She stopped to drink in their scent and remembered Henry’s little teacup of flowers next to her bed. She hadn’t realised love was like this. So warm, so real, a meeting of mutual needs and balance. She never felt that she was doing all the work in the relationship, as Henry loved her with his energy and creative abandon and with a tenderness she had not seen in a man before.
When he suggested she start to see a counsellor to work through her pain and guilt about her father, he never made her feel that she had failed or was broken. He told her she needed to forgive herself and that only came with real professional help and understanding.
Creating that boundary in their relationship had been the making of them, and when she suggested he do the same to work through Naomi’s death, he did and when he came home with his eyes red-rimmed and needed time to sit in the oak tree clearing, she let him be.
Because she knew they were as strong as a pair of oak trees and their little acorn was growing inside her.
Clara went to the door and looked at Rachel who nodded at her.
Joe was outside directing the lines and he turned and waved at them both.
They were ready.
Clara and Rachel stepped forward and Rachel pulled scissors from her apron pocket. They were Tassie’s gold sewing scissors, shaped like a heron, and she handed them to Clara and held the ribbon.
Clara cut the ribbon and then spoke loudly for all to hear.
‘Welcome to Tassie’s Tearooms. Purveyors of fine baked goods and tea leaf reading and anything else that brings magic into your lives.’
About the Author
KATE FORSTER lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband, two children and dogs, and can be found nursing a laptop, surrounded by magazines and talking on the phone, usually all at once. She is an avid follower of fashion, fame and all things pop culture and is also an excellent dinner party guest who always brings gossip and champagne.
Acknowledgements
I wish to thank my beautiful and patient editor, Rhea Kurien, who really helped me shape this book into something I am so proud of. Thank you to Tara Wynne, my agent and friend. Thank you to David for holding the space while I wrote for my life. Thank you to my Ladybirds Writing Group who are 1800 members strong and are the best online cheerleading group I could have. Women supporting women is always a good thing.
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