I thought his vision might surely be good enough to see a vehicle, if not the driver. Alyx must have thought the same thing, and she asked him about the driver.
“I didn’t see his face; it was hidden by some sort of cap and sunglasses.”
“You said he was driving a dark sedan. Was it gray, brown, black?”
“It was a dark color is all I can tell you for sure.”
“Have you given this information to the police?”
“No, because I can’t swear to what I saw. My wife is right. My distance vision isn’t so good anymore and my close-up vision isn’t any better.” He laughed again.
“Thanks for the information, Bill, and don’t worry about swearing to what you saw, maybe someone else closer to where the vehicle was parked got a better look.”
She declined his invitation for coffee, telling him she’d love to meet his wife another day when she wasn’t pressed for time.
I wondered if anyone else had mentioned the vehicle to the police. Then again, the vehicle may not have been following them at all, simply going in the same direction.
“There are few things in life more heartwarming than to be welcomed by a cat.”
––Tay Hohoff
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: An Impromptu Lunch Invitation
On Wednesday, shortly after we arrived at the store, Alyx received a mysterious visit from her son, Ethan.
“Hi, Mom. Can you get away for lunch?”
“I think so. What’s the special occasion?” she asked suspiciously
“No special occasion. It’s been a while since I took you to lunch, and I don’t want you to feel like you’re being neglected.”
“Honey, rest assured, I don’t feel neglected and I’d love to have lunch with you. Will you pick me up or do you want to meet somewhere around eleven-thirty?”
“I’ll come and get you; that’ll give me a chance to talk to Maggie too. I haven’t seen her for several weeks. Will she be here?”
“She asked about you the other day. I know she wants to see you. I’ll tell her you’re coming.”
“Okay, Mom, I’ll see you later.”
I knew Ethan well enough to know he had something else in mind besides lunch. Ecstatic to see him when he arrived later that morning, Misty and I greeted him with enthusiasm while he waited for Maggie to finish up with a customer, and he reciprocated.
“Hey, handsome!” Maggie said, giving Ethan a hug. “It’s been a while.”
“Not my fault. The last time I was here you were off somewhere with George and you couldn’t make it when Mom invited you for dinner at her house.”
“Yeah, you’re right. It’s great to see you. So, what’s new?”
While they visited, Alyx concluded her business with a client and I stayed close to Ethan, hoping to increase my chances of tagging along.
“Another new restaurant recently opened on Pelican Street. They have outside seating and I’m sure it’s all right to bring Murfy. I know he wants to go,” said Ethan, apparently reading my mind.
Alyx reluctantly agreed. Ethan had traded his expensive SUV for a practical compact with a standard transmission that he said was helping him save money on gas, and he insisted on driving the short distance to the casual Greek restaurant housed in a renovated 1940s two-story building painted a silvery blue and white. Ethan asked for a table on the large outside patio. Everyone ordered the special of the day and chatted about the changes taking place on Ocean Street.
Alyx said the downtown renovation effort was finally on the move. Some spaces were still empty though, and there was grumbling from some merchants about neighborhood construction projects that seemed to have no end.
Ever since Alyx and Maggie had convinced the merchants to stay open later during the week, and had established weekend hours, the area had become more of a focal point for residents and visitors. Monthly events such as a wine festival, a street party on St. Patrick’s Day, the Arts Festival, and the Rum Festival served to make downtown Beachside a fun destination. Alyx was sure that it would all be worth it in the end.
Their food arrived––some sort of eggplant dish that didn’t look very appetizing to me, maybe because I hate vegetables. The authentic Greek waiter called it moussaka.
The conversation shifted to the real reason for the lunch date when the waiter left our table.
“Mom, you’ve probably guessed that I have another reason to have lunch with you,” said Ethan, quickly adding, “I mean other than wanting to spend time with you.”
She smiled in answer. “I figured as much. So, what’s up?”
He took a deep breath. “I want to buy my own place. I think I’m ready for the responsibility, and I’ve been thinking about settling down.”
“Have you asked Nikki to marry you?” she asked, excited at the prospect.
“No. We’re not ready to get married; only to start working on it. So, here’s what I want to do,” he said sitting forward a little, “I want to buy a house that needs work, move in and fix it up at my leisure when I can afford it. What do you think?”
“I think it’s a great idea if you’re ready to make the long-term commitment and put in the hard work required.”
“Yeah, I am.”
“Okay then, how can I help you?”
“I could use your help talking with mortgage lenders and afterwards with the renovation itself. You know, finding some authentic stuff or good reproductions, like light fixtures and things.”
“Have you looked at any places, yet?” His wide grin made her joyful. “What? What did you find?”
“You know that rundown house with the plantation style wrap-around porch on Peninsula Drive?”
When she shook her head, he continued, “The one I wanted you to buy when you were looking for a house.”
“You mean the house on the river that wasn’t for sale when you wanted me to buy it?”
“Yup, that’s the one, only it’s for sale now. The owner’s in a nursing home; his family is scattered, and they don’t want to fool around with it. It’s on the market for one-eighty. You think it’s a good price?”
“Your uncle would be the one to talk to about that. He’s the real estate investor.”
“Yeah, that’s what Dad said, too. He offered to help with the down payment. Can you help me out if I need a co-signer?”
“I’ll be glad to. I know you’ve learned your lesson about financial responsibility. After you get your uncle’s opinion on the property and its value, I’ll talk to some lenders and see who offers the best deal.”
When the lunch had finally ended and the conversation too, Ethan paid the check and dropped us off in front of the store.
“I’ll call Uncle Tom and see if he can look at the place today,” said Ethan. “I’ll let you know what he says.”
“Okay, sweetheart, and thanks for lunch.”
“The smart cat doesn’t let on that he is.”
––H. G. Frommer
CHAPTER SIXTEEN: Murfy, the Escape Artist
Alyx was on the phone when I wandered into the workroom. I heard her greet Ethan on speaker phone and I didn’t hear a response. He went straight to the reason for his call.
She looked amused. “Take a deep breath, Ethan. I can tell you’re a little excited; it’s not every day you buy your first home. I’ve already made some calls, and the bank we do business with offers the best interest rate. Colonial Bank is at the end of our block. If you can come to the store in about an hour, we can walk over.”