Page 48 of Worth the Trip

I opened my own menu even though I already knew what I wanted. “Blackened snapper serious here.”

She looked over the top of hers. “You said you weren’t ordering for me.”

“I’m not. Informed counsel.”

“That sounds close.”

“Authority tells you what to do. Counsel gives you useful information and lets you make your own bad decision.”

“And humility?”

“Available upon request.”

Her laugh slipped out. “So if I order something else?”

“I mind my business and judge you privately.”

“At least you’re honest.”

“Integrity matters.”

She studied the menu for another few seconds. “I was already considering the snapper.”

I nodded. “Strong decision-making.”

“Don’t.”

“I ain’t say discernment.”

“You were thinking it.”

“Can’t police thought.”

The server came back, and Nolani ordered the snapper with garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus. I chose the crab-stuffed redfish because if I ordered the same thing after all that talking, I’d never hear the end of it. We added fried green tomatoes for the table, and Nolani asked for extra bread before the first basket arrived.

“You eat like this all the time?”

“No. Nana has spent twenty-four hours feeding me like I just came home from war.”

“Maybe you looked hungry.”

“I did not.”

“She knows you better than I do.”

“That’s not saying much. You’ve known me one tea stain.”

“One tea stain, one threatened gallon, and one missed opportunity. We developing history.”

Her smile appeared over the rim of her glass. “You really thought about not getting my number?”

“Yep.”

“More than once?”

“Yep.”

Her eyes stayed on me.