Death of a Lobster Lover Read online

  “When are you going to ask that girl out on a date, Boyd?” Sue asked as she mixed a cocktail for a sleepy-eyed woman at the far end of the bar.

  “What? I don’t know what you mean . . . What?” Boyd stammered.

  “Give me a break, Boyd. It’s obvious to everyone in town you’re crushing on that girl big-time,” Sue said, chuckling.

  Boyd’s face turned five shades of red.

  “She’s just a friend,” Boyd said, wrenching the dirty dish rag from his waist and wiping down the already clean table next to Hayley, Liddy, and Mona.

  “Any man who says a girl is just a friend always wants more,” Sue said, setting the cocktail down in front of the woman at the end of the bar, who nodded as she knocked it back. “What you need to do is get your nose out of those silly comic books you’re always reading and do something about it.”

  Boyd finished cleaning the table and desperately searched for another chore to embark on that would help him escape from this excruciatingly uncomfortable conversation.

  “Boyd, you’re a good kid. You deserve to have a nice girlfriend. Someone to go to the movies with, have dinner with, a companion you can talk to and confide in,” Sue said, coming out from behind the bar and walking up behind him.

  Boyd spun around, shaking his head vehemently.

  “Stop it, Sue. Ellie doesn’t like me that way.”

  “I think she does,” Sue said. She turned to Hayley, Liddy, and Mona, who sat eavesdropping at the table behind her. “Am I right, ladies?”

  “It was pretty clear to me,” Liddy said, sipping her drink. “The shy body language, the sweet smile, the eyes that seemed to say, ‘I’m fragile but I trust you not to break me.’ That girl was definitely working it.”

  “She was not that calculating, Liddy. Stop projecting,” Hayley said. “But I agree that she likes you, Boyd. I just think you’re going to have to make the first move.”

  Sue turned to Mona, who was sucking down her beer, bored. “What about you?”

  “Me? I think all this gooey matchmaking crap is a waste of time. This isn’t a friggin’ chick flick. Let the two of them work it out without all of you fluttering around like a bunch of annoying overgrown cupids.”

  And with that, Mona slammed her beer down on the table and stood up. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a hankering to hear some classic Garth Brooks.”

  She marched over to the jukebox, fished some change out of her pocket, and began flipping through the songbook underneath the glass using the dials on the side.

  A shaggy-haired man, around the same age as Mona, tall, lean, handsome, wearing a ragged T-shirt, ripped jeans, and boots, sat at a table near the jukebox, nursing a beer. A beautiful golden retriever lay at his feet quietly, looking like she was sleeping, but her eyes were open and occasionally blinking.

  The shaggy-haired man stared at Mona.

  She didn’t notice him.

  He put down his beer and leaned forward, his eyes fixed on Mona, who was punching in a number on the jukebox.

  Both Hayley and Liddy were intrigued by this good-looking man who seemed to be so captivated by Mona.

  They exchanged curious looks.

  Finally, the man leaned down, patted his dog on the head, and then stood up and marched up behind Mona.

  “Excuse me,” he said.

  “Wait your turn. I’m not done,” Mona barked, dropping a few more coins into the jukebox.

  “Mona? Mona Butler?”

  Mona’s whole body froze.

  Suddenly she recognized the voice.

  A smile crept across her lips.

  She wheeled around and gasped. “Corey! Corey Guildford! What the hell are you doing here?”

  “What do you mean? I live here! What are you doing here? I couldn’t believe it when I saw you. Mona Butler! Back in Salmon Cove!”

  “It’s Barnes now.”

  “So you finally got hitched?”

  “Worst mistake of my life. He’s a total loser. But he’s my loser, I guess.”

  “How long has it been?”

  “About twenty years, something like that. The summer after my high school graduation, I think,” Mona said, smiling.

  Yes, Mona was smiling.

  This must have been a very close friend.

  Corey hugged Mona, drawing her into him, holding her tightly.

  And Mona hugged back.

  They held each other for what seemed like forever.

  Mona gently rested her head on Corey’s shoulder.

  Corey’s hand dropped dangerously close to Mona’s buttocks.

  Neither was ready or willing to let the other go.

  This unexpected reunion was borderline romantic.

  Definitely sweet and rather touching.

  Hayley and Liddy watched this unbelievably rare scene, for Mona anyway, with mouths agape.

  Finally, Liddy couldn’t stand it anymore.

  “Mona, don’t you want to introduce us to your friend?”

  Mona finally pulled away from Corey.

  “Not really,” she said flatly.

  “Corey Guildford,” he said, stepping over to their table with an extended hand, which both Hayley and Liddy eagerly shook. “Old friend of Mona’s from years back.”

  “I see,” Liddy said, shifting in her seat, enjoying the moment. “I’m surprised she never mentioned you.”

  “You never mentioned me? I’m crushed, Mona,” Corey said, playfully.

  “We just hung out when we were kids. Stealing beers from his parents’ cooler and skinny-dipping at Rocky Point,” Mona said, her eyes narrowing, warning Liddy to lay off.

  But Liddy had no intention of letting this delicious conversation fall by the wayside. She relished witnessing Mona twisted up in knots.

  “Skinny-dipping? How wild and uninhibited! That’s certainly not the Mona we know. What other little secrets have you been keeping from us, Mona?”

  “I got plenty of secrets when it comes to Mona,” Corey said with a devilish smile. “Want to hear one?”

  “Corey . . .” Mona said, her face pleading with him to stop.

  “Yes, please!” Liddy squealed. “We want to hear everything!”

  “Well, for one thing,” Corey said. “I taught her everything she knows about lobstering.”

  Liddy sat back in her chair, resoundingly disappointed. “That’s it?”

  Mona sighed with relief.

  “Is that true, Mona?” Hayley asked. “This is the boy you told us about?”

  “Damn straight,” she said, nodding. “Corey’s family has been lobstering in Salmon Cove for generations. He taught me all the basics about hauling traps. It’s because of him I got such a successful business back home in Bar Harbor.”

  Corey’s golden retriever didn’t like being left alone at the table so she stood up from the floor, stretched out, and ambled over to the group to rub up against Mona, who reached down and scratched her head affectionately.

  “Beautiful dog,” Mona said, flapping the dog’s ear.

  “That’s Sadie,” Corey said. “I think she likes you.”

  Hayley watched Corey as he stared at Mona, a big, wide, happy grin on his face.

  Sadie wasn’t the only one who seemed to adore Mona.

  Chapter 5

  “Honestly, I can’t watch Mona make a spectacle of herself anymore,” Liddy said, shaking her head in disgust.

  “What are you talking about?” Hayley asked, cranking her head around to see Mona and Corey immersed in a heated game of pool. “They’re just playing pool.”

  Mona was on a roll and beating him soundly. She was about to sink the last ball in the corner pocket.

  “I mean, she’s a married woman. She shouldn’t be carrying on like this,” Liddy said, scowling.

  “You know what I think? I think you’re jealous,” Hayley said, sipping the last of her club soda through a straw.

  “Me? Jealous? Of Mona? That is utterly ridiculous. What could I possibly be jealous of?”


  “You’re feeling insecure about being dumped by Sonny, and suddenly a good-looking man is paying attention to Mona and not to you.”

  “How dare you psychoanalyze me, especially while we’re on vacation!”

  “That isn’t exactly a denial,” Hayley said.

  Liddy downed her cocktail in a huff.

  Across the room, Mona drove the last ball into the left corner pocket and then whooped and hollered as she raised her pool cue over her head in victory.

  Corey bowed to her superiority, and then wrapped his big arms around her in a tight hug, which again, he held for far longer than just a “friend” normally would.

  Mona didn’t seem to mind and made no move to extricate herself.

  “They’re just friends,” Hayley said weakly as she and Liddy watched Mona and Corey casually grope each other with their hands.

  Liddy picked up her bag off the floor and dropped it down on the table. “I’m ready to go back to the cabin.”

  “Now? But you said you wanted to get blindingly drunk so you wouldn’t be consciously aware that you were sleeping in that dump tonight.”

  “I changed my mind. I’m done. Let’s go,” Liddy said.

  As the designated driver for the evening, Hayley didn’t have much of a choice. She waved at Mona, who ambled over with Corey close behind her, barely any shade between them.

  “Liddy wants to leave,” Hayley said.

  “Back to the cabin? Really?” Mona asked, eyes wide, genuinely surprised.

  “Yes, I’d like to get an early start in the morning, and I want to get a full eight hours of shut-eye so I’m fresh for the drive,” Liddy said, fishing around in her bag for a mint.

  Mona shrugged. “Okay.”

  Corey touched her arm. “You can’t leave yet. I want a chance to redeem myself and show you I actually can play pool. How about two out of three?”

  “I’m sorry, Corey, but Liddy’s tired,” Mona sighed.

  Hayley knew Mona wanted to stay and spend time with Corey, but Mona was first and foremost a loyal friend, and if her friend was ready to leave, then she was going to abide by her wishes.

  Even if it was Liddy.

  “Then let your friends go back to the cabin now and I’ll drive you home later myself,” Corey said.

  “I don’t know . . .” Mona said, torn.

  “Please, Mona. I haven’t seen you in years and you’re leaving tomorrow so this is my only chance to spend some time with you,” he said, almost pleading.

  “It’s already coming up on midnight now . . .” Mona said.

  “So you’re just going to take off and leave me standing here with a glass slipper?” Corey asked.

  “Now that was really corny,” Liddy said, rolling her eyes.

  Hayley turned to her. “If he had said it to you, you would’ve thought it was the most romantic thing you’d ever heard.”

  Liddy couldn’t argue with that because she knew Hayley was right.

  “Okay,” Mona said hesitantly.

  “Did you hear that, Sadie? She’s staying!” Corey yelped happily.

  Hearing her name, Sadie instinctively stood up off the floor again, shook her fur out, and then trotted over for some loving attention from her master, who rubbed her head.

  “It was nice meeting you, Corey,” Hayley said, sticking her hand out to shake.

  “A pleasure, Hayley, but I’m a hugger,” Corey said, ignoring her hand and enveloping her in his arms.

  He then let go and stepped back to face Liddy, arms outstretched.

  “I’m good, thank you,” Liddy said. “It was nice meeting you. Let’s go, Hayley.”

  “Leaving so soon? I just got here,” a man’s voice said from behind them. They all turned to see Jackson Young, looking sexy in an open tight-fitting plaid button-down shirt that highlighted some impressive pecs and some equally tight blue jeans that accentuated his muscular legs and round bubble butt. The man had definitely been on a lot of strenuous hikes to get in that kind of shape.

  Liddy stood gazing at him, speechless.

  “I was hoping you would let me buy you a drink,” he said, eyes twinkling.

  “Liddy is tired so we’re calling it a night,” Hayley said.

  “It’s not that late, Hayley,” Liddy scoffed. “What’s the harm in staying a little while longer? What do you think will happen? My Donna Karan dress will turn into an off-the-rack rag from Kmart and my Mercedes will turn into a pumpkin?”

  Corey turned to Mona. “You know, she’s right. The whole Cinderella theme is kind of corny.”

  “Yeah, but she stole it from you and is running with it,” Mona said, chuckling.

  Ignoring them, Liddy turned and smiled at Jackson. “I would love for you to buy me a drink.”

  “Then I guess it’s my lucky night,” Jackson said, taking her by the arm and leading her over to the bar.

  Hayley couldn’t believe it.

  “I swear she told me she was tired,” Hayley said, turning to Mona and Corey, both of whom had already wandered back to the pool table and were setting up for their next game.

  Hayley plopped back down at the table alone and signaled Sue for another club soda. She knew she was in for a long night.

  Hayley sat by herself for the next hour until last call.

  She didn’t mind.

  It was nice to see Liddy and Mona both having such a good time.

  Still, she could barely keep her eyes open and couldn’t suppress her yawns any longer. She just wanted to go to bed. Even if it was on a lumpy mattress in the upper bunk at Mona’s dilapidated family cabin.

  Liddy suddenly hustled over to her as the bar began clearing out and whispered excitedly in her ear, “You’ll never guess what just happened! Jackson has asked me to be his date at the lobster bake on Sunday!”

  “What lobster bake?”

  “It’s like an annual thing that just happens to fall on this weekend. The whole town comes out for it. Jackson says we can’t miss it!”

  “But we’re leaving tomorrow,” Hayley said.

  “That’s what I want to talk to you about. I say we suck it up and just deal with staying at the cabin. I mean, come on, Hayley, how bad can it be?”

  “But you were so adamant—”

  “You know me, Hayley, sometimes I just need time to process and adjust. And that’s what I’ve done. I have processed the situation and adjusted. And now I want to stay.”

  Mona sauntered over to them as Corey hung their pool cues back on the wall rack.

  “You’re not going to believe this, Mona, but Liddy wants to stay the whole weekend,” Hayley said.

  “Seriously?”

  “Jackson wants me to be his date at the lobster bake,” Liddy gushed breathlessly as if they were back in high school discussing the prom in excited whispers during study hall.

  “That’s great news,” Mona said, beaming, before she twisted around and called out to Corey. “Hey! We’re staying! So I can be your date to the lobster bake on Sunday!”

  Corey gave her an enthusiastic thumbs-up. If he had been wearing a cowboy hat he would have tossed it in the air in jubilation with a “yee-haw!”

  Hayley was happy her friends had dates to this big lobster bake she had heard nothing about until now.

  And she would find some way to make the most of her fifth wheel status.

  Really.

  She didn’t mind.

  Much.

  As she stood up and fumbled around in her coat pocket for the car keys, she saw Jackson sidle up next to Liddy and casually press a hotel room key card in her hand.

  She heard him whisper in her ear, “I found the key card I lost earlier today so now I have an extra. In case you need it.”

  Liddy shivered with delight and gave him a peck on the cheek.

  “Good night, you devil,” Liddy cooed.

  Jackson touched his cheek where she had planted the kiss and feigned swooning, and then he backed away, lingering by the door, stealing one last glance at Liddy, delig
hted.

  And then he slipped out the door and was gone.

  Liddy noticed Hayley eyeing the key card in the palm of her hand. “Don’t judge me, Hayley.”

  “I would never—” Hayley protested.

  “It’s not like I’m going to use it!”

  “I believe you,” Hayley said.

  “Yet.”

  And then Liddy burst out in a fit of girlish giggles, euphoric to be back in the game, an object of desire.

  It was sweet.

  But there was something about Jackson Young that wasn’t quite right.

  Hayley couldn’t put her finger on it.

  She had only had the briefest of exchanges, and on the surface he seemed quite nice, but there was something odd about his behavior and demeanor.

  Like he was trying too hard.

  Perhaps to cover something up about his true personality.

  She certainly didn’t have the same feeling about Corey.

  He seemed perfectly relaxed and normal.

  But there was definitely something off about Jackson.

  He was too forced and too eager.

  She couldn’t tell Liddy because she feared she would just come off as merely jealous and petty.

  And besides, Liddy was so smitten at this point there was very little chance she would even listen to her reservations or take them seriously.

  So for once Hayley held her tongue.

  And hoped she was wrong.

  Island Food & Spirits by Hayley Powell

  Part One

  Who doesn’t love summer vacation?

  My brother, Randy, and I sure did when we were kids, and we would meet up on the last day of school, and walk home together, talking about all our fun and exciting plans for the lazy days of summer with our friends.

  I’ll never forget one year as we strolled home from school in the waning days of spring just before my eighth-grade graduation. Randy and I were in high spirits when we arrived home, and burst through the back door into the kitchen to raid the cookie jar before dinnertime. We suddenly stopped dead in our tracks, assaulted by a pungent, all too familiar aroma that filled the entire house, which immediately struck fear in our hearts.

  Both of us knew our mother, Sheila, had been boiling lobsters in the big black steel pot steamer on top of the stove, and was now sitting at the kitchen table cracking lobster claws and tails and filling a large bowl with the sweet lobster meat.