“I’m okay with skipping to the present. So, tell me what’s been going on. What do you do? Tell me about where you live. Tell me anything you want to tell me.”
Samira thought about that for a bit as they strolled through the crowd. The band hadn’t started yet, and they were able to have a quiet conversation on their way to the concessions.
“That’s a lot to tell in just one night,” she joked, trying to remove herself from the spotlight.
“I have time. No one said you have to tell me everything today.”
Samira hesitated again. “Well, I am the manager of Park Place Hotel in DC. I basically make sure the different guest services are doing everything to keep the guests happy. If they aren’t enjoying their stay, it is up to me to fix it. I also get endless piles of paperwork to fill out, sign, or pass on to the specific departments. It sounds boring, but I like it.”
“It doesn’t sound boring,” Andy reassured her. “How long have you worked there?”
“Fifteen years.”
Andy flinched. “And here I go, bringing us back to the past. Sorry. What else? Do you live in the city or commute?”
“You really have no idea about any of this? I thought your mom was friends with Aunt Mary,” she questioned him.
Andy led them up to a white trailer. In front of the trailer, a gray-haired woman was seated at a folding table.
“Andy!” She greeted him excitedly before turning to Samira. “Oh, my word. Samira? Is that you, honey? I haven’t seen you in ages!”
“Miss Sue? From church?” Samira asked, surprised she managed to remember her name.
“Yes, dear. I can’t believe you remember me. I’m sorry about your uncle. I didn’t get a chance to make it over to you at the funeral. Anyway, I don’t want to hold the line up. What can I get you two?”
Samira looked at Andy and shrugged. “I’m not really hungry.”
“We’ll take two crab cake sandwiches and a slice of Smith Island cake,” Andy ordered, ignoring Samira’s objection.
After taking the money, Miss Sue opened the two coolers that were under the table and took out two foil packets from the red one and a plastic container with the slice of ten-layer cake from the white one. She placed the items on the table then reached for a bag and two plastic forks.
“We don’t need a bag. Thanks. See you Sunday,” Andy said. He handed Samira one of the foil packages and picked up the rest of the items himself.
“I said I wasn’t hungry.”
“I know. But you are going to thank me in a few minutes,” Andy said with a smirk and led the way to an open table under the large tent.
Samira opened her packet and took out the crab cake sandwich. She felt more uneasy than hungry, but she took a bite anyway. She closed her eyes for a moment to appreciate the taste. The crab cake situated in the middle of a soft white bun wasn’t anything fancy, but it was possibly the best thing she had tasted in years aside from her aunt’s cooking.
“I told you,” Andy said when she opened her eyes to find him watching her.
They finished their sandwiches in silence. As much as she refused to talk about the past, she had been thinking about it at every turn. Everything reminded her of all the things she was trying to suppress. She rarely ate seafood because it made her think of her parents and the life she had left behind all those years ago.
Andy opened the plastic container and took out a fork.
“Have a bite,” he offered.
“I couldn’t possibly. I wasn’t hungry to begin with.”
Andy picked up a small piece with his fork and held it out to her.
“Just one bite,” he tempted, his green eyes teasing.
Samira rolled her eyes then opened her mouth, unable to resist. Her breath caught. She was surprised by the rush of heat she felt when he narrowed his eyes before slowly extending the fork to her mouth. She held his gaze and leaned forward to take the bite of cake. It was also delicious. The rich chocolate frosting melted and blended with the buttery yellow cake.
“Mmm,” she hummed and closed her eyes.
When she opened her eyes, Andy was still watching her. He smiled but said nothing as he withdrew the fork and selected a bite for himself. The intimacy of sharing food caused her to shift in her seat, surprised by yet another wave of heat. Andy smiled as if he could somehow read her mind.
