Chapter 36 – Dinner Party

Joe Penhale was true to his word for he was right on the dot, time wise. He was all smiles as he ushered Molly and me into his police vehicle. "Is this alright?" I asked. "In a Police vehicle?"

"Off duty," he said, "but I am sorta always on duty – the Law never sleeps!" He glanced into the back area. "You buckled up back there?"

Molly answered brightly. "Oh yes. Mum never lets me go anywhere in an auto unless I have my seat harness on."

"Good girl," Joe said approvingly. He turned to look at me. "And I didn't say what a lovely… uhm… dress you are wearing."

"Thank you." I'd dithered too long over what to wear. Joe had said the place was nice, so I rejected trousers, finally settling on a dark blue print dress, with a belt, and a cream cardi hung over my shoulders. I looked him up and down. "Your police uniform is grand."

He blinked. "Dress uniform," he said, and then he shrugged. "I don't have a suit."

"Oh, well maybe you should have one? For when you really are off duty?"

"Oh, yeah. Sure. That would be… I mean I don't have much occasion to go to di… dinner… that much… but…" he said haltingly.

"I could help you look for one. I hear Truro has some good menswear shops."

Joe smiled at me. "That would be… uhm…"

"Nice?" I finished for him.

He blinked rapidly. "Yes, nice. Good. Right."

I tapped my watch. "You said we had a reservation?"

"Yes, we do." He put his hands on the controls and started the vehicle.

"Mum? Can we hurry? I'm awful thirsty," Molly piped up from the back.

With a grin Joe flipped a switch and the siren started blaring and the blue lights flashing. "I don't usually run the lights…" he laughed as the engine roared as we drove out of the village.

"How far?" I asked.

"About ten minutes, unless there's sheep on the road."

Yes, the sheep; traffic, the locals called them. It was a small village and I'd even met the shepherd at the Co-op. The man had apologized for our lambie introduction to Portwenn. So the villagers tended to be friendly, all of them curious about the new Head at the school. No doubt comparing me to the old one, Louisa Ellingham. Those were very large shoes to fill, but so far I've done my best, and I think I was adequate, if not sterling. Sometimes one of the teachers would slip, and mutter, "When Mrs. Ellingham ran the school, she'd…" – that sort of thing.

As we drove away from the village, Joe was telling tales about various adventures he's had as a policeman. After the third whopper, I laid my hand on his arm, and he quit talking. "Joe, you don't have to… uhm, give me a big buildup."

His face fell. "But, I was only… getting acquainted."

"Yes, and that's fine, but I don't need to hear your entire cop career in the next few minutes, do I?"

His eyes were wide. "Okay."

"Just… enjoy the moment. That good?"

He nodded. "Right."

I patted his arm. "Good. You don't have to try so hard."

I saw him turn and look at me open-mouthed.

"I mean it, Joe."

"Yes, uhm, right… I'll try not to be so…"

"Nervous?"

He blew out a shaky breath and turn to face forward. "Yes."

Soon enough buildings emerged on the moor, one of the many nearby villages, and the largest place had a sign. Ships Watch, read the brightly lit sign over the main door of a half-timbered two-story building. "Look's lovely," I told Joe when he helped me climb out of the Bedford.

"Steady there," Joe cautioned me. "Don't want anyone to say that Joe Penhale took Clair and Molly Davey to dinner and let Clair fall flat on her face!" he guffawed.

Molly had already jumped out of the back, and I noticed she was walking stiffly. I bent down to look at her face, which looked flushed. "Everything alright, sweetheart?"

She shrugged. "I guess. My leg might be a little sore though."

"Sore? In what way?"

"Just… oh, I dunnoh. Right one. Ankle really; and my foot."

That was the foot she'd hurt; down at the Platt. With the skirt she was wearing, as well as tights it'd be hard to get a look in public. "Show me." I reached out to touch her leg, but she twitched away.

She protested, "M – O – M! Gawd. Not here!"

"We'd better go in," Joe prompted us. "Don't wanna be late, do we?"

I glanced up at him, then stood up. "Come on Molly." She took my hand as Joe took my elbow, guiding us to the doorway.

The restaurant was nice inside. High ceilings, modern furnishings, a brilliantly polished blonde floor reflected pastel blue walls, in the glow of modern overhead fixtures. There were maybe two dozen tables for four, each nicely decorated with white table cloths, and dark blue china. There weren't many people here, yet, other than two older couples in the back, plus a group of five; and the five I knew – Dr. and Mrs. Ellingham, and their son, seated with Morwenna Newcross, and Al Large.

"Doc! Louiser! Morwenner! Al! HELLO!" Joe shouted. "And James Henry as well!"

I felt my face burn with a full blush when they all turned to stare at us.

Author's Note: Thanks to a sharp-eyed reader the restaraunt is now named 'Ships Watch.' Oops. I'd better reread previous chapters more closely!