And for the cranberry orange tea, she went with Cooper River Cranberry, a tribute to the nearby Cooper River that contributed to the vast, wet cranberry bogs.
Pleased with her efforts, Theodosia’s thoughts turned toward the visual elements: packaging and labels. Because these were holiday teas, she decided to purchase gold-colored tea tins. They were festive looking and easily obtained from several manufacturers.
That left the labels. She would have to devise colorful labels for each of Drayton’s blends.
Her first thought was to call Todd & Lambeau, the group that was working on the graphics for her Web site. They were good commercial designers, but somehow their brand of design felt a little too slick. Wouldn’t it be nicer to convey a more intimate, boutique feel for these holiday tea blends?
She had a friend, Julia, who was a highly skilled calligrapher. Julia did posters for the Charleston Museum, the symphony, wedding invitations, all manner of other things. Julia’s calligraphy might be well suited for this project. But, she still needed a talented illustrator to convey the essence of the holiday teas on a label.
Then she remembered the paintings she’d seen that morning at the Shorebird headquarters. The free- spirited, slightly whimsical illustrations Tanner Joseph had created also somehow embodied an Eastern spirit. Would that style work for her tea labels? The thought intrigued her and began to grow on her.
Most tea labels were what Drayton called “flowers and bowers.” They were fussy and floral. But Tanner Joseph’s drawings had an elegance to them. The style was slightly Asian, which would be perfect. And, if her memory served her correctly, Tanner Joseph also did lovely brush-stroke calligraphy!
The notion excited Theodosia, and she vowed to call Tanner Joseph first thing the next day. She hoped he’d take on the project. Even though the tea shop didn’t have a huge budget for graphics, Tanner Joseph might view this commercial assignment as a welcome windfall.
The light flickered on and off above her head.
“Time to lock up,” called Haley. She stood in the doorway, a book bag slung over one shoulder. “You’ve been hard at it all afternoon. Did you get lots done? Drayton said you were working on the holiday teas.”
Theodosia stretched both arms over her head and groaned. “I think so. You’re off to class?”
“Literature in contemporary society. Tonight we’re studying Cormac McCarthy.”
But still Haley stood there, quietly looking at Theodosia.
“What?” said Theodosia. She knew something was brewing behind the girl’s furrowed brow. She beckoned to Haley. “Come.”
Haley stepped closer to Theodosia’s desk. “It’s Bethany,” she said, her face flushed pink with embarrassment. “Without her job, with nothing to do, she’s . . .” Haley left her sentence unfinished, dropped her head shyly.
“What if . . .” said Theodosia slowly, “what if Bethany came and helped out for a while? Poor Drayton’s going to be awfully busy supervising the blending of the holiday teas. You’ll have extra baking to do...” Theodosia looked at Haley as though the thought had just occurred to her. “Do you think Bethany would come back and lend a hand in the tea shop again? Of course, you’ll have to give her a refresher course in brewing tea. And that old cash register is a bear to use—”
Haley’s face broke into a wide grin. “It’s not a problem. She can do it, I know she can. But are you sure that...?”
“Am I sure we need help?” Theodosia threw her arms up in mock despair. “Thanksgiving is three weeks away, and Christmas and New Year’s will be upon us in no time.” She placed her palm on her chest. “I
Chapter 18
Theodosia pulled the head off the ceramic Scooby-Doo cookie jar and measured out two cups of dried kibbles for Earl Grey. She poured it into his metal dish, topped it with a tablespoon of olive oil for his coat, and set it down on the yellow rug next to his water dish.
Earl Grey responded as he always did. He gave Theodosia a look that somehow conveyed his doggy thank you, then went facedown into his dinner.
Theodosia did not go facedown. Rather, she stood in front of the open refrigerator, pondering supper. An oatmeal and raisin cookie, eaten at four o’clock, had left her relatively satisfied. Still, if she didn’t eat now, she’d be hungry later on.
She stuck her head farther inside the refrigerator, investigating. There was some leftover pasta, a couple pieces of cold chicken, fresh hamburger. Nope, nothing tripped her trigger yet. She knew the freezer compartment contained lamb chops and maybe some frozen shrimp that could be quickly steamed and put on top of rice.
No, she thought, that would be fussy, and fussy was the last thing she needed right now. Now that decisions had been made regarding holiday teas, the conversation she’d had with Delaine earlier in the afternoon came back in her mind. Delaine was a dear, gentle soul who had shockingly good taste when it came to merchandising her clothing store, Cotton Duck. But Delaine also thrived on gossip and excitement and didn’t always get her facts straight.
Theodosia pulled a small carton of cottage cheese from the refrigerator shelf. She dumped half of it onto a plate and grabbed a fork from the drawer and two bagel crisps from a glass jar on the counter.
Wandering into her living room, she eased herself down onto the couch, suddenly feeling a wave of relaxation flow over her. It was this apartment that ultimately contributed to her happiness and sense of well-being. Though small, it contained all the essential elements for a proper and genteel Charleston home. Fireplace, cove ceilings, bow windows, tiny balcony, French doors leading to a small but elegant dining room, and a cozy bedroom with a surprisingly ample closet for her many clothes.
She had decorated the place in what had become her own brand of Charleston shabby chic. The philosophy behind shabby chic appealed to her. It held that an item had to be both beautiful and functional. So that was what she strove for. Elegance married with practicality. It was a concept that worked well with the antique furniture and accessories she’d always been so passionate about, and which were easy to come by in Charleston antique shops and flea markets. Charleston was the mother lode when it came to English furniture, vintage fabrics, antique chandeliers, old prints, and silverware.
Aunt Libby had been amazingly generous, too, in helping to furnish her cozy abode, gifting her with a lawyer’s bookcase, rocking chair, oriental rug, silver tea service, antique quilt, and some terrific old oil paintings. The paintings were dark, brooding seascapes in wonderfully ornate, gilded frames. Everyone who saw them tried to buy them from her.
Before she’d purchased the Indigo Tea Shop, she had lived in a sleek, modern building. Lots of squared-off angles, floor-to-ceiling windows, black countertops, white walls. Very contemporary, very boring.
This was infinitely better.
Theodosia finished her cottage cheese and offered Earl Grey the last morsel of bagel crisp. He chewed thoughtfully, gazing at her with brown, intelligent eyes.
“Want to go for a ride?” she asked him. Earl Grey’s ears pricked forward, and his tail beat a syncopated rhythm on the pegged floor boards.
King Street, between Beaufain and Queen Streets, is often referred to as Charleston’s antiques district. Here antiques aficionados will discover such shops as English Patina, with their fine collection of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century furniture, Perry’s Estate Jewelry, and Helen
S. Martin Antique Weapons. Down a narrow walkway at 190 King Street is Gates of Charleston, an eclectic little garden shop with wrought-iron planters, statuary, and quirky sundials.
It was 208 King Street that Theodosia was searching for as she cruised the picturesque street with its palm trees, white turreted buildings, and black wrought-iron touches. Since it was early evening, traffic was light, and she was able to drive slowly, scanning the numbers above the tall, narrow doorways as Earl Grey sat serenely in the passenger seat of the Jeep Cherokee.
208 King Street was where Griffon Antiques was located. The Griffon Antiques where Cordette Jordan had
