Page 9 of Loving Kai

He smiled. “Nope. How come he’s never come in here?”

“He has.”

“Right.”

“You’re usually busy or mad at me about something, so I’ve never had the opportunity to introduce you.”

“Maggie, I’m beginning to see that I’ve been a bit of an asshole to you.”

She laughed. “A bit?”

He adjusted his ball cap. “Are we done hanging out in the bathroom hallway?”

She put a hand on his arm. “Yes, we’re done. Just quit freaking me out with non-asshole Abe.”

“I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”

“Good.”

They returned to the kitchen. “Would my offering to let you use my truck until you get something freak you out?”

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah. I think I am.” He thought about it. “Yes. I’m serious. I’ve got my bike. It’s spring.”

“Except for the giant storm heading our way.”

“Well, after the storm, I guess.”

“You’d trust me with your truck.”

“It’s just a truck. It’s insured. I trust you with it.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Fair enough.”

Some customers walked in, and she held up a hand. “I know. Go do my job.”

“Please.”

“Wow. I’m a little bit scared right now.”

At 7:00, they closed the restaurant and spent thirty minutes closing it down for the night. Most of the work was already done, so it didn’t take long. After Abe locked up, they both went to his truck.

“I just need to swing by the bank. Then I’ll take you home.”

“You live in the other direction, right?”

“Yeah. It’s fine. How far out are you?”

“Four miles. I’m in the Hidden Cove Mobile Home Park.”

“Yeah, I don’t know where that is.”

“Go to the bank, then I’ll give you directions. It’s next to the river.”

Abe drove to the bank and dropped the money off in the night deposit box, then he headed out of town toward Maggie’s house. She lived in an older mobile home park that was well-maintained, with small yards and ample space between homes. She directed him through several turns onto narrow streets with cutesy names like Frog Lane and Minnow Street. The neighborhood backed up to the river, and her mobile was on the last row. Her small backyard was a hundred feet from the Smith River.