As we drove back into town, I thought about my friend. Sadie had been alone for years after her husband died, and the first man she’d let into her heart since then had torn it apart. I was focusing on the ocean when a thought occurred to me. “Darn, I forgot to ask him what they planned to do with the food truck.”
“You think he would have told you?” Amy turned around to look at me.
I shrugged. “Probably not, but who knows? He’s the one into New Age honesty and purity. Maybe I could have used his beliefs against him?”
“Tricked him into telling you the truth?” Greg laughed. “Honey, that hasn’t worked since they stopped making those Scooby-Doo cartoons.”
I leaned up against him. “Well, Austin definitely would be playing the part of Shaggy.”
Justin and Amy dropped us at my house when we returned to South Cove. Greg walked me to the porch. “Well, that was fun.”
“You’re a bad liar.” I poked his chest. “I didn’t think you were going to make it ten more minutes looking for that fake rock. In fact, I believe I saved you from a boring afternoon.”
“Don’t tell Amy or Justin, okay?” Greg took my key and unlocked the door. “It’s just that I get enough of the search stuff in my day job. When I’m on my own time, I don’t want to look for clues or find hidden treasure. I want to drink beer and eat buckets of clams.”
“Now, that sounds like a terrific plan. Let’s say we do that tomorrow.” I had three days off this week—Friday, Sunday, and Monday—and I intended to make the most of my last day to relax. As we walked into the living room, Emma leaned against our legs, whining and yipping. I leaned down and gave her a quick hug. “You want to go out, girl?”
She ran to the back door and barked.
“I guess that’s your answer.” Greg nodded to the television. “You mind if we watch some of the game? I could go home if you’d rather be alone.”
“I can read with you here or gone, so I’m fine.” I threw the remote at him. “But I’d rather snuggle on the couch with you while I’m doing it.”
Greg chuckled and settled on the couch as I let Emma outside. “Do you happen to have a beer?”
“Beer and chips. And I might just be talked into warming up a frozen pizza if you’re good.” I opened the fridge and grabbed a couple of bottles, then checked the freezer to make sure we had pizza. I poured a bag of potato chips into a large bowl and headed back to the couch.
Double dating was fun and all, but Greg and I had developed our own routine as a couple. And this was our comfort zone.
If I believed in fate, I’d worry about feeling this settled. Instead, since I wasn’t superstitious, I believed we’d have many more nights like this to enjoy each other’s company. Change, however, happens when you’re not expecting it.
CHAPTER 2
Aunt Jackie put the standing water pitchers away under the counter. “Until the water ban is lifted, we’ll only serve water when requested. Do you know how much water we go through in the afternoons? Those kids drink it because it’s free.”
“Then we should provide it.” I looked to Toby and Sasha for support. Neither met my gaze. This was our first monthly staff meeting, and my aunt seemed to be changing everything. “Toby? What do you think?”
Toby didn’t even look up from his texting. “If we have to pour water for every kid who asks, we’ll be swamped and we won’t give great service to the paying customers.”
Mayor Baylor had put out a save water decree after the third month of the drought. Businesses were supposed to turn in their plans to City Hall by the end of the week. I didn’t mind helping the cause, but this seemed extreme. “Yeah, I’m sure we don’t want to add staff hours just to pour water.”
Aunt Jackie seemed to consider our objections, then crossed the item off the list. “We’ll try it this way for a while. Next topic is new aprons. Who has an idea for a new slogan?”
Toby tucked his phone in his shirt pocket. “Look, I don’t want to be rude, but it’s my one day off and Elisa’s upset I’m not helping with the yard work. Is there anything else we need to talk about before I leave?”
I glanced at my aunt, who narrowed her lips and scanned her list of items. “I guess there’s nothing here that I can’t update you on at the end of your shift tomorrow.” She nodded to me. “Go ahead and give them the envelopes.”
I handed out the white business-size envelopes. Sasha took hers like it could bite her. “You’re not closing the store are you? I know I haven’t been able to work as many hours this semester, but I’ll cut back on my schedule for summer and be here more.”
“Just open the envelope.” I watched as they each pulled out a check. “It’s not much, but Aunt Jackie and I wanted to share the amazing holiday season we had. And a lot of it is due to the two of you.”
“We just want you to know you’re appreciated.” Aunt Jackie put her agenda in the manila folder she’d set up for staff meeting notes. Then she went back behind the counter. “I’ll see everyone on Wednesday. Josh and I are going into the city for a play tonight.”