Page 10 of Love & Lattes at The Mermaid Cafe
I sniff the steam coming out of the pie. Definitely fishy. “This was served as a punishment?”
“This was served tokings.” Dee shakes a finger at me. “Didn’t you hear me say it was a delicacy?”
There is no way to answer Dee’s riddle without taking a bit of the pie.
I pick up my fork. Nothing has ever been gained by procrastination. I pierce the pie with my fork and spear a chunk of something wrapped in what looks like spinach, thrusting it in my mouth before I have time to think.
The crowd applauds, accented by hearty laughter. Everyone is in on the joke, except me.
Only Lena doesn’t laugh. She’s got an expression of revulsion on her face and her hand over her throat.
Whatever is in my mouth is chewy and oily. My brain reels with possibilities…Octopus? Squid? Conch?
With effort, I swallow. And then I take several sips of that really thick, really strong coffee, which does nothing to cleanse my palate because… “Eel. It’s eel pie.”
I control my gag reflex as my father’s voice echoes in my head—Do anything to close a deal. I bet dear old Dad never had to eat eel pie to achieve his goals.
“I like this one.” Chuckling, Dee elbows Lena. “Doesn’t mean I’ll sell to him or that I want him to change our town. But I think he might be the first one to have a chance to eat every bite of eel pie.”
“I live to break records. Never say never.” I capture Lena’s gaze, wondering if my tally has taken a positive leap.
Chapter Seven
Lena
I have to give Cade ten points for eating all of his eel pie, not to mention another five for identifying it.
Since I’ve been in town, no one has wanted to continue the Tour after being served eel pie. Most real estate developers don’t have the stomach for one bite, much less the whole thing. And given the strategy put into the Tour, I’ve often thought realtors prefer easy wins over Mermaid Bay’s challenging defenses.
But not Cade. He’s different than any real estate developer I’ve met.
What does that mean?
I need time to think. I lead Cade outside into the winter sun and wind, then over to the ten-foot tall, bronze statue of a mermaid on the edge of the boardwalk. “This is Serena, one of our town’s most popular legends.”
I take a moment to admire the statue. Crafted as if she’s taking a seat on a rock, Serena is beautiful. Her face has petite features. She wears a pearl necklace. Her hair undulates like sea waves down her back. Sea shells cover her breasts. Her long tail is flexed, curling around until her fins nearly touch the ends of her hair.
“Is it just me?” Cade peers upward, lifting his aviator glasses. “Or does she look sad?”
“Yes. She’s the Weeping Mermaid of Mermaid Bay.” Funny how my voice sounds reverent. “It’s just a myth. But it’s one I’m reminded of every day I’ve run the Mermaid Café. Serena and her legend are dear to me.”
“You don’t think she looks a little like…Marina?” He’s still staring at the statue.
“Marina?” I peer at the mermaid’s face, looking for a resemblance to the old woman who hangs out in my café. And looking…
“Yeah. Like…if Marina was younger. And didn’t complain as much.”
“About you, you mean.” I laugh, still looking at Serena’s face. “I think she looks more like Keira, Marina’s granddaughter.” I’d never seen the resemblance before.
“Keira, the woman who brought us coffee this morning.” Nothing gets by Cade.
“Yes. Not that I’ve ever seen Keira cry.” Not that I wanted to.
“I heard a little about Serena the weepy mermaid from the motel manager where I’m staying.” Cade’s gaze turns assessing. And he’s no longer studying the mermaid. He’s studying me. “Why does she resonate with you?”
My heart beats faster in my chest. I take a calming breath and remind myself of my No Dating policy. “The story goes that a widowed fisherman fell in love with a mermaid. A mermaid who sang every night on the rocks beyond the lighthouse.”
“Did she make a bargain with an evil octopus to earn her legs?” Cade teases. “For which she had to give the octopus her singing voice?”
