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“Yeah, she thinks we can share the place.”
Mimi brightened. “I think that’s a great idea! You have two bedrooms. And Sarah is always at The Bistro so it’s not like she’d be in your way.” Her desk phone rang, but she ignored it. “A few weeks, huh? Is everything okay with your business? And what’s going on with Victoria? Are the two of you back together again? Because Mom would throw a parade if you are.”
“The business is fine. And, yeah, Victoria is…well, I need to talk to you about her.”
“Oh? That sounds…interesting.”
Before he could respond, the receptionist stuck her head in the door. “Mimi? There’s a call from Jenna Pantini. She says it’s urgent.”
“Drats.” Mimi gave him a questioning look.
“Go ahead and take it. I’ll wait.”
“Thanks.” Mimi picked up the phone. “Jenna! I’m so glad you called. What? Oh my God. No, I hadn’t heard yet. Can you hold on a sec?” She covered the receiver. “Luke, I’m sorry, but this is the new city manager and I really need to take this call. Something really important has come up that’s going to take my full attention. I’ll see you later at dinner. Zeke and the kids can’t wait to see you!” She blew him a kiss and returned to her call.
He reluctantly waved goodbye to his sister who wasn’t paying attention to him anymore. So much for filling Mimi in on Victoria’s big wedding news. He’d hoped to have his sister firmly in his corner when he told his mother. Now, Mimi was going to find out about the upcoming marriage along with the rest of his family. He had no choice. He needed to tell his mother this instant or tonight would be a complete disaster.
He dialed the home phone number, but after a few rings, it went to the answering machine. His mother only used her cell for emergencies, but what the hell. This was kind of an emergency. To his relief, she actually picked up.
“Luke? Is that you? Please don’t tell me you’re not coming to dinner tonight.”
“Of course I’m coming to dinner tonight, but I was hoping to talk to you and dad first.”
“Oh, my God! You’re engaged!” Then she lowered her voice, like she was somewhere she couldn’t talk freely. “Why didn’t you tell me last night?”
“Mom, I’m not engaged, but, yeah, my news has to do with Victoria.”
There were a few seconds of silence. “All right. I think I know what your news is. Even when you were a little boy it took you forever to make a decision. So, go ahead, tell me.”
“Not over the phone. Let’s meet for lunch. Where are you by the way?”
“I’m in Mexico Beach.” Mexico Beach was a small town about an hour east of Whispering Bay.
“What are you doing there?”
“I have some sad news. My cousin Earl died last night. You remember old Earl, don’t you?”
Of course he did. Everyone knew Earl Handy. He was the grandson of one of Whispering Bay’s founding fathers, and one of the richest men in the Florida panhandle. Luke’s mother was a Handy, but then so was a lot of the population of Whispering Bay. “Cousin” was a loose term that could be applied to almost half the town.
“I’m sorry to hear that. He was an interesting old fellow.”
“He was over ninety and suffering from dementia.” She sighed. “But it’s never easy to lose someone. I’m here with Nora, trying to help her with funeral arrangements.”
If Luke remembered correctly, Nora was Earl’s only child and close to Mom’s age.
“About dinner tonight—”
“Your father and I will be here a few more hours, but don’t worry, dinner is still on. I can’t wait to hear what it is you want to tell me. I have to go. Nora needs me. I’ll see you tonight.” His mother hung up before he could say anything else.
Chapter Seven
Sarah smoothed down the fabric of her lavender linen shift. She’d washed and blow dried her hair, put on a dress, and even worn lipstick. After meeting Luke’s mother last night, she got the impression that Ann Powers was the formal type. Which also meant bringing flowers or wine to dinner, but instead of getting off work at the usual two pm, today’s larger-than-average crowd at The Bistro had necessitated her staying late and there hadn’t been time to run by the store, so she’d brought a loaf of banana bread leftover from this morning’s baking.
“You didn’t have to bring anything,” Luke said, leading her up the tiled pathway to the two-story stucco home with large palm trees in front. He wore a long-sleeved dress shirt and crisply tailored slacks, making her glad she’d taken the time to put on the lipstick. “I’m sure my mom will have plenty of food,” he added.
She was going to say that having plenty of food wasn’t the point of bringing the banana bread, but there was no use telling him anything. Not when he was being so…edgy. It’s not that she didn’t want to have supper with his family, but he’d come by The Bistro at noon and invited her in a way that had been hard to say no. It had been more of an order than a request and since she was still on eggshells wondering whether or not he’d honor her lease, it hadn’t seemed smart to turn down the invitation.
Luke had something up his designer shirt sleeve, all right. She didn’t know what it was, but he was definitely acting strangely. But then, she barely knew him so maybe this was the way he always acted around family. It didn’t matter, she supposed. All she had to do was make some pleasant conversation, smile, and it would all be over within a couple of hours. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
