Laura Childs: Dragonwell Dead

“See?” said Drayton, throwing up his hands. “She thinks it looks nice .”

“And it’s rare,” said Haley. “It’s got that going for it.”

Theodosia tilted her head sideways and raised her brows. She didn’t quite see what was causing Drayton so much distress.

Drayton plunged ahead, hoping to enlighten her. “I was hoping for spectacular,” he said, his words coming out overly loud and a bit theatrical. “So what do you think? Have I hopefully veered toward spectacular? With the orchid itself. And my arrangement?”

Theodosia studied Drayton’s arrangement. The little orchid looked very lovely in its new pot. But was it a total showstopper? That was the big question, wasn’t it?

“It’s exotic-looking,” admitted Theodosia. “And very beautiful.”

Drayton was beyond nervous now. “All orchids are exotic and beautiful. But do you think this one is good enough to take home a blue ribbon?”

“After what we went through,” said Theodosia, “I certainly think you deserve one. But . . .”

“But what?” prompted Drayton.

“I’m no judge of orchids,” said Theodosia. “I barely know a Phalaenopsis from a bog rose. All I know is what you’ve taught me. And it’s been, what one might call, a crash course. But tonight you’re going to be judged by experienced orchid experts. It’s going to be their call as to which one is a prizewinner or not.”

“Oh dear,” murmured Drayton, turning his full attention to the monkey-face orchid again. “And I so wanted to win a ribbon for Mark.”

“You’re doing this in his memory,” Theodosia reminded him. “That’s a win-win situation right there.”

Charlie had suddenly joined them. “Drayton?” she said. “You have a phone call. A Mr. Timothy Neville?”

Drayton snatched up his orchid. “Now I suppose there’s an event crisis, too,” he said.

“Why don’t you take the call in my office?” suggested Theodosia.

“Thank you, I will,” said Drayton as he threaded his way across the floor of the tea room.

“What’s the deal with Drayton?” asked Charlie. She seemed calm, unmoved by his hysteria.

“He’s just being Drayton,” laughed Haley.

“He’s worried about his orchid,” Theodosia told Charlie. “Thinks the display isn’t showy enough.”

“Really,” said Charlie, studying Drayton’s arrangement. “Not showy enough, huh?”

“Charlie,” said Theodosia. “Could you do me a really big favor?”

“Sure thing,” said Charlie.

“Could you put together a tea basket for tonight’s silent auction?”

“You haven’t done that yet?” asked Haley.

Theodosia shook her head. “Not yet.”

“No problem,” said Charlie. “So you want me to just arrange a few things in a basket? Like tins of tea, a jar of jam, cup and saucer, things like that?”

“Perfect,” said Theodosia. “You’re a very quick study.”

“Not perfect,” said Haley. “We’re clean out of baskets.”

“What about those woven grapevine baskets that have been sitting in my back office for months?” asked Theodosia.

“Gone,” said Haley. “Dusted off and sold this past week when the contingent from Goose Creek stopped by.”

“Really?” said Theodosia. “Okay then, maybe . . .”

“Why don’t I just run out and get a basket,” volunteered Charlie. “It’s no big deal.”

“Can you really?” asked Theodosia. “Gee, that’d be great.”

Charlie was already slipping her apron over her head. “Be back in ten minutes,” she promised.

Theodosia and Haley turned their attention to Haley’s truffle trays.

“At any rate, these are all done,” declared Haley.

“They’re gorgeous,” said Theodosia. Indeed, Haley had whipped up coconut-ginger truffles as well as raspberry-chocolate truffles and white chocolate–almond truffles.

“Once we get our tables all set up at the Heritage Society tonight, I’m going to sprinkle edible flowers among the chocolates,” said Haley.

“Edible orchids?” asked Theodosia.

“Not quite,” said Haley, slipping plastic bags over her three-tiered trays and using a twist tie to fasten them securely at the bottom. “I’m going to put these in the back of your Jeep, okay?”

“No problem, doors are unlocked.”

“When I come back I’m going to tackle the tea sandwiches,” said Haley.

“I’ll help,” said Theodosia. “How many different kinds are you planning to do?”

“Probably three,” answered Haley.

“Okay. We’ll let Drayton tend to the few remaining customers.”

“I heard that,” said Drayton, coming back into the tea room.

“Everything okay with Timothy?” asked Theodosia.

Drayton rolled his eyes. “Arthur Roumillat and his Orchid Society members want to wait until the very last minute to set up.”

“I suppose they’re worried about their plants,” said Theodosia.

“I can just see them circling the block,” complained Drayton. “Waiting for the last possible moment to come swooping in.”

Theodosia was starting to get a little worried herself. The patio at the Heritage Society wasn’t all that spacious. And they had to set up their tea table, which she still wasn’t certain was going to be one table or two tables put together. And Parker Scully had to set up his table for the Black Orchid cocktails nearby. And, of course, there were Drayton’s ice angels to contend with. Plus there were circular glass tables for guests to sit at. “It’s going to be chaos,” ventured Theodosia.

“What isn’t chaos these days.” Drayton sighed.

When the front door flew open ten minutes later, Theodosia knew things were not only going to be difficult, they were probably going to get contentious, too.

“What are you doing here?” an unhappy Drayton asked their new arrival.

Bill Glass ran a hand over his dark, slicked-back hair and glanced around the tea shop. “Jeez,” were his first words. “This place looks like a hurricane just hit.”

“We’re dreadfully busy,” snapped Drayton. “Now what is it you require?”

Glass aimed one of his Nikons at the table where tea sandwiches were being stacked and packed. “Just a few quick photos. You know, document the whole event.”

“I was under the impression you were retained to photograph the actual orchid show,” said Theodosia. “The events at the Heritage Society.”

“Nothing like getting a few candid shots,” said Glass as he slid over toward the table where cellophane-wrapped sandwiches were being packed in wicker baskets.

“Stop right there,” ordered Drayton. “Do not help yourself to one morsel of food. That’s an order.”

“C’mon,” wheedled Glass. “You’ve got enough food here to feed an army.”

Theodosia hustled over to Bill Glass. “You can help yourself to tea and sandwiches tonight ,” she told him. “With the rest of the guests.”

Glass raised his camera and clicked off a quick sequence of shots in her face, causing Theodosia to blink.

“You’re no fun, tea lady,” he told her. “Why such a party pooper?”

“Is that who I think it is?” called Haley’s strident voice. She came barreling out from behind the velvet curtains and rushed right up to Bill Glass. “Stop it,” she told him, smacking his outstretched hand like she was reprimanding a willful schoolchild.

“Yow!” yelped Glass, pulling back his hand and laughing at the same time. “Aren’t you a little spitfire.”

Hands on hips now, Haley peered at Bill Glass. “Get lost, Glass,” she told him. “It’s bad enough you were hired to photograph Orchid Lights. We don’t need you poking around here, too.”

“Behind-the-scene shots,” he told her, though his explanation sounded lame.