Whisper Beach by Shelley Noble Page B

We could use the exercise the way we’re eating.”
    â€œSpeak for yourself. Anyway, she said to hurry. The word got out that she was making crab cakes today. There was a rush at lunch, and she’s having a hard time saving any for us.”
    Van squeezed the car into the space.
    Suze jumped out and Van ran after her. “The things you’ll do for food.”
    â€œNot all food. Just Dorie’s crab cakes.”
    â€œThen it’s a good thing we were in the car and only a few blocksaway.” Van followed Suze diagonally across the pier to the entrance of the Blue Crab. It looked a little run-down in the daylight. But it was still a popular place. She could see people at the tables by the windows.
    They stepped inside to a blast of air-conditioning. Van couldn’t remember if that was something new since she and Suze had worked here. Or whether that had been another reason waitressing at the Crab had been such a plum job.
    It took a minute for Van’s eyes to accustom themselves to the low lighting; it was too dark for her taste. On the edges of the large dining room the sun glared through the windows but cast everything else in between into dark relief. Some nice bamboo shades would prevent the patrons from having to wear sunglass in the morning and late afternoon.
    â€œOur gang’s old table?” Suze asked. “It’s free.”
    â€œI guess.”
    They stepped past the hostess desk just as a man who had been paying his check turned around.
    Van stopped.
    He stopped.
    â€œOh shit,” Suze said and walked away.
    Behind him, Dorie burst through the kitchen door and stopped cold.
    Van had a wild urge to laugh. But it would hurt too much.
    She tried for a friendly smile. He didn’t bother.
    â€œVan.”
    â€œJoe,” she said, trying to sound pleasant, as if seeing him hadn’t just knocked her on her ass.
    â€œI heard you were back.”
    â€œFor the funeral.”
    A muscle in his cheek jumped. “How have you been?”
    â€œGreat. You?”
    â€œFine. I— Fine.”
    â€œWell, good to see you.” Van stepped away. A few feet away Dorie threw her head back, mouth open, eyes to the ceiling. Van glared at her.
    She heard, “Yeah, good to see you, too.” But when she turned back to Joe, he was walking out the door.
    She turned on Dorie. “If there is a God, Dorie, you’re not going to find him in your ceiling.”
    â€œNot God. Only the saints. But I swear even the saints can’t help you. What’s wrong with you, girl?”
    â€œNothing. Why should it be?”
    â€œHe loved you. The least you could do is be civil. You know you’re not the only one who’s had a hard life.”
    â€œI was civil.”
    â€œHa. If that passes for civil in New York, you’d do best to come back to Jersey and learn some manners.”
    â€œStop it. He caught me by surprise, that’s all.” Van narrowed her eyes. “You planned this, didn’t you?”
    â€œFor Chrissakes,” Dorie said. “He would love you again if you’d make the least little effort.”
    â€œI don’t want him to love me. We were kids. It ended. Period. No fond memories. No rekindled flames. Over and done with.”
    Van stalked away. Ran into one of the tables that cluttered the large rectangular room.
    The Blue Crab could use some organization, Van thought, clutching her bruised hip bone. It didn’t really hurt that bad, but she needed something to concentrate on while she forced angry tears from her eyes and tried to keep her mind off her utter humiliation.How dare Dorie set her up like that. She didn’t think Joe had been in on it. He seemed completely stunned to see her. And not at all happy.
    He still looked good. A man now, filled out, strong. And just as heart-stopping. She squelched any inclination to think further than that. Did Dorie think she was so pitiful that she needed help getting