Page 13 of Saltwater Memories
Chapter 5
Their plans settled on lunch that Friday at a deli in town. It didn’t escape Amanda that Will had suggested another deli; did he do all of his most important work in delis?
She told herself not to bring it up or tease him; she needed to focus on learning more about his business and on getting information out of him about Lenny. Professional, yet friendly. That was the goal.
But when she saw him sitting there in a casual navy blue button down shirt, her plan went out the window.
“Oh, sothisdeli wasn’t fancy enough for you to wear your suit?” she said as she walked toward him.
He stood from his seat. “Unfortunately, no. You’ll have to settle for spilling coffee on what I’ve got on now.”
She suppressed a smile. She didfeel bad about the coffee. “If you go to the cleaners in town, you can put it on my tab.”
“We made a deal,” he said, shaking his head. “Your island expertiseora cleaning bill. Not both.”
“Ah, right.”
“And I’m trying to embrace the aesthetic of the island. You know, get to know the place? Relax a little? Go tie-less. Unless you think I’m underdressed.”
“No, you’re fine. And you managed to pick the best deli on the island.” She paused. No need to compliment him and give him a big head. “Do you do all of your business in delis?”
He laughed. “I guess so. What can I say? I’m a sucker for freshly baked bread.”
“Did you already place your order?”
“No, I was waiting for you. And your recommendations.”
She had probably, at one point or another, tried every sandwich that this place made. He didn’t need to know that, though. They stepped up to the counter and after a bit of back and forth, both placed their orders.
After paying, they took their seats at one of the small tables.
“I have to say,” he said as he settled in, “for being such a small island, there seem to be a lot of great restaurants and amenities.”
Amenities. Is that how Will saw the world? A checklist of conveniences? “Yeah, it’s not bad.”
“You said that you grew up here? What was that like?”
Amanda was about to take a bite of her sandwich when she faltered. She was hit with a memory – it was one of her with her mom, sitting at the other side of this restaurant, eating meatball hoagies after a high school football game. Amanda vaguely remembered telling her mom about the boy that she liked, giggling manically. She couldn’t remember what her mom said about him. It was starting to feel like she was forgetting her mom’s voice…
“It was nice,” she said. “Peaceful – idyllic, I guess. But you know, kind of boring.”
“But you still enjoy living here?”
She nodded, taking a sip of her soda. “Yeah. I’ve been away for a few years, though. My job had me working in London, and I only just came back a few months ago.”
“Couldn’t stay away?”
What was the harm in telling him the truth? Amanda wouldn’t be able to keep lies straight, and Will seemed harmless enough. “Not exactly. My dad and my stepmom got into an accident, and I came back to help them recover.”
“Oh yikes, are they okay?”
She nodded. “Yeah, they’re fine now. It took a few months for them to get back to normal, though. My dad is back at work. He’s the Chief Deputy Sheriff.”
Will smiled. “I think I’d like to get on his good side then.”
“Good luck with that,” she said with a laugh. “He’s even less friendly than I am.”
“And what about your mom? Does she still live here?”
