places that can make me feel like I am home and Sayville Pizza was one of them. My mom and I got pizza from there almost every Friday night after my father left. I still think of Friday’s as pizza night. We dropped our car back at our place and are riding in John’s car on our way to the Wharf. “So are the two of you just going to drink all night and leave me to carry you both back home?” Jodi turns and looks at me and we say at the same time, “Damn Skippy.” “We promise not to throw up in the car, but other than that we cannot be held responsible for anything that comes out of our mouths tonight. I am planning to drink until I can’t think anymore,” I say. “Do I want to know what brought this on?” he asks. “Probably not but I have a feeling that once we get through our first pitcher of tea I will probably tell you anyway,” I say. “Well as long as it doesn’t involve me beating anyone up for you I will be happy to listen.” He looks at me through the rearview mirror. I think he knows who has put me in this mood but John is the type of friend that will wait until you bring a problem to him. He doesn’t press if you are not ready to talk. What he doesn’t realize is that I know a lot more than he thinks I do. Hopefully Jodi will stay just sober enough to stop me if I start ranting too much. I have not been really drunk in years and I am not known for my good sense when I drink. I don’t want John to go back to Bobby and tell him what I know or that I was so upset I drank my way into oblivion. Although I think Jodi has enough influence on him to keep him quiet, at least for now. John parks the car and we get out. The Wharf is on the outlet to the bay and the smell of water hits me as I am walking to the door. The house I grew up in is on the river that leads to this outlet and I miss living on the water. Being able to just taking off in a boat and the feel of wind in my hair. Bouncing on the waves or just throwing a line out to fish and reading waiting for a hit. Or just lying out on the dock, you get the best tans lying on a dock. I can’t wait for summer to come around so I can get back out on the water. Maybe I can find someone to take me out tomorrow, I will have to bundle up since fall on the water can be cold but it would be worth it. “Jodi does your father still have his boat?” “No he sold it a few years ago,” she says grabbing the door. “He never used it and the dock fees were starting to go up every year.” We walk in and the memories come back hard. I spent so much time in this little bar. There is a bar on the left with a few tables on the right. The fireplace in the back is roaring and the side room is open so you can sit and look out onto the water. Fishing and nautical equipment line the walls. The bar is lined with rope as are the stools. It was originally a fisherman’s bar and quite a few still come in after a day on the water but the night belongs to the younger crowd. Tom is behind the bar and he does a double take when he sees me. “Lisa, holy shit girl it has been forever since I saw you last. How have you been?” I walk up to the bar and stand on the foot rest to reach over and kiss his cheek. He is in his fifties and always treated us like his kids. He was always looking out for us and making sure that we either had a sober driver or he took our keys knowing that Jodi’s house was only a half mile down the road. “I’ve been good, Tom. How are you? Looks like things haven’t changed much around here.” “Nothing ever changes here,” he says. “If I know you, you want a tea right?” “You’re right, nothing ever changes. Give us a pitcher. John, what do you want?” I ask turning around. “Just give me a Bud, Tom,” he says coming up and shaking Tom’s hand. “I am the designated driver tonight so these girls can enjoy your tea.” “Well I will make sure that I limit you then,” says Tom. He turns and starts getting our pitcher