With a little sigh, Seychelle pushed the door open. At once the string of little hats began to create a merry song, lifting her spirits almost before she even stepped into the store. The fragrance hit her next, enveloping her in the subtle scent of lavender with just the faintest essence of bergamot and perhaps a delicate hint of lemongrass. Seychelle couldn’t be certain what the combination was because it was so faint. She just knew that the moment she entered the store, her spirits lifted and her anxiety lessened.
Her ladies had taken the largest table. Phillis Gimble sat between Anat and Doris looking a little strained but still happy to be there. Eden and Rebecca had Ava seated between them. As usual, Nina, Eden’s sister, was nowhere in sight. Doris waved wildly to her, and she hurried to their table.
“Everyone got here before me. Am I that late?” She didn’t look at her watch. She took the remaining chair, at the head of the table, out in the aisle a bit.
“Only by a couple of minutes,” Doris said. “We know what you like, so we just ordered for you.”
“Technically, Sabelia knew exactly what Seychelle orders,” Eden corrected. “Which means you come in here way too much.”
“You can never come here too much,” Seychelle corrected. “Wait, Nina’s not here yet. I’m not the last one.”
“Nina couldn’t make it,” Eden said. “She said to tell everyone she was sorry, but she’d make it up next time. Something to do with one of her customers.”
“I feel bad that she always misses out on the fun,” Seychelle said. She turned to the newcomers. “I’m Seychelle Dubois, by the way.”
“I’m sorry,” Rebecca apologized instantly. “This is a new friend of mine, Ava Chutney. We met recently, and I thought she might like the Floating Hat and to meet all of you. Ava, this is our dear friend Seychelle. None of us can live without her. She comes to our homes, sees to just about everything and makes certain we’re all right when we’re not. I can’t say enough about her.”
“Don’t listen to her, Mrs. Chutney,” Seychelle said. “The next thing she’ll tell you is I walk on water.” She never made the mistake of addressing one of the older men or women in a familiar way until invited to.
“Please call me Ava,” Rebecca’s guest said. “I’ve heard amazing things about you, but not that—yet.”
Seychelle laughed. She couldn’t help it. These women had a way of lifting her spirits just the way the shop itself did.
“This is my guest, Phillis Gimble,” Anat announced. “A dear friend. Phillis, this is Seychelle, the young woman I’ve told you so much about.”
“Again, Mrs. Gimble, if you know Anat, she’s always too kind in her assessments of people. Look how she is with Savage and Destroyer. She adores them both. Have you met them?”
Phillis shook her head. “Please call me Phillis. I’ve certainly heard Anat sing their praises. She’s such a flirt though. They must be handsome.”
Anat trilled in the way she had that let them all know she was reprimanding Phillis yet still made them laugh.
“It’s true, you are a flirt,” Seychelle pointed out. “She’s crazy about both of them. And yes, I’d say they are incredibly handsome in a rough sort of way.”
“Someone is named Savage? And Destroyer?” Ava asked.
“Seychelle is engaged to Savage,” Doris was quick to point out.
“You’re engaged to someone named Savage?” Ava asked again.
Doris grabbed Seychelle’s wrist and held up her hand to show off her ring. Ava gasped. “Oh my God, that’s an Ice original. I can spot one a mile away. And that stone is exquisite. A fancy teal-blue diamond. There aren’t very many …” She trailed off, staring at Seychelle. “I know diamonds, and that’s real.” She almost whispered it. “You’re really engaged to a Savage?”
“On and off. When I’m not wanting to hit him over the head. But I keep the ring on.”
“How would he ever get his hands on an Ice original? It’s almost impossible. I’ve never heard of anyone able to have a wedding ring designed by him.”
Instinctively, she protected Ice. “You’d have to ask Savage. He surprised me with the ring. Before that I just called him my fake fiancé.”
“I can tell you, you’re one lucky woman,” Ava said.
Seychelle held up the ring. It was beyond beautiful, but she would have traded it for a real relationship, one where her man wanted a partnership. She swallowed back the sudden lump in her throat threatening to choke her and forced a smile. “I am.”
Anat watched her with knowing eyes, and Seychelle was very happy Sabelia arrived with the two towers of pastries and sandwiches. She left and returned with the various tea-pots, each containing a different variety of tea.
“How did you get to be such an expert on diamonds?” Rebecca asked.