Page 75 of The End of Summer

“Yeah,” she smiles. “I would give my left arm to work at the school I grew up at.”

“Live where you serve, that’s what I always said,” Mr. Andrews chimes in, flipping the steak tips over on the grill. “Did you grow up on Cape, Brady?”

“I did. I’m from Sandwich.”

“Ah. Nice community.”

"Agreed. It was a nice place to grow up."

“Your folks still live there?”

“My dad does, yes.”

“He’s the chef, Gretchie tells me. I guess that’s where you got your grilling skills from, then?”

I nod.

“You know, we’ve never actually eaten there. The Diamond Excelsior. That’s fancy business.”

“I guess. Sort of overpriced, in my opinion.”

He laughs. “All those resorts are, though. They cater to the tourists.”

Yes… nowthisI can talk about.“Agreed. Summer people are the single driver of all pricing in the Cape and Islands economy. Just look at the housing market.”

“Were your parents also raised here?” he asks.

“No, sir. Technically, I’m a washashore. My parents moved to Sandwich when I was a baby.”

“Where from?”

“Boston. My grandfather was a chef at the Four Seasons there, which is where my dad did his apprenticeship. As I understand it, my father didn’t want to live in his shadow, so when he got the opportunity to work at the Diamond Excelsior, he packed up my mom and I and the three of us left.”

Mr. Andrews nods. “And where’s your mom now?”

“Daddy,” Gretchen seethes.

“What? She’s not – I’m sorry, she hasn’t passed, has she?” he asks me, earnestly.

“No.” I shake my head. “My mom lives in Iowa now. She’s a writer. Moved out there about ten years ago,” I explain.

“Oh.” He nods. There’s a lot he’s not saying in the silence, though.

“Gretchen tells me that you and Mrs. Andrews have quite the whirlwind love story,” I offer, trying to maintain a positive vibe.

This makes him smile. “That we did. Still do. Every day with Annie is an adventure.”

“Aww,” she hollers from the kitchen.

“I’m sorry for the inquisition, Brady. You just need to understand, me and Annie, we just want what’s best for our little girl. Gretchie’s all we got, and she deserves someone who’s going to make all her dreams come true.”

“I agree,” I say. “She’s a very special woman.”

“You know, Dad,” Gretchen says. “They say girls look for a man who reminds them of their father.”

“She’s not wrong,” Annie calls out.

“Well, son,” he says. “If you’re anything like me, you’ll do whatever it takes to make her happy. Because she deserves it.” Mr. Anderson drapes a protective arm around his daughter.

---