Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Zane’s phone alarm went off at four-fifteen the next morning. He opened his eyes and silenced it, trying to orient himself to where he was in the world this morning. Familiarity washed over him, Gran’s seashell nightlight illuminating the bedroom he’d spent many a night in over the years.
He rose, not bothering to shower or shave, merely brushing his teeth and finger combing his hair. He tossed on a T-shirt and pair of cargo shorts and reached under the bed, finding the sneakers he always left to wear when he was in the Bay.
Once he laced them up, he headed to the kitchen to have time alone with his grandfather.
Neville Wagner spent the half-hour from four-thirty until five sipping coffee and reflecting on life.
Zane had had many deep conversations with Gramps during this time over the years.
Gramps would leave the house at five every day and drive to the diner, where he would get ready for the diner’s opening at six, frying up some bacon and cooking eggs to fortify himself before the morning rush began.
Gran, who was never hungry in the mornings, slept a little later before showing up to work at five-thirty. Gramps would hand her a mug of coffee, doctored just as she liked, and she would make certain everything was ready for when customers began to arrive.
He entered the kitchen and saw Gramps was pouring coffee into a large mug. Another mug had been removed from the cabinet, and Gramps smiled at him.
“I was hoping you’d come and visit with me.”
He handed Zane the coffee he had just poured and filled another mug for himself. The two men settled at the kitchen table.
“You enjoy your time with Sullivan and his bunch last night?” Gramps asked.
Zane nodded. “He’s made friends with a group of really nice people. He’s also made a pretty deep connection with Piper Roberts. Sullivan tells me he’s heading back to New York soon, but I have to wonder about that, especially watching him with Piper.”
Gramps took a sip of his coffee. “The Bay isn’t for everyone, but Sullivan seems to have taken to it during his time here. He’s been out tooling around in my woodshop some. Made your grandmother a beautiful coffee table and is working on end tables to match it.”
Sullivan hadn’t mentioned that to Zane. He wondered if his friend would ask to work from Driftwood Bay permanently.
That would be the compromise which might keep Sullivan at Wagner Enterprises.
Only his friend could make this decision, though.
Zane had seen the way Sullivan looked at Piper, and he believed they were destined to be together.
He decided he would do whatever he could to smooth the way for his best friend.
Zane’s dad might need some convincing, but Sullivan had done incredible work while he had been living in the Bay all these months.
Zane would rather lose Sullivan as a roommate and have him stay in Texas versus the company losing their most talented architect.
“I ran into a couple of guys I played pickup basketball with in the summer,” he shared. “Danny Mayfield and Michael Perry.”
“You’re going to meet with the Mayfields soon, aren’t you? About that ferry business.”
“Yes, that piece unfortunately slipped through the cracks. I hate leaving things to the last minute, but we’re going to need to get it settled in the next couple of days.
While I think a large number of guests coming to Tidewater will take advantage of the short helicopter ride to the resort, we still need a ferry crossing multiple times each day for convenience.
I’m meeting with Kylie Mayfield regarding that. ”
Gramps smiled. “Ah, Kylie. She sure was a firecracker back in her younger days. Sweetest gal around, but you cross her? That girl was opinionated. I seem to recall she won the state debate tournament.”
“I gathered that she was really smart. She was at the cookout last night. I hate to ask this because it sounds snooty—even sexist—but why would a woman of her intelligence and beauty be working for a fishing charter?”
Gramps stroked his chin in thought. “Not everybody’s destined to leave the Bay, Zane.
Your daddy was brilliant and never looked back, but there’s a lot to be said for living a quiet life here.
I know Kylie went away for a good, long while, but she came back sometime last year and has been working for her parents ever since.
I suspect when the time comes, she and Danny’ll take over the business, but it’ll be Kylie who calls the shots. ”
Gramps eyed him. “How are things for you, Zane? Every time you call us, all you talk about is business. Is there a special someone in your life? Nellie has told me not to ask you, and I’ve respected that, but you’re thirty-four now, son.”
Stubbornness filled him. “Just because you found the woman of your dreams and married her decades ago doesn’t mean I’ll be as lucky as the two of you, Gramps. Marrying Amanda proved to be a disaster. The biggest mistake of my life.”
Sympathy filled his grandfather’s eyes. “We’ve never pried. Your grandmother and I were sorry things didn’t work out for the two of you, but don’t paint every woman with the brush that colored your ex-wife.”
Zane shifted uncomfortably. That was exactly what he had done. Amanda had soured him on relationships. The few times he saw a woman socially, he made clear to her that it wouldn’t go anywhere. He guarded his heart better than the government guarded Fort Knox. He hadn’t been tempted a single time.
Until last night ….
There was something about Kylie Mayfield that called out to him.
Maybe he recognized another bruised soul in her.
He pushed aside that notion, telling himself he would only be in the Bay for a limited time.
That she was a woman tied to this place and her family.
Her loyalties would lie with them. She wouldn’t be agreeable to starting up something, only for him to walk away.
Still, he looked forward to spending today out on the water with her.
They finished their coffee, and Gramps asked, “You heading over to Tidewater today?”
“Originally, that had been my plan. To show up unannounced. Instead, I’m going to be spending today on one of the Mayfield fishing charters. I think Kylie and I need to get to know one another a little bit before we batten down the hatches and start our negotiations.”
Gramps smiled. “I have fond memories of taking you fishing in the Bay, Zane. Never done one of those deep sea charters, though. You’ll have to tell me about it.”
“I think it’s time you thought about taking one yourself.” Zane paused, not certain he should get into this now, but he decided to push ahead.
“I know you’re in terrific shape. So is Gran. But the two of you are eighty-five now. You’ve worked for decades, serving food to this town. When are you going to retire? You need to sit back and enjoy the years you have left.”
He saw the perplexed expression crossing his grandfather’s face.
“We … never have talked about that, Zane. We love what we do. We get up every day with a song in our hearts. We like the diner being the pulse of the town. Feeding people. Seeing them with family and friends. Making the diner a part of their day. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
Gramps paused. “What’s that old saying of Mark Twain’s? Find a job you enjoy doing, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”
Zane knew it would be like talking to the wall if he continued this conversation.
Much as he loved his grandfather and admired his character, Gran was the real power in the family.
He decided to approach her and see if she had considered retirement.
If Nellie Wagner wanted to keep working at the diner until she keeled over dead, she would.
If she decided to walk away and enjoy life, she would make certain her husband did so with her.
“Can I bum a ride to the diner with you?” he asked. “I can cook myself a little breakfast and then walk down to the harbor.”
“When’s the last time you’ve been behind a stove?” his grandfather teased.
“It’s like riding a bike. Some things you simply never forget. In fact, I’ll make breakfast for the both of us if you’ll let me.”
They placed their coffee cups in the dishwasher and went to Gramps’ pickup truck. It was the latest model, one of several gifts Zane had given his grandparents over the years.
As they got into it, Gramps said, “Never thought I’d have a truck that cost more than my house did.” He looked to his grandson, his eyes dancing with mischief. “But I gotta tell you. This is one sweet ride.”
He laughed heartily. “Glad you’re enjoying it. And all the bells and whistles it came with.”
They parked behind the diner and entered through the back door. Zane asked his grandfather what he wanted for breakfast.
“Surprise me.”
Zane whipped up a pancake batter, dribbling a touch of cinnamon into it. While the pancakes were cooking, he also cracked eggs into a pan and fried up some sausages to accompany them, plating everything when it was done.
“I still have my timing down,” he said, grinning cockily.
“Well, if this business thing doesn’t work out for you, you’ve always got a slot as a short-order cook at the Driftwood Diner,” Gramps declared.
They enjoyed their breakfast together. Gran arrived as they were finishing, and she accepted her cup of coffee. Zane told her he was going on a deep sea fishing charter this morning.
“The Mayfields know what they’re doing,” Gran informed him. “They know all the best fishing spots. I see pictures in the paper of the size of fish their clients catch. Whatever you bring back, I’ll fry it up for dinner tonight.”
“You’re on,” he said. “Just be sure to have some black-eyed peas to go with it. And mashed potatoes with gravy.”
“Mashed potatoes don’t go with fish,” she protested. “I can fry some potatoes with onions, though.”
“Okay,” he relented. “But I’m not leaving the Bay until I have your mashed potatoes and gravy.”