‘I guess I can see why Alex always talked about moving here and running a restaurant,’ she agreed. ‘All this nature, places to hike and fish. He would have loved it. Me? Not so much. I like theideaof this place, but actually living here? I’m just not sure the whole small-town vibe is really my thing. I prefer being surrounded by buildings and people and noise.’ She saw my mouth open and quickly continued. ‘But… like I said. I’m prepared to give this a go. Who knows, maybe this place will make a small-town girl out of me yet.’
‘Hey, bigger miracles have happened, right?’
‘If they could just get some decent clothing boutiques.’ She sighed. ‘Seriously, there are three dress stores in this town and not one of them sells anything even remotely like you’d find on Fifth Avenue. They’re all a decade behind, atleast. I guess I’ll just have to make do with online shopping. Theydoget mail here, right?’
‘Sure, comes over the hill on horseback, but it gets here eventually.’
‘Oh my God.’ She laughed. ‘That actually wouldn’t surprise me.’
For the next couple of hours, she stuck with me, clearing tables, taking orders, preparing and delivering drinks. She even dealt with a customer complaint, calming an irate woman with a free cocktail and a ten percent discount off her bill.
‘You’re a natural,’ I told her after the restaurant had mostly cleared out again. ‘Honestly, I’m impressed.’
‘I’m impressed with myself,’ she admitted. ‘That was kind of fun.’
‘Water?’
‘God no.’ She pulled a face. ‘After that shift I deserve a wine.’
‘You handled that complaint well.’
‘Of course I did.’ She smiled. ‘Have you forgotten how charming I can be?’
‘Hannah.’
‘What?’
I lowered my voice, checking to make sure none of the staff were within earshot. ‘You know what. The flirting, it’s not appropriate.’
‘It’s not flirting.’ She pouted. ‘It’s banter. And it’s always been like this between us. Even when Alex was alive. I don’t see why that has to change.’
‘It just does.’ I rubbed a hand through my hair. ‘Everything is different now.’
‘You think I don’t know that?’ she retorted, her eyes flashing. ‘I’m the one who had to bury my husband. The man thatyoupromised me you’d look after.’
The words stung. ‘You blame me.’
Instantly her anger deflated. ‘No, of course not. I’m sorry, it’s just been a long day. I don’t blame you. Ineedyou. You’re the only constant I have left. I just… I miss him. I miss him so much it hurts.’
‘I know. I miss him too.’
She rubbed her face with the back of her hand. ‘I just want things to go back to the way they were.’
‘If only the world worked like that.’
She looked up at me and the expression on her face broke my heart. ‘Promise you won’t leave me too?’
I swallowed hard, remembered the promise I’d made to Alex as he died in my arms.
‘I promise.’
The chef, Kevin, poked his head out from the kitchen. ‘Jack, phone call for you,’ he said. ‘It’s Connie from the police department,’ he said. ‘A hiker’s gone over the cliff at Sailor’s Bluff.’
The harsh cliffs and rock faces at Sailor’s Bluff flashed into my mind. ‘They still alive?’
‘Yeah, for now. Condition unknown at this stage, but apparently they’re in danger of being swept off the rocks by the tide. Connie’s rallying the troops.’
‘Will you be OK on your own for a bit? Lucy will be back from her break soon and Fiona’s shift starts at three.’
