Chapter Ten: Me without Coffee
"We're out of coffee," Mrs. Holliday said the next morning, handing Catherine the last cup as the tall, long-legged girl stumbled sleepily into the kitchen.
"Can't you ring up for some more?" Catherine slumped into a chair at the kitchen table. She never could think straight before her first cup of coffee, and she was still groggy after her late night.
The big, hefty housekeeper shook her head, grunting as she sat down to enjoy her own cup of coffee. "No luck, my duck. Our credit card is no longer accepted at the village store. I reckon Anne in London forgot to cover the cost of last month's bills!"
"Anne wouldn't leave us stranded! Not unless . . ." Henry Tudor was a deadly enemy. Concern for the head of Cleves Cosmetics cut through Catherine's usual morning fog. Every last drop of blood rushed from her face, leaving her features wan and pale. Her big, baby blue eyes were full of fear.
"There, there, my love." Mrs. Holliday reached across the table, giving the tall, slim fashion model's hand a firm, reassuring squeeze. "My lady Anne can take care of herself. No reason to look like a deer caught in the headlights!"
"It's nothing. I'm worried about Anne, that's all." Catherine quickly pulled herself together, gulping coffee to get herself going. She adored Mrs. Holliday, but she didn't like being treated like a child. "So what are we going to do?" she asked, in her grownup voice. The coffee was already going to work, making her feel more alert.
"Well, what I'm going to do is dial up Cleves Cosmetics in London. I rang them first thing this morning, while you were still resting after your late night. But I was told that Anne was not available." Mrs. Holliday shot Catherine a look over the rim of her coffee cup.
"That doesn't sound good." Fighting her fears, Catherine clutched her cup fiercely in both hands. "So what do you want me to do?"
"Ah! I knew I could count on you, ducky. After you've finished up your morning coffee, I want you to jump right in the shower and see about bicycling down to the village. I've got enough grocery money saved up from my own wages to tide us over for a week or two. I'm sure Anne will pay me back the moment we touch base."
"But . . . but . . ." Catherine simply hated the idea of spending Mrs. Holliday's money. And she was terribly concerned about Anne. But just then someone knocked on the door of the little cottage.
"I'll get it!" The long-legged girl flew to the door in her bare feet, glad to escape her worries and the look on Mrs. Holliday's face. Catherine was still in her nightshirt, and she was still clutching her coffee cup in one hand. Opening the front door, she saw a young delivery boy holding the most lovely bouquet of red roses!
"A present from Don Jose," the boy said, clearly reciting the English words from memory. "He sends to you all his love."
"How lovely!" Catherine accepted the roses and inhaled their scent, picturing the funny little man she'd met the night before. Don Jose might be bald, and very fat, but he was a real charmer!
"We've a card and a package here as well," Mrs. Holliday said, joining Catherine at the front door. "It's a parcel from the village store." The housekeeper cut through the string, her big, capable hands opening the brown paper package with practiced ease.
"Can you believe it?" Catherine laughed as a very different sort of scent assailed her nostrils. Roasted coffee beans in silver foil. "Don Jose is an angel. He's sent us just what we needed most!"
"It is good?" asked the delivery boy, shyly. He didn't speak much English, but his white teeth showed in a warm and friendly smile.
"Yes, it's very good!" Catherine beamed at the messenger boy. The richest man on the island had come galloping to the rescue. Whatever trouble Anne was in, Don Jose would surely help her!
"Thank you, my young friend." Mrs. Holliday dropped a few shiny coins into the boy's hand, speaking to him rapidly in Spanish. Catherine couldn't follow the words, but when she saw him getting back on his bicycle she had a burst of sudden inspiration.
"Wait a minute, please! Un momento, por favor!" Scribbling quickly on the back of the card, Catherine sketched a very pretty girl who looked an absolute mess. Her hair was all over the place, in wild tangles, with big dark shadows showing clearly under droopy-lidded eyes. That was sure to make Don Jose laugh! And just to show how grateful she was Catherine added a few words underneath the picture.
"Dear Don Jose: this is me without coffee!"