Tea in Coffs
They were waiting for Bess Rammond to claim her bag.
“How was your flight Mum?” Amanda asked.
“Not bad as flights go, you look well Amanda,” Bess gave her daughter a hug.
“Bess, you know there was no need for you to come,” Winnie Peeg said.
“What kind of a welcome is that?” Bess asked rolling her eyes at her sister.
“I am sorry, it is good to see you Bess, and Col. Rammond how is he?” Winnie tried again.
“He was very upset you know about the shooting, he wonders just what kind of a place you’ve settled in.” Bess said grabbing her bag.
“You’ll find it quite pleasant,” Winnie said leading the way out of the airport.
Amanda brought up the rear carrying her mother’s carryon piece.
“Who’s car is this?” Bess asked arriving at Johnny’s car.
“It belongs to a friend,” Amanda said opening the trunk, “he’s broken his ankle and I’m driving it for awhile.”
“Winnie I was so sad to hear about your little mini being lost in the floods, have you bought another?”
“No, not yet. I was thinking Bess its nearly tea time, would you like to stop in Coffs for a cup?”
“Oh well I’m sure Amanda can put the kettle on.” Bess replied.
“Actually I’d like to stop for a cup Auntie Win,” Amanda said starting the motor.
“Then it’s settled, we’ll have a nice cup of tea and perhaps a small sandwich or two.” Winnie said settling in the back seat.
Bess looked out of the car window, “It’s a lovely area, I’ve never been to Coffs Harbor.”
“Yes it is and has everything we may lack in The Glen. It’s only about a half hour drive,” Winnie said.
Bess turned in the seat, “what do you lack in The Glen Winnie?”
“Not much actually, we’ve a grocery now and a bank, a bakery and a nice restaurant at Millie’s Place.”
“And don’t forget Barrett’s of Australia has just opened oh and your friend Mr. Jessup is opening a corner store.” Amanda added
“Oh yes, I haven’t had the opportunity to go to Barrett’s yet, what with everything.” Winnie said. She still had not seen Mr. Jessup to put him straight yet.
They stopped in at the tea room and ordered tea Winnie sat facing the window and stopped mid-sentence and stood up, “Excuse me for a moment, there’s someone…” she went out to the sidewalk.
“Whatever is she about?” Bess asked peering out of the window.
Amanda turned, “Oh it’s Hando.”
“Oh, my word, what is she doing talking to someone like him, oh my, my.” Bess was horrified.
Miss Peeg hurried out of the tea room, “Hando, Hando.” She called.
Hando stopped and turned, “Miss Peeg.”
“It’s so good to see you,” Winnie looked him over and met his eyes smiling.
“Yeah you too,” Hando quickly masked his feelings, “what are you doin’ slumming today?”
“I picked up my sister at the airport; we’ve just stopped for tea. How are you?”
“Well enough, I read about the shooting, pretty cool.”
“Oh it wasn’t cool at all Hando, but you where’ve you been?”
Hando looked around, “mostly around here.”
“Are you working around here?” she asked
“Not right now, might have something coming up at the sail shop.” He lied; he still had the number in his pocket but had made no effort to call for an interview.
“I’m still at Millie’s, stop in sometime I’d really like to talk with you.” She said
“Yeah, sometime when I’m out that way.” He turned to the faces staring out of the window, “that your party? Guess you’d better get back before they call the police.”
“That’s Amanda my niece you remember her, and my sister Bess. Yes I should get back; it was good to see you are well.”
“See ya around,” he said and turned walking down the street.
“Winnie, I’m not sure I like the company you keep he looks positively lethal,” Bess said as Winnie took her seat.
“But he isn’t Bess,” Winnie said picking up her menu, “now for a sandwich I see you’ve already ordered the tea.
“This shall surely spoil our dinner, I’m sure Amanda has something special planned for her Mum,” Bess said sipping her tea.
“Well…actually I haven’t shopped.” Amanda said
“You’ll enjoy Andy’s at the Glen, they have a marvelous chef,” Miss Peeg said placing the menu by her plate. “Besides, it will be more convenient.”
“Well…I don’t want to put you out Amanda,” Bess sniffed.
“It’s not that Mum, there’s been no time to shop, I have food, just not enough for three.”
Miss Peeg sat her cup down, “You’ll be rooming with me Bess, unless you’d like your own room, I’ve inquired and they can accommodate you at Millie’s.”
“Nonsense I shall stay with Amanda she has a spare room don’t you dear?”
“Bess, her spare room is taken right now; the young man with the broken ankle is staying with her. He’s quite nice you’ll like him I’m sure.”
“You have a young man staying in your house, Amanda?”
“Yes Mum I do, he couldn’t manage the stairs at the boarding house and I had room.” Amanda sipped her tea.
“We shall see, oh yes we shall see about this,” Bess said picking up her tea cup. She rolled her eyes toward her sister.
