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It’d started simply enough. All things that were good did, it seemed. In Clyde’s opinion anyway.
First it was Phillip, flirtatious and bouncy. Then Phee who fit like a long lost puzzle piece. Then Fran in that soft and steady way, like granny’s old mantle clock keeping them all in time. Although, truth be told Fran was more to Phillip like Phee was to Clyde, not that the parties didn’t mix and match when occasion called.
“This one’s purty,” Clyde says, pointing to a small tea pot in the old thrift shop.
Fran’s fingers reach towards it but don’t touch, her fingers curling as if she’s afraid she’ll break the old floral china if she gets too close.
“Do ya like it?”
Her face sort of scrunches and he’s a little surprised that it’s a no.
“Do they have any of the blue patterned ones?” She asks, looking around her.
Clyde looks above the door frame of the old pokey shop, filled with old knicknacks and dishware. It was her therapist’s idea to expand their usual tea taking habits into something a little more– intentional, he thinks she said.
“Ah– Yes,” he says, glancing to his left before he sidesteps to reach up. One false move and the whole store might collapse and cost him more than his yearly earnings. He gingerly cradles it in his hand, careful make sure the lid doesn’t go ass over teakettle so to speak.
“This one?” He says, handing it to Fran. She smiles, a rare thing when Phillip isn’t around teasing one out of her.
“I think so.”
“Wanna see if there’s tea cups to match?”
Fran considers it. “Okay.”
Clyde gestures to the wall behind her and Fran carefully shuffles. Their eyes scan the walls there’s quite a few sets. Some that even catch Clyde’s eye despite the trusty stoneware he prefers for his coffee.
“Do you think Phillip would want one?”
Clyde considers it. “I think he’d appreciate that you thought of him.”
There’s one in particular that catches Fran’s eye, it’s colored almost neon gree where it isn’t a dark navy, resembling the northern lights.
“I think he’d like that one.”
Clyde looks at it and knows that Phillip will instantly think of the green flecks in Fran’s eyes and the time Fran took him back to her hometown and he got to see the northern lights in those ancient forests she called home.
“I think you’re right.” Clyde gently takes the tea pot, cradling it in the crook of his arm. “Now what about you?”
Fran’s eyes scan and she look like she’s about to give up when she finally sees something. A tea cup that’s such a soft purple it’s almost pink, shaped like a peony that wasn’t fully opened yet, and a gold handle. When Fran plucks it off the shelf he can see there’s little irises painted on the inside of the cup and that the saucer is all one color, a gold rim to match the handle.
“Do you like it?”
“I think it suits you.”
Fran smiles. “We should go put these on the counter. You should pick out your own, Clyde. My treat.”
Clyde picks a green cup and saucer. It’s just a shade darker than mint, reminding him of one his Grandaddy liked to drink from on Sunday mornings after church.
“S’pose we should get one for Phee.”
“You’re right, we should.”
The one he picks for Phee is a delicate thing, with multicolored roses around the rim and gold trim on the handle and lip of the saucer.
“She’ll like that one. Phee loves flowers,” Fran agrees.
The old lady that tends the store wraps up their purchase, exclaiming at each one and asking if they need anything else.
Fran and Clyde politely decline, he has his own tea pot, the brown drip stoneware that matches the cup he uses for his morning coffee.
***
“What time are you and Clyde doing tea today?” Phillip asks as he crawls back into bed. The sun is already peeking through the curtains and it promises to be a nice day.
“Hmm.” Fran stretches. “Sadie’s birthday is at two, so maybe eleven. Why?”
“Phee wants to go to the gym, so figured we could go do that while you two have your quiet time.”
He kisses her shoulder and she turns and kisses him. It isn’t that Phillip avoids tea time, he takes it with them sometimes, using the tea cup she got him, but he’d much rather let her and Clyde do what they enjoy together. Where Phillip has a hard time sitting still, Phee has a hard time not chatting away, so the two often find other things to do together.
It works, and makes sure that they all get some sort of even time together.
***
Clyde pulls the hot kettle off the stove, Fran’s already taken their tea tray out to the little table in the Phee’s garden. He carries it outside, squinting against the late morning light. It’s the first nice day they’ve had since winter and both of them are eager for fresh air.
Their two tea pots are ready and Clyde pours hot water into Fran’s first before pouring into his own larger pot.
He sets the kettle in the grass and sits down across from Fran. She uncovers a plate of biscuits that are left over from the night before before pointing to the tub of honey butter that Phee had picked up the week prior as a treat.
“Phee’s gonna hollar if we eat all her honey butter.”
Fran grins, licking a crumb from the corner of her mouth. “I already put more on the list.”
Clyde cracks a smile as he spreads a large dollop of butter onto half of a biscuit. While the tea brews is the most they really talk unless there’s something more pressing to attend to. Otherwise the rest of their time is spent peeking under lids before gently pouring themselves a cup of their tea of choice. Fran usually picks a jasmine tea while Clyde picks an earl grey but isn’t opposed to chamomile or mint when the occasion calls for it.
They sip their tea, watch as the wind flutters the grass that’s starting to turn green instead of brown, the buds on the trees waving in the wind.
Clyde notices that the crocuses are coming up and the daffodils, too. Following Fran’s gaze there’s a robin bouncing around in the grass near the driveway. It’s a nice break from their usual tea time at the kitchen table. They didn’t get to have it out here much when they first started, what with fall quickly giving way to a harsh winter.
They sip their tea in companionable silence. Clyde doesn’t miss the smooth feel of the glaze under his fingertips or the warmth in his palm when he cradles the cup in his hand between sips. The steam of the tea is fragrant, mixing with the scent of a green spring and warm sunshine on a cool breeze.
His attention is drawn back to Fran as she sets her tea cup in her saucer. An indication that she’s finished, like a bell ringing to let you out of class.
Clyde takes one last drink and glances at the dregs that remain in the path from the bottom of the cup to the lip. He wonders what an old timer might say they indicate. Reminded of an old friend of his Granny’s that read leaves. He doesn’t remember much of what she’d said except perhaps a perse of her lips or a twinkle to her eye as weathered and knobby fingers set the cup back down.
“Ready to go in?” Clyde asks Fran.
She nods. Together they put their tea things back on the tray, Fran carrying it back to the house while Clyde picks up his now cold kettle. He’s careful to get a few steps ahead of her so he can open the doors.
He squints at the clock. “Why don’t you go get ready, sure those two’ll be back any minute now.”
Fran nods and Clyde starts the dishwater. Phee’s already wrapped their gifts so there’s not much left for him to do but wait for the time to pass.
“Oh, I could have helped with that,” Fran says when she comes back.
Clyde glances at her. “You got it last time. My turn.”
She presses her lips together in that way she does when she’s swallowing an argument.
“You’ll get them tomorrow.”
She sucks in a breath and nods her agreement and soon the quiet kitchen is invaded by the boisterous sounds of chatter and laughter as Phillip and Phee return from their outing.
Clyde watches from the corner of his eye as Phillip gives Fran a kiss on the cheek before dashing to the shower, stripping out of his shirt and shoes before he even leaves the living room.
“How was your tea?” Phee asks, popping up onto her toes seeking a kiss from Clyde.
He tips down to kiss her. “Good. Garden was nice, your flowers are coming up.”
Phee beams. “Crocuses?”
“And the daffodils, sure the tulips won’t be far behind.”
“I should go join Phillip before he takes up all the hot water,” Phee remarks as she glances back towards the bathroom.
“Plus we only have an hour before we need to leave. Long drive to Charleston,” Clyde adds.
With another kiss Phee’s dashing down the hall but not before doubling back to give Fran a kiss on the forehead.