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“I know. I’m sorry for the short notice but it couldn’t be helped. I only found out about this ghost yesterday,” Allie said.
“The thing is my top crew is going to be over in Destin this evening. We’re going to try to make contact with the Dolphin Ghost.”
“The what?” Could animals come back as ghosts, too? According to the Wikipedia definition, then yes, they could.
“Surely you’ve heard of him? He’s the guy who jumped off the harbor a few years ago and drowned? He’s been seen swimming with a pack of dolphins. Don’t tell me this your first ghost investigation,” Phoebe added suspiciously.
“Oh, that Dolphin Ghost, well, of course I’ve heard of him,” Allie lied. Good Grief. This took the old adage ‘fake it till you make it’ to a whole other level. “So, back to my ghost—”
“My team is already on it. Don’t worry, if there’s a ghost inside that old senior center, we’ll find out. Expect to hear from me soon. Phoebe Van Cleave, over and out.”
Mimi dropped her off at The Bistro. Allie got a table in the back and was about to sit down when Nate Miller walked in. Even though it had been twelve years she’d have recognized him anywhere. In high school he was tall and gangly and wore wire rimmed glasses. He was still on the thin side, but the glasses were designer and his shaggy brown hair was cut short, emphasizing a surprisingly strong jaw. He’d also filled out in the shoulders.
They hugged awkwardly then laughed about it.
“You look great,” he said.
“Thanks, so do you.”
“You haven’t changed a day since high school.”
Allie winced. “Ouch.”
“Hey, that’s a compliment.” He smiled and an appealing set of twin dimples came on display. Did he have those back in high school?
They ordered sandwiches at the counter and sat at a table facing the water. Frida brought them their drinks. “I had a crush on you, you know,” Nate said to Allie.
She struggled to keep the diet coke from squirting out her nose. “No you didn’t!”
“Senior year AP chemistry class. You probably don’t remember I sat across from you.”
“Of course I remember.” The truth was, she didn’t. But it wasn’t because she hadn’t liked Nate. AP Chemistry had been the class she’d shared with Tom. Matt Damon could have sat across from her and she wouldn’t have remembered him either.
“You had the longest pair of legs I’d ever seen. I almost flunked out first semester because of them.” He said it without the slightest hint of flirtation, as if he were reciting the menu.
Allie laughed, thoroughly charmed by the adult Nate.
“I tried everything I could to get your attention but you only had eyes for—” He stopped himself.
“Tom Donalan,” she said with a sigh.
“That would be the guy.”
Did everyone know about her mega crush on Tom back in high school? Probably, she thought glumly.
“So, Nate, are you married? Seeing anyone?”
> “Not married. At least, not yet. But I’m hoping to rectify that soon.” He told her about his girlfriend, Jessica, whom he had met while he was in med school at FSU. She had studied law and was now a practicing attorney in Miami.
“That’s a woozy of a long distance relationship,” Allie said.
“I think an engagement ring will convince her to move up here.”
“You’re not interested in moving to the big city?”
“No, I’ve always wanted to come back home and practice family medicine. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.”
“Whispering Bay is lucky to have you.” Allie put down her sandwich. Running into Nate seemed almost too good to be true. She decided to follow her instincts. “Would you be willing to do an interview? For a potential article? The future of health care in Florida and the lure of returning to your roots to practice medicine, that sort of thing? You know, life as a small town doctor.”
