CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

Jake drove the Civic north along Alternate Route 98, taking in the scenic view of Mobile Bay on their way to Fairhope. The sun was high in the sky, reflecting on Mobile Bay, making the water look like shimmering diamonds.

Amanda’s eyes had closed as she leaned against the passenger window to sleep. He didn’t blame her. After getting up so early, then the scare with Randall at Zephyr Land, he was ready for a nap too.

Yet another reason to not try to go all the way back to Georgia tonight. Besides, it was only Friday. They didn’t have to return to work until Monday. May as well enjoy some of the local culture.

He rolled down his window and let the salt-smelling breeze blow through his hair and keep him awake.

How had that record button on Amanda’s cell been pushed?

She claimed ghosts. Now she claimed he might be able to talk to his mother? All his life, he’d presumed death was final. But to Amanda, it was just a crossing over to another place. A place where communication might still be possible.

Shaking his head, he kept driving. Amanda defied all logic, for certain. But as he glanced over at her beautiful face, those long locks draped across her shoulders, he had to face facts. It didn’t matter if she was crazy as ever. She was his. They’d survived this together. Could work well together.

He reached the Fairhope town limits. Immediately the scenery shifted to dark-red barns, bright-green tractors, and large fields of cotton. The way of the land.

Amanda adjusted her position. “Where are we?” she mumbled.

“Fairhope. You hungry?”

“Starved.”

“Good. I’ve got a place picked out for us.”

* * *

Panini Pete’s looked more like an elegant greenhouse than a place that would wind up on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. It wasn’t a dive at all. Sage-green French doors were between each room. Giant ferns hung from the ceiling rails, with some geraniums added in for color.

Jake dug into his order of beignets. Scrumptious. “Yours good?”

Amanda nodded, her eyes gleaming as she looked around at the nature décor. “Best panini ever.”

His cell beeped. He wiped the powdered sugar off his hands and then checked the screen. A message from the head of his department, saying the notes he’d sent in on his position paper were great. That he could meet with the department head on Monday to discuss the upcoming promotion.

Jake smiled, sharing the news with Amanda.

“Congratulations!”

“I know you’ll get your apprenticeship too,” he said. “You’re just as stubborn as me when it comes to following your dream.”

She blushed again. “Let’s hope so.”