Tea Shop Folly

by Carrie Fancett Pagels

  “How about I ask what your cousin, Garrett, said to ask you?”

  Drawing in a deep breath, prickles moved up and down her arms and back. Surely he hadn’t. . .

  “Will you marry me, Lilly?” Theo’s husky voice resonated through her.

  “Yes,” she whispered. “But I think you’ve got the courting and askin’ to marry thing all mixed up.”

  “Could be.” His breath tickled her ear.

  They stood, embracing one another, as the bullfrog began their nightly ribbitting.

  “May I kiss you?”

  She’d been waiting so long for this moment. Her first real kiss. What should she do? She stiffened and tilted her head back, eyes closed.

  Theo laughed gently. “You seem pretty tense, Lilly.”

  “I’m not. I’m just waiting.”

  “Your back is stiff as a board.” Theo ran his hands up and down the ruffled back of her swimming gown.

  Shivers coursed through her. It was really happening. This man she’d grown to love was going to kiss her. Lilly leaned into Theo as his warm mouth covered hers. His lips were every bit as sweet as she’d imagined when she’d dreamed of him embracing her. He drew away then kissed her again, this time pressing a hand to the back of her head. He coaxed her even closer, running his other hand along her back. He kissed her cheek and then her neck, planting warm kisses as she sighed in contentment. She felt his arms shake as he kissed her ear and then pulled free just as she was wanting more. So much more.

  He took her hands in his and drew them together. “Lilly, I must stop. I fear I’ve already taken too many liberties.”

  She tugged at his hands, wishing and willing for him to keep on kissing her. “I. . .”

  The screen door opened and then slammed shut. “Thought that’s what was goin’ on down here.” Mama’s voice, though firm, held a bit of humor.

  “Would a month from now be too soon?” Theo whispered.

  “Mama,” Lilly called out. “Mr. Reynolds wants to court me.”

  “But first I’d like to marry her!” Theo kissed the top of Lilly’s head.

  “City folk,” Mama muttered. “Lilly will be locked in this so-called Tea Shoppe until ya come back with a marriage license, Mr. Reynolds.”

  Lilly pulled Theo’s head closer to hers, again, and kissed his cheek. Then she whispered in his ear, “Be glad she’s not got Pa’s shotgun with her.”

  Theo laughed. “I’d get to marry you even sooner then.”

  Epilogue

  Lilly’s three youngest sisters, dressed in pastel hues, sat in the front right aisle of the Saint James Episcopal Church, where Theo was a member. Mama dabbed at her eyes. All of her Christy cousins with their wives and children and her uncle and his wife sat behind them. Lilly’s own eyes began to fill. On the left, Theo’s mother sat and his friends from church. His sisters had been unable to attend, but sent well wishes and some lovely wedding gifts.

  Garrett took Lilly’s arm. “You ready for this?”

  “Seein’ as Mama really meant it about keeping me cooped up until the wedding, I’d say so.”

  “I think she might be like my Pa and was punnin’ you.” He winked at her.

  “I think you mean funning me, but she and Theo’s mother kept me occupied, and us supervised, ever since the engagement.”

  Her cousin rubbed his chin. “Pa and I placed a wager with my sister, Jo, that your Ma meant Locked In, like the Soo Locks being right there yonder from your house.

  Lilly gave a short laugh. “How much did you lose?”

  “Pa and I won and split the winnings.”

  “What?!”

  Wedding attendees swiveled to look toward the narthex.

  Lilly squeezed Garrett’s muscular arm. “So Theo and I could have seen each other more and been alone some, instead of surrounded by my sisters all the time?”

  He laughed. “That’s about the size of it.”

  “We could have snuck in some kisses in that new gazebo you made for our wedding gift!”

  “Now, little cousin, that would have been a folly and you know it.”

  Before she could protest, organ music began and all the guests rose. Garrett marched her forward, beaming. He turned to wink at his wife and children as they passed by. When they reached Mama, she and Daisy, Iris, and Camellia were all wiping their eyes.

  At the front stood Delphinium, attired in a lilac gown bedecked with as much lace and ribbon as could cover every square inch of the bodice. Opposite her, Theo’s best man, Franz Klassen, shifted nervously. Was he reliving his own wedding?

  Theo stood tall, his demeanor calm, hands clasped before him. Only the twitch of his dark eyebrows betrayed any anxiety. Lilly stifled a giggle. This was really happening. She was getting married.

  At the altar, bouquets of roses and ferns, added their scent to her bouquet of mixed lilies tied off with a wide mauve satin ribbon. Theo had a single white calla lily tucked into his lapel. He’d never looked more handsome. The way he stared at her as she drew closer, eyes wide, made Lilly feel that all the hours of fittings for the wedding gown had been worthwhile. She’d never felt more lovely nor more cherished.

  He mouthed, “I love you,” at her and she beamed back at him.

  Hope flooded her. Hope for a future with this man she loved. Hope she’d almost lost only a few months earlier.

  Thank you, God, for everything.

  Sun shone through the new stained glass windows, as though the Lord was acknowledging her silent prayer of thanks. There was so much to be grateful for, and this was only the beginning of her new life.

  Before she knew it, they’d said their vows and somehow Theo had placed his grandmother’s ornate gold band upon her ring finger. She was Mrs. Theodore Reynolds now! Everything passed in a blur as they exited the church, the onlookers beaming in approval.

  Outside, Theo drew her into a quick, but sound, kiss—one that promised many more to come. He pulled her close to his vested chest, and she could hear his heart pounding. Hers was galloping just as fast. How she loved him. Her husband. Theo slackened his hold and bent to kiss her, again. She was beginning to forget where they were when someone cleared his throat.

  “Now hold on there, you two!” Garrett’s deep voice was followed by a chuckle as he escorted Mama outside.

  Lilly’s cousin, Richard Christy, a giant of a man, escorted Theo’s mother into the sunshine, as they all formed a receiving line to accept congratulations.

  Mrs. Reynolds craned her neck back to look up at Richard. “Thank you for helping your brother build that wonderful gazebo for Theo and Lilly.”

  Theo’s brows furrowed and his lower lip puckered out. “It reminds me of great-grandmother’s folly.”

  Lilly whacked him playfully on the arm. “It turned out real nice. Don’t say that.”

  Her mother-in-law laughed. “They used to call garden buildings, like that one, follies back a long time ago. But they were a little different than the beautiful gazebo that Garrett designed.”

  Mama drew closer, with the girls following behind. “The only folly I know is Theo thinking my daughter was runnin’ a tea shop.”

  “And your daughter, allowing him to think so!” Mrs. Reynold’s sharp retort caused the silk flowers on the crown of her cream-colored hat to shake.

  Theo raised his hands. “See here. All is well now.”

  Both mothers nodded. And Lilly had to agree.

  The End

  Author’s Notes

  Here’s a link to a fascinating article about how the Soo Locks were made (click here.) I was surprised at how early Lock construction was begun! I had no idea they were working on the original Locks near the time of the Civil War! Growing up in the Upper Peninsula and having attended Lake Superior State College (now University) I was very familiar with the modern-day locks. It was fun imagining the early locks, which my character Theo is helping to modernize.

  Here’s another nice link to a Youtube video about inventions in the 1890’s. Theo uses Li
febuoy soap, an 1895 creation from England, in this story. The soap was purported to have medicinal properties. During this time period, lots of quackery and snake oil salesman was going on. I included that aspect when I had Theo’s and Lilly’s mothers talked about Mrs. Smith’s “cure” which was really God restoring her hope.

  The street names in the story are real. For instance, Theo’s boardinghouse is on Bingham. Businesses in the story are on Ashmun, which they are in modern-day Sault Ste. Marie. The Soo Locks are on Water Street. Portage, which is where Lilly’s “not-a-tea-shop!” is! Portage rounds a curve and I picture Lilly’s house near the curve. One feature on the 1895 map, which is no longer there, was Fort Brady. Apparently there was some resistance from the army when the Locks were to be built. As can be seen, the Corps of Engineers has their Locks and there is no army fort on Water Street any longer. However, you will find Coast Guard a little further down. The amount of ships, in particular the distinctive iron ore freighters, going through the Locks in astounding. I highly recommend that if you visit the Locks that you also take a boat tour through them. You’ll find the transitioning from one level of water to the other, with the Locks, to be quite amazing.

  Sault Ste. Marie has an amazing history. I remember, as a child, celebrating the 300th anniversary of the city. There is tremendous Native American history here, especially the Chippewa tribe, and of course the French and fur traders. Across the St. Mary’s River is the twin city of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. The Canadians also have a Lock built about the same time as my hero was helping get the American Lock built.

  Inspiration for the hoarder of high quality teacups and teapots came from an outing in Virginia with blogger friend, Anne Payne. We stumbled upon a bed and breakfast that had every nook and cranny filled with antiques, mostly teasets and china. When I turned over one of the cups and saw the maker’s mark I was shocked! Here were all these rare antique teacups and saucers right out in plain view as if they were for sale. But they weren’t! They were part of the décor! So the notion of a hoarder aunt whose house was misconstrued as a shop was born. And now you’ve read Lilly’s story – thanks!

  For those of you who enjoyed The Christy Lumber Camp Series, this novella includes one of my favorite characters -- Garrett, AKA “Moose” who is a married man with a family in this story! I envision Lilly’s novella becoming part of a “Christy Cousins” trilogy. Maybe one of those floral-named sisters will get her own romance, too!

  Acknowledgements

  Thank you Father God, for enabling me to write this story, for Your glory! God bless my family for supporting my story writing, too!

  Much thanks to Beta readers: Cheryl Baranski, Regina Fujitani, Andrea Byers, Sydney Anderson, and Tina Rice and to Advance reader: Joy Gibson! My Pagels Pals team members are wonderful! Thanks for all the help with suggestions for names and your ongoing prayer for me and my writing! Thanks, Anne Payne, for coming with me on my research outing for colonial era which instead morphed into this turn-of-the-century novella!

  Thank you to Susan James, Librarian, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, for the 1895 map of the Soo, which was very helpful.

  Thanks 1k1hr Facebook group and to Ruth Logan Herne, who is always there as an inspiration. Thank you to Melanie, Sarah, and Julie – just knowing you are there if I need you is a comfort. Thank you to the Overcoming with God blogger team, Diana, Teresa, Noela, and Bonnie for being an ongoing support!

  Thank you to Roseanna White for the lovely redesign of the cover!

  Author Biography

  Carrie Fancett Pagels “Hearts Overcoming Through Time” is an ECPA-bestselling, award-winning Christian historical fiction author. Working as a psychologist for twenty-five years failed to “cure” her overactive imagination. Carrie and her family reside in Virginia’s Historic Triangle, which is perfect for her fascination with history. Carrie enjoys reading, traveling, baking, and beading—but not all at the same time!

  Visit Carrie’s blogs: OvercomingwithGod.com and ColonialQuills.org!

  Contact Information: Website is www.CarrieFancettPagels.com

  Carrie has an author page on Facebook, is on Twitter (cfpagels), goodreads, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Google+.

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  Thank you for reading Tea Shop Folly! If you enjoyed it, would you please consider posting a review?

  Other books by Carrie Fancett Pagels:

  “Love’s Escape” – a novella in The Captive Brides Collection (Barbour, November, 2017)

  My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island, a novel (Barbour, July 2017).

  2016

  Seven Brides for Seven Mail-Order Husbands (Barbour, June 2017) includes Carrie’s novella “Dime Novel Suitor.”

  ECPA Bestseller, The Blue Ribbon Brides Collection (Barbour, November 2017) includes Carrie’s novella “Requilted With Love.”

  Saving the Marquise’s Granddaughter: A Novel (White Rose/Pelican, June 2016). RT Starred Review!

  Return to Shirley Plantation: A Civil War Romance (Hearts Overcoming Press, January 2016) 2nd edition.

  The Christy Lumber Camp Series (Hearts Overcoming Press): The Fruitcake Challenge (September, 2014) a Selah Award finalist, The Lumberjacks’ Ball (April, 2015) and Lilacs for Juliana (August, 2015). ALL three books were long list finalists for Family Fictions’ Book of the Year.

  Maggie Award Finalist 2016 in Romance Novellas! The Substitute Bride (Hearts Overcoming Press, October, 2015), a novella set in Shepherd, Michigan.

  “Snowed In” published in A Cup of Christmas Cheer (Guidepost Books, October, 2013).