Chapter 4
The two younger Castle sisters stood outside the Magic Teapot, glaring over the road at the building work taking place in the shop opposite.
One of the workmen had his shoulders drooped and a white rag in his hand, flapping their way.
‘You can shove off,’ yelled Norma, waving her own cloth, a yellow tea towel.
A young man around her age told the workman to go back inside, then placed his hands in his coat pockets and glared back at Norma. ‘Leave my workers alone.’
‘How about you leave me alone, Turner?’
Rocco approached the women, concern furrowing his brow. ‘What’s going on?’
Norma pointed across the road. ‘Joel bloody Turner, that’s what.’ She turned on her heel and marched into her tearoom.
Joel splayed an arm, then strolled into his own shop.
Iris sighed. ‘That went well, as usual. One day, they might actually speak to each other properly again.’
Rocco was still none the wiser.
Josie gestured at the building work taking place at the front of Joel’s shop. ‘He’s going to open a coffee shop.’
‘And?’ asked Rocco.
Josie thumbed behind her. ‘Tearoom.’
The penny dropped. ‘Oh. So has there been trouble?’ Rocco was ready to cross the road to speak to Joel on a professional level. ‘Any threats?’
Iris shook her head. ‘No. Just two old school friends, no longer friends.’
Josie tutted. ‘He came home with his business degree, worked with his dad for a while, then left again, and now he’s back and doing this.
Right in front of our Norma, like he has some vendetta against her or something.
At twenty-eight you’d think he’d be more mature.
’ She walked off, entering the Crystal Tree, closing the door to her own shop with a thump.
A drill hummed through the cold air as Rocco turned to face Iris. ‘I can see why your family is upset.’
‘Yes, it’s going to affect Norma’s business.’ She frowned, pointing over the road as Joel placed a sign in the blacked-out window announcing the shop will open in March. ‘Well, that’s just made it official.’
‘As long as there’s no trouble.’
‘Well...’
‘Hmm?’
‘Cookie cast a spell on his shop. Does that count?’
He wasn’t sure if she was joking. ‘Perhaps it’s best if the Castle family left Mr Turner alone.’ He saw her shiver as an icy breeze whipped up some snow along the kerb, and he almost reached out to pull her red scarf higher to her chin. ‘Why don’t you go and get yourself a hot drink and defrost?’
The corner of her mouth lifted, bringing a flush of heat to his body. ‘Join me?’
‘Thought I’d hang around with Clint for the day.’
‘Best get rid of this first then.’ Lightly, she removed a flake of pastry from his cheek, causing a slight blush to his neck. ‘See you at dinner.’
He went to speak but Clint came out of nowhere, disposable coffee cup in hand.
‘Got you a gingerbread latte.’
Rocco sniffed the drink. ‘It’s January.’
‘Gingerbread is good every month.’
Rocco thanked him, then sipped the hot drink before the weather interfered with its heat. ‘You know about these shop wars?’
Clint nodded. ‘Joel came back last month, and it started then.’
‘Any other problems around here I should be aware of?’
‘Ducks.’
‘Pardon?’
‘I’m due over at Kettle Farm now. Len Downey wants me to have a word with Florrie Sparks at Treacle Topping Farm about her ducks swimming in his pond.’ Clint sniffed. ‘He’s not best pleased.’
‘Can’t he put up a fence?’
‘Says he shouldn’t have to.’ Clint started to lead the way. ‘Duck wars are way worse than shop wars. You wait and see.’ He glanced sideways as Rocco joined him. ‘You fancy an ice-cream later? All this snow is making me think lemon sorbet.’
All Rocco was thinking about was how much his life had changed, and he’d only been in Butterbrook five minutes.
Iris sighed quietly as she tapped away on her keyboard at the front desk of the B&B. Another guest had cancelled, and she guessed it was due to the weather. Still, at least she had a lot of bookings for the Valentine’s weekend next month, and every little helped.
‘All right there, Iris?’ asked Magnus, coming down the stairs.
‘Business has been slow this winter.’
‘You know what it’s like around here.’
She did, but it didn’t stop her feeling a little deflated. A subject change was needed. ‘Hey, did Rocco tell you his gran came here once when she was young?’
‘No, can’t say he did.’
‘She fell in love with someone here, but then she went home.’ Iris looked to the ceiling. ‘I wonder who it was.’
‘I bet I can find out,’ said Cookie, entering the hallway from the dining room.
Magnus scrunched his nose. ‘How about we all mind our own business.’
Iris clasped her hands together in front of her heart. ‘Aww, but I thought it was sweet.’
‘Doesn’t sound sweet if she went home.’ Magnus narrowed his eyes at Cookie. ‘Leave it alone.’
Cookie looked mildly offended. ‘I wasn’t going to dig up the woman’s past. Just find out her name.’ She showed him her best innocent expression. ‘It’s exciting having someone new in the village. It’s been ages since anyone moved here.’
‘I’ve invited Rocco for dinner tonight.’
Cookie grinned first at her niece, then at Magnus. ‘You come too. Bring Jaxson. You can introduce your son.’
‘We’re not going to help you interrogate the poor man.’
Cookie waved off his comment. ‘It’s just dinner.’
‘It’s never just dinner with you. And you never did say why you hid his furniture and made sure Cosy Cabin wasn’t ready for him.’
Iris laughed to herself as she watched them walk away together, arguing over the apparent mystery, then Magnus stopped and turned.
‘She’s trying to set you up with the new officer.’
Iris found her mouth gaping for a moment. ‘Aunt Cookie, I do not need you matchmaking.’
Cookie glared at Magnus before softening her gaze at her niece. ‘I’m doing no such thing. However, Iris, it wouldn’t hurt you to start dating again.’
‘I’m perfectly fine how I am, thank you.’ Not a complete lie, as she had enjoyed spending time alone. At least she wasn’t being lied to, but it was safe to say, Rocco had stirred something.
‘You need to start trusting men again.’ Cookie nudged Magnus.
‘I’m not getting involved,’ he told her.
‘And I’m not looking for love,’ said Iris, knowing full well her aunt didn’t believe a word.
Cookie huffed. ‘You can’t let that loser stop you finding your soulmate. He’s long gone now and hopefully my hex is still with him.’
Iris pursed her lips for a moment. ‘You shouldn’t have hexed him.’ She glanced at Magnus. ‘Or let down his tyres.’
Cookie and Magnus high-fived each other.
The phone rang, and Iris was glad of the distraction, but now she knew her aunt was involving herself in her lack of love life, dinner with Rocco already felt awkward.