Chapter 23
"Krystal? I haven't seen her since high school...why would you be searching for me?" standing behind the counter it was hard for him to get a good look at her.
"I am interested in raising my child. I also couldn't get its mother out of my mind. You're an intriguing woman, Krista," AJ told her. "We need to discuss our child."
"Do you want the baby is that what you're saying? You can say that without all the other stuff you know! You don't have to flatter me, it's not a great idea if you want something from me."
"Well, I've just batted out two in a row with the Kennex twins. I would like to raise our child. Can't we take things one step at a time?"
"If you want the baby, then I'd like to know that you will love and care for it, before I sign it over to you. How will you take care of it and work?"
"I would love any child of mine. It would be well provided for and taken care of, lacking nothing
physically or financially. It would know that it was loved and wanted. I can retire soon, if I want to, so I can do most of the caring myself, and hire a nanny until then."
"So you have money? That's good and I think that you should spend time the baby not a nanny! If you were going to do that, I should probably adopt it out!" she walked over to the stool behind the counter and sat down, looking weary all of a sudden.
"You look tired Krista, have you eaten today? Let me take you out for something to eat for lunch. We can discuss the baby. Nothing more, I promise," he said reaching out his hand to her. "Please, Krista."
"I can't leave the store, I'm the only one here, and I had breakfast, but I could use a cup of tea. I could make one for you too if you like," she offered
"That would be fine, do you need any help with that? I make a mean cup of tea," he teased. "You're careful going up and down those stairs, aren't you? They look pretty steep to me."
"I don't have to go upstairs to make tea, I have everything here behind the counter," she said quietly and began to boil the water. "What kind of tea would you like?"
"I grew up with Earl Gray, but surprise me. You sound like you know a lot about teas. How long have you worked here?" he asked looking around. "What kind of store is this anyway?"
"I do know a lot about teas, and I've worked here since it opened. It is an aromatherapy shop. Let me think you could probably use some mentally alert tea..." she began to add drops from bottles to the hot water in one mug and then stirred in some honey, "How sweet do you like your tea?"
"I don't take any sugar or honey in my tea or coffee. Mentally alert tea? That was a joke right? They don't really make any tea like that?" he asked, taking a sip of the strange smelling tea.
"No, I made it, do you see anyone else here? If you don't want it sweet let me make you another cup, I put some honey in that one..." she said as he started to drink the tea.
"This tastes quite nice, actually. What do you call it?" he took another drink and looked at her. "I might be interested in buying some."
"It's peppermint and rosemary. It's mind clearing, and should help you think clearly for several hours," she said, as she made something different for herself.
"You're not drinking the same tea, are you? What kind are you drinking, maybe I'll like it better," he glanced at her cup. "It even smells different."
"It's um...rosemary, eucalyptus, and ginger, and honey also," she said not telling him what it was for.
"You know all about these different spices, then what else are in those bottles on the shelves?" he asked finishing his tea and getting up walking around.
"Pretty much everything you could imagine. If you have a problem, then I probably have a cure for it here."
To be continued…