Page 58 of Jared

“Oh no,” said Alice. “Those are solar. No since wasting even magical energy if you don't have to.”

Jared nodded, dazed. His feet were beginning to hurt once more and he was relieved when a sign proclaiming 'Alisdair's Excellent Teas' came into view and Alice indicated that it was their destination.

It was a charming shop, with small tables covered with crisp white linen tablecloths and old fashioned ladder backed wooden chairs with rush seats. A chalkboard menu detailing the day's tea special sat just outside the front door, while cheery red gingham cafe curtains hung in the windows. A smiling young woman met them at the entrance and showed them to an empty table. Jared noted her pallor and quickly realized it was a vampire ran establishment. Sinking gratefully into his chair, as the young woman hurried away to assist another set of customers, he remarked to Alice, “Kind of reminds me A Slice of Heaven.”

Alice sat her pocket book under her chair. “It has the same owner.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Laurie's clan is famous for their pastries and excellent teas and coffees. Just one shop would never be enough to meet the demand. His youngest sister manages this one. I hear that depending on how well his New York expansion goes, they may open one across the sea, in Tia-mun.”

“Wow.” Jared picked up the menu from the holder in the middle of the table. He blinked at the sheer number of teas available. After a few moments, he passed the menu over to Alice, who declined it, offering it instead to Tim who shared it with Danilo.

“I always have the same thing,” she said. “Cherry blossom tea.”

“I think I'm going to try their matcha caramel frappe,” Jared said.

Tim and Danilo conferred between themselves quietly, then Tim placed the menu back into the holder. Their waitress must have been waiting for this for as soon as it was done, she appeared by their table, ready to take their order.

“Cherry blossom tea for me,” Alice said.

“I'll take the matcha caramel frappe.”

The waitress turned her gaze towards the other two men.

“I'd like a peach bubble tea,” Tim said.

“Make mine a strawberry one and I'd like a cherry scone with that please,” Danilo said.

“Would anyone else like anything to eat?” she asked.

Jared thought for a moment. “That chocolate fudge cake looks good. I'll take a slice of that.”

“A scone with a side of raspberry jam sounds appealing,” Alice decided.

Tim merely shook his head in refusal, upon which the waitress bustled away.

It was a very short wait for their order. Tim and Danilo proved to be great conversationalists, helping Alice keep the banter going. Jared felt more relaxed than he had for weeks. All too soon though, his bladder became unbearable. He stood up, reassured Tim and Danilo that he could pee by himself, and waddled towards the counter.

“Is there a restroom?” he inquired.

A waitress working the register paused and pointed the way. As he pushed the door to the restroom open, he suddenly had a realization. Not a single person had stared at his obvious state of pregnancy.

Huh. I wonder why?Man, I'll be glad when I don't have to pee all the time. This kid is really squishing my bladder. Can't take two sips of anything without needing to take a piss.

He quickly did his business and flushed. He had exited the stall and was washing his hands when he caught sight of something that made his blood run cold.

“Why, hi there. Miss me?” the man standing behind him said.

Are you kidding me? How did no one know he's here? Where's the other one? Oh God, please let someone come in. Tim, Danny, where are you?Damn it, I should have let one of them come with me.

“N-no,” he said.

The second stall door opened and his heart sank farther as he saw who came out.

“Hear that? He didn't miss us,”the first one said.

“We'll just have to fix that,” the other man said.