Page 7 of Must Love Lavender and Little Lies
But what if?
The next morning,Pip and I headed off to The Sconery and Teashop. Through the window, I saw Rosalyn and Zarina working behind the counter. Portia, the owner of Sir Reginald Hootington’s Magical Bookery, was there, as was Emmalyn Thornberry, who was dressed, of course, for riding. Winifred—friend, florist, and local gossip—was also there. They were having an animated discussion.
The bell over the door rang when I entered. Pip scampered off in search of Rosalyn’s pet caticorn, Merry. At once, I was surrounded by the sweet scent of baked goods. The scents of vanilla, blueberry, honey, and roasted nuts filled the air. I inhaled deeply. The Sconery was decorated for the Greening. Garlands of paper leaves, spring flowers, and pastel buntinghung from the ceiling. The teapots that graced the tables were filled with early spring flowers.
“Juniper,” Rosalyn called happily, her pixie wings fluttering with excitement, sending off sparkling golden dust. “Good. Now we have someone sensible to help us settle the argument.”
Her comment solicited offended “Heys!” from the others. Portia, who was sipping her tea, simply shook her head and turned back to the aged papers spread out before her.
“Juniper is the perfect person to ask,” Rosalyn said. “Tell us what you think. We are in a debate. I think men and women can be just friends with no feelings developing between them. Agreed?”
“Well, yes. I suppose?—”
“I mean, you and Granik have been close for years,” Rosalyn said. “And you don’t have feelings for each other.”
“Well, no. We are more like brother and sister.”
“And there’s never anything more? Ever?” Rosalyn asked.
For a brief moment, that inexplicable something from last night came to mind once more, but I pushed it away. “No. Of course not.”
“Never?” Winifred asked, her eyes narrowing.
I had hesitated for a split second before answering Rosalyn, and, as usual, Winifred had noticed. Now she was fixing me with such a withering stare that I wanted to run away.
Catching Winifred’s tone, all the women turned to look at me, including Portia, who was staring at me over her round spectacles.
“Maybe…friends with benefits?” Zarina asked with a grin.
Her question broke the tension. “No. Never,” I said with a laugh. “The thought never crossed my mind.”
“Not even when Granik looks, well, the way he looks?” Emmalyn asked with a smirk.
“Never.”
Rosalyn grinned. “See. I’m right. Men and women can just be friends.”
“Hmm,” Emmalyn said, looking uncertain. “Well, maybe it’s possible for Juniper and Granik, but they’re a special case. One in a million. But mark my words, for the rest of us, feelings eventually get in the way. It gets messy,” she said, then frowned. “And then, if he’s a complete jerk, he just leaves.”
Portia set a sympathetic hand on Emmalyn’s shoulder. We all knew the story of how Emmalyn’s heart had been broken by a man she’d once loved.
Rosalyn gave Emmalyn a soft smile and refilled her tea. “He’snot worth mentioning.”
“Or even remembering,” Winifred added.
“After all, we’re talking about real men,” Zarina said. “That was a man-child.”
Everyone laughed lightly.
A moment later, Bjorn, Rosalyn’s husband, appeared from upstairs. When he spotted us at the counter, he paused, sensing something was afoot. But it was too late. He was caught.
“Bjorn,” Rosalyn said, hurrying to her husband and helping him across the room to join us. “Give us a masculine perspective. Can a man and a woman just be friends, no feelings attached, no attraction?”
Bjorn laughed. “Sure, a man and woman can just be friends. But no attraction? Well… That’s impossible. He willalwaysnotice her beauty.”
“Always?” I asked.
Bjorn nodded. “He can’t help it. Even if he merely admires her from a respectful distance, he will still notice.”
