Page 87 of Starting Back
THIRTY-TWO
LEO
“Kristina!”
The hostess’s eyes lit up as soon as she spotted us. When she ran up to Kristina and pulled her into a hug, she barely came up to Kristina’s shoulders. She reminded me of my aunt, tiny with every short gray hair in place as she looked us over with kind blue eyes.
“You act like you didn’t see me last week, Connie.”
“I didn’t see you with your new friend.” She smiled as she looked between us. “I’m Connie. You’re the fireman-nurse, right?”
Kristina flicked her gaze to mine, a smirk curling her red lips.
“No secrets in this town. Yes, I’m Leo.” I held out my hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Very nice to meet you, too. I’ve known this beautiful girl since she was this big.” Connie rested her hand on her knee.
“I haven’t been a girl in a long time, but thank you.”
Connie waved a hand at her and grabbed two menus from the front counter.
“Vera, my granddaughter, has class, so I’m the hostess tonight.”
“I can’t believe she’s in college already,” Kristina said as we followed Connie.
The customers at the other tables all looked familiar, although I was still learning the names of some. Between both my jobs, I’d met or seen most of the people in town.
And judging by all the heads we turned as we made our way through the space, there weren’t many who hadn’t heard about what happened between us at Halman’s. A man I recognized from the bar that night averted his gaze when I made eye contact.
I kept my hand on the small of her back all the way to the table to clear up any confusion about whether we were together.
“We can’t believe she’s in college and graduating in June. Where did all the time go?” Connie exhaled a long sigh and handed us our menus when we sat down. “Your girls are getting big too. The older one looks just like you. I wish Tommy could see.”
Connie frowned and shook her head.
Kristina nodded, a sad smile curving her lips. “I like to think he does.”
Connie squeezed her arm before she headed back to the front.
“Tommy was my father,” Kristina said. “He was very good friends with Dino and his wife for as long as I can remember, so Jake and I have grown up in this restaurant.”
“I like to believe that too. That they still see, even if you can’t see them. Although, I hope they don’t see itall.”
“Ah, yeah. There are some things I’m very grateful that he wasn’t here for.” She scoffed, nodding a thank-you when the busboy filled our glasses with water.
“But I hope he sees Jake and me now. I like thinking maybe he had something to do with the unexpected good fortune my brother and I stumbled upon.” Her brows jumped as she took a sip of water.
“That’s funny because I thought meeting you wasmygood fortune.”
She narrowed her eyes at me as her lips twitched.
“Always so suave.”
“When you’re good at something, it’s smart to stick with it.”
Her shoulders shook with a laugh as she nudged my foot under the table.
“I never stood a chance, did I?”
