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“Glad you like it.” She should have ended it there but she just had to know, she loved hearing what people thought of her food.

“What’s your favorite part?” She leaned in and asked.

He wanted to respond with, “all of you” as she leaned over the bar. Thank God she was behind the bar, otherwise she might know that all of her parts were his favorite and that he was having a very strong physical reaction to her. Instead, he tried to respond with a more respectable answer and secretly hoped she was asking a less respectable question in her own mind about him.

“I love the spinach fraîche but my favorite part is the potato crust. That hint of truffle, although subtle, is amazing. It really makes it upscale but not in the way that I feel silly ordering it at a bar, or rather, a tavern, if that makes sense. I feel like although these are special, I would love to taste it every day and wouldn’t feel bad about it.”

She got a little lost in his explanation, but it was exactly what she intended when she created it. She was unable to speak and realized she had been ignoring the other gentleman at the bar far too long. She just smiled, nodded, and headed over to the other end of the bar.

Wow, Michael thought. Beth Adams. At least there was one positive that had come from this terrible evening. Of course, he could never get involved with her, even if she was interested. His life was in New York and they had too much tragedy in their shared history, anyway. He began to work on his second beer and got lost in the game on the television. She came back with his steak and then eventually, as the other gentleman left the bar, she took a seat and began writing. He continued to watch the television and sip his beer.

He had to go home eventually, he just didn’t want to. Home, he thought, where was home now? Maine never felt right before, New York didn’t feel right now. What was he going to do with his life — hell, what was he going to do tomorrow? Maybe he should just leave and go back to New York now and face the music there. Hell, if he didn’t figure something out soon, he might be bartending himself in a few months’ time … or even sooner.

Beth was seated on the other end of the bar and looked over at Michael. Wow, he was certainly attractive. And there was still something soft about him, He had those sensitive eyes. He just always looked so understanding. She stopped herself. What was she thinking? He really didn’t seem to be flirting anymore —which she hated to admit was a little disappointing. It had been a long time since Beth had a fling, let alone a relationship. Not really since she moved back here. Her brother Bob kept telling her to be more adventurous ... but that just wasn’t her. And what was it about this man?  They had a history, a shared experience — but not exactly a pleasant one that connected them. But there was something more to it than that. Anyway, it didn’t matter. Even if she could get beyond the memories of Jenny he dredged up and their own past, he said he’d only be here a few weeks. Also, who could take off a few weeks these days…and why come here? Even though it was a beautiful little town, she never expected to be living here as an adult.

She snuck another look at him. It was startling how much someone could change in thirteen years. She had also changed, but she didn’t feel like it was nearly as dramatic. His blue polo shirt stretched over his taut muscles and tight stomach. It looked like he spent a lot of time in the gym, but he wasn’t ultra muscular and didn’t have the look of a “meathead.” He looked lean and fit. She liked that. He was also clean-cut. And although the glasses hid his handsome face somewhat, she had to admit they made him look hot.

She always kind of liked nerdy guys — which was why she was attracted to him in high school, instead of his brother, whom everyone worshipped. She had never really liked Jesse. And she liked him even less after that night ... the night her sister died. She guessed it was because he had seemed privileged and worshipped. She knew Michael came from the same family but she had felt differently about him; he was an outsider looking in, just like she had been. Sure, she hung out with the cool kids but it was only because she played basketball. She did that so she could get a scholarship, which she did. But she always felt out of place. Maybe it was because she was poor, maybe it was because she was taller than everyone and a “Ginger.” Ginger was her nickname in high school, not one that she particularly enjoyed but it beat carrot top. Jesse Malone and his crew could be mean about it, despite his relationship with her sister. What made Michael any different?

She had to remind herself that he hadn’t exactly been an insider in high school, either. He was always a solitary figure and was always busy working at the market. She wondered what he was doing now, and again, why he was in town? Why now?

At least he had a good appreciation for food, she thought. She looked over and watched him eat his steak; he really looked like he was enjoying it. She went back to work on her menu for the next day. Then she looked over at Michael again. He had pushed his plate to the side and was just staring at his beer. She looked at the clock; it was already ten thirty. She hurriedly moved from her seat and got behind the bar. It was just the two of them in there.

“So, how was the steak?” she asked.

Michael had been deep in thought, but at the sound of her voice, he came to and said, “Oh, the steak was great, thank you. I really enjoyed it.”

He looked around the bar, which was empty. What had he been doing all this time? He was off in space, thinking about what he was going to do for his family. Could he even help them after what his dad had said? He knew he had to. He also thought about Beth and how her black pencil skirt fit so snugly against her hips, and her white collared shirt really emphasized her long, lovely neck. And those eyes, that face, and her hair—.

“Would you like anything else?” she asked.

He came back to earth. He knew the bar closed at eleven on Mondays, so she probably wanted to get home to her boyfriend or husband. For some reason, the idea of her with another man waiting for her at home annoyed Michael. Not that he thought he had any right to feel that way.

“A glass of water and the check would be great.”

He should be good to drive, but after what had happened to Jesse, he was always extra cautious about drinking and driving. Living in New York he rarely had to worry about it, but whenever he traveled, he would always be mindful. Some people thought he wasn’t as fun as he could be because of it, but it mattered to him.

She came back with the glass of water and Michael felt like he had worked up a little courage.

She handed it to him and he said, “Thank you. I hope you don’t mind, is it okay if I just sit here and drink this for a little while before I drive? I know you probably want to get back to your boyfriend or husband, so if it’s a problem I can just go sit in my car for a bit.”

Beth was so nervous all of a sudden. Husband or boyfriend? Was he hitting on her or just being polite? He didn’t seem to show interest before, but asking about whether she was attached was definitely a sign of interest. She felt her body grow warm and she felt what she always referred to as the body blush coming on. God, this was embarrassing.

“Oh, no, no husband or boyfriend to rush home to. I’m very single ... I mean, stay as long as you like. I won’t be closing things out for another hour before I head home.” She stammered and blushed a deep red. Her face nearly matched her hair. She was embarrassed.

‘I’m very single’? Who says that! She could just kick herself.

He could tell she was embarrassed, but it made her more endearing, he thought. “Thank you,” he said, as he smiled sadly.

He was a mess, maybe if things could have been different, a woman like Beth would come home to him at night. But he had made choices that put him where he was today. Single, alienated from his family, and soon to be jobless. He chuckled to himself, he was also very single. It made him wonder what her story was. He stared down at his water, not knowing what he was going to do next.

He stayed just sitting there for another half hour. She busied herself with closing the books and cleaning the bar, things she assumed her regular bar staff would be doing. It was kind of nice: the calm of it all, but all the customer interaction was not her favorite thing in the world. Although, if the customers were all like Michael, she decided it might not be too bad.

Michael got up and walked over to the end of the bar to say goodnight to Beth. He brought over his glass, setting it down on the bar, and said to her, “Thanks so much for everything tonight. Here’s my glass and the check. Thanks again, I hope to see you soon.” Then he smiled and left.

Beth stared after him. Michael seemed like a pleasant enough guy, handsome, just the right amount of nerdy, but she could just tell something was missing. He seemed deeply sad.

Beth wondered. It had been a long time since she felt an attraction like this and it had certainly been a long time since her last date. Maybe — oh, forget it, she thought. She had to focus on her menus. After all, it was tourist season and you never knew when a food critic might stop by. She needed to focus. No out-of-towners for her, especially not ones with history ... no matter how sexy.

Beth came to work the next morning feeling a little distracted. Seeing Michael the night before had caused a flood of memories for her, and not all of them were pleasant. High school had been tough; being in the ‘in crowd’ was costly. And for Beth, being ‘in’ was really not being in. Being on the basketball team meant she got invited to all the parties and was included in things she otherwise might not have been, but she always felt out of place. Basically, her height had been both a blessing and burden in high school. Being able to play basketball was the obvious blessing, the burden really was the taunting. And guys like Michael’s brother Jesse, and his football goons, were the ones who made life just a little more difficult. That eased up once her sister and Jesse started dating. But Beth never understood what Jenny saw in him.

Things had changed a lot since high school. Beth didn't always know she wanted to be a chef. In fact, she had tried to convince herself to become a doctor, but after her parents had passed away, she picked up cooking with her grandmother. Her older sister was too busy out with the ‘in crowd’ but Beth stuck around and helped out. As her grandmother continued to age, Beth began taking over the cooking at home. Her grandmother was always an excellent cook. It was one of the reasons Beth loved the holidays so much. Her grandmother and she spent many Friday nights and Sundays in the kitchen just baking and experimenting with new recipes. And when Beth had decided she wanted to go to culinary school instead of studying medicine or something ‘practical,’ her grandmother had supported her through it.

Fortunately, the university Beth attended in Rhode Island had not only an excellent culinary program, but it also had a women's basketball team. When she graduated, she managed to get out and work at some of the top restaurants in both Providence and Boston, but a few years ago she finally decided she wanted more. She wanted something of her own and she wanted to put down roots somewhere. Boston was too expensive and Providence had never felt like home.

Beth came back to Gray Harbor before her youngest sibling headed off to college. A grand old home near the Gray Harbor Lighthouse had been in bad repair and eventually made it to the auction block. Beth had saved some money and decided to bid on it. Her grandmother pitched in, too.

The original property also had a small guesthouse, which Beth now made her home. She lived with her little sister Lisa and with her grandmother, and they had of frequent visits from her brother, Bob. After extensive renovations, three years ago the buildings were completed. Now the Warren Inn and Tavern, named for the former homeowners, had become a hit not only with tourists but also with locals. Beth had a restaurant that served dinner each night and did a special brunch on Sundays for the after-church crowd.

The tavern offered a more limited selection than the Inn's restaurant but it became a popular place for locals to have burgers and beers and meet out-of-towners while watching a ball game. She looked around and smiled at what was around her now. She could hardly believe it. When she was a child, her family had struggled to put any food on the table and now here she was, feeding others oysters, caviar, Angus beef, and lobster. Thinking of where she had come from, and where she was now, made her smile. What made her even happier was that her little sister Lisa had decided to follow in her footsteps to become a chef. In fact, Lisa would be Beth’s Sous Chef this summer. It took a little soul searching for Lisa to set her mind on the culinary arts, but Beth was excited that she had and that made Beth even prouder that Lisa was now attending the prestigious Johnson and Whales after making some tough decisions.

Beth went to the kitchen and took a quick inventory of what they had and what they would need before Lisa came in. There was a bicycle tour group arriving tomorrow and she wanted to be ready for them. Lisa had stumbled upon their biking/culinary tours online and reached out to them. If things went well this weekend, the Inn would host them four times this summer, as well as accommodate them for some fall trips. This would really help boost the Inn’s business and help make it a tourist destination!

She was happy about all the success she had achieved but she felt like some things were passing her by in life. She was always so busy and dating was tough. She was always cooking on weekends and her restaurant was one of the hottest date spots in town. It was always awkward for someone to bring her there and then learn she was the owner. Not a big deal to her, but often men were uncomfortable with her success, and with the knowledge that there was no chance she'd pick up and leave for them. The only men she seemed to meet who didn't care about that weren't exactly what she was looking for. She wanted someone who lived a life beyond Gray Harbor. Gray Harbor was a great place, but for Beth it had taken leaving for her to realize just how great. Speaking of leaving, she was wondering where Michael was off to and what he had been up to for all these years.

The next morning, she couldn't help herself. When she got to the Inn, she called her brother Bob, who was undoubtedly her best friend and closest confidant.

“Hey Beth! Do you have any idea what time it is?” said Bob.

“Oh, come on, Bobby, it’s only seven,” said Beth.

“Okay, okay. So what’s up?”

“Michael Malone came in last night ... I barely recognized him.”

“Mmmhmm. Now I’m awake. Do tell?” said Bob.

“Not much to tell. Good taste in food, looks good in glasses.” She began to feel oddly turned on just thinking about him.

“I heard Mr. Malone is sick, I bet that’s why he’s back in town,” said Bob.

How terrible, thought Beth. That explained Michael’s sullen demeanor at the bar last night, she thought.

“What exactly does he do that he could take leave like this?” asked Beth.

“Well, apparently he’s some big time executive in New York. But why are you so interested, anyway? Wait a second. You have the hots for him!”

“NO! No, I do not. He’s not someone I’d ever be involved with. I mean, for one he’s just passing through, two, he’s not even interested, and three, the Malones aren’t exactly my favorite people,” said Beth, trying to convince herself.

“Oh, please! Excuses. You can’t blame the guy for his brother’s actions. And what’s wrong with a little fling here and there? You could stand to get laid!”

“Bob!” said Beth in shock.

“What! Oh, come on, don’t tell me you weren’t thinking it, too!”

She didn’t want to admit it but she was thinking it. Michael was just passing through, not someone who she should get involved with. Not that he had indicated any strong interest anyway. Even Bob admitted that Michael was quite handsome. But a handsome face doesn’t always lead to a relationship ... it usually leads to heartache. After she and Bob hung up, Beth sat there in the kitchen, thinking about the night before. She was so deep in thought she didn’t even notice her sister Lisa walk in.

"Hello, McFly, earth to Beth," Lisa said loudly, referencing one of Beth’s favorite old movies from the eighties.

Beth snapped out of it. "Oh, hey there, sis! You ready to discuss the menu for the week?"

"Totally!" Lisa said.

Beth smiled. She loved the twenty-four-year-old’s enthusiasm. Beth felt like having Lisa around just energized her, and it would certainly take her mind off Michael. She would be sad to see Lisa go back to school again in the fall. But was hoping that after graduating, Lisa would consider being Beth’s partner in the business. Lisa had started off her pursuing business but much like Beth decided her true path was to cook and was back in school.

"So, here's what I am thinking; six of the cyclists are vegetarians, so a zucchini lentil pie could be an option. It would be like shepherd's pie but vegetarian and extra delicious, and I was thinking for sides we can do grilled asparagus, herb salad, and that delicious truffle vinaigrette you make. What do you think?"

Beth smiled. "That sounds amazing. Let's test it out this morning, and if they like it, let's add it to the fall/winter menu. It's a little hearty but I think that with all their biking, they’ll work up an appetite for it."

Lisa looked like she was slightly disappointed but perked up and said, "I also thought of something lighter that I think could be a great appetizer or even an entree: bay scallops, frisée, grapefruit, and I’m thinking we add sherry? I read up on that but I’ve never really had sherry, so I’m not sure?"

Beth exclaimed, "Now, that’s a great idea! I like it, let's add that to the overall menu for the week, as well. I was also thinking some halibut would be good. We can herb baste it and then make a little crab and spinach ravioli and add a lobster cream on that."

Lisa nodded with enthusiasm. It wasn’t often that someone so young in their culinary career got to come up with new menu items like she did at the Warren.

"Great, well, why don't you get started on the prep and I’ll head over to Malone's Market and see if they have enough for us."

"I can go to Malone’s if you like, Beth?" Lisa offered.

"No, that's all right. I really want you to get started on the scallop recipe and the lentil pie. Also, make sure the staff is ready for tonight’s menu, we'll use the one I wrote up last night for our specials," said Beth.

She noticed her sister's disappointment and wondered what was at Malone's Market that was interest for her. Maybe it was just the thrill of fresh ingredients. That's always what did it for Beth. She smiled and headed out of the kitchen and into her office. She was going to make a list and head to Malone's for some of the supplies she needed. She loved Malone's for her seafood, she just wished they would finish up so she wouldn't have to go across town to Cinzano's Market. As a chain, Cinzano's didn’t have access to all of the local fisherman like Malone’s did. But she had to admit if it weren't for the fish, she probably wouldn't do business with Malone's, not with how things there were lately.

Michael was back at Malone's Market by six that morning. He decided that whether his father liked it or not, he was going to help the family any way he could. By noon, he had everything sorted and ready for review and eventually to be color-coded and filed. Doing this was cathartic and it helped him take two things off his mind: his father and Beth. Even though he and Beth didn't interact for a long period of time last night, and despite the fact she wasn't exactly his “type,” he couldn't fight his attraction for her, and he didn't really know what he wanted to do about that.

So for the time being, his plan was to ignore those feelings and focus on the tasks at hand. He was ready to finally get to the bottom of the family's troubles and get them a little more organized, and he didn't want to stray from that mission. He had around two and half weeks left here and then it was back to his own trouble. It's funny, it was only Tuesday but it felt like he had been here forever. Not once since he’d been here had he received a call or even an email from work. And although he was on vacation, his office wasn't exactly the kind of place that respected people's personal time or vacation schedules. You had to be all in all the time … unless you were out. And by out, Michael thought, he meant finished with the company, as in fired, or, worse yet, demoted. That was something Michael couldn’t accept. Michael pushed those thoughts out of his mind and he went to the first stack, bills. He figured he'd get that started and make some spreadsheets and then get them organized and filed away.

Just as he was looking up from the computer, he noticed Annie had popped in. Her long brown hair was pulled back and her blue eyes looked serious. She was wearing her usual Malone’s Market t-shirt and jeans.

"Hey, little brother, how goes it?" said Annie.

Michael knew she wanted to talk about their father, but he wasn't really in the mood. So he responded and said, "Going all right, I’m just about to tackle the bills."

She nodded, sensing that it wasn’t up for discussion, and asked, "What time did you get in? I drove up a little before eight and your car was already here? What are you trying to do — make me look bad?" she smiled.

"No, I just wanted to get an early start and tackle some of the more tedious work before anything more fun could pop up."

By fun, he meant stressful. Annie grasped his meaning and smiled again.

"So, Mom isn't here today. She went to run some errands and spend a little extra time with Dad. Any chance we can get some lunch and then maybe you can help me out on the floor today? Tuesday can sometimes be a busy day here and I need all the help I can get."

Michael looked down at his dress khakis and his button-down shirt and expensive Italian loafers. Not exactly appropriate for being a fish-monger for the day. Annie noticed that he was looking down at his outfit.

She rolled her eyes. "Relax, Mr. Fancy Pants, I just want you to ring people up, maybe work the cheese counter? Think you can handle that?"

"Aye Aye, Captain," Michael said sarcastically, while giving Annie a military salute. He smiled at her visible annoyance.

"All right, all right, let's get some food. I brought you a sandwich because I figured you wouldn't have one. I made the kids PB and J today so I made us some too."

Michael realized in the four days he had been back he had not yet seen the kids or Tom. "How are the kids? And Tom? Maybe I could, I don't know, come over one night and play. Or better yet, why don't I babysit one night so you and Tom can have a night out? "