Chapter 2 #3
Well, that answered that question. No special vehicle was required.
“The car rental agency doesn’t have anything available large enough, and the only person I know with an SUV is cruising around Bermuda right now.” Liv’s frustration became more pronounced with each word. “This couldn’t have happened at a worse time.”
On that, she was wrong. She knew someone with an SUV who wasn’t cruising around an island. “I have an SUV.”
“If this happened next week, I’d have the other van to use.” Liv dropped her head back and looked at the sky as if she’d find an answer there. “Wait, what did you say?” she asked, looking at him.
“I have an SUV you can use.” Matt had purchased the vehicle during a previous visit to the area, and to date, he’d only used it once for a camping trip he’d taken.
“Really?”
He wasn’t sure if she was surprised that he owned such a vehicle or because he was offering to let her use it. Either way, it was sitting in his garage, and he didn’t need it tonight.
Matt nodded. “We can head over to my house now, and you can get it.”
Liv’s eyes widened in surprise, and she threw her arms around him. “Matt, you’re a lifesaver. I’ll grab my things, and we can go.”
An unexpected surge of energy sparked all his nerve endings. Women of all ages had hugged him, and he’d never experienced anything like it. “Not a problem. I’ll wait for you by my car.”
As if just realizing she was hugging him, Liv dropped her arms and moved away. “Sorry about that.”
“No need to apologize.” Rather than help, his response caused her face to go from resembling a cherry blossom to a strawberry.
“I just need to lock up, and then we can go.” She took a few steps toward the building and then turned toward him. “Were you planning to get something to eat?”
It was a logical question since he’d parked so close to the restaurant.
And while it had been part of his reason for being there, it wasn’t the only one.
He’d been unable to shake their last conversation and the sense that something was wrong, so his visit this afternoon had more to do with appeasing his curiosity and seeing her again than eating.
“Yeah, but I have food at home, or I can come back later and get something.” Even though he’d offered her a solution to the immediate problem, she still appeared stressed. Not that he blamed her. The accident wasn’t her fault, but she’d still have a lot to deal with because of it.
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.” He wouldn’t have offered if he didn’t want her to use the vehicle.
For a second, he thought she would argue, but then she opened the door marked Ocean View Catering and walked inside.
When she returned, Matt opened the car door and waited for her to get inside. Instead, she looked at him as if he had grown a second head. He was used to getting a variety of looks from people, but this one was a first. “Is something wrong?”
“No, everything’s fine. Why?”
“You look a little concerned.” Although not accurate, it sounded better than “you’re looking at me as if I’ve grown a second head.”
Liv shook her head as she tucked some hair behind her ear. “Sorry, I just have a lot on my mind today.”
If you say so.
They both remained silent as he pulled away from the curb and headed north.
“How many people are they expecting at the party tonight?” Matt asked when it became apparent that Liv wasn’t going to start a conversation.
“They ordered food for twenty-five, but the guest list might be smaller. It’s not unusual for clients to order a little extra just in case. Then they take any leftovers home.”
It sounded like a small party, but then again, they were talking about Orchard Harbor, not Portland or Boston. At least he assumed the party was for a resident of Orchard Harbor since it was being held at the VFW in town.
“Who’s the party for?” Matt doubted he knew the guest of honor, but it seemed like an appropriate next question.
“Irene Carr. She’s worked as the director of the parks and rec department for thirty years.”
Not only didn’t he recognize the name, but he’d never known the town had a parks and rec department.
“Her husband was a high school science teacher. I had him for chemistry and physics. He retired two or three years ago.”
Maybe if he put some serious thought into it, he’d be able to recall the name of a teacher from high school, but he doubted it.
Matt turned left at the intersection and stopped so two middle-school-age kids could cross the road on their bikes.
“Is that the typical size event you cater?”
“So far, our largest event was a fiftieth wedding anniversary with one hundred guests. But we have two—actually, after this afternoon, three—events this summer with more than one hundred guests. Two are in July, and the other is in August.”
“How many events do you typically do in a month?”
Liv considered his question before answering.
“It varies. We were doing one or two events every weekend until about New Year’s.
Things slowed down in January and February.
But since about the middle of March, things have picked back up again.
I think we’ve only had one weekend in the past six weeks with only one event booked. ”
Ocean View Catering sounded busier than he’d expected, considering its location.
The sound of an oven timer erupted from Liv’s purse, and she pulled out her phone. Matt glanced over in time to see her frown and then type a message.
“The events we do aren’t always in town,” Liv said, as if reading his mind. “The closest catering company is about forty miles away, so we get business from all the neighboring towns.”
“Is tonight’s party your only event this weekend?”
“No. We have another one tomorrow,” Liv replied as the sound of an oven timer once again filled the car. Something between a sigh and a groan soon followed.
“Is everything okay?” Matt asked as he turned and drove down the long driveway to his house.
“Bad news seems to be the theme of the week. Marissa was supposed to help me tonight. She just sent me a text letting me know she tested positive for strep this afternoon.”
He had no plans for the evening. “I’m free to help.”
“I appreciate the offer, Matt. Really, I do, but I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’ll find someone to fill in for her.”
Matt was prepared to argue his case but then reconsidered. She was probably right. If word got out that he was doing whatever Liv needed help with, fans might descend on the place and ruin the evening for the guest of honor.
“Well, if you change your mind, call me.” He gave Liv his phone number, something few people had, as he opened the garage door. “Do you want to come in, or are you in a rush?”
He knew she needed to return to the restaurant to pick up the food before heading over to the party, but she hadn’t shared her timeline.
“I don’t have a lot of time. Lydia is expecting me at five.”
He didn’t bother asking who Lydia was because it didn’t matter. If she needed to be there at five, Liv didn’t have a lot of time to play with right now. “I’ll run in and get the keys for you, then.”
Less than five minutes later, Matt watched Liv drive away and realized he should’ve told her to keep the vehicle so she could use it for tomorrow’s event.
When she came back later, he’d rectify that.
He’d also see if she’d open up and explain what she meant by “bad news seems to be the theme of the week.”