“Which?”
“Tea. I’ve never had tea. Coffee, yes. Tea, no.”
“Good. I’ll introduce you the right way.” She walked to the side of the car and stood between the open door and her seat. The man stood to the side. “I’ll be going, then, if you’re sure you don’t need a ride.”
He gestured for her to go ahead. She buckled in and released the brake. He stood back by the spring green trees, waiting for her to pass. Well, of course he’s letting me go first! she thought. If I ran over him once, who’s to say I wouldn’t do it again?
“I said, ‘Is he okay?’” Sage repeated.
“Hmm? Yes, he’s fine.”
“I bet he is.” Sage chuckled. “Did you give him the calendula? It’s magical.”
Ava drove until the man was no longer in her rearview mirror. The construction company was just visible through the trees ahead. She took a deep breath and prayed on the exhale.
“Ava? You there? I just said calendula is magic.” Sage prompted.
“Sage,” Ava smiled, falling into their routine, “don’t be irresponsible. The magical content of foods is not regulated by the FDA.”
Ava’s Storied Table Collection:
Coin Silver Serving Spoon
When Granny was little, she used to go up with Great Granddaddy to the quarry. He let her pick around in the gravel, looking for quartz. She loved rose quartz the best. One time Granny showed me the pieces she found there. Just a dozen or so pink pebbles laid out on her soft, wrinkled palm, but they were her girlhood’s treasure. One day after a week of rains, she had to stay on the road to keep safe. She was poking the gravel with the toe of her boots when the ground shone under her foot. That’s how she told it. “The ground shone up at me, Ava!” Granny knelt and dug up the shine. It was a coin silver spoon, flattened and pocked a bit from living its life in a wheel rut, but perfectly preserved by the layered mud. Granny gave me the spoon when I turned twelve, to start my collection. “Girlhood treasures are for your heart, Ava. But you’re a woman now, and you’ll treasure others more as you get older. This spoon will help you serve those you love.” Granny kept the rose quartz.
About the Author
Summer Kinard is the mother of five, a tea lover, soprano, and author of inspiring novels and curricula for active learners. She writes about faithful people overcoming trials with the help of tea, friendships, and love. Summer’s first novel, Can’t Buy Me Love, was a USA Today Happy Ever After pick for Women’s Fiction. Her paranormal Orthodox Christian romance, The Salvation of Jeffrey Lapin, has received glowing reviews from readers. Summer writes about faith, tea, and love in journeys of healing. Follow her family’s journey with tea at TeaAndCrumples.com. You will find up to date posts on her writing life at her site: WritingLikeAMother.com, or follow her on Instagram for up to the moment updates:
http://instagram.com/somemyrrh/
If you liked this book...
Check out Summer Kinard’s debut novel, Can’t Buy Me Love, a USA Today Happy Ever After pick.
Look for the next books coming soon in the Faith, Tea, Love series:
Tea and Stones by Summer Kinard
Tea and Symphony by Summer Kinard
Other Women’s Fiction titles
from light messages publishing
The Particular Appeal of Gillian Pugsley
by Susan Örnbratt
“memorable––feisty, unexpected” –Kirkus Reviews
A Theory of Expanded Love by Caitlin Hicks
“...enough charm to fill the corridors of Vatican City twice over” –Foreword Reviews
How to Climb the Eiffel Tower by Elizabeth Hein
“An empowering, redemptive novel filled with wisdom and kindness.” –Summer Kinard
A Sinner in Paradise by Deborah Hining
INDIEFAB Bronze Medal Winner for Romance
A Saint in Graceland by Deborah Hining
coming Spring 2016
Tea and Crumples Page 27
