George and Dougie were fixtures at trivia night.They played every week, almost religiously, despite rarely getting answers right.Their enthusiasm never waned, though, and it had a certain charm.George in particular bordered on heckling, but he tended to make the tourists laugh.
“It’s going surprisingly well,” I said.
Brandy raised her eyebrows, looking impressed.
I put in the drink order for my parents.
“How’s Jimmy doing?”I asked.
“He seems to be better,” Brandy replied.
“He’s a tough old coot,” George chimed in, arranging his beer and the trivia answer forms in front of him, getting himself ready as if this would be the night he finally got all the answers right.Or any of the answers right.
As I stood there waiting for my parents’ drinks, I caught sight of a group entering Steamy’s Pub.It took me a moment to realize who they were.It was the actors from The Captain’s Inn: Daphne, Vance, the woman with the shrill voice whose name might be Gemma, and the juggler whose name I’d never caught at all.My gaze followed them as they settled at one of the round tables tucked near the back of the pub.
Surprised to see them, I watched, confused by their seemingly relaxed and calm demeanors, considering the earlier death of their friend.Well, except for Vance, who was clearlynota friend of Nick’s, despite his bizarre attempt to praise Nick’s hemorrhoid commercials.
Brandy approached, setting down the drinks in front of me, then followed my distracted gaze.
“Who are they?”she asked.
I realized she hadn’t seen any of them out of their Victorian Christmas costumes.“Those are the actors,” I explained.
Brandy shot me an astonished look.“What are they doing here?”
“I was wondering the exact same thing,” I said.
“Aren’t they supposed to be staying at the inn?”
“Well, I guess Justin told them they just had to stay in Friendship Harbor for now.I don’t think he can keep them under house arrest.”
Brandy nodded in agreement.We watched as they chatted and smiled at Janelle who came to greet them and drop off menus.
“They don’t exactly look torn up about losing a friend, do they?”she added.She was clearly having all the same thoughts I was.
My mind raced, and then an idea dawned.
“Will you keep an eye on my parents for me?They’re going to stay and play trivia.I should be back before it’s over.”
Brandy frowned.“Sure.But where are you going?”
“I’m going to The Captain’s Inn,” I said, picking up my parent’s beverages.
“Here you go,” I said a minute later, setting their glasses in front of them.“I’m going to run out for just a minute, but I’ll be back.”
“Why?Where are you going?”Mom asked.
“I’m going to run out and get you your antacid.”
“You don’t have to do that,” she insisted.
“There is a pharmacy down the street that’s open late.It will just take a few minutes.”
Yes, I was lying to my parents.
Even in the middle of summer, there was no pharmacy open on a Sunday night this late in Friendship Harbor.If you had an emergency prescription, you had to drive to Bar Harbor or Ellsworth, and neither would mean I’d be back in just a few minutes.Besides, I wasn’t headed to a pharmacy, and I had no idea how long I’d be gone.I would have to lie again and tell my mother I had the hours wrong when I got back.
I carefully glanced at the table of actors, trying not to make it obvious.I needed to leave while they were all out of The Captain’s Inn.This was an opportunity I couldn’t squander.Just then, George Sprague and Dougie MacDougall came over to my parents’ table.
