She went in through the back door instead of the front and headed directly into the cluttered office. She placed the sandwiches and chips on the desk, then went back out to the small kitchen. The fridge was stocked with water bottles and beer—Matt’s favorite brew—nothing else. She shook her head as she pulled out two waters.

“Oh, you’re back.”

She turned, smiling as Annie stood in the doorway watching her. “Just got here. I brought lunch. I didn’t know what your normal routine is.”

“Popcorn,” she said, holding up a small bag.

“I got us Subway. Turkey sandwiches,” she said.

“Sounds better than popcorn,” Annie said as she tossed a few in her mouth. “But it is addicting.”

Jordan motioned to the office. “Eat in there?”

“Okay. I guess you’ll want to go over his setup.”

“The office is a mess. Is there a setup?”

Annie laughed. “Matt couldn’t work with a clean desk. He swore he knew where everything was.”

Jordan sat at his desk and shoved some papers out of the way. Annie took a visitor’s chair and she, too, moved papers to the side.

“What is all this?”

“Even though everything is on the computer, Matt still liked to print it out. Shipping receipts, inventory, orders,” she said with a wave of her hand.

“What did he use for his accounting system? QuickBooks?”

“Yes. That’s where we keep our timesheets too,” Annie said, motioning to the laptop.

“So that’s Matt’s honor system? You log in and post your time?” she asked as she took a bite of the sandwich.

“Not exactly. Matt logged in every morning. We only put our time in. Well, we’re supposed to. If someone forgets, he would use the whiteboard and put in the hours based on the schedule.”

Jordan’s eyes widened. “So everyone would have access to the whole accounting system?”

Annie nodded. “Yes.”

“Amazing.” She shook her head. “Maybe I’ve worked at the corporate level too long.”

“Where do you live?”

“Chicago,” she said. “I work in the financial sector.”

Annie smiled as she bit into her sandwich. “And this whole setup is just wrong?” she teased.

“On so many levels,” Jordan stated. She wiped her mouth. “So he used QuickBooks for accounting and payroll. Did he outsource anything?”

“No. We did all of it in-house.”

“How familiar are you with his operation?”

“I’ve helped him with pretty much everything except ordering. Other than Matt, I’m the only one who knows how to close. I pay the bills and normally do payroll. He handled all of the ordering,” Annie said.

“So you’re authorized to sign checks?”

“No. He signs a bunch in advance. But most of the payables are done online.”

Jordan shook her head. “And the checkbook was kept locked in a safe somewhere?” she asked hopefully.

Annie laughed. “No. It’s in the top drawer of his desk. And we’ll need to do payroll today. Friday is payday, but I didn’t feel comfortable doing it without authorization. Every other Friday is payday. Besides, I assume you’ll need to make arrangements with the bank to sign checks now.”

“Yes, I’m heading to the bank as soon as I leave here.” Jordan studied her for a moment, then asked the one question that had been nagging at her all morning. “Why do you work here?”

“Excuse me?”

Jordan took a sip from her water. “You said you were in college. A late bloomer.”

“Yes, I did.”

“So?”

“So even though I’m not a traditional college student, I still need a job.”

Jordan glanced at her hands. “Not married?”

Annie met her gaze. “Is that relevant?”

“Of course not. I’m just curious. You’ve been running the store. I have to trust you. I wanted to know more about you.”

“Oh.” Annie set her sandwich down and reached for her water bottle too, perhaps stalling for time. “Well, yeah. I was married. Right out of high school. That’s why I didn’t go to college.”

“Why couldn’t you still go to college?”

“Because…because I was stupid,” Annie said with a sigh. “There were three of us. Suzanne and Macy and me. We married guys from high school. All friends. All a year ahead of us. The guys had jobs already. Oil. Offshore. And they all had this idea of the perfect little housewife and soon-to-be mother of their children. They didn’t want us to work. And at the time, I was content to stay at home and get the house fixed up.” She shook her head. “Like I said, stupid. But his parents had money, they bought us a house and I just fell into this…this trap.”

“Kids?”

“God, no. I would probably still be married.” She picked a piece of turkey from her sandwich and nibbled it. “There was a lot of drama. Derrick didn’t want me doing anything. When he was home, he wanted me there. For ten days. Then he’d go back to the rig for ten days and I’d be stuck there. Macy got pregnant right away. Suzanne shortly after that.” Annie met her gaze. “Even though I’d told him I did, I never got off the pill.”

Jordan smiled. “Surely he suspected.”

“Derrick is not smart enough,” Annie said quickly. “Anyway, I told him I had to do something. I couldn’t sit at home anymore. I felt stagnant. So I got a job at the elementary school as a teacher’s aide. And I loved it.”

“And he hated it?”

“Yes. And we constantly fought and argued. I’d had enough. I filed for divorce while he was offshore. Moved back in with my parents at the age of twenty-five.”

“And then what?”

“Why am I telling you all this? You are a complete stranger to me,” Annie said.

Jordan shrugged. “I look like Matt.”

Annie nodded. “Yes, you do. But he was never this serious.”

“Serious?”

“Very short attention span.”

Jordan laughed. “Yeah, that never changed.” Her smile faded. “Were you two…close?”

“Close? Well, high school. And I’ve been here two years or so,” Annie said.

Jordan noticed a blush on her face. “Dated?”

Annie met her gaze. “Not really, no.”

“Not really? Or no?”

Annie picked up her sandwich again. “No.”

“Okay. So you divorced. Then what?”

“After the drama died down, I started college. Texas A&M in Corpus. I still worked as a teacher’s aide about fifteen hours a week. But it didn’t pay much at all. I knew Matt was looking for part-time help, so I came by here. And yes, I really did have to beg for the job.”

“So how much school do you have left?”

Annie smiled. “I’m almost through. Finals next week, then I’m off for the summer. I have a light load in the fall, then I do my student teaching next spring.”

“And where will you teach?”

“Here in Rockport. I’ve got a great relationship with the principal, Mr. Early. One of the elementary teachers is retiring next year. I’ll do my student teaching under her, then I’ll take over her class the next year.”

“So Fat Larry will lose you soon?”

Annie laughed. “I’m afraid so.”

“But you’re off all summer from school. Does that mean you could work here full time?”

“Full-time? Oh, that would be great.”

“Good. Because Fat Larry needs an office manager.”

“Office manager? Really? Then what will you do?” Annie asked innocently.

Jordan laughed. “Supervise, of course.”



Chapter Four

Jordan walked through the busy restaurant and into the kitchen, the smell of fried seafood bringing back delicious memories. Her father was dressed in his whites, chef’s hat and all, as he battered fish. Her mother ran the ordering system, juggling in-house orders with those placed online. She still couldn’t believe Matt had talked them into that but apparently it was working.

“Busy tonight, huh?” she said as she gave her mother a quick kiss on the cheek.

“Yes, Friday nights are always like this.” She eyed her. “You had a busy day yourself?”

“Yeah. Got to visit with Annie Thomas. She’s nice. I’m going to hire her full time for the summer.”

“You are? But—”

“Let me run the store, Mom. You have your hands full here.”

“I know, I know,” she said. “Are you hungry? Did you come for dinner?”

Jordan smiled. “I placed an order online.”

Her mother’s eyes widened. “You did?”

Jordan pulled her phone out of her pocket, looking at the time. “Supposed to be ready in ten minutes.”

Her mother nodded. “So? Maria went by Pelican’s Landing?”

“Yes. She had another woman with her. It only took them three hours to clean the place. You won’t recognize it,” she said.

“And Matt’s things?”

“I’ve got everything boxed up,” she said. “There wasn’t that much there. And I’ve already taken his clothes.” She saw the sadness in her mother’s eyes. “Keeping his clothes, Mom, didn’t make sense.”

“I thought we would wait—”

“Not for the clothes,” she said. “Someone will get use out of them.”

“I know you’re right, Jordan. But giving away his things, well, it—”

“Makes it final?” she guessed.

Her mother nodded. “And makes it real.”

“I know,” she said gently. “I’m sorry.”

“We should have taken more time,” her mother said. “But your father, well, being here at the restaurant makes everything seem…somewhat normal.”

“And that’s what you need,” she said. “Matt wouldn’t want you sitting at home grieving, you know that.”

“Well, being here keeps my mind occupied, at least.”

“Yes. Now, I’m starving.” She looked around, seeing a take-out box being stuffed with fish and shrimp. “I think that’s mine.”

Her mother bagged it for her, then added two tubs of tartar sauce. Jordan smiled, glad her mother remembered that she loved the stuff. She also noted that she omitted the cabbage slaw, something Jordan hated.

“So you’re staying there tonight? Not at the house?”