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They got into his car, a shiny red sedan that still had a new car smell. Mimi buckled her seat belt and settled back into the plush leather seat. It occurred to her she’d never been al
one in a car with a man before who wasn’t either her husband, her father, or her brother. It was an odd sensation.
“So, what do you like to eat?” he asked. “We could do Italian, or seafood? I hear The Harbor House is pretty good.”
“And kind of fancy and over-priced, too. The Bistro by the Beach isn’t open for dinner, otherwise I’d suggest we go there. There’s a burger place near the bowling alley that makes some killer chili cheese fries. Greasy, but to die for.”
He raised a brow. “Greasy fries? You’re on.”
*~*~*
Burger World was packed, but they were able to get a seat in the back of the restaurant right next to the restrooms. On the drive over, they’d stopped at a light and the occupants of the car in the next lane (Mr. and Mrs. Bruner) had openly gawked at them. Now she and Zeke were not only separated, she’d been seen alone in a car with a strange man. Horrors! So although Mimi preferred sitting by the window, a back seat table seemed like a good option right now. More out of the way and private.
They ordered burgers and fries and a couple of beers and Mimi was surprised to find how hungry she was. Then she remembered she hadn’t eaten since breakfast. She’d spent her lunch break on hold with the manager of a country western radio station who claimed to personally know Billy Brenton, which had been a total bust.
Mimi was halfway through her burger when she came up for air. “So, Doug, how are you liking our little piece of the planet?”
He wiped his mouth with his napkin, then laid it down next to his empty beer mug. “A lot actually. I can’t wait till the water gets warm. The beaches here are beautiful.”
“Agreed,” she said, basking in mayorly pride.
The waitress came by and asked if they wanted a second beer. Doug went for it, but Mimi declined. Beer always filled her up too much. Besides, there was still that glass of wine and Casablanca waiting for her when she got home.
“Mimi Grant!” Betty Jean Collin’s voice made Mimi jump in her seat. Betty Jean, along with a couple of other members of the Gray Flamingos strolled over to their table. The curiosity in their eyes could have killed an entire litter of Buttercups.
Mimi inwardly sighed and tried for her best smile. Hopefully, Betty wasn’t going to try to fill her in on any more gossip about Zeke and Cindy. “Hi, Betty!” she said with her most upbeat voice. She introduced Doug to Betty and the other two women. “Doug is our new city manager,” Mimi said.
“Oh? So this is business, not pleasure?” Betty Jean asked.
“I’d like to think it’s both,” she answered. If Betty Jean and her cronies wanted to make something out of nothing, then let them. Mimi had nothing to hide.
Betty Jean’s eyes widened. “It was nice to meet you, Doug. We’ll let you two kids get back to your food before it gets cold.”
A few minutes after that, Mr. Parsons from the post office strolled by. Mimi caught him staring so she waved at him. He seemed flustered, but waved back.
Eventually, everyone in the place walked past their table. Some people, two or three times. Either everyone in Whispering Bay had weak bladders, or they were the nosiest people on the planet. Mimi concluded it was the latter.
Doug glanced around the restaurant and lowered his voice. “This might sound weird, but are people staring at us?”
“Nope. Not weird at all.” She put down her burger. “I should probably warn you, by this time tomorrow it’ll be all around town that I’m having your baby.”
Doug threw his head back and laughed (causing even more people to turn and stare). “Small towns, you got to love them,” he said good-naturedly.
Rusty Newton, one of Whispering Bay’s finest, happened by the table just at that moment. He was out of uniform but he still walked and talked like a cop. Not the scary kind. More like the Mayberry RFD Barney Fife kind. Rusty was goofy, loveable and loyal to a fault. He also considered himself to be Zeke’s best friend, which meant the second he left Burger World, he’d be on the phone with him.
“Well, well, well, hello, Mrs. Police Chief,” Rusty said to Mimi. He scowled at Doug. “And who do we have here?” Rusty looked at Doug like he was ready to handcuff him.
“Hey, Rusty. You’re looking quite dapper this evening,” Mimi said. And she meant it. If Rusty wasn’t in uniform he was either in fishing gear or baggy jeans. But tonight he wore pressed khaki slacks and a black polo shirt with a turned down collar. Rusty was around forty and divorced. “You on a date?”
Rusty’s face went blotchy. “Um…a date? No, not on a date. I’m meeting my bowling team next door. Thought I’d grab a burger to go. The bowling alley grill always overcooks ‘em.”
“Ah.” Mimi smiled. “Let me introduce you to Doug Wentworth, Whispering Bay’s new city manager.”
Doug stretched his hand out, leaving Rusty no choice but to shake it.
“As you can see, Doug and I are discussing city business,” Mimi said.
“City business…sure. So where’s the chief tonight?”
