succeeded. Instead, she nodded and offered her a cup of coffee. Harriet politely declined, which Cass was grateful for. She desperately needed to sort through all the tumbling thoughts in her head.

Maybe they could be friends. Harriet seemed to understand what Cass needed without having to be told. That was a good start, right?

When Harriet had gone, with a promise to see Cass in the morning for her Danish, Cass abandoned her bath and lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling.

She’d made a new friend, one that made her uncomfortable for so many reasons.

But instead of dread, something else flickered in her belly.

An ember of…excitement? Huh, that was new.