Isaac was unusually quietas we drove through Foggy Basin and got closer to Miller’s Point. “I haven’t been here other than to buy pizza since I got back,” I said.
“There’s not much here,” Isaac said.
“Your family’s there.” I smiled at him, and he gave me a tight smile in return. He was so nervous, and I understood those emotions so well.
“Yeah,” he finally said just as we crossed into town. Miller’s Point. It was about the same size as Foggy Basin but had more restaurants and a business district that sat on the edge of town rather than the center. There were a couple of bars, a grocery store, the post office, and gas station. Next to the gas station was a small restaurant with a few tables out front that were all full. It was made of rough-cut lumber and looked older than I knew it was, but it fit in perfectly with the older style of the rest of the nearby businesses.
There wasn’t a parking space out front, so I took the closest one and turned off the engine. “Cute sign,” I said as walked to the café, and finally Isaac laughed. The hand painted sign above the front door was painted in an old western font that had the name of the business and on the side were two giant eggs with arms on either side of a to-go cup of coffee hugging it.
“My brother painted it. It looks like a giant dick and balls,” Isaac said.
I looked up at it and once he said it I couldn’t unsee it. “Oh god.”
“Yeah, my brother’s a great painter, and a little shit. I think he did it on purpose, but he swears he didn’t.” He looked up again and laughed just as the door to the café opened and a woman with the same green eyes and smug look her brother wore stepped outside and crossed her arms.
“Are you eating?” she asked and stared right at Isaac. He met her eyes and nodded, and she walked back inside.
“Fuck, she’ll probably make me wash dishes,” he grumbled.
“How did she know you were here?” I asked and followed him to the door.
“They fucking know everything, and I do meaneverything,” he said as he walked inside. The place was packed. It was small but they’d made the most of the small space with booths lining one wall and lots of tables, most of which were full.
“This way,” the woman who’d been out front said and led us to a small table that was closest to the kitchen.
“Thanks, Bex, how’s business?” Isaac asked.
“Are you his boyfriend?” she asked me completely ignoring him. I tried to focus on her and not the horrified expression on Isaac’s face.
“Yes, I am. Tig Sawyer, and you are?” I said and held my hand out which she reluctantly shook.
“Bex Grant, I’m his oldest sister,” she said and tried to stare a hole through Isaac’s head.
“Nice to meet you, Bex. Isaac said you and your sister work here.” That got her attention.
“We don’t just work here, we own it,” she said finally meeting my eyes.
“Great,” I said with a big smile while Isaac looked like he’d rather crawl under the table.
“Is Jen working?” Isaac asked.
“Yes, she’s cooking. Is this your latest hookup?” she whispered while pointing at me with her thumb over her shoulder.
“What? No. He’s my boyfriend,” Isaac said finally coming to his senses. “And this is exactly why I didn’t want to bring him here,” he whispered back.
It was like watching a tennis match, or maybe a fight between a poisonous snake and a mongoose. One struck then the other struck back all in whispers so one else could hear but the jabs struck each one more pointed. “I feel like I’m home for the holidays and all my relatives are there,” I said without thinking and both of them stopped to turn and stare at me. “You have no idea how badly I’ve missed this.”
“What?” Bex asked.
“He’s from a big family too,” Isaac said, like that explained it all and for me it did.
“Oh god, of course he is. How many?” she asked.
“Only seven,” I said, making her laugh.
“Onlyseven?” she repeated and shook her head. “Okay, he might not be that bad. I’ll be back to take your order.”
“She likes you,” Isaac said as he picked up a menu she’d set on the table.
