Page 15 of A Moment Never Forgotten
As she was about to step behind the table to put her back against the wall, Micah pulled out the chair across from it for her. She should’ve known better. He wanted the seat in the corner so he could see everything, and everyone, and the restaurant. It was close to the kitchen and a backdoor.
“I’d rather sit here if you don’t mind.” She pulled out the chair adjacent to the one in the back. She could still see the front door and everyone except the people at the table behind her. She hoped Micah would take it as a sign that she wanted to be closer to him rather than in a position of power.
When he sat down, he admitted, “I should have realized that you wouldn’t want your back to everyone. For a few minutes there, I forgot who you work for.”
Damn. For a few minutes, she, too, had forgotten why she was at the restaurant with this wonderful gentleman.
Micah set the bread on the table, then picked it up and moved it onto the empty chair to his right. “If I set it there, I know I’ll forget it.” He set the bread back on the far side of the table.
Berit reached across and snatched it, placing it in her basket then set all of her shopping on the chair beside her. “There. I won’t forget it.”
“Thank you,” Micah said as his gaze swept the restaurant. “I take it you’ve had this place checked out?”
“Yes. It’s been in the same family for over fifty years.” She looked at the young female server taking an order a few tables down. Her thick, kinky black hair was pulled back into a frizzy ponytail exposing the features of her dark brown face and huge almond eyes. “That’s the owner’s granddaughter, Zala. She’s been working here since she was sixteen.”
As though she knew they were talking about her, she looked up and gave them a small wave. She held up her index finger, indicating she would be there in a minute. She didn’t lie.
“Ms. Barker, it’s so good to see you again.” Zala gave her two rows of bright, perfect teeth.
“How’s med school going?” Berit asked. “I’ve heard Johns Hopkins is really tough.”
“I have to study a lot.” Zala’s smile grew huge. “Next semester I get assigned my own corpse.” She then glanced guiltily at the nearby tables and lowered her voice. “Grandma doesn’t like me talking about what I do at school around the customers.”
Before they continued their personal conversation, she made introductions. “Micah, I’d like you to meet Zala. Zala, this is Captain Reid.” She made the appropriate hand gestures.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Zala,” Micah said as he rose and shook her hand.
To keep the subject away from dead bodies, Berit asked, “Is Beniam home yet? Mak was in town over the weekend, but he had a bunch of his buddies with him.”
Zala leaned in as though she was going to share a secret. “Ben had to accompany our cousin, Dawit, on pilgrimage. Davie, that’s what we call him, was mouthing off to Aunt Afia, not showing up for his shifts at the store, so grandpa sent him to Ethiopia. He told Ben to give him the scared straight treatment, and if Davie didn’t shape up by the time Ben had to get back to school at Yale, he was to leave the little twit there.”
The young woman crossed her arms over her chest and nodded once. “He’ll either learn how good he has it here in the United States or he’ll learn to eat live bugs. Aunt Nuru will see to it that he gets the complete Ethiopian experience.”
“I think I’d like your grandfather.” Micah seemed to be holding in a laugh.
“I can go get him for you, if you want me to,” Zala offered. “He’s in the kitchen, cooking tonight. He likes to do that every now and then. Truthfully, I think he just likes to get away from grandma.”
“No, no, that’s okay.” Micah sat back down.
Turning on her waitress face, Zala asked, “Would you like to start with some water? Ms. Barker, shall I bring you a glass of tej? Captain Reid, we also have American beer as well as Tella. It’s an Ethiopian beer. Grandpa likes it but my dad thinks it tastes awful.”
“I drink Tej because it’s sweet,” Berit explained. “It’s made from honey and to me, it tastes a lot like Mead or Japanese plum wine. It counteracts the heat from the spicy food.”
“I’m not much for sweet drinks,” Micah said then looked up at Zala and ordered a popular American beer.
“Have you decided what you want to eat?” At Zala’s question, Micah looked at Berit as though for guidance.
“We ate whatever they put in front of us.” Micah shrugged. “I have no idea the names of any of the food.”
“Do you trust me?” She raised one eyebrow.
“To order supper? Yes.” His smile was devilish. “I have to confess, I like things a little hot and spicy.”
Berit wasn’t sure she had those two qualities left in her sexual repertoire, but she could certainly order food that she thought he would like. Ignoring his flirtation, she rattled off her choices, enough for both of them.
Zala seemed to agree with everything except they had run out of goat. Spiced lamb would work just as well. “I’ll put this order in and grab your drinks.” The young woman flashed them one last smile and zipped off to the kitchen.
Before Berit could ask a question, Micah beat her to it. “So, when were you recruited to the company?”
