Lizzie gripped the edge of the desk. “She had someone else picked out?”
“From what I heard, yeah.” Chrisla gave her an apologetic look.
“Great. So I’m the unwanted intern forced on her.”
“Pretty much.”
Lizzie dropped into one of the lobby chairs. “This day just keeps getting better.”
“Hey, it’s not all bad. You’re in Key West. The weather’s beautiful. You’ll learn a lot. Let me call someone to take you over to Stock Island.” She got on the phone, talked to someone named Carlos and then turned back to her. “He’ll be here in a minute. So, why are you working during spring break anyway? Most college kids are trying to get as drunk as possible on someone’s parents’ dime.”
“Couldn’t afford to do anything else. My mom’s a nurse’s aide. I’m on scholarship. Spring break was going to be me working at a bakery in Brooklyn until my stepfather got me this.”
“So you came here to work instead of working at home.”
“At least it’s different work in a different place.” Lizzie managed a smile. “Plus I’ve always wanted to see Key West. Hemingway lived here.”
“You like Hemingway?”
“Love him. The writing, the house with the cats, all of it.”
Chrisla grinned. “Half the tourists here are Hemingway pilgrims.”
“Sounds perfect.”
Chrisla finished up printing her employee badge when a short, dark-haired man walked her way from across the hall.
“That’s your ride. Carlos. He’s the maintenance manager.”
“Is he as terrifying as Sarah?”
Chrisla let out a genuine whooping laugh. “Carlos? No way. He’s a teddy bear. You’ll like him.” Chrisla checked her watch. “You want to grab lunch tomorrow? I can show you around, give you the real tour.”
“That would be amazing. Thank you.”
“No problem. Everyone needs a friend.” They exchanged numbers and made plans for lunch the next day when the man closed the distance.
“You must be Lizzie.” He had an easy smile and kind eyes. “I’m Carlos Martinez. Head of maintenance. Ready to see your new digs?”
“Sure. Thanks.”
She followed him out to a pickup truck in the parking lot. As they pulled out onto the main road, Lizzie looked out at the island. A rooster strutted across someone’s lawn.
“Those chickens are everywhere,” she said.
Carlos laughed. “Wait till you walk around downtown. They’re everywhere. But you’ll get used to them. They’re kind of the unofficial mascots of Key West. Protected, so nobody can touch them.”
“Jasper told me about them, but I didn’t believe him until I saw one at a stoplight this morning.”
“First time in the Keys?” Carlos asked.
“First time anywhere, really. I’ve never left the Northeast before.”
“You picked a good place to start. Crazy town, but beautiful. I’m from the West Coast myself. San Francisco but my wife’s a Conch.”
“A what?” Lizzie thought she hadn’t heard right.
“Someone born on the island. She left for the West Coast too. That’s where we met. But her heart was always here.” He turned down a side street. “We’re heading to Stock Island. It’s where most of the employees live. Less touristy, more affordable.”
