Page 118 of This Memory
“That’s so sweet, thank you, Tina.”
“Of course. Come, I have a table with a beautiful lake view.”
We followed Tina to the table. Gavin held out my chair for me, and I sat down. It was only then I noticed hardly anyone was in the restaurant. It was a Friday night. It should’ve been way busier.
Tina gave us the menus, took our drink order, and headed off.
I leaned in and whispered, “Gavin, almost no one’s here. That can’t be a good sign. It’s Friday night! I mean, I know it’s March, but we do have winter tourists.”
He looked around and shrugged. “I’m sure it’ll pick up soon. It’s early yet.” He started looking at the menu as I gave one more look around.
Tina returned with our waters. “Have you had a chance to look at the appetizers yet?”
I opened the menu. “Gavin? See anything you want?”
“The garlic knots sound good.”
My tastebuds agreed. “Those do sound good. Lasagna sounds good too.”
Tina smiled. “Do you need more time, Gavin?”
He shut the menu. “Chicken parm for me.”
She took both menus. “Sounds good. Let me put that in.”
“Tina?” I asked before she left. “Where’s the restroom?”
“Follow me, and I’ll show you.”
As we walked through the restaurant, I glanced through double doors to a room set up for a party.
“Private party tonight?” I asked.
She glanced back and smiled. “Yep! They rented out most of the restaurant, actually. But for our police officers, we always make room, so when Gavin called earlier, I made sure we had a table for you both.”
That explained why it was so empty. “That’s sweet of you.”
She pointed down the hall and said, “Second door on the left. Let me walk you there!”
I laughed. “That’s okay.”
“Oh, but I want to show you the Italian tile Toni Junior brought in. It’s beautiful!”
“What about our order?” I asked, hearing my stomach growl.
Waving off my question, she hooked my arm with hers and we walked down the hall together…leaving me to wonder how in the hell I was supposed to pee while she was talking to me about tile.
Gavin
The second Tina rounded the corner with Brystol, I jumped up from my seat, took a deep breath, and went to the only other table with a couple sitting at it.
“You look nervous,” Janice said as she stood.
“Iamnervous. Are you ready to go?”
She gestured to her assistant, Dan. “We’re ready to go. Don’t worry, it’s all going to go as planned. Everyone’s already pulling up and parking. While you two are out on the deck, they’ll all come in and head to the room.”
I nodded as I wrung my hands together. “Everyone knows what to do?”
