Four
The next person Russell “forgot” to mention to her was going to be sent away until tomorrow. Mackenzie had had enough surprises.
She followed Eliza into the kitchen and leaned against the counter. “Is there anyone else I need to fight today?”
Steam rose from the blue and gold teapot as Eliza poured in the hot water. “I’m sure we could find someone.”
“Why are you using Granny’s nice china? I thought that was for special occasions.”
“Liam is special, Mack.” Eliza set a matching teacup onto a tray. “He’s an artist, and he’s the first English person I’ve served in the English tearoom.”
Mackenzie groaned. “Here we go.”
“What?” She put her hands on her hips. “Maybe he can help us make the experience more genuine. I don’t think Granny’s been to Britain in forty years.”
“He doesn’t seem like the helpful type,” Mackenzie muttered.
She lifted the tray. “Don’t sass at me. The only one you should be angry with is Russell. Why don’t you call him and leave him a message about how furious you are? Will that make you feel better?”
Mackenzie didn’t appreciate her mockery, but she’d let it slide for now. “He’s a terrible communicator. I’m not going to call him. I have it all under control.”
“Russell prefers to communicate things on a need-to-know basis,” Joey said, popping his head into the kitchen.
Eliza grinned when she saw him. “Hey!”
“From now on, I need to talk to him at least once a week to see what disasters he’s left for me,” Mackenzie said.
Granny walked in, a container of cookies in her hands. “Where did all the people go?
“They weren’t here for us, sadly,” Eliza said. “They were here for Bailey Jo.”
Granny set the cookies on the counter. “My goodness, what a disappointment!”
“Granny, did you know anything about an artist in residence staying at the sea pen site? A guy named Liam?” Eliza asked.
Granny’s face brightened with a smile. “Yes! Apparently Russell found him lying in the grass, waiting for wolves.”
“Is that the guy who was looking for a ride today?” Joey asked. “He seemed harmless, but I’ve learned my lesson. I won’t fly anyone without knowing who they are.”
“No more bank robbers,” Eliza said with a smile.
“I don’t care if he is a bank robber. Please get him out of here,” Mackenzie said. “I was in the middle of applying to jobs when all this madness broke out.”
He saluted. “Aye aye, captain. I’ve already got Bailey Jo and Cameron in the plane. Is Liam ready to fly out?”
“Who knows?” Mackenzie shrugged at the door. “He’s all yours.”
“I’ll get him on the next flight, actually. One more thing,” he said, popping open the lid to the cookies. “I’m going to need one of these.”
“Take them all!” Granny said with a sigh. “No one else will appreciate them.”
Joey picked up the pale green plastic tub. “Don’t mind if I do.”
He disappeared, and a moment later, Eliza pulled her head out of a cupboard. “I want Liam to try this one.”
“Are you seeking his approval or something?” Mackenzie asked, arms crossed over her chest.
She narrowed her eyes. “I promised him another tea, Mackenzie. Tea is very important to the English. Don’t you know anything?”
She clenched her teeth. Were they having a competition to see who could annoy her the most?
Granny reached above her head and pulled down a bronze and black tea tin. “What about this one? I think it’s for a more refined palate.”
“Refined palate?” Mackenzie scoffed. “I can’t with you two.”
Eliza accepted the tea with a smile. She set the strainer into the cup, dumped a scoop of the loose leaves, and slowly poured in steaming water.
A bell rang out.
She looked up. “Shoot.”
Mackenzie stuck out her hand. “I’ll take it to him.”
“But be nice ,” Eliza said.
She bulged her eyes out and snatched the mug. “I am nice.”
She peeked into the English tearoom – his table was empty, the plates neatly stacked.
How rude. Eliza was going through all this trouble and he’d run away?
She dumped the teacup on the table, then weaved past the couple in the lobby and burst through the front door. She stopped. Liam stood just outside the shop, a phone to his ear, his back to her.
“Seems it’s all sorted, so don’t worry.” He ran a hand through his hair. “My last step was getting past the nepotism hire.” He laughed. “Yeah. All right.”
“I have your tea inside, sir,” Mackenzie announced.
He turned, lowering the phone. “Oh, right. Just making a call. Thanks.”
Yeah, she’d heard.
“Nepotism hire,” she muttered, stepping back inside.
She wasn’t a nepotism hire! She hadn’t wanted this! She was a nepotism hostage !
“Mackenzie!” Granny called out. “Is this yours?”
She held up a white business card – the one Cameron had slipped into her hand before he left.
“Yes, it is. It’s from that guy who came in with Bailey Jo.”
Granny smiled, tapping it on the register. “Oh, he liked you. I could tell.”
“Please, Granny. He’s a salesman. The last thing I need in my life is another salesman.”
“That’s true,” Eliza said, appearing at her side.
“Ah!” Mackenzie yelled. “Don’t sneak up on me like that!”
“I didn’t sneak!” She grinned. “Why’d he give you his card?”
The gold embossed letters of his name flashed light up at her. “He thinks I have a promising future selling luxury trips.”
She looked up, blankly staring at Eliza until they both burst into laughter.
“What’s so funny? You handled that Bailey Jo very well.” said Granny. “Why wouldn’t he want to work with you?”
“Or fall in love with you,” whispered Eliza.
“Stop it.” Mackenzie tucked the card into her pocket. “If his job is selling overpriced trips to rich people, I think I’d make a fortune. But I’m sure there’s more to it.”
“Don’t chase fortunes, dear. Let them come to you,” Granny said with a nod.
“Isn’t that what he did? Came here to meet Mackenzie?” Eliza asked. “Looking for love, perhaps?”
Mackenzie threw her hands up. “Okay, thank you. I’m done with this conversation. I will see you ladies later.”
She spun on her heel and walked directly into Liam’s chest.
“Sorry,” he said.
She stepped back. “Joey will take you on his next flight. Eliza prepared another tea for you to try. Have a nice day.”
Mackenzie went back to her laptop. She’d had enough of Liam. And Eliza was wrong – she wasn’t interested in love. She wasn’t interested in a quasi-legitimate sales job, either.
Maybe, at the very least, she’d make Cameron split the commission with her on Bailey Jo’s cruise. She could use the money, and it was the least he could do.
She slipped the card into her pocket. Best to hold on to it, just in case.