Page 23 of Sweet Escape at Bayside
Elliott ran a scrutinizing gaze over him as he shook his hand and said, “Violet usually comes alone and leaves alone.”
“Well, I’m honored to be here,” Andre said as he put a hand on Violet’s back.
“Willyoube taking the mic tonight?” Elliott asked as he picked up two menus.
“They have an open mic from six to ten every night,” Violet explained. “People get up and read poetry, sing, or sometimes they just chat with the other customers.”
“We call it Say Anything,” Elliott added.
“Ah, I see,” Andre said. “I think I’ll skip it tonight, but maybe another time.”
Gabe, Elliott’s older sister and the owner of Common Grounds, hurried toward them. Her long red hair billowed over the shoulders of her pastel maxi dress. “Sorry to keep you waiting, Vi.” She was a curvy gal with a heart of gold and had a solid three inches on Violet.
“Violet brought a friend,” Elliott informed Gabe as he handed her the menus.
“I see that,” she said with a smile. “I’m Gabe, the owner of this joint and Elliott’s older sister.”
“I’m Andre. Nice to meet you.”
Gabe motioned for them to follow her. Andre leaned closer to Elliott and said, “Violet’s lucky you’re looking out for her.”
Elliott grinned proudly, and Violet melted a little inside.
Gabe led them toward Violet’s usual table just outside the open doors to the patio. Flames danced from the masonry fire pit, and several familiar faces sat around tables listening to Gabe’s brother Rod playing the guitar.
“Hey, Vi!” Rod called out as he played.
She waved.
“That’s my brother Rod,” Gabe said to Andre. “Live-in entertainment.”
“Hey, what does that make us?” Cory Blaze asked as he pushed to his feet and came around the table, where he was sitting with two more of Violet’s friends.
“Groupies,” Gabe teased.
Cory grinned and embraced Violet. His shaggy dark hair brushed against her cheek as he said, “Got something good for us tonight?”
Violet had been known to take the mic and ramble about whatever happened to be on her mind. “I might skip it, actually. Cory, this is Andre. Andre, these are my friends Cory, Steph, and Dwayne. Cory’s a glassblower, Steph writes poetry and runs an herbal shop in Brewster, and Dwayne—”
“Needs no introduction,” Dwayne said. He was Justin’s cousin, a stocky ex-Marine with closely shorn blond hair and the ability to size a person up in two seconds flat, though you wouldn’t know it by his laid-back demeanor. From what Justin and Steph had shared with Violet, the suicide of Dwayne’s younger sister, Ashley, had changed him. He acted like he didn’t care about much of anything, though they all knew that wasn’t true.
Dwayne eyed Andre and said, “How’s it hanging?”
“If you don’t say something liketo the leftorlong and hard, he’ll ask again,” Steph warned. “Sopleasesay something like that.”
“Hey, I’m just being your wingman, sweet cakes.” Dwayne winked at Steph. “Wouldn’t want you wasting your time with men who aren’t well endowed enough for you.” He lifted his cup as if toasting, then took a drink.
“Ignore him. He’s like a tick you can’t pull off. He’s been attached to my hip since I was six, and I have a feeling he’ll still be there when I’m sixty,” Steph said as she came to Violet’s side. She was a curvy brunette with big brown eyes and purple streaks in her hair. “How was Desiree’s wedding?”
“The wedding was gorgeous, but Lizza caused a headache, as usual.” She glanced at Andre and said, “But it’s all good now.”
Steph wrinkled her nose. “That stinks about Lizza, but I’m glad things are cool. Did you see Rowan inside? He was looking for you last night.”
“No. He must have left already. Is everything okay?” Violet asked.
“Yeah. He just wanted to talk about Joni.”
“Joni is our friend Rowan’s daughter,” Violet explained to Andre. “He lost his girlfriend to cancer when Joni was a baby and he’s raising her alone. Joni is amazing, but she’s an anxious kid. I’ve been working with her, using art to try to ease her frustrations.” Art had always been a big part of Violet’s life. When she was little it had given her something to focus on other than their next move.
