Chapter 825: Cutty Sark 2
Monday, April 3rd, Evening
She sat at the table waiting, slowly sipping on her drink. Looking around, she could see a small but well-made clientele of the local seafood restaurant, the Cutty Sark 2. After another sip of her drink, she saw the Maitre D Hotel walk in the auburn-haired woman that she was meeting.
Christy Carmichael's smile, warm and inviting, greeted Kelly as she took the menu.
"Thanks, Jackie," Kelly said, turning to Christy. Thanks for meeting me, Christy."
"You're welcome, Ms. McMichael," Jackie Gregory, the Matre D and daughter of the restaurant's chef-owner, said and walked away.
"It's no trouble at all, Kelly," Christy replied in a casual tone, "So how are you doing?"
"Okay, my husband woke up early and called into work early," Kelly sighed and rolled her eyes, "What are you drinking?"
"A Diet Coke with mint and lime," Christy smiles, "Didn't feel much like having an alcoholic beverage."
"Good, I don't have to feel odd," Kelly said, "After this, I have to go home and watch the kids until my husband comes home."
Christy nods, "I feel I'm narrowing down the search for a place to live sooner rather than later."
"That's good; you can still look at my places," Kelly said.
"Absolutely, not settled on a place quite yet, so all options are still on the table," Christy replies.
"Good. We can set up a time to see the place anytime you want. During the week, Rian would be with me, as the others are in school," Kelly said, smiled, and ordered a drink from the waitress.
Christy nods, "I'll be sure to get back to you soon." She sips her mocktail, lost in thought.
"So, do you have any interviews lined up?" Kelly asked.
"As a matter of fact, yes," Christy said.
"Cool, if I don't seem too nosey, may I ask with whom?" Kelly asked.
"Haley James-Scott," Christy smiles.
"RBR?" Kelly asked.
"Yes," Christy said.
"Good company, I was once involved with them," Kelly said.
"I've certainly heard great things about them so far," Christy agreed.
"That took a long time and some strong people," Kelly said, "Haley has done a lot to keep it running over the last three years."
"I bet," Christy nods, her voice filled with anticipation, "I'm looking forward to the interview."
"Just don't fan girl out when you meet Haley," Kelly said, taking her drink from the server.
"I will try not to," Christy smiles.
"So, when will your little one be joining you?" Kelly asked.
"I think I'm letting her stay," Christy admits.
"Oh, why?" Kelly asked.
"I'm not really fond of uprooting her when she's got a routine, and her father agrees. I'm not saying it will always be that way, but I know he's got her covered and that if she needs me, I can be there for her fairly easily," Christy says.
"I grew up without a mom; if you didn't know, take it from me, a half-hour is worlds away from a couple of hours," Kelly said.
Christy takes a breath, sipping on her soda. She's trying to measure her response. Kelly isn't someone to mess with, and she learned that quickly.
The sounds of fire department sirens were faintly heard in the restaurant. Kelly turned to look out the window. A large, boxy fire truck passed by at speed, lights flashing and sirens wailing. Kelly's face went blank, and nodded. She turned back to Christy and spoke softly. "Be safe, Huckleberry," she said.
Christy did the sign of the cross, as she often did whenever first responders passed by her.
A server came to the table and looked them over. "Are the ladies ready to order," the server said.
"What's the house special?" Christy smiled.
"Ma'am, tonight's special is Cajun Red Snapper, served with a vegetable medley," the server said.
"I'll have that," Christy nods with a soft smile on her face. She rarely had the luxury of eating Cajun Red Snapper, so she took advantage of it.
"I'll have the grouper and a side of Carb Fritters," Kelly said, "Is Connie on?"
"Sorry, ma'am, Connie is on maternity leave," the server said.
"Did she have the baby?" Kelly asked.
"No, but soon," the server said.
"Well, I will keep her and the little one in my thoughts," Kelly said.
"Very well, Ma'am," the server said.
Christy giggles as a meme comes through on her phone from her daughter.
"Anything good?" Kelly asked.
"It's always a good one when it involves dogs being adorable," Christy says, chuckling again.
"Usually are," Kelly said, chuckling.
Christy requested a refill of her mocktail and grinned, "Are there any other restaurants I should try?"
"Have you tried Rerun's?" Kelly said, "I went to school with Rerun, and he makes good food."
"I have; his tacos are amazing, and I'll have to try the empanadas when I return," Christy said.
"Yeah, that's his Abuela's receipt," Kelly said.
"It's a hit from what I can tell," Christy says.
"Rerun, I never did see him owning a sports bar," Kelly said.
"If I may ask, what did you see him doing?" Christy asks.
"Sportscaster, radio maybe," Kelly said, "That was his dream, but that's adulthood, dreams die."
"If you think about it, it doesn't seem like too much of a stretch for him to own the bar after all; the atmosphere is pretty awesome over there," Christy says.
"Rerun was always a good guy," Kelly said.
Christy smiles.
The Server returned and set out their plates in front of them. Kelly nodded, smiled, and reached for the pepper shaker.
Christy carefully peeled the skin back, enjoying it. Her eyes widened, and she nodded appreciatively.
Kelly offered Christy a Crab Fritter.
"Thank you," Christy smiles, gently taking it.
"So, what were your high school ambitions?" Kelly asked.
"Believe it or not, to do exactly what I ended up doing. I'm an attorney," Christy smiles.
"Hmm, sounds like James or Angela," Kelly said.
"Yeah, this change in focus, it was finally me doing this whole being an attorney thing for myself," Christy says, "But a friend of mine put in a good word, and I'm very grateful for that."
"Yeah, I didn't think I would be doing what I am now at this age," Kelly said.
"Life isn't discriminatory; it always ends up challenging all of us," Christy surmises, a pensive look in her eyes.
Kelly nodded, "Yeah, I was going into my senior year when my dad died, and I had to take over the family business," she said, "I wasn't the oldest or even the son, but it was left to me."
"Do you ever feel the pressure of family expectations?" Christy asks, taking easy bites of her snapper.
Kelly shrugged. "We knew someone would have to take it over," she said. I didn't expect Dad to die so young. I thought Bobbi would've gotten it. I'm the youngest, and Bobbi is the oldest. But our family business stretched well before the unpleasantness between the states."
"So there's history behind it all," Christy smiles.
"Let's just say my family business precedes this town and might've given the town its name," Kelly said.
"Wow, that's- that's impressive," Christy says.
"At one time, I would say yes, worlds change, and what we did in the past is held against us in the present," Kelly said, "But it's the family business, and it's not mine; I'm just the caretaker of the land, and will pass my responsibility to the next generation of caretakers."
"I hope everything with Haley works out; if so, this chapter will be interesting," Christy smiles.
"Haley is a good egg," Kelly said.
Christy's eyes are hopeful as she sips her mocktail and finishes her dinner.
The front door opened, and slowly, someone stepped into the restaurant. Two Tree Hill uniformed police officers followed that person. They stopped and talked to Jackie at the front of the restaurant. A moment later, Anna Gregory came out of the back and spoke with the three people. After a moment of gestures and a nod, Anna walked away. The three people walked to the table Christy and Kelly sat at.
Christy blinked. This could go either way, and something told her that trouble was looming.
"Mrs. McMichaels?" the person in the suit asked.
Christy's eyes shifted to Kelly.
"Yes," Kelly said.
The person in the suit said, "I am Detective Sergeant Ilves of the Tree Hill Police Department. "
"How can I help you, Detective?" Kelly asked.
"Please come to the office with me.; Mrs. Gregory allowed us to use it," Ilves said.
"What's wrong?" Kelly asked.
"I think this is a matter best discussed in private," Ilves said.
Kelly looked at Christy.
"Go ahead," Christy nodded, "I'll be okay."
"Okay," Kelly said, got up, and followed the three police officers.