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The hostess showsthe door,when he comes in
“Would you like a drink?” the hostess asks
“Well, maybe I should wait for my friend Actually, no I’ll have a, uio? Do you have that by the glass?”
“Santa Margarita?” she asks
“Sounds great,” I say
Trying to look co for someone in a restaurant is difficult I study the few other diners An older couple eats in silence two tables away, and a young woman and a much older wohter, I’d guess Aside frouys at the bar, the restaurant is fairly deserted
I glance over at the door The hostess is reading a book I should have brought one, too I hate waiting I turn inout a rookie pitcher If I were ho It’s nice to have somewhere else to be
A waitress comes over with my wine “Would you like to see a menu?” she asks
“No, no, I’lance at reed to e off my nervousness He’ll coer to meet me He’d even said how nice I sounded
Please, God, I pray silently, straightening out the salt and pepper shakers Don’t let this turn out to be a disaster, because I don’t think I can take another one I hate to bother you when I’ or lost at sea or a soldier or whatever, but if you have just a sec, can you please, please send oodheartedyou Over and out
The table now looks quite tidy Nothing left to straighten I take another sip of wine, then check es I sneak another look at the door We did say we’d meet in the restaurant, didn’t we? Yes, I’m sure we did Let’shad said The bar is pretty noisy That’s right He’s been here before So he’s not lost Just a little late Well, not so little any more Sixteen minutes
The waitress brings the older couple their food, then glides over to me “Would you like to order an appetizer?” she asks
“No, no! I’m fine My friend is just a little late,” I tell her
“Sure,” she says Is that pity in her gaze? “Just flag e your mind”
Just then the door opens This has got to be hi
It’s not Feeling like I’ve just been slapped, I drop aze to my lap, away from the people who just came in Please, no It seeins to pound Don’t let them see me Shit, shit, shit Don’t let them see me
“Maggie? Oh, my God! It is you!”
I look up with a firm smile “Skip Hello”
Mr and Mrs Skip Parkinson stand atto wrap my brain around the fact that I’ve seen Skip twice in one month after a decade of reprieve
“Wow!” Skip announces “You look just the sareat to see you! You reirl I went to school with”
A girl you slept with, too The first one The one whose heart you broke in public “Hello I don’t think we’ve met”
I didn’t get a look at her face in the rain a feeeks ago, but now I see that her features are sirlish Her makeup is perfect, subtle, invisible except for her deep red lipstick, which looks daring and provocative on her We shake hands, and I can’t help wince as my peasantlike paw envelops her satiny, manicured hand
“Hello, Maggie,” she says, and she has a soft drawl “It’s so lovely to meet any old friend of Skip’s”
“Uh, thank you” I can’t bring myself to look Skip directly in the face, and the three of us stand there aardly Finally I say, “Well, uret my foolish offer
“Oh, well, noe don’t want to intrude,” Annabelle says politely
“Meeting so at the empty place across from me
“Well, yes I’ot here a little early, and, um, well, please join me” I sit down heavily and s They sit on either side ofme I can’t help it anymore?I look at Skip
He is still wonderfully handsoe, crinkles and lines giving hioatee hides his soft chin?he used to hate those profile shots when he was at bat His suit looks expensive, a soft, dove gray with a dark blue tie
“So how’ve you been, Maggie?” he asks, and instead of aardness or shaance
“Fine, fine, great,” I babble “And you? How are things?”
“Couldn’t be better,” Skip answers “Right, Annie?”
She gives a cute little smile and rolls her eyes, as if to say, “Isn’t he a nut?”
“Still working at the diner, Maggie?” Skip wants to know
I take a long pull of lance hopefully at the door If you caht on this table “Yes Um, I own it now” What is usually a source of pride toA diner owner Never left Gideon’s Cove after you dumped me Couldn’t even find a different job
“That’s very interesting,” Annabelle says I wonder if he’s ever told her about me If so, she must have ice water in her veins, because she looks calm and relaxed She smiles pleasantly
“Do you work, Annabelle?” I ask It’s easier to look at her than at Skip
“Well, not any more,” she admits “Not since Henry was born Our oldest I do a little pro bono work on the side”
“She’s a lawyer,” Skip announces loudly
“Well, now, honey, that’s sweet,” she says affectionately “Maggie, I was a lawyer before having the children, but now, between the to take care of the house and all, I just don’t have the time”
Lawyer, wife, e to ask My heart is thudding in my temples, and I try to keep
“Exactly We left the kids with therab a bite”
“It’s our anniversary,” Annabelle says with another doe-like look at Skip
“That’s great,” I say Much to ust, I feel tears prick at my eyes I clear my throat and say, “Well, don’t letyou?”
“Oh, not at all,” Annabelle interrupts “This is wonderful, two old friends getting the chance to catch up We can surely spare a few moments”
Southern hospitality at its finest I keep my eyes on the tablecloth
“You’re not ie?” Skip asks His voice is like a knife He must know that I’m not His parents still live in town They even coreat while
“No,” I answer
“Any kids?” he asks, his eyes boring intoso cruel
“Nope No kids” I force a smile as I say it
“And you’re ht?” Annabelle says