Page 25 of Welcome to Ero-TEA-Ca: We’re Open!

Harriet

O peration Duck Pond Distraction worked a treat. Every second Harriet got to know Cass better, the easier it was to spot her negative thoughts starting to manifest. It was like a cloud descended on her face, drawing in her eyebrows and causing frown lines to appear.

Instead of asking what was wrong, Harriet knew the best course of action was to get outside, away from whatever was causing Cass’s irritation and anxiety.

They spent a good hour walking around the pond, throwing oats on the ground.

Cass’s entire face lit up when a mum duck waddled over with her stumbling ducklings.

It was in that moment, Harriet knew she couldn’t remain just friends with Cassandra Beaufort.

The enigmatic, frustrating, and wonderful woman had entirely captured her heart.

They’d left each other with a friendly hug. As much as Harriet had yearned to spend the rest of the evening with Cass, she knew her friend —ugh—needed space to process today and prepare for tomorrow.

When her alarm clock jolted her from a saucy Cass-filled dream, Harriet had to take an extended cold shower. Cass needed her to be a support system today, not a letch.

She’d compiled a list of tasks for Cass, all of which allowed her to stay relatively invisible, if that was what she needed. Monday was delivery day. Cass could put the stock away. Maybe Harriet would ask her to organise the shelves? Other jobs included cooking the pre-made pastries.

Arriving at the teashop, Harriet went about her daily routine.

It was strange to think of Nabi rocking up to The Oxford Beanery in all her chaotic, sugar-loaded glory, and not Ero-Tea-Ca.

How would Kendal handle her? The thought brought a smile to her face.

Oh, God, Harriet would put bets on Nabi placing crystals around the place.

Laughing to herself, she didn’t hear the back door open and close. Only when she sensed a presence did she turn and scream like a banshee.

“Jesus, fuck!” she yelled.

Cass stood frozen with wide eyes, clutching her purse. “S-sorry.”

Harriet shook her head. “No. My bad, I was daydreaming and didn’t hear you. Phew, that got the heart pumping.” She laughed.

Cass stood in her usual uniform, hair in its neat low ponytail. “I knocked.”

Harriet waved her hand. “It’s cool, but we have a slight problem.”

She saw Cass clutch her purse even harder. She was really wound up, and Harriet momentarily thought she was about to bolt out the door.

“W-what’s the problem?”

“You’re not working at The Beanery this week,” Harriet answered, gesturing to the logo on Cass’s shirt. “We need to get you in the proper attire.”

“I figured.”

“There’s a shirt on the back of the toilet door. I’ll grab you an apron.”

Cass wrinkled her nose. “Does it have smiling teapots on it?”

Harriet grinned mischievously. “It does not. It has smiling teacups instead.”

The eye roll must have given Cass a headache. It was that hard. “Fantastic.”

Patting Cass’s shoulder, Harriet pointed to the loo. “Oh, stop being a sourpuss. Smiling teacups are cute. Now, get changed and I’ll get you set up for the day.”

While Cass changed, Harriet accepted the delivery and began shifting boxes to the stockroom.

“There, I’m appropriately dressed. What’s next?”

As much as Harriet wanted to stare at Cass in Ero-Tea-Ca apparel, she needed to stay in boss mode. “Can you sort out the delivery?”

“Sure. Do you have a system?”

“Not really. The only thing I ask, if you change things, is not to touch or move any crystals.”

Cass stared, her eyebrow cocking. “Really?” Her tone was a little mocking, which Harriet could understand. Few people believed in crystals and their power. She wasn’t entirely convinced herself, but she respected Nabi’s beliefs and wishes.

“Seriously. It’s the only rule.”

Cass shrugged. “Okay. I’ll get started then.”

They went about their mornings separately. Harriet ensured the tables were set to her standards. Of course they were. She was the only one who set them up. But in the infinitesimally possible scenario where the tables had suddenly changed overnight, Harriet had to check.

Flipping the sign to Open , she unlatched the deadbolt. Her regular customers filtered in with warm smiles and uplifting energy. Unlike the café, her customers didn’t look like they wanted to commit homicide before their first caffeine hit of the morning.

Her phone buzzed several times. Normally she had a “no phone outside of the staffroom” policy, but with Nabi being in a new environment, Harriet wanted to stay close to her mobile, not that she foresaw any issues.

And to be fair, Nabi was literally next door, so if there was a disaster, she was a thirty-second walk away.

Whatever. Harriet felt better having a phone nearby.

Sneaking a quick peek at the messages, she couldn’t stop the snort of laughter when she flipped through several photos Nabi sent.

She was already hiding crystals. There was one of Kendal laughing as Nabi made a rock on sign as the coffee maker dribbled out espresso.

And last but not least, Nabi’s foam cock art she’d drawn in a cappuccino.

At least her friend seemed to be settling in and having fun. Harriet thought of Cass in the stockroom. She really hoped this experience would be as fun for her as it was for Nabi. One day at a time.

Time passed quickly. It always did when Harriet was in the zone.

She chatted and laughed with regulars. There were several new clients who needed hand holding.

It was quite normal. Everyone expected Ero-Tea-Ca to be something it wasn’t.

Thankfully, it didn’t take long for new customers to settle in with a good pot of tea.

Harriet prided herself on her knowledge.

She loved using what she’d learned to help people find their perfect tea.

It wasn’t all about selling gift sets and sex toys. Her first passion was the tea. Always.

“Harriet, my sweet cherub!” Ronnie, Harriet’s oldest and most beloved customer, shouted as she shuffled in the door.

“Ronnie, it’s good to see you. I missed you on Friday.”

“Had a bloody doctor’s appointment. I swear the man doesn’t know an arse from an elbow.”

Harriet chuckled. Ronnie was a character. “Everything alright?”

“Oh, yes. Just a spot of eczema. Anyway, I have some wonderful news!”

Putting Ronnie’s favourite tea in to steep, Harriet pulled out a Cherry Bakewell and placed it on a tray. Ronnie was a creature of habit.

“Oh, do tell.”

“Well,” Ronnie began, “you know how I hoped Tori would come out to me before I kicked the bucket?”

“I remember.” Harried laughed. Tori was Ronnie’s adult granddaughter—a lovely woman who definitely had queer vibes but identified as straight. Until now, apparently. Ronnie never believed her interest lay in men and often spoke to Harriet about it. Clearly, her intuition was spot on.

“She finally did it! Saturday night. She came over all nervous looking. At first, I thought she had the shits or something. I even offered her some Imodium. Well, she got all flustered and said her bowels were fine, which was a good job really, because I was low on loo roll.”

Harriet’s shoulders shook with silent laughter. A story from Ronnie usually took several wrong turns until she got to the point.

“So, there she was, looking like death warmed up. When I was sure she wasn’t about to soil my couch, I started to worry something was up with my Cheryl.” Cheryl was Tori’s mum, who Harriet had yet to meet.

“I take it Cheryl’s fine?”

Ronnie waved a dismissive hand. “If you exclude the fact she’s married to a fat slob, then yes, she’s fine.

But I didn’t know at the time and Tori was looking more upset.

I asked if her mum was okay and she just burst out crying.

Well, I didn’t know what to do, so I made her a cup of tea and laid out some Jammy Dodgers—her favourite.

She used to dunk them in milk as a kid. Anyway.

After a few minutes of sobbing, she finally squeaked out she had something to tell me, and she hoped I still loved her afterwards. ”

“Poor Tori,” Harriet sympathised. Coming out was awful and the emotional toll was overwhelming, even to those whose parents were cool with it.

“Then I knew it was finally happening.” Ronnie was practically bouncing on the spot. Her walking aid made rhythmic thumps on the floor as she moved. “It was so hard just sitting there. I wanted to tell her I already knew, but I didn’t. That would’ve stolen her thunder.”

“Well done for holding back.” Harriet smiled.

“It was like a Mexican stand-off. We just sat staring at each other for ages until finally, finally, she all but shouted she was a lesbian.”

“Ah, that’s great, Ronnie.”

“Isn’t it just? I want to throw her a coming out tea party. Here, on Sunday afternoon. I know you said it’s for book clubs, but I was hoping I could twist your arm.”

“No arm-twisting needed. I’d love to help.” This was what Ero-Tea-Ca was all about. “Just tell me what you need.”

Cass stepped out from the back with a box tucked under her arm. Her face was wary, as if she expected an orgy to be taking place. She visibly relaxed when she noted the lack of anything exciting. Weirdly, the shop was full of people drinking tea. Who’d have thought?

Harriet smiled to herself. She ignored Cass, not out of malice, but she felt drawing attention to her would make things uncomfortable.

Plus, Ronnie was still happily jabbering away.

“I’d like to invite her friends. She told me she’s met a lovely bunch of people.

They’re all queer, you know. I bet one of them is sweet on my Tori.

She’s adorable. Say…you’re a single lesbian, right? ”

Harriet heard the box hit the floor behind her, and Cass mumbled an apology. “I’m a lesbian and currently single, yes.”

“Would you be interested in Tori?”