Find Wonder in All Things - By Karen M. Cox Page 0,6
so good to see you! Daddy says you’ll be working here this summer?”
“Umm . . . yeah . . . I was just checking in with him before I went over to the boat to unpack.”
“So, I guess Stu is staying with you?”
“For a couple of weeks. The Pendletons are heading for Europe at the end of June. They’ll be gone for the rest of the summer, so I’m ‘boat-sitting’ for them.”
“Oh, I’ll have to tell Ginny.” She winked at him, and he felt his heart stop and blood burn up his neck to his cheeks.
She was almost staring at him, and suddenly she shook her head a little, as if waking from a daydream. “I’m working here too, waiting tables — trying to save some money for college.”
“Me too.”
“Where are you again?”
“University of Dayton.”
“Ah.”
“And you? Where are you off to?”
“Benton College.”
“Where?”
“It’s a liberal arts college just a bit north of here.”
“Oh.” He paused, expecting her to explain some more, but when no other information was forthcoming, he gave a self-deprecating little laugh. “Never heard of it.”
“You missed the signs on the interstate, huh?”
“Guess so.”
She tilted her head and gave him a radiant smile. Christ, has she always had a smile like that? He felt warm all the way down to his toes but squashed the feeling down deep. What’s wrong with you, Marshall? This is Virginia’s kid-sister — not some college co-ed.
“It’s just so good to see you; I can’t get over it. You bring back memories of good times.” She turned toward the door that connected the restaurant to the marina shop. “I’ll tell Daddy you’re here,” she called over her shoulder.
He couldn’t help himself; he watched her rear end in those white, sailor shorts as she went. Mr. Elliot happened to appear in the kitchen doorway just in time to catch him staring.
“Hello, James.” His mustache twitched in amusement, and James realized he’d seen the whole ogling move. How embarrassing— not to mention job-endangering!
“Oh, there you are. Look, Daddy, it’s James Marshall. You remember, right?”
“Sir.” James sprang forward and held out his hand.
“It’s pleasant to see you again.” Mr. Elliot had a strange, almost old-fashioned way of speaking. Somehow, though, with his wire-rimmed glasses, his balding head and his scraggly ZZ Top wanna-be beard, the archaic word choices fit him.
“Thank you for the job, sir. I’ll do my best.”
“I’m sure you will.” He indicated the duffle on the floor behind James. “Why don’t you go on over and put your things away?” Mr. Elliot checked the clock on the dining room wall. “I’m going to put you on the 2–10 shift, which gives you a little more than three hours to rest up and get settled. Hate to put you to work your first day down here, but what can I say? We’re short-handed.”
“No problem. I’m ready when you are.” He looked at Laurel, forcing his features into a nonchalant expression. “You work tonight?”
“No.” She smiled. “I’ve got the lunch shift today, 9–2. But I’m sure we’ll see each other around. I’ll have to go hunt Stu down after work and see how he’s been. I haven’t seen him in a couple of years, but he won’t be the shock you were — all grown up and everything.” She approached the kitchen. “See you this afternoon, James.”
“Bye, Laurel.”
She lifted her hand as she disappeared behind the swinging, kitchen door.
“That’s my girl.” Mr. Elliot beamed. “Did she tell you she got a free ride to college?”
“No, sir.”
“Yes, well, it’s not exactly free. All the students accepted at Benton work at the college to pay their way, but we’re awfully proud of her in any case. We’d have been hard put to pay tuition for her and for Virginia. Laurel’s going to study art, either art studio or art history.”
James considered what his own father would have to say about art as a major. But then, he supposed sons were usually expected to choose majors that leant themselves toward a steady paycheck. James’s own major was business, and while he was definitely enjoying college life, he couldn’t have picked a more boring major. He wondered whether Mr. Elliot would be as pleased if Dylan and Crosby decided to major in art. Yeah, James decided, he probably would; the man was downright impractical.
“What’s Virginia studying again?”
“Pre-dentistry. Can you imagine? The girl wants to be a dentist. Sounds like hell on earth to me, but it’s what she wants, so we’re happy for her too.”