Lorraine Bartlett - Davenport Designs

DAVENPORT DESIGNS

Former Sheriff's Office detective Ray Davenport now owns the Wood U gift shop on Victoria Square, but its his talented younger daughters who steal the show with their displays and packaging designs. The girls believe they can earn money by their window dressing skills for the other businesses on the Square, but the only merchant who hires them conspires to reap the rewards of their labor without paying a cent. Will they have to swallow their pride and ask Katie Bonner for help to get whats owed them?

My thanks go to my friend and fellow author, Shirley Hailstock, for sharing her skills on making faux desserts. Check out her Instagram page to see some of her beautiful creations.

Thanks also go to members of the Lorraine Train for their continued support. Amy Connolley, Jens Kleine, Rita Pierrottie, Pam Priest, and Debbie Lyon.

Sasha Davenport: youngest daughter of Wood U owner, Ray Davenport

Sadie Davenport: middle daughter of Wood U owner, Ray Davenport

Ray Davenport: owner of Wood U gift shop on Victoria Square

Katie Bonner: owner of Artisans Alley and co-owner of Tealicious on Victoria Square

Margo Bonner: Katies former mother-in-law and co-owner of Tealicious on Victoria Square

Don Parsons: co-owner of Sassy Sallys Bed & Breakfast on Victoria Square

Nick Farrell: co-owner of Sassy Sallys Bed & Breakfast on Victoria Square

Nona Fiske: owner of The Quiet Quilter on Victoria Square

Brad Andrews: Chef and co-manager of Tealicious tea room on Victoria Square

Moonbeam Carruthers: owner of The Flower Child florist and boutique on Victoria Square

Charlotte Booth: owner of Booths Jams and Jellies on Victoria Square

Sue Sweeney: owner of Sweet Sue's Confectionery on Victoria Square

S asha Davenport studied the bone china tea set that decorated the card table in Artisans Alleys lobby. It was one of twelve that vendors had set up in the craft arcades entryway. The contest stipulated that each table had to feature at least one item that the vendor had made him or herself, but that was the only hard-and-fast rule. This one featured a bouquet of faux fall flowers and foliage arranged by the owner of booth 54.

Sasha scrutinized the vintage tea set before her that featured orange chrysanthemums, a pale peach tablecloth, crystal water glasses, and a brown transferware teapot of another pattern. The teen shook her head as she jotted a note on the pad she held.

You dont like it? Sashas older-by-one-year sister, Sadie, asked.

Im not sure damask was the right choice for the tablecloth. Sasha was sure that none of her schoolmates even knew what damask was. They would be horrified that she was spending an early November Saturday afternoon studying what could be described as granny chic. But that was the thing: she and Sadie were interested in every decorating style. She leaned toward the French farmhouse look, while Sadie was partial to shabby chic. That said, they were fairly knowledgeable on such diverse styles from Empire to mid-century modern and could identify the work of Chippendale, Duncan Phyfe, and many more furniture makers.

If only Sasha was as knowledgeable when it came to the subjects taught at McKinlay Mill High School. She just wasnt interested in physics or geometry but did fairly well with contemporary studies. Unlike her two older sisters, she found conventional schooling to be a total bore. But tempt her with a book or a magazine on interior design and she became an apt pupil, studying anything she could lay her hands on. And it wasnt like math wasnt compatible with her interests. She made sure to measure twice and cut once when it came to wood or fabric.

Even at fifteen, Sasha had decided that college wasnt a path she wanted to follownot that shed mentioned it to her father or sisters. But that didnt mean she didnt have a thirst for knowledge. The reading material she devoured ranged from the old-fashioned newspaper that arrived on their doorstep every morning, to books on decor, and scores of YouTube tutorials she watched instead of the drivel on commercial television channels.

Sure, designers like Joanna Gains went to college, but her degree was in communicationsnot interior design. Of course, that degree was an asset when she plunged into the world of televisionbut Sasha had no illusions that she, too, would be an HGTV star.

Then again, she wouldnt turn down such a deal if it presented itself to her.

Sadie looked down at her notepad. Im going with number seven. Its just the prettiest.

I thought we werent going to use only pretty as our criteria, Sasha pointed out.

Lets face it, this is a beauty competitionnothing more. But it was fun, Sadie said, smiling.

Sasha quirked a smile and nodded.

Lets put in our ballots and go grab a donut or one of those wonderful little cakes they sell at Tanners.

Sasha shook her head. Not me. Im saving what little money Ive got for Christmas.

The ten-dollar-a-week allowance their father gave them didnt go very far, but they knew that was all he could afford.

Youre right, Sadie remarked sadly.

They entered the French doors that separated Artisans Alley from the buildings lobby and headed for the ballot box that sat on the end of cash desk one. Theyd just slipped the forms into the box when a familiar voice called to them.

Hey, what brings you two to Artisans Alley? Katie Bonner asked, her tone cheerful.

Sasha threw her sister a sour look. The girls hadnt forgiven Katie for what they termed stalking their father romantically. Especially since shed had a boyfriend at the same time. Of course, for some reason, Katie and their father didnt seem to be seeing each other as much as they had during the previous month or so. Katie had even hinted that it was the girls fault. Ha! But then, now their fathers ex-colleague from the county sheriffs office had started hanging around. They liked Carol Rigby even less than they liked Katie. And Katie had let them have Belle. But then, she probably hadnt wanted to get stuck with five puppies anyway and within hours of finding them had found homes for all of them.

Uh, we came to check out the tablescapes in the lobby, Sadie said, her voice subdued.

So, what do you think?