Read Online Sweet Waters by Julie Carobini - Free Book Online Page A

air like a dog. She spins toward me, that finger still stuck straight out in front of her. “You’re new here.”
    Nigel jabs his cane into the floor and pulls himself up to lean on it. “Peg, I’d like you to meet my new desk clerk, Tara. She’ll be working in Tina’s place, and perhaps even longer, if I can convince her of it.” A satisfied smile rests on his face.
    â€œHello, Peg. I just love your diner. My sister and I have breakfast there just about every morning.”
    She narrows her eyes at me, not in a mean way, but in a way that says, “I’m assessing you.” Her flat, creased lips push into a pucker.
    I continue. “I hope you’re feeling better. I was there the day you, uh, the day you had your fall. I’m so sorry, but oh, Holly has done a terrific job keeping things going. You should be proud of her.”
    â€œI’ve never seen you.”
    â€œWell, that’s because we’re new here, my sister and I.” I reach out my hand. “Tara Sweet. I’m pleased to make your acquaintance.”
    Her lips droop into a frown. They seem to fit naturally into that position, as if an upside down crescent had long been carved into her face. Before her fall I remember the way she pinned on a winning smile only to let it fall into that same frown as she passed by. I remember it because it stood in direct contrast to what I’d been feeling.
    My hand dangles in front of her, but she doesn’t take it. Instead, Peg turns her head slowly toward Nigel, who has lowered himself back onto the couch. She walks to him, her thickset body towering over his seated one, which looks small, frail.
    â€œYou”—she says, through clenched teeth—“will be the death of me.”

Chapter Eight

    Whatever new me had surfaced over the past few weeks as I prepared to live this adventure, I cast it all aside at the sight of this cranky woman rebuking Nigel. Out from behind the desk now, I’m standing close enough to hear Peg’s angry, labored breathing.
    â€œYou’d better go.” I make little attempt to disguise the command in my tone. I did not come here to make enemies, but I also cannot stand to see such unworthy treatment of such a lovely man.
    Peg swings around and, by the way she hunches her body, I expect to see daggers coming from her eyes. Instead, they are open wide, her pupils dilated, almost abnormally so. She swallows and backs away from me, like I’m a criminal who’s jumped bail.
    A distinct rattle grows in volume behind me. Josh’s voice rolls over my shoulder. “So you’re back to the grind already, Peg? Hope this doesn’t mean the disappearance of Holly’s crêpes again.”
    Mikey snorts next to him. “Good one.”
    Josh’s sudden presence is like a glass of cool, mountain spring water on a blistering summer day. He sets down his bucket, leans comfortably against the rounded corner of the archway, and surprises me with a wink.
    Apparently Peg has had a similar reaction to Josh, because she draws up straighter, and if I’m not mistaken, her deep frown has become more of a tiny dip. “I leave and that girl thinks she owns the place. But I’m back now and I’ll be straightening that child out.”
    â€œLet her be, Peg. She’s still a kid, and who knows, you might just be raising an executive chef. Better give her some freedom.”
    Peg harrumphs. “Or else some rope!”
    Josh laughs, a hearty, from-the-gut sound, and I marvel at how he’s changed the room’s temperature from bitter cold to balmy warm. When a family of harried-looking parents and two young kids bounce into the lobby, I move behind the front desk to check them in. Still new at this, I fumble around looking for their registration, and swiping their credit card, and trying to remember everything I need to tell them about the inn and Otter Bay. Of course, I might not be so