Chapter 6: The Bay Club

SEPTEMBER 2, 1979

NEWPORT BEACH, CA

Kirsten sighed as she sat down behind the counter at the front of the Balboa Bay Club restaurant where she worked as a hostess. It seemed like the last of the people going in for a late lunch had been seated. Work today had been a bit more hectic than usual, considering it was the Sunday before Labor Day. And on top of that, she had just gotten back from Hawaii, so she wasn't quite back into the working mode yet.

Hawaii had turned out to be a fabulous vacation. The Nichol family had stayed at the Kaanapali Resort on Maui. It had been a relaxing five days filled with tanning by the pool and on the beach, spa treatments, snorkeling, and surfing. Kirsten had also managed to get in a little shopping as well during the trip. Katherine Nichol seemed to be staying away from alcohol more these days, which pleased Kirsten immensely. And it was so nice to feel like lately the dynamic of her family was good and she hoped that it continued into the school year.

Kirsten smiled warmly as Matt Dominic walked toward the counter. Her best friend's boyfriend worked as a valet at the club, and sometimes he would come and talk to her during his breaks if a lull was simultaneously occurring.

"Things slow outside?" Kirsten asked him.

"Yeah…plus I had a break, so I thought I'd say 'hi.' So, how was your trip to Hawaii?" Matt asked.

"It was really nice. I had a great time. I only wish we could have stayed longer, but you know my dad…can't take too many days off work…has to be working all the time," Kirsten told him.

Just then, the door of the restaurant swung open and in walked Caleb Nichol, with none other than Jimmy Cooper. Kirsten spotted them and was totally caught off guard. What are the two of them doing together? she wondered. I can't believe- well I guess I can believe my dad would do something like this…but how could he!

"Kiki! How's work going?" Caleb casually asked her.

"Um, fine, Dad," Kirsten managed to get out, her face still with an expression of total surprise. But she managed to continue, "Dad, you remember Matt Dominic, don't you."

"Yes, of course, Kiki…you remember, I occasionally do business with his father. How are you again, Matt," Caleb asked him.

"Fine Mr. Nichol, and yourself?" Matt answered and asked.

"Good," Caleb replied.

"And Matt and Jimmy, you guys were introduced, right?" Kirsten said, making sure everyone knew each other.

"Yeah, how are you man," Matt stated as he shook Jimmy's hand.

"Not too bad," Jimmy replied.

Before Matt and Jimmy could say anything else, Caleb started in again, "So, Kiki, since it looked like such a great day to sail, I decided to take James out with me. We just got back and thought that some lunch would be in order."

"Sounds great…I'll take you guys to a table with a nice view," Kirsten said. She rose from her chair and walked toward the table with Caleb and Jimmy following close behind them. After she seated them, she told them she had to get back to the front.

When she got back to the counter, Matt was there waiting for her. "So, Kirst, are you and the new boy an item, or something," Matt asked.

"No, no, we're just friends," Kirsten said. Well, I guess that's not exactly lying since we haven't even been on a date yet, she reasoned. She had no intention of discussing any possibility of it being an item with Matt, though. "Um, like a week ago, my father wanted me to have him over for dinner to thank him for being my escort at cotillion at the last minute. It turns out that they both liked sailing…I just didn't expect my dad to invite Jimmy to go sailing so soon…he didn't even tell me he was going to do that."

"Oh, okay, I gotcha," Matt said, not completely buying that there wasn't something going on. But he let it drop for now and changed the subject, "Oh, yeah, Kirst, you are working tomorrow at breakfast, right?" Matt asked.

"Yeah, why?" Kirsten said.

"Well, there's a party at Courtney's tomorrow for Labor Day…starts around noon…you know, some drinks, barbeque, surfing…so since you aren't working then, I figured you'd want to come…you should bring Jimmy, too. He seems like a cool guy," Matt told her.

"Sounds like fun! I'll definitely be there," Kirsten replied.

"Great!" Matt said. "Oh, yeah, and Kirsten, I wanted to apologize for you know, leaving you at your doorstep last week…it was just Taryn and Amber were messing around the horn…and I couldn't find your keys, and…"

"It's okay, Matt," Kirsten said, cutting him off. "I got in okay, don't worry. It was just a bad set of circumstances…next time I won't hide my keys so good…and thanks for making sure I got home in one piece."

"No problem…if it ever happens again, I'll actually get you in the house," Matt told her. He looked at his watch and said, "My break's over…I have to get back out there…see you tomorrow, okay."

"Yeah, see you then," Kirsten said. As Matt was walking back outside, Kirsten spotted Jimmy walking out of the bathroom. "Hey, Jimmy, come here for a sec," she called out to him.

When he reached her, she started again, "Hey, sorry that my dad dragged you along for this whole sailing thing…I mean you don't really even know him, and I promise I did not know he was going to do this or I would have tried to warn-"

"Kirsten, it's okay," Jimmy cut her off. "Believe, it or not, I actually had a good time, I promise."

"You aren't just saying that?" she asked him.

"No, really, I had a good time," Jimmy confirmed.

"Well, I'm glad…I would have envisioned it being a painful experience," Kirsten joked. "Hey Jimmy, Matt was telling me that there's a party at my friend Courtney's house for Labor Day tomorrow…it starts around noon…do you want to go?" she asked him.

"Sure, sounds like a good time," Jimmy replied.

"Oh, yeah, and do you surf at all…because I think we're all going to bring our boards," Kirsten stated.

"Yeah, I actually do…that'll be great…I haven't really had much of a chance to surf here yet…you know with all the unpacking from the move and stuff," Jimmy told her.

"Great, then I'll see you there tomorrow!" Kirsten said excitedly.

"Yeah, see you then," Jimmy told her. He turned and walked back toward the table that Caleb was sitting at.

Kirsten was growing increasingly excited about the party tomorrow, especially after Jimmy said he could come. Just then, Sarah, another hostess at the restaurant, approached her and interrupted her thoughts.

"Hey Kirsten, your shift is over," Sarah told her.

"Okay, thanks, Sarah," Kirsten said. She left the front, and went to the back to clock out before she left. She grabbed her purse out of her locker and left the club to go meet Kelly for a little bit of shopping at Fashion Island.

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I do not own the Kaanapali Resort located in Maui, the Balboa Bay Club and Resort located in Newport Beach, or Fashion Island located in Newport Beach.