Chapter Four. Seaside #2
He shrugged. “I guess it never came up.”
While Cam wanted to push more, Danny brushed it off with a smile and led them inside for introductions to the team.
But as they passed a picture-covered wall, she slowed, studying the dozen framed photos featuring the same subject.
With a head full of dark hair, rosy cheeks, and smile-crinkled eyes, Beauregard Brennan remained a contagious source of positivity, even in death.
There were shots of a giggly baby Beau, of a teenage Beau in his senior portrait, of a twentysomething Beau fishing on a sailboat.
In one photo, he leaned across the bar, posing for a newspaper feature.
In another, he carried a young Danny, the pair sharing identical grins.
In the final photo, he was gaunt, smiling from a seat on the deck.
But the sparkle in his eyes remained.
“Did you do this?” she asked Danny. “It’s … so sweet.”
“Dad and I found a lot of photos when we went through Beau’s place,” he explained, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “It only seemed right. This restaurant is his. He needs to be here.”
With a pained smile, Danny was moving again, forcing Cam to race after him.
Their first stop was the server station, where a waiter hunched over a tablet, tapping away.
With impressively light bleached blonde hair and a red Beau’s T-shirt, he was hard to miss.
As soon as he straightened, Cam picked up on his towering height—nearly four inches on Danny—and his youthful face that made it impossible to place his age.
“Cam, this is Xavier,” Danny said. “He’s our most senior server. Wicked good memory and he kills every open mic night.”
“Only with you on guitar,” Xavier replied. Grinning, he turned to Cam. “Welcome to Beau’s. We’ve heard lots about you.”
“Esme mentioned that.” She glanced at Danny, biting her lip. “Good things, I hope.”
“Please! Between Danny, and Drew making his monthly appearances, your name is dropped regularly.” Xavier laughed, nodding towards the dining room. “I’d love to chat more, but I’ve got some drunk moms who want their french fries.”
Once Xavier was back in the crowd of tables, Danny led them towards the kitchen. As they neared the door, she asked, “Since when do you play guitar?”
“Since I taught myself. Uncle Beau had one in the office so I figured, why not?”
“You taught yourself? How do you even have the time?”
“Cam, it’s a hobby.” He laughed. “Don’t you make time for your hobbies?”
“My … hobbies?” She considered the question and quickly circled back to the sad truth: she didn’t have any.
Because she hadn’t written a word for her own enjoyment in years, and while she used to be a voracious reader, lately she was lucky if she finished a book a month.
“I don’t think I have any. Not unless watching TV and napping counts. ”
He groaned, throwing his head back like a child told there’d be no dessert. “And that’s exactly why you need to bum it here for the summer.”
“Danny boy!” boomed a voice from the other side of the kitchen door. As it swung open, out came a stout man, likely in his late fifties, with slicked-back hair and big green eyes. “Is this the Camille we’ve heard so much about?” he teased.
“It is. Cam, this is Pauly Marchetti. He’s been the head chef at Beau’s for twenty years,” Danny explained, cheeks red—yet again proving her point about how easily he blushed. “His son John Paul is a waiter, too. He just got back after finishing his sophomore year at URI.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Cam said to Pauly. “I didn’t realize Beau’s was such a family affair.”
“It’s always been. Beau was like a brother to me.” Pauly kissed his fingers, raising them to the sky. “He’d be so happy Danny’s got the place buzzing. And even hired Junior!”
The flush on Danny’s cheeks had traveled to his neck, and the sight made her grin. “Speaking of which—” Danny turned to the dining room and yelled, “JP! Come over here.”
JP jogged over, all boyish smiles. With tanned skin and electric green eyes, he was most definitely his father’s son. “What’s up, boss man?”
“I want you to meet my best friend, Camille,” Danny said. “She’s visiting, so be nice.”
“Hi, Camille.” JP leaned in to the wall, giving her a once-over. “Glad to see you in Elswick.”
“Danny said you just finished your sophomore year,” she replied. “What are you studying?”
“Ask me nicely and it could be you.”
“Alright!” Danny grabbed JP by the back of his T-shirt. “Get working before I exterminate you like some fucking vermin.”
JP ran off, laughing, but not before tossing Cam a wink. Once he disappeared into the dining room, Danny turned to Pauly. “That one needs a muzzle.”
Pauly smirked. “You’ve got my support.”
“Good. You mind putting together something special for me and Cam? We’re gonna have a late lunch.”
“Aye, aye, captain. Two specials, coming up.” With a wink, Pauly disappeared back into the kitchen, whistling a Beatles tune that sent her thoughts back to family car rides and sorting through her father’s vinyl collection.
“We can meet everyone else later,” Danny said. “For now, let’s go eat on the deck. I think you’ll love looking at the water. It might just convince you to stay.”
She knew he was right—and that scared her.