Chapter 7
“Jordan! It’s good to see you.”
“And you.” He hugged Elizabeth Bennett as the church congregation members chatted and drank tea and ate biscuits after the morning service.
“Have you seen that daughter of mine lately?” she demanded.
“Yesterday. She’s doing well.” He hoped. In Jesus’ name.
“Tell me, honestly. Do you think she was wise to quit her job?”
He nodded, even as part of him wondered why EJ had never told her family about his advice to quit. “I think it was time.”
“Well, if you think so, then that makes me feel better.” Her brow pleated. “But do you think she can ever make money off this app of hers?”
Wow. He knew that EJ liked to keep her cards close to her chest, but this seemed extreme.
Didn’t Mrs. Bennett know just how much money Dream Match could make?
The potential to float Dream Match on the stock exchange meant EJ would be able to afford to buy her parents ten houses in the pricey Southern Highlands.
Why hadn’t she been more open about this with her own mother?
Concern for her grew. It was way past time that they got honest about things. “She’ll be fine.”
“Really?”
He nodded, looking her squarely in the eyes, eyes the exact same shade of blue as EJ’s. “I promise.”
She heaved in a deep breath, as if this had been troubling her. “I’m just a little concerned because she hasn’t kept in touch very much lately.”
“She’s been very busy.”
“Well”—she patted his arm—“I’m glad she’s got you to keep her on the straight and narrow.”
He found a tight smile and nodded. He didn’t know how much straight and narrow guiding he was doing. But the fact that EJ’s mum was saying things like that suggested she was equally concerned. “It never hurts to keep praying for her.”
“Who are we praying for?” Katie Bennett asked, drawing close with Elinor.
“Your sister.”
“Oh! How is EJ? Every time I see her she seems a little distracted.”
He explained about her busyness, which seemed to satisfy Katie, but Elinor kept watching him. Elinor wasn’t the most talkative of the Bennett girls, but when she spoke people seemed to pay attention. She was a noticer, sensible, and as clever as EJ but in her own creative way.
Her eyebrows lifted in a manner reminiscent of EJ’s “Is she merely busy? Or is she busy getting distracted?”
“Yes?”
She huffed. “That’s not really an answer.”
“Look, I can only report what I see, and I think it’s a mix of both. Which is why my best advice is that we keep praying for her.”
She nodded.
Mrs. Bennett called for her, allowing him a moment to escape and focus on his own mother, whose birthday it was today. She was chatting with some of the other church ladies who were offering their good wishes.
“Oh, and here is your handsome son.” Elderly Amelia Bates smiled up at him. “You’re such a good boy, coming all this way today.”
“It’s not that far,” he demurred. “Especially for such an important occasion.” He turned to his mother. “Are you just about ready to go?”
She nodded, and the other ladies wished her a happy birthday.
He escorted his mum to where his father was outside, peering up at the church’s gutters while the pastor explained about the urgent need to fix them.
Dad’s role on a farm meant he was a jack-of-all-trades and had experience in everything from fencing to excavating to carpentry and finance.
He’d been on the church board for years, even if sometimes lambing season or sick cows meant he couldn’t always be in church on Sundays.
“Ready, Dad?” Jordan murmured.
Dad nodded, then gave his two cents’ worth, suggesting a working bee next Saturday, before giving his apologies that he needed to leave now to celebrate Meg’s birthday.
“It’s important to celebrate with our loved ones,” Pastor Bryan agreed.
They crossed the car park, then made their way down the little lane that led to a park and the main street.
A short walk down the hill and they were at the terraces that housed a number of stores, including an architect’s office, a hair salon, and an antique shop.
Sandwiched between the last two was The Silver Teapot, one of the town’s cultural institutions for two decades or so.
He opened the door, a tinkling bell announcing their arrival.
“They’re here!” Katie called, before welcoming them in, then going to lock the front door to ensure other people knew they were closed and to stay away.
Inside, a collection of delicate china decorated the walls, tall timber cabinets holding a selection of cellophane-packaged teas, packets of biscuits and cakes, teacup paraphernalia, and books appropriate for tea parties. Yep, so his scene.
He took a seat at the large round table in the middle.
The lace tablecloth and fresh-cut roses that appeared to be from the Bennetts’ own garden made the setting look a little fancier than he remembered.
A dark red rose, the exact colour of EJ’s favourite shade of what she called “power lipstick,” drew his wry smile.
He wished she were here instead of doing whatever she was doing.
“So, welcome to The Silver Teapot,” Katie said, breaking into his musings. “I know you have all been here many times before, but in case you’d like a change from your usual tea or coffee preferences, please peruse the menu so we can help you with that.”
“Just my usual, thanks, love,” Dad said.
“And I’m happy with the Southern Highlands blend, thank you dear.”
“Of course, Mrs. Bennett. And you, Jordan? What would you like?”
EJ to be here. He blinked, then peered at the menu. “Uh, I’m happy with the Darjeeling. Thanks, Katie.”
She grinned. “Coming right up.”
Music played in the background as the sounds of cooking and preparation came from the kitchen.
He glanced around, remembering those instances when he and EJ used to meet here after school, enjoying milkshakes or scones while he’d waited for his parents to collect him.
He usually had to catch the school bus, but occasionally when a school event went on too long, or he’d had an orthodontist appointment, he’d managed to savour a little more time at The Silver Teapot with the Bennett girls after it closed at four on weekdays.
Liv would always enjoy her custard tarts, EJ preferred lemon tarts, Elinor liked any baked goods containing apples, while Katie was a cupcake girl.
He’d always be happy with whatever was on offer, grateful for the sense of inclusion.
His only sibling, John, was ten years older and had joined the army and moved away as soon as he’d finished high school.
The Bennett girls were the sisters he’d never had. EJ was closer than his brother.
The wooden double doors that led to the kitchen opened as Elizabeth was followed by her daughters and husband.
“Here we are!” Elizabeth beamed, placing two tiered trays of pastries and sandwiches on the table as Elinor and Katie placed teapots and cups and saucers at the various settings.
“Here you go,” Elinor said, placing Jordan’s pot of Darjeeling next to where Katie had placed a flower-decorated porcelain plate.
“Thanks.”
The sisters finished, then returned to the kitchen. “They’re not joining us?” Mum asked.
“I wasn’t sure if you’d want them. And Katie has an assessment she’s preparing for.”
“Oh, but I’m sure Jordan would appreciate a young person to talk to.” Mum glanced at him. “Wouldn’t you?”
Put on the spot like this, he wouldn’t argue with the birthday girl. “Sure.” Otherwise he knew he’d be fending off questions about EJ from both sets of parents. “Parentals,” EJ called them.
Mrs. Bennett moved to get up, but he was faster. “Mrs. Bennett, you stay seated; you’ve worked hard. I’ll go tell them.”
“Thanks, Jordan.”
He nodded and hurried to the kitchen door, pushing it open.
“—he really seems worried about her, and—”
He paused, as Katie’s eyes caught his. Katie nudged her sister, and Elinor turned around. “Oh.”
Judging from the pink filling her cheeks, he didn’t have to try too hard to guess who the “he” might be.
“Is everything okay?” Katie asked.
“Yeah. Mum just wanted to know if you were going to join us.”
Katie’s nose wrinkled. “We didn’t want to impose, and I’ve got some work I need to get done.”
“Could you stay for five minutes? That means I don’t have to listen to them going on about their aches and pains.”
Elinor grimaced. “I hope when we’re that old that won’t be all we ever talk about.”
“It’s what you focus on, right? And I guess in your dad’s case, he needs to be a little more aware of his body and what’s going on, considering what happened to him last year.”
The door opened, and Mrs. Bennett poked her head in. “Are you coming? We were beginning to wonder if you’d been kidnapped by the girls again.”
Like Jordan had when he’d been twelve and EJ and the others had insisted on keeping him overnight for a slumber party.
Somehow in the fun chaos, nobody had remembered to tell his parents where he was, which had resulted in some frantic phone calls, until they’d finally turned up at the shop to find him playing hide-and-seek in the old rickety attic.
The attic was remodelled and used as a special tea party room now.
“We’re coming,” he said. He nodded to Elinor. “And you can always ask me anything about you-know-who if you feel the need.”
Her cheeks pinked again. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to sound like I was gossiping.”
“It’s not gossip if you ask the person directly.”
She bit her lip and nodded. “Sorry.”
When they rejoined both sets of parents seated at the table, sure enough, they were talking about their various ailments. Katie giggled, and Jordan smothered a smile as Elinor rolled her eyes.
“Oh good, you’re back! Jordan, you should drink your tea before it gets cold,” Mrs. Bennett suggested. “Girls, why don’t you have anything to drink?”
“I’m only staying a few minutes as I have to finish my assignment,” Katie said apologetically.
“You must be almost finished uni by now,” Jordan said. “In the home stretch, right?”