Cloche and Dagger

by Jenn McKinlay

  As Fee stepped back, Harrison looked at me expectantly. Before I could stop myself, I found myself looking at him from beneath my lashes and giving him my very practiced, secretive half smile. Sure enough, the man looked as riveted as if I had just propositioned him.

  Ugh! Honestly, I am a dreadful flirt. It’s like breathing to me and I don’t discriminate. I flirt with everyone, kids, pets, old ladies, men, you name it. Probably, that’s why the hospitality industry was such a natural fit for me. I am very good at managing people.

  I blame my mother. After thirty years of marriage, she still has my dad wrapped around her pinky and it’s not just because of her charming British accent either. My mother is an incorrigible flirt.

  After my last relationship disaster, however, I made a promise to myself that I would go one whole year without a boyfriend. So far it had been two months. Prior to that the longest I’d gone was two weeks. Shameful, I know.

  I shook my head and forced myself to give Harrison my most bland expression. He looked confused. I really couldn’t blame him.

  Mercifully, the front door opened again and this time two ladies entered. I charged forward, relieved to escape the awkward moment.

  “Good afternoon, how may I help you?” I asked.

  “You’re not Ginny.” The older of the two women frowned at me.

  “No, I’m Scarlet and this is my cousin Vi—”

  “Ginny!” The older lady shot forward with surprising speed and hugged Vivian close.

  Vivian looked startled, but she hugged the woman back, obviously not wanting to offend her.

  I quickly examined the two ladies. The older one had gray hair and wore a conservative print dress that had Marks & Spencer all over it, while the younger woman, a pretty brunette who looked to be somewhere in her twenties, was much more fashion forward, wearing a tailored Alexander McQueen chemise.

  “You haven’t aged a day,” the older woman exclaimed. She cupped Vivian’s face and examined her closely. “How have you managed that?”

  Vivian gave an awkward laugh as if she was quite sure the woman was teasing her but the woman frowned. “No, really, how have you managed it?”

  “Um, my name is Vivian,” she said. “I think you might be confusing me with my grandmother Eugenia, everyone called her Ginny.”

  The older woman stared at her for a moment and then she laughed and said, “Oh, Ginny, always such a joker. Didn’t I tell you, Tina?”

  “You did at that, Dotty,” the other woman said as she stood watching.

  “Oh, heavens, where are my manners?” Dotty said. “Ginny, this is my daughter-in-law Tina Grisby. Tina, this is my friend, the owner of Mim’s Whims, Gi—”

  “Everyone calls me Viv,” Vivian interrupted as she extended her hand to Tina. “This is my cousin Scarlett, our apprentice, Fiona, and our man of business, Harrison.”

  “You changed your name?” Dotty asked Viv. “How extraordinary.”

  Viv stared at her for a second and then clearly decided that it did no good to insist she wasn’t Mim.

  “Yes, I feel more like a Viv than a Ginny,” she said.

  “Huh.” Dotty patted an errant gray curl by her temple. “Maybe I’ll change my name. I always fancied myself a Catriona.”

  Tina gave her mother-in-law an alarmed look. “Dotty, we really should explain our purpose so that we don’t keep these kind folks from their business.”

  “Yes, you’re right,” Dotty said. “But I do love the idea of a new name.”

  “Are you in need of a hat for a specific occasion?” I asked, thinking to get the conversation on track. “Fee, would you bring us some tea?”

  “Right away,” she agreed.

  “I’ll just go and attend the books,” Harrison said. “If you’ll excuse me, ladies.”

  I watched as he and Fee shared a laugh as they left the room and wondered what they could be discussing that was so amusing. I suspected it was me in my lavender hat.

  “Don’t you agree, Scarlett?” Viv asked. She was seated in our cozy sitting area with the Grisbys and all three of them were watching me.

  “Um,” I stalled and when I glanced at my cousin, she had her lips pressed together as if she was trying not to smile. I sat down quickly.

  “The Grisby family is hosting a tea in honor of Dotty’s late husband and they are thinking they’d like it to have an Alice in Wonderland theme,” Viv said.

  “Oh, I like that idea,” I said. “How can we help?”

  “Well, it’s to be a fund-raiser so that we can name a wing of the hospital after my late husband,” Dotty said. “Each family member will host a table and we’d like them to wear a hat that can be tied to a character from the book.”

  I glanced at Viv. Being the creative quotient in the business, this was really her call.

  “When would you need these by?” she asked.

  “We’re hoping to have the tea in late June,” Tina said. She gave us an apologetic look. “I know it is short notice.”

  “Ginny doesn’t mind, do you, dear?” Dotty asked. She patted Viv’s hand as if they were old friends.

  I tried to remember Mim mentioning Dotty Grisby, but I couldn’t bring the name up in any of my memories. Of course, given that I was only here on school holidays, I wouldn’t have as broad a frame of reference as Viv would. Judging by Viv’s surprised expression when Dotty had hugged her, however, I was betting Viv didn’t remember her either.

  Fee came out with a tray loaded with tea and biscuits, some cheese and fruits. The Grisby ladies enjoyed a cup each and nibbled some of the food. It was agreed that Viv would work up some sketches and they would come in to see them next week.

  Dotty took Viv’s arm as we walked them to the door. The older lady looked so happy to see her dear friend that I was glad Viv had decided to go along with Dotty’s faulty memory. I fell into step beside Tina.

  “Your cousin is being very kind,” Tina said. “Please tell her that I appreciate it.”

  “I will,” I said. “It must be hard to watch Dotty struggle with her memory.”

  “Honestly, she’s been like this since her husband left her thirty years ago. Her reality is different than everyone else’s and as my husband explained it to me, it is just better if we go along with her.”

  “Thirty years ago?” I asked. “I’m sorry, but did I understand that she wants the wing of a hospital named after him?”

  “Yes, well.” Tina lowered her voice. “They never divorced. He lived in Tuscany with his mistress until he died a month ago. She always told everyone that he was away on business, and I think she managed to convince herself that was the truth. One does wonder though . . .”

  “What?” I asked.

  “That if that is why she is slightly addled,” Tina said. “She never got over him leaving her.”

  A driver was outside waiting for them and Viv and I waved as they drove away.

  Harrison came out from the back room. “The books are done for this week and I’m pleased to announce you’re still in business. How did it go with the Mmes. Grisby?”

  “They want a tea party à la Alice in Wonderland,” Viv said. “It’ll be tight but I think I can get it done.”

  Harrison made a face.

  “What? I think it will be great fun,” I said.

  “You would,” he retorted. I was pretty sure this was an insult but I didn’t press it.

  “What about you, Viv?” Harrison asked. “How do you feel about it?”

  She was quiet for a moment, staring out the window as if contemplating something. When she turned around she gave us a wicked smile.

  “If it’s a mad hatter that they want then it’s a mad hatter that they’ll get,” she declared.

  I exchanged an alarmed glance with Harrison. Between Mrs. Grisby’s dottiness and Viv’s Cheshire Cat grin, I was beginning to feel as nonplussed as Alice when she fell down the rabbit hole. Oh, dear.