“Are you dating anyone?” Jared asked casually as he reached for his coffee.
Gina hesitated then chose her words carefully. “I haven’t been recently. I have a first date next week though.”
He nodded. “That guy you were talking to at the bar the other night?”
“Yeah. He’s someone I knew in Boston. We worked together years ago, but we never dated before. He was with someone else then. What about you?”
“I’m not dating anyone. I was pretty serious with someone for several years, but we broke up a few months ago. She moved off-island, said she couldn’t see herself living here long-term.”
“It’s not for everyone,” Gina agreed. “I love it here, but I’ve had a few times where I’ve wondered too, like when the boats aren’t running. I had to go to a funeral a few months ago and almost didn’t make it off-island. I got on the last plane before they stopped flying and then had to rent a car in Hyannis. It was stressful.”
“Do you see yourself staying here now? Or do you still think you might want to move back to Boston?”
“I love it here. I think it would be hard to live in Boston again after being here. It’s a special place.”
Jared smiled. “It is. Are you working tonight? I just noticed the time and we should probably get going. It’s after three.” They both had to be in by four.
“Oh, I didn’t realize it was so late.” Gina stood and grabbed their empty coffee cups and dropped them in the trash.
“How did you get here? I think you said you were going to walk? I drove, so I can give you a ride home if you like. That will save you some time.”
“I did walk and I’d love that, thanks.”
She followed Jared to his Jeep which was parked by the supermarket. She climbed in and a few minutes later, he pulled into her driveway.
“I had a really fun time. Thank you for making sure I experienced Nantucket Stroll.”
“I’m glad you came. It was fun for me too. See you at work.”
Chapter 5
Jill glanced out the big bay window at Mimi’s Place and marveled at the size of the crowds streaming by. Christmas Stroll felt even busier than summertime because it was so concentrated over one weekend. She and Billy had checked it out the day before, Friday afternoon, before heading in for their first shift. The fun holiday activities had put both of them in a festive mood. And she’d been impressed by how well Billy picked things up at the reservations desk. He’d once worked at a restaurant briefly during college, and even though that was years ago, it came right back to him. She could hear him now as he greeted Connie Boyle and two of her girlfriends who by the looks of their outfits, were done caroling for the day.
“Don’t you ladies look beautiful and so festive. We have a table by the window that I think you’ll enjoy. You can watch the Christmas crowds strolling by.”
“That sounds perfect! You must be Billy, Jill’s husband.”
Jill smiled at the surprise in Billy’s voice when he answered.
“Why yes, I am.”
“I thought so. I’m Connie Boyle, one of the regulars here, and I was a friend of the girls’ grandmother. Mandy said you’d be working this weekend.”
“We’re actually here through New Year’s Eve, so you might see even more of me.” He turned on the charm as only Billy could, and the three ladies beamed at him as he led them to their table. He handed them menus and they looked up as Stacy, one of their servers came over.
“You’re in good hands now. Enjoy your lunch, ladies.”
It was really more of an early dinner as it was a quarter to four, which was kind of an in-between time when service was slow and they normally changed shifts and got ready for the evening service. But, today was different. Billy, Jill and Emma were all working double shifts, while Mandy was taking the kids to the Stroll. The lunch service had been mobbed earlier, as expected. Even now, there were a few scattered tables throughout the dining room, but it was much quieter. Jill smiled to herself, thinking that it was like the calm before the storm. The bar was almost empty—there was just one older couple having Irish coffees. Jill had worked the bar by herself for lunch, as Gina was off experiencing the stroll for the first time. She was due in any minute and the bar would be much busier in the evening.
The window table where Connie and her friends were sitting was in earshot of the bar and while Jill cut fruit to prep for the evening shift, she couldn’t help overhearing their conversation with Stacy.