West Wind by Madeline Sloane Page A

talk to you
openly?"
    "Certainly."
    "Let's go to Maude's. We're going to need a
quiet booth and I'm going to need a beer."
    "But it's only three o'clock," she
protested.
    "It's time," he said, matter-of-factly. He
escorted her to the gate and locked the boatyard. In the distance,
Sabrina heard muted barking of seals. The fence looked familiar,
too. An uneasy feeling came over her and she looked over her
shoulder. Jay's apartment was near here. She opened her car door.
"Shall I drive?"
    "No; leave it. Maude's is just a couple of
blocks away. Let's go," he replied.
    Sabrina felt déjà vu and shivered. "Maybe I
need a beer, after all."
    They walked quickly and soon she recognized
the weathered tavern. The parking lot still contained motorcycles
and pickup trucks. "Don't these people ever go home?"
    Brett chuckled. "Yes, but they come back the
next day."
    Inside, the tavern looked friendly and its
cedar-planked walls glowed in the filtered sunlight. Brett pointed
to an empty booth near the back of the building. An old, stocky
woman with frizzled gray hair approached them, menus and a
dishtowel in her hands.
    "Afternoon, Maude."
    "Hey Brett. Where's Shawna today?" She eyed
Sabrina with mistrust.
    "She's at home, as always. This here is a
client of the boatyard, Maude. She's picked up a sailboat that
needs some work."
    Maude nodded. "You mean that piece of crap
you hauled by here this morning?"
    Sabrina grimaced.
    "Ayuh, that's the one," Brett said. "Miss
Windham here has bought herself the original Zephyrus."
    "Windham, you say?" Maude looked closely at
Sabrina. "Don Windham's daughter? Nah, you're too young. You his
kin?"
    "Yes," Sabrina said, leaning forward eagerly.
"You knew my grandfather?"
    "Used to," Maude said, wiping the table and
dropping the menus without ceremony. "Went to school with him and
Derek. Those two were best friends. Tragedy that was, the
fire."
    Maude cleared her throat. "Listen, the
kitchen isn't too busy if you two want something special."
    "Thanks, Maude," Brett said. "Can we start
with a couple of lagers? Sabrina, are you hungry?"
    Rattled, Sabrina picked up the menu and
scanned it. "Umm, actually, I am. I forgot to have lunch today.
I'll have, um, how about a bowl of chowder and a BLT?"
    Maude nodded. "Brett?"
    "Thanks; I'll just have a beer. Shawna's
cooking pot roast tonight," he said, rubbing his large belly.
    Maude peered at him over her glasses. "You
tell her I said hey, and good luck with the new baby."
    Brett nodded and the old woman shambled off
to the kitchen. He grinned at Sabrina. "She's a bit protective.
Shawna's her grandniece."
    "It's a small town, isn't it? I mean, it's
amazing to me that she knew my grandfather. I never met him. He
died a long time ago."
    Brett nodded. "Yes, I know. In fact, that's
what I need to talk to you about."
    Curious, Sabrina leaned forward. "What is
it?"
    "Well, this could be a bit touchy. I mean, I
don't really know what happened last night when Jay left the bar
after you, but …"
    "Jay? What does this have to do with him?"
Sabrina leaned back, frowning and blushing furiously.
    Brett nodded again, heaving a deep sigh. The
woman was an open book.
    "It's like this, Sabrina, I like you, and I
think you coming to Warren and finding this boat is something
special. I mean it," he said, raising a hand when she tried to
speak. "Don't stop me; I've got to get this out."
    He paused long enough for Maude to plunk two
frosty beers on the table. After she was out of earshot, he
continued.
    "Sabrina, I could tell something was
happening last night. Jay never chases women, but he wouldn't take
his eyes off of you. The way he ran out of here. Well, I've never
seen him act that way."
    Sabrina bit her lip and looked away,
unwilling to comment.
    "And I can see you got something going for
him, too. Don't you?"
    "Brett. If this is about my relationship with
Jay, then you need to stop right now. I don't mean to be rude, but
it's none of your business."
    "See, that's the problem.