The Restaurant(46)

Jill hopped behind the bar to help out too, while Emma, Mandy and Gary mingled with the guests. Gary introduced them to quite a few regular customers as well as local business owners that they didn’t know. Mandy knew a fair number of the guests too, just from living on Nantucket so long and she introduced Emma to many of them.

“Emma, this is Lisa Hodges. You remember we were in school with her daughters, Kate and Kristen?”

Emma nodded. “Of course. How are you?”

Lisa smiled. “I’m well. This is really lovely. You girls have done a wonderful job. My former husband and I used to come here often. I can’t wait to bring my friends Sue and Paige in soon. And I’ll be sure to spread the word with my guests at the Beach Plum Cove Inn.”

“Thanks so much,” Mandy said. When Lisa moved on, Mandy explained that she’d turned her waterfront home into an inn.

They were just getting themselves a glass of wine, when Mandy spotted someone out of the corner of her eye that she preferred to avoid. But Daisy walked right up to her.

“Hi Mandy. Nice event.” Daisy looked down her thin nose at Mandy and had a tight smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“Thanks.” Mandy looked around but didn’t see any signs of Patrick.

“Did Patrick come with you?” She was surprised to see either of them. She assumed after what Cory had said that they’d both be in Boston, now that Daisy was working with the firm.

“No. I’m here with a friend. We came for the weekend, but Patrick flew back last night. I’m going back tomorrow.”

Mandy nodded. “Congrats. I hear you’re doing a great job with their firm.”

Daisy looked surprised by the compliment. “Thank you. I really am enjoying it. I’m sorry to hear about you and Cory.”

That was the last thing Mandy wanted to discuss, especially with Daisy.

“Thank you. Would you excuse me? I see someone I have to go talk to.”

She smiled and darted across the room to greet her best friend, Barbara, who had just walked in the door.

“You saved me. Daisy was offering her sympathies on my separation.”

Barbara groaned. “Ugh. That sounds painful.” She looked thoughtful. “Did you say that she’s working with Cory’s firm now?”

“Yes. She said Patrick was here this weekend too but headed back to Boston early. I was surprised to see her, actually.”

“I saw her this morning having coffee with Cory at the Bean. I guess that makes sense if they’re working together. They looked awfully cozy, though.”

“Honestly, nothing would surprise me anymore,” Mandy said. “Though it would be incredibly stupid and risky for both of them.”

“It was probably nothing,” Barbara said. “So, where are those lobster pot pies that you told me about?”





Several hours later, when the restaurant was empty and everything had been put away and the kitchen scrubbed clean, the staff gathered around the bar and Gina poured drinks for everyone. It had been an exhausting but also an exhilarating night as everyone seemed to love the food and said they’d be spreading the word about the new menu. They’d just finalized the menu a few days ago, adding all the new items that Paul suggested and that had gone over well with the customers when they introduced them as specials.

Everyone had been enthusiastic about the new branding of luxurious comfort food, which included fresh local seafood and familiar pasta favorites.

“Our reservations for next week are already trending up,” Gary said. “People were excited about the party and also made a point to book reservations, which seems like a good sign.”

Mandy agreed. “It does. It’s hard to resist Paul’s food.”

Paul’s cheeks immediately turned red, but Mandy could tell he was pleased with the compliment. “Thank you. It seems like everything went over well. There’s nothing but scraps left in the kitchen.”

Jill’s phone buzzed, and she glanced down at it and smiled.

“Is that Billy texting?” Mandy guessed.

“No, actually it’s Mac. Remember the consultant that I went out with? He just texted wondering when I’m coming back to Manhattan for a weekend.”

“Will you see him again?” Emma asked.

“I just might. Why not?” Jill looked happy at the thought of seeing Mac again.

“Mandy, cheers to a great job pulling this all together. You really know how to run an event.” Emma lifted her glass, and everyone at the bar did the same.

Mandy lifted her glass too. “Thank you, but this was a group effort. Everyone did a great job.”

“To Mimi’s Place!” Jill said, and they all clinked glasses.

Mandy was pleased that everything had gone about as well as it could have. It was nice to relax now that it was over. She nodded when Gina waved the bottle of wine over her glass and then topped it off. The cool chardonnay was delicious and after this glass, she’d be ready to head home and call it a night.

When she got home, the house felt oddly quiet and empty with the kids sleeping at Cory’s. Though she was tired, she wasn’t ready to go to sleep yet and decided to read in bed for a while. She opened up Grams’ diary and started reading. Several years passed before there was more news on Jay.