Over the next two weeks Faith visited Vicky at the museum and also became friends with the boutique owner, Sandy Gutierrez. When Faith discovered that Vicky and Sandy were friends, she invited them both to dinner. After inquiring about the best seafood restaurant from Gabby, she was told that Seafood Heaven at the end of Ocean Boulevard, past the marina, served outstanding Italian and American cuisine. Gabby added without enthusiasm, "Even though Leonardo Constanzo owns it."
Faith's curiosity was piqued. "You're related, aren't you?"
Gabby grinned. "I hear you've been visiting Mama Pink's Diner, the gossip factory."
Faith felt terrible because Gabby's assessment was correct. Sheepishly, she replied, "I'm sorry. I was being nosy."
Gabby waved her apology aside. "Gossip that's not vicious is entertaining. Yep, me and Leonardo go way back. He was married to my husband's second cousin, Loretta. He and I had a falling out years ago, but it would be petty of me to downgrade his restaurant when it's one of the finest around."
Although curious, Faith didn't broach the reason for the falling out, and Gabby didn't offer an explanation.
A couple of days later Faith picked Vicky up at the museum and followed her directions to Sandy's house on Hope Hill, behind Main Street. Her home was a tiny, adorable cottage surrounded by a white picket fence. Pink bougainvillea cascaded down porch rails and sea-lavender bordered the walkway to the porch steps, scenting the air with heady perfumes. On both sides of a bright red door, huge pots of strawberries spilled over their containers and mingled their fragrance with the other flower essences.
Sandy greeted the women with hugs and ushered them into a cottage as lovely inside, as out. Cherry red, pink, and lime green floral chairs faced a matching sofa, with a lime green oval rug spread between them on the shiny redwood floor. The colors were so cheery they could make anyone smile.
Immediately, Sandy invited Faith to view the rest of her home, which was just as colorful and cheerful as the living room. She winked at Faith, "Okay. Are you ready for my million dollar view?"
"I can't wait." Faith followed her new friend outside through the kitchen door and started ascending stairs to a roof deck. As soon as she glimpsed the view, she gasped. The sea and sky melded into one and she could see forever. So magnificent was the sight that she remained poised halfway up.
Behind her Sandy laughed. "Honey, I know it's wonderful, but you haven't even reached the top yet."
Faith quickly apologized and climbed the remaining stairs. Moving to the railing she gazed from north to south, from one jutting peninsula to the other, and then to the sea and beach between. She moved her gaze inland to Ocean Boulevard with its beautiful homes on either side of the street, and the marina at the end. Soon they would be dining at the restaurant hidden beyond the marina. She returned her gaze to Ocean Boulevard and followed the road until it reached Main Street, with Hope Bed & Breakfast on the northern corner. Beyond the B & B's private beach the sand met up with scattered boulders, and then the forested peninsula owned by Gabby. Faith searched for any glimpse of Stone House, but couldn't see it through the trees.
Dinner at Seafood Heaven was exquisite and possibly the best Faith had ever eaten. The restaurant's atmosphere was warm and inviting with large murals of seascapes depicting every aspect of ocean life, from dark storms whipping up frothy waves, to quiet beaches on sun drenched days. There were also depictions of fishermen hauling in bulging nets with the day's catch, and surfers riding huge waves. Above their table was a smaller mural of a lone island of waving palms set amidst shimmering blue water.
Faith couldn't remember a time since her family's deaths that she had enjoyed dining with friends. She listened to Sandy and Vicky joke about the latest debacle in town—Mama Pink tossing a rebellious teen out of her diner for loud and profane language, and then loudly lecturing everyone about common decency.
At the end of their meal when their waiter, a clean-cut young man with a winning smile who had been introduced as Leo's grandson, Noah, brought the check, Sandy and Vicky both tried to grab it, but Faith held it tightly. "No way. I invited you to dinner. This is my treat. I want–"
She was interrupted by a masculine voice behind her. "Actually, it's my treat." She turned to see Mr. Constanzo walking toward their table. He lifted the tab from her hand and grinned, and both Sandy and Vicky greeted him cheerily. Faith started to protest his generosity, but Vicky said, "It's no use. Leo has a Santa Claus complex."
Faith graciously capitulated and Mr. Constanzo joined them. And when she expressed how much she'd enjoyed the meal and how great Noah was, he grinned. "Thank you. I'm very proud of my grandson. He could be running around with friends, but he chooses to work here. Sometimes I have to make him leave."
Vicky interjected, "Hmm. I wonder where he gets his work ethic?"
Leo laughed, glanced at Faith, and said, "I don't have a wine glass, but how about a toast to Faith, a woman who has charmed us with her quiet manner and sweet disposition."
Vicky lifted her half empty wine glass. "I second that."
Sandy lifted her empty one and chinked it to Vicky's. "And I third it."