If Catfish Had Nine Lives(97)

            “Will that work? It’s what’s open this early.”

            “Yes, that will be fine. We’ll meet you there. Come along, troops.” Amy signaled, and the others followed her obediently to the van parked in front of Jake’s office.

            I hadn’t noticed that Jake was observing, too, but he stood on the boardwalk across from me and Evan and waved when we made eye contact. I was glad to see him. Amy’s idea had made me think of something that I wanted to do, and if he was available, he’d be the perfect partner.

            As Amy and the others loaded into their van, Cliff walked toward me and Evan.

            “It’d be great to have you both join us for breakfast,” he said.

            Evan and I shared another conspiratorial smile.

            “You want some hometown support, don’t you?” I said.

            “Wouldn’t hurt.”

            “As much fun as it sounds, I’d like to talk to Jake. You okay if I pass?” I said.

            “Of course. Evan?”

            “Sure. I’m hungry, and nothing else is calling me away,” Evan said.

            “That’s great news. Thanks.”

            “I must admit,” I said, “she was interesting to watch in action.”

            “She’s very good at her job,” Cliff said. “She’s just very . . . assertive.”

            “This’ll be fun,” Evan said genuinely.

            Evan had come to Broken Rope after losing his family to a terrible tragedy. Though a shadow of sorrow was still his constant companion, there were moments when it seemed that shadow might be waning slightly. Because they’d worked together on solving a decades-old mystery surrounding a fire at a famous bakery, he and Cliff had also formed a solid friendship. Cliff, Jake, Evan, and I had had a few dinners at Bunny’s together, and it had been good to see Evan begin to come out of his shell. I couldn’t imagine the pain he’d experienced and probably would experience for the rest of his life, in one way or another.

            “See you later?” Cliff said to me.

            “For sure,” I said, before I hurried over to Jake. “What are you doing up so early?” I asked him.

            “Just awake,” he said with a forced, casual tone.

            I looked at him.

            “Hang on. You haven’t been home, have you? You spent the night with Esther, didn’t you? If you were upset with her about what I told you, you got over it, didn’t you?”

            “Betts, I’m not good at this sort of thing. You know I don’t like to talk about it, but it’s not what you think. Yes, we were together, but not together-together. After our talk last night, Esther and I ended up talking, too. We’ve only just met, Betts. I didn’t expect us to have so much to discuss, but it seems we do.”

            “Just talk?”

            “Yes.”

            “Well, that’s too bad.”

            “Betts!”

            “Jake, you are amazing. The fact that you don’t kiss and tell makes you even more wonderful. I hope you enjoyed your evening.”

            “I did.”

            I wanted to ask more about what Esther had said about her and Teddy and the significance of a letter, but I didn’t want to risk ruining Jake’s good mood. I’d ask later if I still wanted to.