He’s tall. He looks a bit taller than Beth. He’s bald, and his face looks weathered. He has piercing dark blue eyes, and a muscular build, seemingly to be the type of man that works out every day.
“Right on time,” I hear her add, tossing the words over her shoulder as she reaches across the kitchen window for a plate stacked high with crispy bacon and fluffy eggs.
I figure he must come here every day for her to already have his order ready.
I see Charlie smile behind the coffee mug that’s at his lips as he takes a sip and his eyes settle on her backside. I cough awkwardly to remind him that he is not alone at the counter and is ogling my aunt.
Charlie sets his mug down and cocks his head in my direction. “Is this Thea?” he asks her.
I perk up, wondering what she has told him about me.
“It is.” Beth smiles as she sets the plate down in front of him, steam rising from it in swirly streams. “Charlie, this is Thea. Thea, this is my friend and county sheriff, Charlie Gajewski.”
Aunt Beth leans against the counter in front of us after making our introductions, crossing her arms on the cold metal surface. She’s glowing this morning and exudes warmth as she watches us.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Thea,” Charlie says, extending his hand out to me. I shake it; he’s got a firm grip.
“Nice to meet you, too.” I offer a smile.
“How are you liking our little town?” he asks before stabbing his fork in his eggs.
“Good,” I say, “it’s a lot different than Seattle but I like it so far. It’s calm.”
He and Beth chuckle at my words. “You wouldn’t say that if you were on the police force.”
I find it hard to imagine a sleepy little town like Driftbay has that much action for the cops.
I offer another smile as Charlie and Beth become lost in a conversation of their own. He says something funny, I assume, because Aunt Beth throws her head back laughing like a little kid. Her laugh lines are more pronounced and her eyes glitter with delight. I’ve never seen her this animated. There’s something going on between them, but I’m not sure what. I’ll have to ask her about it later.
“Do you have any plans for the day?” Beth asks me as she looks in my direction, turning the conversation back to me.
“I think I’m going to go down to the beach for a little while,” I say.
“I’m going later if you’d like to go with me.” The waitress I noticed earlier joins us at the counter. “With Graham,” she adds,nodding her head back towards the kitchen. “Unless you’d like to be alone.” She tears a ticket out of her serving book and slides it across the kitchen window. She looks back at me through circular glasses and smacks her gum again before smiling. “Hi,” she says as she extends her arm out. “I’m Raquel.”
“Thea,” I say as I shake her hand. “And actually, that seems fun. I’d love to go with you guys.”
Beth smiles as she watches us. “Oh, I think you two would get along great!” She seems happy at the idea of us hanging out. “Raquel is my best waitress,” she adds, as if that has any merit in our possible friendship.
Raquel’s cheeks flame at my aunt's accolades, turning a fiery shade nearly the same color as her hair and her hazel eyes sparkle.
“Oh, stop,” she says, playfully swatting Beth’s arm. She looks back at me. “Shift change is at noon, so we could meet around twelve-fifteen? That would give me enough time to cash out and change clothes.”
“Sure.” I nod, my fingertips brushing the laminated menu on the counter in front of me. “That sounds great.” I feel a smile spreading across my face.
“Are you hungry?” Raquel asks, nodding towards the menu as she pops her gum loudly.
“Yes, actually.” I pick up the menu and glance at it for a moment before getting decision fatigue. I turn to Beth. “I’ll just have what Charlie’s having.”
She nods and turns toward the kitchen window, hollering to get Graham’s attention.
A tall, sandy-haired, blue-eyed boy appears in the kitchen window. Beth directs him to make another order of eggs and bacon and he listens intently. She turns back around and her eyes land on me.
“Oh! Graham!” she calls out.
Graham sticks his head back in the window.
“This is my niece, Thea.” Beth gestures at me and I feel my cheeks start to burn as Graham’s eyes dance over me. I can’t help but notice the way his mouth curls into a smile when he’s given me the once-over.
