Page 8 of Sunset

I can help her with this dream, right? Just for a few weeks, I can have a taste of that dream we always had together. Maybe, that brief time would be enough to hold me over.

I get up and start making my way home. Thankfully, I don’t run into anyone who wants to stop and talk. Most just nod and continue on their way.

I turn down my street, as memories of many days just like this of walking home, after making sure Brynn got in okay, flash into my mind.

On the north end of our island, there’s a state park with a natural arch rock and protected beach. There are many undeveloped lots owned by locals, so there’s a few walking or hiking trails. The south tip of the island is where The Sunrise and Sunset Inns are, while Main Street is in the middle on the east side of the island. The rest of the island is mostly residential streets.

In school, if you were in any sports, it was nothing during Saturday practice to ‘run the island.’ You can walk from the north side to the south side in about thirty minutes, and east to west in around twenty minutes. So, it’s good exercise to run around the island. If we were in trouble, we had to do it on the sand.

So, growing up as kids, we learned quickly that we could go anywhere just by walking. My parents always told me to make sure Brynn got home okay, even if it made me late for curfew. They eventually made my curfew thrifty minutes after hers.

Lots of good memories. Mom would always be waiting for me on the front porch. Sometimes, she’d have fallen asleep and always pretend she hadn’t, when I woke her up.

I step into the house, and the smell of my mom’s spaghetti fills the air. My dad and I may be the chefs, but my mom knows how to cook too, and no one makes better spaghetti than her. We aren’t even allowed to use her recipe at the restaurants, because she made us swear to it.

“Hey, Mom,” I call out.

“Hey, baby. Good timing. Dinner is almost done.” She says.

I check the clock, and I hadn’t realized I’d been gone that long.

“I had some things to do. Went and visited Dad.” I tell her.

She just nods, as I help set the table.

“I’ll do it just until she can hire someone, but this will be the extent of your matchmaking, you hear me?” I say in as stern of a voice as I dare to my mother.

“If you say so, dear. I’m just glad you decided to do the right thing. Even without your history, I’d have suggested the same thing, because we were good friends with her parents, and I made them a promise to look after her.” She says.

“What?” I ask.

“One day, when the girls were about ten, Brynn’s grandma was put into a nursing home. Lin and Brynn’s parents both came to me and asked if anything were to happen to the other, would your father and I be willing to take in Brynn and Lin? We agreed, and I promised, if I outlived them, to look after the girls. They made me the same promise about you.”

“How did I not know this?” I ask.

“Oh, you were only eleven yourself, and it’s not something parents share with their kids.”

“After dinner, I’m going to go to the restaurants and get everything set up, so I can go to The Sunset for lunch tomorrow,” I tell my mom.

“Sounds good, baby. I’m going to go play bingo at church tonight.”

“Say a prayer for me, while you’re there. I’m going to need it.” I tell her.

Chapter 5

Brynn

I had no idea how much work went into lunchtime around here. I suggested sandwiches, trying to keep the menu easy. Well, two ladies can’t have bread, we have a vegetarian, and someone who only eats Keto. I had to look that one up.

There’s a couple who don’t like sandwiches but wants burgers. Isn’t that just a hot sandwich? Then, there are sides, fries, and of course, we have to go and make our own chips. Whose idea was that?

After burning the second batch of fries, I toss them into the trash with a screech. When someone chuckles from the doorway, I look up ready to tear into them, only to find Jasper, leaning against the door frame.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” I ask him, as one of the kitchen guys takes the fry basket from me.

“Mom told me about your chef. I’m here to help, until you hire someone else. No strings attached.” He says.

“Oh, there are always strings. I should have known your mom would do this, when I asked if she knew anyone.” I turn around and find Ken, my head waiter, watching us.

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