“Thanks,” I said, digging at the back of the pile.“I’m hopeless at picking good produce.I don’t think I’ve had a good avocado since I arrived in Coral Cove, and not for lack of trying.”
She laughed.“It’s not you.The good stuff goes to the restaurants.We get what’s left.”
I held up an avocado that felt softer than the others.“I think I found a good one.”
“Told you.”She smiled.“The key is to search in the back.”She shifted her basket to her other arm.“By the way, I read the piece you wrote about Eddie.It made me cry.”
“Oh, damn.I’m sorry.”
“No, don’t be sorry.It was beautiful.”She looked down at her basket.“It was really nice to see how much he loved Rosa and his kids.You showed his softer side.He came in to the Rusty Anchor all the time, and we talked plenty, but Eddie didn’t share much about his personal life.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed the story.”
“Eddie was great.I’ll miss him.”She smiled.“He was one of my best customers.He was a good tipper too.Honestly, a lot of the guys who struggle for money are the best tippers.The ones that have the money are cheap assholes.”
I sighed.“Why does it always seem to be that way?”
“I will say, the bar’s been different since he died.Much quieter.”She bit her bottom lip.“It’s like people feel guilty laughing and having fun when one of our own has died.”
“It’s a weird thing when someone you know dies.”I put two promising avocados in my basket and moved down the aisle.Tess fell into step beside me, which I hadn’t expected but didn’t discourage.This would be a good chance to get some info out of her about Gil and Eddie.“It must be hard on the people who were close to him.Gil especially.”I tried to sound casual when I said Gil’s name.
Tess’s expression didn’t change, exactly, but something behind it tightened.“Gil’s having a rough time,” she said.“They were partners for years and years.He’s pretty depressed when he comes to the Rusty Anchor lately.He misses Eddie like crazy.”
“I’ll bet.”I grimaced.“Do you know how Gil is going to make a living now?I mean, can Gil fish without Eddie’s boat?”
“He actually made Rosa an offer for the boat.”She picked up a can of tomatoes and studied the label.“A generous offer, I might add.”
“Did he?”I frowned.It was obvious Gil and Eddie hadn’t been rolling in the dough.She herself had just hinted how Eddie had been a good tipper in spite of not having money.Commercial fishing boats weren’t cheap, even older ones.“I didn’t think Gil had that kind of money.”
She shrugged.“He’s got savings that he’s going to use to buy the boat.If Rosa will sell, that is.”
“Do you think she will?”I asked distractedly, still stuck on the idea of Gil having enough savings to buy Eddie’s boat.
“Rosa can’t work the boat, that’s for sure.She’d be better off selling it to Gil.That business is his life.Anyone can see that.”She dropped the can of tomatoes into her basket.“But until they work something out, he’s a nervous wreck.”
“That must be rough.”
“It is.I do what I can to cheer him up when he comes into the Rusty Anchor.”She sighed, avoiding my gaze.“You know, as a friend.”
“Of course.”It was hard to keep a straight face.The intimacy I’d seen between her and Gil hadn’t been platonic.I was sure of that.And the way she was speaking so carefully about their “friendship” made me positive they were sleeping together.
I cleared my throat.“Eddie and Gil split the profits fifty-fifty, is that true?”
She nodded.“I believe so.”She frowned.“Why?”
“Oh, I was just curious.”The day I’d interviewed Rosa, she’d stressed how broke she and Eddie had always been.If Gil had a big savings account, and they’d split the profits fifty-fifty, why hadn’t Eddie had any money saved up?Sure, Eddie had been supporting a family, and a single guy would naturally save more.But enough to make a generous offer on a commercial fishing boat?That was a big gap.
“Hopefully it all works out for Gil.”She set some romaine lettuce in her basket, looking a bit distracted.“Anyway, I… I should finish up my shopping.It was nice talking to you, Spencer.”
“You too, Tess.”
She walked away toward the checkout, and I headed toward the meat section.I wanted to get some fresh fish for dinner.I was kind of tempted to go to the Rusty Anchor, just in case maybe Declan was there, but thought better of it.The more I saw him, the more I’d like him, and that was dumb.I didn’t need to get attached to him.That was the last thing I needed.Plus, there was a good chance that if Declan did show up, he’d have some chick on his arm.That idea sounded about as fun as a toothache.
No thanks.I’d just make some fish for dinner and hope one of the avocados was decent enough to eat.
* * *
The week passed uneventfully, and when Friday once more rolled around, I ended up at The Salt & Cleaver for dinner.It was a trendy place, down by the harbor, with a wraparound deck that overlooked the boats.It was kind of a date spot and farther for me to walk home from after I’d had a few beers, but I was trying to avoid running into Declan.I wasn’t in the mood to pretend I wasn’t attracted to him, and since it was Friday, the probability of running into him on a date was higher.I didn’t have the stomach for that tonight.So I veered from my normal routine and went to The Salt & Cleaver instead of the Rusty Anchor.
