Sweet Caroline(82)

She said to me (in a deep voice), “Nice place.” Remember Rocky IV and “I must brrreak you”? She’s definitely not from around here.

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There’s more to that story, but I just ran out of typing steam.

Love, Caroline

Tuesday afternoon, Andy comes in the office as I count down the cash drawer. “Here’s the inventory for the day, Caroline.”

I finish counting the one-dollar bills. Forty-eight, forty-nine, fifty. “Hard to believe we’re ordering almost every day.”

He whips off his beanie. “Business is good. Can I sit a minute?” He gestures to the empty chair across from me.

“Absolutely.” I bundle the ones, smiling up at Andy. “Why do you even ask?”

He strides over to the chair, swirling his beanie between his fingers. “Mercy Bea overheard them Buzz Boys talking last night, Caroline.” His tone is sober.

“Yeah? What’d they say?” Rocking back in my chair, I hook my foot around the desk leg to keep from tipping back too far. “They seemed to enjoy themselves.”

“Caroline, now, you know Mercy Bea can spin a yarn with the best of them, but she come to me this morning saying she overheard the Buzz Boys say things like ‘change’ and ‘get rid of ’ about a hundred times. She looked scared, Caroline.”

It’s not like Andy to worry over the small matters Mercy Bea claims to be tidal waves. Something about her claim rings true with him.

“Why hasn’t she come to me?” I ask.

“She’s afraid you won’t take the job in Spain.”

An unsettled feeling twists in my middle. “Did she hear any specifics?”

“She heard them talk about a French chef up to Charleston that has folks talking. One of them, the tall dude, thought they could get him to come down here. Then, the lady with them suggested selling off the Vet Wall to the city.”

I jerk forward so fast the chair lists to starboard, and I have to grapple for the desk’s edge. “The Vet Wall is part of the building’s structure. It’s had signatures for a hundred and fifty years. It belongs to the Frogmore.”

“Mercy heard them say something about the Wall reminding people of war and they don’t want them thinking of war, but of eating and drinking. Then there’s the folks who are against war, and the Wall might offend them.”

I’m stunned. “A few weeks ago they were getting the History Channel on the horn.”

“Well, the lady—she’s their lawyer—suggested getting rid of the Wall.” He looks over finally. “Mercy heard them talking about the Frogmore being the first in a chain where all the restaurants would look alike, serve the same menu.”

Did they lie to my face? The Buzz Boys are over-the-top, but to smile and lie right to me? “Andy, I’ll talk to Kirk. Clear this up.”

He rises slowly. “I’d appreciate it. I’m kind of fond of this old place. I don’t know nothing about French cooking.”

I watch as Andy plops his beanie on his head as he goes out. His shoulders are rounded with his burden. And reaching for the phone to call Kirk, a myriad of summer images—from Hurricane Howard to Reminisce Night—form a picture I’ve never seen before.

Andy arrives early every morning.

Works all day without complaint, singing most of the time.

Talks about the Café with tender affection.

Keeps true to all of Jones’s recipes.

Andy Castleton is the true heart of the Frogmore Café.

To: Carlos Longoria

From: CSweeney

Subject: Re: Offer

Dear Carlos,

Thank you for your offer. I am pleased to say I accept and look forward to working with you.

Saludos,

Caroline





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34

To Caroline.” Elle stands, raising her glass, taking in the faces around the table at Panini’s Café. “To Hazel and beautiful Barcelona, to the reality of ‘It’s never too late’ and ‘Miracles still do happen.’”

My party guests, Jess and Ray, Bodean and Marley, a few new friends from church, and J. D. (Ray invited him; he wanted to come) raise their glasses.

“To Caroline.” The salute is accompanied by the clinking of glasses.

The atmosphere of good wishes fortifies my confidence. I’m doing the right thing by selling the Café to the Buzz Boys, men with wealth and imagination. Men who can heal the wonderful but wounded Frogmore.

With my limited God experience, I believe He’s leading me. My call to Kirk relieved me of Mercy Bea’s fears. He assured me the Boys loved the Frogmore as is and the only changes they have in mind are cosmetic.

“When we close probate, they’ll be ready to take over and you’ll have a check for one-point-two million, Caroline.” He whistled over the phone. “What are you going to do with all that money?”

That’s when a brilliant idea hit me. Brilliant, I say. Just thinking of it warms me all over.

The table talk is lighthearted. We’re laughing and bantering so much the server has a hard time getting our order. I am so relaxed. Even J. D.’s presence is soothing. He catches my gaze and smiles.