by Maria Geraci
“They say the wife is always the last to know.” She pressed a hand against Mimi’s forearm. “You just keep telling yourself whatever you need to get through this thing. Just wanted you to know that the Gray Flamingos aren’t taking sides. Well, maybe a few of us are. Even though that man of yours is one long delicious drink of water, I’m definitely on Team Mimi.”
Team Mimi?
“Gee, thanks,” Mimi muttered.
“Got to go!” Betty Jean said. She took off with more energy than you’d expect from a seventy-something-year-old woman.
“Good grief,” Mimi said turning back to Frida. “I’m almost afraid to say it, but I think gossip agrees with Betty Jean.”
“Like I said, this is a small town and like it or not, you and Zeke are now a power couple. Expect a lot more of this until you two get back together.”
“Right.” Until they got back together.
“So, are you here for lunch?” Frida asked.
Mimi nodded. “I’m meeting Allie to discuss wedding plans.”
“Looks like she’s here.” Frida pointed out the tall, leggy brunette walking through the door.
Allie scurried over to Mimi and gave her a swift hug. “Oh my God, I just got an earful from Betty Jean in the parking lot.” She gave Mimi a thorough inspection. “Are you all right?”
“I’m perfectly fine.”
“Well, I’m not. Plus, I’m starving.” She smiled at Frida. “Can I have my usual, please?”
When she wasn’t at the Whispering Bay Gazette, Allie worked part-time for Frida at The Bistro. According to Allie, the small town paper was just beginning to turn a profit, the result of a lot of hard work done by Allie and Roger. But Mimi knew that profit wasn’t enough to allow Allie to work exclusively at the paper. Working for Frida helped Allie make ends meet. So did freelancing for Florida! magazine.
“I’ll have my usual, too,” Mimi said.
Frida gave them a sharp salute. “Coming right up.”
The usual for Allie was the tuna melt. For Mimi, it was Frida’s turkey and Swiss on rye. Although to be honest, Mimi didn’t have much of an appetite at the moment. They sat at a table along the wall featuring the big ocean mural that Frida’s husband, Ed, a locally renowned artist, had painted. The mural was a talking point for The Bistro. It was a wall-to-wall depiction of Florida sea life, starring dolphins and manatees and flying swordfish. The tourists loved it. They also loved snapping pictures of it while waiting for their cappuccinos to brew. Those photos inevitably ended up on people’s Facebook walls. It was modern day word of mouth and the best sort of advertising you could get.
Allie let out a deep sigh. “I went to see Zeke last night. After I heard about the separation while I was in line at the Piggly Wiggly.”
Mimi cringed. The grocery store line was definitely not the place she’d wanted her sister-in-law to hear that kind of news.
“I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you in person. Zeke and I were going to tell the kids first, but, I don’t know, it all just came out at the city council meeting. Or rather, Zeke blurted it out.”
“That doesn’t sound like Zeke.”
“You’re right. It doesn’t.” Mimi rubbed her wedding band, which was securely back on her ring finger this morning. “I think he noticed I took off my wedding band and it must have set him off.”
Allie’s eyes widened. “You took off your wedding band?”
“To do the dishes. Yesterday was crazy. It was my first city council meeting and I was running around the house trying to get ready. I just forgot to put it back on.”
“And you think that’s why Zeke told everyone you were separated?”
Mimi shrugged. “I have no idea. It’s just a theory. But, regardless of why he told everyone, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s true. You know we’ve been going to counseling, but it’s not working. We just need some time apart to think.”
It had been over a year since Allie had moved back to Whispering Bay for keeps and discovered through Claire that Mimi and Zeke were going to marital counseling. Mimi had high hopes in those first few months, but instead of their relationship progressing, it had deteriorated to the point that they seemed more like polite strangers than husband and wife.
“I think being apart is going to make it all worse,” Allie said. Although she was thirty-one years old, she looked about thirteen right now. The exact age when Mimi had first met her sister-in-law. She loved Allie and she hated to see her upset.
“This sucks,” Mimi said. “Today was supposed to be about planning your wedding. Not hashing over my problems with Zeke.”
The little restaurant suddenly went quiet.
Mimi felt the tiny hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She turned in her seat to find Zeke standing by the door. He eyed the dining area and made a swift beeline toward them. “Mind if I crash your lunch?” he asked in a casually deceptive voice. As if either of them would say no.
Her heart began doing that erratic thing again. Going way too fast. Or maybe it was skipping a beat. At the city council meeting she’d chalked it up to Zeke’s presence, but it wasn’t normal to feel this way. In the beginning of a relationship, yes. But after eighteen years together? It must be a reaction to all the stress going on in her life. Yes, that was it. Seeing Zeke under these new conditions was definitely stressful. She’d have to let Doc Morrison check her out. Maybe even do an EKG or something.
Zeke took a seat and conversation in the restaurant resumed, but it was obvious the entire place was watching them.
“So, we’re here to talk about Allie’s wedding. Right?” he said.
Before either Mimi or Allie could answer, Frida practically ran to the table to take Zeke’s order. Over the top of his head, Frida gave Allie a wide-eyed look as if to ask what’s going on? Allie just shook her head. She supposed she’d have to get used to this reaction. From now on, whenever she and Zeke were together, people would begin to wonder. Were they back together? Or not? Maybe she should put a sign on her back saying Still in Time Out!
Mimi waited till Zeke ordered and Frida had left the table. “Have you and Tom set a date yet?” she asked Allie.
“The second Saturday in June. Tom’s dad is going to marry us, but that’s about all we have nailed down.”
“You’re not getting married in the Church?” Zeke demanded. Tom’s daddy was a Methodist minister but Zeke and Allie had been raised Catholic.
“Tom’s divorced, so it probably wouldn’t be appropriate,” Allie said. “Plus, I’m kind of a lapsed Catholic, so—”
“You can get married anyway you want,” Mimi butt in. “It’s your wedding. Zeke and I are here to support whatever decision you and Tom make. Isn’t that right?” she said to Zeke.
His brow shot up. “Sure. Right.”
“Okay, so we have the ceremony taken care of. What about the time? And the dress? And the reception, and the flowers?” Mimi pulled a notepad from her leather tote. “There’s a lot to take care of and we have less than four months.”
“We don’t want anything big,” Allie said. “Just family and close friends. Maybe we could get married around noon, and then do a simple lunch in the church hall?”
“A simple lunch?” Zeke said. “That sounds cheap.”
“Not necessarily,” Mimi said.
Allie glanced between the two of them. “Did you know Zeke is insisting on paying for the wedding?” she asked Mimi. “Which, by the way, is completely unnecessary. Tom and I are adults. We can take care of our own wedding.”
Zeke sat back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. Mimi knew that stance. It was the universal impossible male gesture he had probably perfected by the age of three. Translation: It was his way or the highway. In this case, however, Mimi had to agree with him.
“Zeke and I put aside some of the money your grandmother left us specifically for this occasion,” Mimi explained.
“But that money should go to Claire or Cameron’s education fund,” Allie protested.
“Already taken care of,” Zeke said.
“How? No offense, but you’re a small town cop and Mimi is a stay-at-home mom. Well, she used to be, but as the editor of the Whispering Bay Gazette I happen to know the mayor’s salary is more of an honorarium. It will barely keep Mimi in pantyhose.”
“How, is none of your business, squirt,” Zeke said playfully.
Mimi felt a pang of nostalgia. Zeke hadn’t called Allie squirt since she was in high school. She knew from experience that their back and forth sibling banter, while somewhat charming, was going nowhere. But Mimi couldn’t deny how much Zeke loved his sister.
“Allie, Zeke and I would be honored to pay for your wedding. I know you’re my sister-in-law and I’m only four years older, but in a lot of ways I feel like a second mom to you. Please, let us do this. It will make us happy. I promise.”
Zeke briefly caught Mimi’s eye before adding, “The money you and Tom were going to use for the wedding could be put into a down payment for a house.” Tom currently rented a house near the gulf. It was cute, but Mimi knew Zeke put a lot of stock into owning over renting.
Allie blew out a frustrated breath. “All right. Let me talk to Tom. I’m sure we can work something out.” Her voice suddenly turned pensive. “There’s just one more detail I need to get set today.” She smiled at Mimi. “Will you be my maid of honor? Or rather, matron of honor?”
Mimi leaned across the table to give Allie a tight hug. “Of course! I thought you’d never ask.”
Frida brought them their lunch. Zeke took his in a takeout bag and stood to leave. “Now that we’ve settled that, I need to get back to work.” His gaze rested on Mimi. “Cameron messaged me that you’re going to the shelter to pick out a dog this Saturday.”
Allie perked up. “You’re getting a dog? What kind?”
“A little one,” Mimi said. “One that doesn’t shed and is already house-broken.”
“We’ll see,” Zeke said. “The important thing is that he make a good watch dog.”
He? “Sure, right. A good watch dog.” Mimi expected him to take off, but he lingered, as if anticipating something more. Then she realized he was waiting for her to formally ask him to join them. “Want to come along? I thought Saturday would be a good day. You’re off work and…the kids are home from school so we can dedicate the entire day to easing her into our routine at home. I mean, if you want to go, that is.”
“The shelter opens up at nine. I’ll meet you at a quarter till in the parking lot.”
How weird was it that she was making a “date” to meet her husband?
Zeke’s police radio went off, causing several heads to turn their way. He looked at the radio, then clicked a few buttons. “Got to go. Cindy needs me back at the station.”
At the mention of Cindy’s name, the occupants at the next table blatantly turned to stare. It was Louise Brinkley and her daughter-in-law, Caitlin. Louise was a member of the Gray Flamingos and Caitlin’s daughter Becky went to school with Cameron.
Great. Two of Whispering Bay’s biggest nosey bodies. This would certainly add fuel to the Cindy rumors. But there was nothing she could do about that. Eventually, the whole Mimi and Zeke are separated story would run its course and Whispering Bay would find something else to gossip about. She just had to ride it out till then. Mimi smiled sweetly and waved at them. Both women looked taken aback, but waved in return.
Zeke picked up his bagged lunch and was about to leave when something at the table caught his attention. Mimi followed his gaze all the way to her left hand.
“You’re wearing your ring,” he blurted.
“And?”
“And you weren’t wearing it yesterday.”
“Because I was washing dishes and I took it off and forgot to put it back on. I’ve been known to do that on occasion.”
He blinked. “You forgot to put on your wedding ring?”
She could practically see the cogs in his head turning now. From Zeke’s point of view it did seem awfully…unlike her. Had she subconsciously not worn her ring on purpose in the hope that Zeke would find out? She’d wanted Zeke to get upset. To fight for their marriage. Well, she’d gotten her wish. About the upset part, that is. Last night, she’d blamed Zeke for letting their separation out of the bag, but it looked as if Mimi might have to share some of the blame for that after all.
The mayor of Whispering Bay’s office was inside the town’s small (but charmingly quaint) municipal building. Located on the gulf, it was painted light yellow and had a terra cotta tile roof, allowing it to blend in with the rest of the seaside community.
Mimi had been inside this building more times than she could count. But she’d never been here in an official capacity. Technically (or very loosely, depending on how you viewed it), this building was now her ship. And she was its captain.
She walked around the spacious corner room with the shiny oak floors and the large bay window overlooking the beach. It was still hard to believe that this was her desk in her office. Especially since it still reeked of Bruce Bailey’s stinky cigars.
She opened a window and made a mental note on how to spruce up the place. Make it more “her.” A few pictures of the kids, maybe some plants. The walls were currently a drab beige color. Maybe a nice green or a sky blue would perk it up, too.
It felt like today was her first real day as mayor and she wanted to do a good job. Which meant she needed to acclimate herself to the paperwork and the computer, as well as go over a list of her expected duties. One of those duties included open office hours in which she would make herself available to the good people of Whispering Bay. Bruce had conducted business Monday through Friday from noon till two p.m., but Mimi wanted a more flexible schedule. With the kids in school, she could pretty much be here most of the day. She’d taken the morning to do some personal errands but she was now ready to hit the ground running.
She poked her head out the office door. Doreen, the receptionist, manned the lobby desk. Her job was to answer phones, make appointments, and steer people in the right direction. On Bruce’s advice, Mimi had entered the building through the back door. “It’s the professional way to do things,” he’d told her.
“Any calls for me?” Mimi asked Doreen.
Doreen pushed her reading glasses on top of her head. “Let’s see, there’s this stack,” she said, pointing to a large pile of paper slips. “Those are the people who want you to know that they’re on your side.” She pointed to another, even larger stack. “This pile is the people who aren’t taking sides, but if push comes to shove, they’re on ‘Team Mimi.’” She made finger air quotes here.
Mimi laughed nervously.
Doreen just stared back.
“Sorry about that,” Mimi said quickly. “Um, is there any actual city business?”
Doreen’s gaze settled on a disturbingly large pile off to the side. “These are the people who need something from the mayor.”
It took Mimi a few seconds to realize that she was referring to her. “Wow. Already, huh?”
Doreen pulled her reading glasses back in place and opened up her laptop.
Okay. So she wasn’t a big talker. Mimi got that. She scooped all three piles off Doreen’s desk. “Thanks again for everything.”
Doreen grunted in reply.
Mimi carried the piles of paper into her office, then dumped them onto her desk. She picked up a random slip of paper. It was a request from Dale Simmons from the Rotary Club to join them for their monthly lunch next week. She checked her calendar and wrote down the place and time. Now that she was mayor, she should probably look into joining a few civic organizations. Bruce belonged to nearly every club in and around town, including some in nearby Panama City. It was probably expected that she should do the same thing, too.
The next paper was a message from Mrs. Tomlinski, her old retired piano teacher and a member of the Gray Flamingos. It read: Hang in there! Divorce isn’t the end of the world. I should know, I’ve been through it fo
ur times! PS Have you tried Internet dating? That’s how I met husbands number three and four!
Good grief. No wonder Doreen hadn’t cracked a smile. If Mimi had been subjected to taking down all these personal messages she’d be in a bad mood, too.
She was about to delve into another message when her cell phone went off. She glanced at the caller ID. Seriously? This was call number seven from her mother. If she didn’t take it, though, Momma would just keep calling back.
“Hi, Momma.” She turned her chair to face the water. Take a deep breath. Stay calm.
“Is it true?” her mother demanded. “Did you and Zeke have lunch at The Bistro today?”
“That was less than thirty minutes ago. How on earth—”
“I heard he left when his lover called him back to police headquarters.”
“Momma, I have to go. I have…someone in the office.”
“No you don’t.”
“What do you mean? Doug Wentworth the new city manager is looking at me right now.”
“Really? Because I don’t see anyone in your office except me.”
Mimi swirled in her chair to find her mother standing in the doorway. Busted. She laid down her phone and tried for a confused look. “I could have sworn he was here just a second ago.”
Momma did not look amused. “Is it true? Is Zeke having an affair with that Cindy creature with all the hair?”
“What do you mean with all the hair?”
“She’s got those terrible looking extensions!”
Cindy had extensions? Mimi had never noticed. Of course, it had probably been months since she’d last seen Cindy. She used to go by police headquarters all the time to drop off cookies or a pie or to have lunch with Zeke, but she hadn’t done that in ages.
“Extensions and a fake tan,” Momma added. “Plus, she’s lost weight! You know what that means.”
“She’s eating better?”
“It means she’s seeing someone. Your husband, to be exact.”
Mimi resisted the urge to laugh. The idea of Cindy and Zeke…it was beyond ludicrous! But Betty Jean had just told her the exact same thing less than an hour ago.
