Sam shook his head slowly a few times in clear denial. "Oh, no. They're competitors, and I'm a loyal Peach Tree Cafe employee."
"So we're corrupting you," Wyatt said and he wiggled his eyebrows at Sam.
Taking a turn along the path, they were now walking parallel to the river. Soon a red roofed building with a big chimney came into view. A big red sign read Lenny & Lou's Barbeque Grill. A smaller sign announced Fish Fry Fridays.
"Looks like we might have to come back on Friday," Wyatt said, and Sam and DJ made faces. Riley didn't object though. "Just me and Ry maybe. It looks like Sam and DJ don't like fish."
"I like fishes but not to eat them," DJ said.
"Same here," Sam said and smiled at DJ. Those two were such kindred spirits.
A little further on, Sam pointed out the tables where he suggested they should eat. Right away Wyatt noticed that the tables, which were lined up in twos, would give them a great view of the river. Now they just needed to get some food.
They went to order at a takeout window. Smoke was coming from a big, outdoor grilling station where meat was sizzling, filling the air with an irresistible smell.
While they stood in line, they looked over the menu. They only had one so Wyatt and Sam shared it, leaning close together.
"Grilled polenta, interesting, comes with sausage and mushroom gravy. I'll have ribs with that, and you'll have to carry me home," Wyatt said to Sam.
"I'm sure you can handle it," Sam said. He picked the beef fajitas.
"What about you guys?" Wyatt asked the boys.
"Grilled corn and grilled chicken drumsticks," Riley said and DJ nodded.
"For both of you?" Wyatt asked.
"Yes. It's our favorite," DJ said.
"Dad liked the little ribs," Riley said and looked sad, as the kids did any time they talked about their parents.
"Short ribs," Wyatt said and thinking of Lloyd made his sad too.
DJ nodded. "And Mom always said, 'I'm a burger gal.' But she always let us have some of her fries."
"She did," Riley confirmed and blinked away tears.
"We'll order some fries to share, what do you think?" Wyatt said.
"OK," the boys said.
The waitress who took their order recognized the boys and fussed over them, but it was Wyatt's order that made her happiest. "That's our specialty. Nobody else makes grilled polenta like that. Nobody," she said, making it sound that if they did she might have to beat them up.
They arranged for a text when their food was done then went for a walk on the riverbank.
"This place is great," Wyatt said. "Second only to the café, of course."
Sam smiled at that. "Mrs. Del Rio eats here all the time. She can't resist barbeque."
Once they got the food, they took it down to one of the tables by the river. They weren't the only ones who brought takeout from Lenny & Lou's and came down to the picnic tables to eat. In fact only one table was left other than the one they picked out.
When they went to sit, Wyatt saw that the view had more to offer than just the river glimmering with the sunset. Between the houses and trees, he could see Peach Tree Hill and behind it the sun as it was setting.
"Wow, the peach trees in bloom at sunset are something else. What an amazing view," Wyatt said and he looked over at Sam. Of course the romance of that view made him think of him.
With such a view, this would be a romantic spot if everyone around them at the other tables wasn't eating with their hands and getting smeared with barbeque sauce from ear to ear. That mostly went for the kids he saw, but Wyatt noted that some adults were just as bad. That's why he reminded himself to eat with dignity no matter how good those ribs were. That way Sam wouldn't think any less of him.
"Those are fajitas," DJ said as he looked at what Sam had in front of him.
