Afternoon Tea

Afternoon Tea

Cassidy James pulled into the graveled parking lot of the Simplici-Tea restaurant.  Her tires crunched the stone gravel beneath them as she pulled into a spot next to a yellow Volkswagen Beatle.  She got out of her black  Honda CRV and made her way to the garden entrance of the restaurant.

On fine spring days like this one, Simplici-Tea served afternoon tea on the large, outdoor patio garden area. Cassidy could see small white tables with white wrought iron chairs tucked in as she approached the lattice-covered area.

As a light breeze came up, Cassidy could smell the lilacs covering the large bushes lining the patio garden and she smiled.  It was a perfect day for afternoon tea.

Getting closer to the entrance, she observed a woman dressed in a white lace top and black pants standing at the entrance.  The woman gave Cassidy a big smile when she noticed her.

“Good afternoon, Miss James,”  Lisa Martin said warmly as she grabbed two sets of silverware wrapped in white linen napkins and two menus.

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Martin,” said Cassidy to the owner of the restaurant.  

“Your table is ready for you,” said Lisa motioning for Cassidy to follow her through the small maze of tables to the one at the back of the patio.  That was Cassidy’s favorite spot in the place.  The back left corner of the restaurant had the most lilac bushes, her favorite, the most shade on sunny days, and the most private area. 

Lisa put down the silverware and the menus and pulled out the chair for Cassidy. She sat down and straightened her purple dress.

“You can take the menus, Mrs. Martin,” said Cassidy.  “We’re going to have our usual.”

Lisa’s smile widened.  “The Simplici-Tea's Classic coming right up.”

Not long after Lisa left, a figure walked past and took the seat opposite of Cassidy.

“I’m sorry I’m late,” said her friend as she sat.

Cassidy beamed at the auburn-haired woman across from her. Sabrina Thompson was her oldest and dearest friend.  They had known each other since they were kids and any time with Sabrina was a fun time.  Of course now that they were older and their wild ways were behind them. Just having afternoon tea together to catch up was just as much fun. 

“Not at all,” said Cassidy “I just got here myself.”

“Did you order?” Asked Sabrina.

Cassidy nodded.  “Yes, I got us the usual,” she said.

She picked up a utensil bundle in front of her and undid the napkin from the silverware and placed it on her lap.

Sabrina nodded in approval and gave her friend a big grin.  Lisa returned with a pink flowered porcelain teapot and two matching cups.  

“We just got in this fabulous Jasmine tea I now you’ll love,” said Lisa.

She placed the cups in front of the two women and poured the tea before putting the pot down between them. The cream and sugar were already on the table.

“The sandwiches and cakes will be out in a minute,”  said Lisa as she walked away to help one of her waitresses.

The two ladies thanked the owner who left them to talk in private.

Cassidy took her steaming hot cup of tea and put in a couple of sugar cubes in it.  She helped the cubes dissolve by stirring the tea with a spoon.  She looked from her tea to her friend.  The afternoon sun peaked through the lattice hit her friend’s auburn hair just so as to make it look like she had a halo around her head.  

“You look as angelic as ever,” teased Cassidy.  “You always look so pulled together.”

Sabrina let out a short laugh and puffed up hair hair with both her hands while making a funny face. 

“Why thank you, Darling!” She said with a haughty tone.

Cassidy laughed at her friend’s cartoonist mannerisms.  Sabrina could always make her laugh.

Lisa appeared with a tiered tray of food.  Finger sandwiches were on the first tier.  Mini cakes and scones were on the next, and chocolate covered-strawberries and other fruit sat on the last tier.  The Classic Simplici-Tea was something they always got, but it always impressed Cassidy when the multi-tiered tray came to the table.

“And here were are,” announced Lisa as she placed the food in the middle of the table next to the pot of tea.

“Oh, it looks amazing as always,” said Cassidy.

“Thank you, enjoy!” Said Lisa as she left to attend another table.

Cassidy inhaled the aroma of the fresh baked goods and fruits coming from the tray.  She lifted her tea cup and took a cautious sip of her tea.  Lisa was right.  The Jasmine Tea was delicious.  She looked around at the lilac bushes in bloom not too far from them and then back at her smiling friend.  Cassidy felt light and care free.  Everything was perfect.

Sabrina placed both her hands on her tea cup as if to warm them.

“So catch me up,” she said leaning in a little as if she was prepared to listen to everything Cassidy had to say with great interest.

Cassidy filled Sabrina in on everything that was going on in her life in between sips of tea and nibbles of of food.  She talked about her job, about considering going back to school at night for another degree, and about the handsome, single man that moved into the house a few doors down from hers.

Sabrina’s blue eyes widened at the appropriate times and nodded approvingly at how the job was going and about going back to school.  She lifted her eyebrows with interest at the new guy in the neighborhood and made Cassidy blush.

The two friends talked for over an hour, but to Cassidy it never seemed like it was enough.  After she finished with her year in review, she paused.  Sadness began creeping into her perfect day with her friend because it was coming to an end.

“It’s so good to see you, Bree,” she said.  “I’ve missed you so much.  I wish we could do this more often, but I know you are very busy.”

Sabrina reached out and touched her friend’s hand.  It was such a light, comforting touch that melted most of Cassidy’s sadness away.

“I miss you, too, which is why I make sure I travel all this way every year so we can do this face-to-face.  You are my best friend and I love you,” said Sabrina.

Cassidy felt guilty that she whined about not getting more time wth her friend.  She knew Sabrina would visit more often if she could.  She tried to lighten the mood as Sabrina tried to comfort her.  

“Aw, the Hallmark moment,” she said making them both laugh. 

“But seriously, even though I can’t be here in person, I’m always with you in spirit. You know how to contact me.   It won’t be like this forever and some day we’ll be able to just hang out and drink all the tea and eat all the cakes that we want,” said Sabrina.

Cassidy nodded and let out a sigh.  “I’ll call Mrs. Martin over for the check,” she said.

“No need,” said Sabrina as she rose form her seat.  “Jimmy is treating us.  It’s already paid for.”

Cassidy frowned. “Jimmy always treats,” she said.

“It’s his right as an indulgent older brother,” said Sabrina.

“But he doesn’t always have to pay for me.  I do have a job,” protested Cassidy.

“Jimmy’s rich,” said Sabrina matter of factory.  “Let him feel good about treating his favorite girls.”

Sabrina made her way to Cassidy’s side.  Cassidy stood up and faced her friend who leaned in and gave her a kiss on the cheek.  As she did so, Cassidy could smell her light, lilac perfume as a light breeze blew through the patio.

“See you next year,” said Sabrina.  “And if you need me, you can always get a hold of me in the usual way.”

Cassidy nodded.  “Thank you for a lovely afternoon,” she said.  “I’ll be in touch.”

As Cassidy gathered her things off the table, Sabrina left the restaurant.

Lisa appeared with a smile on her face.  “I hope you enjoyed everything,” she said.

Cassidy nodded appreciatively.  “It was another amazing afternoon tea,” she said.

“I’m so glad,” said Lisa.  “See you next year?”

“See you next year,” said Cassidy as she left the restaurant.

##

Lisa began to clear the table when one of her newer waitresses came to help her.  She eyed the full cup of tea on Sabrina’s side of the table.  Lisa had insisted on waiting the table herself and gave her staff specific instructions not to approach the table.  But the waitress, Melissa, couldn’t help but hear Cassidy’s voice as it carried on the wind.

“It seems like such a waste of food and tea,” she said.  “I wonder why she didn’t order a smaller meal.”

Lisa didn’t look up from her work.  “Miss James and Miss Thompson have been coming here since they were in high school,” she explained.  “It has always been an annual tradition with them no matter where they are.  They always order the same thing. It’s an annual tradition with them.”

Melissa stopped what she was doing and turned to her boss.  

“But Mrs. Martin, there was only one woman here.”

Lisa put her sponge down and regarded her young employee. 

“Sabrina Thompson was killed in a car accident three years ago,” she explained.  “Her brother sets this up for Miss James every year as a tribute to their friendship.”

Melissa’s jaw slackened. 

“Oh that’s so strange,” she said.  “I could hear her talking as if…”

Lisa cut her off.

“That is why there is no one seated nearby and why I wait that table myself,” she said.  “I’ve known that young woman and her friend for quite some time and if this is how Miss James gets through losing her friend, then that’s what’s going to happen.  No questions asked.”

Melissa stared at Lisa for a moment and then silently nodded as she continued to help clean the table.  A small breeze with the scent of the surrounding lilacs lifted the edges of a napkin on the table.  Lisa looked up to the sky and smiled.

“You’re welcome, Sabrina,” she said softly.  “We’ll see you next year.”

End