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Cascada Azul wasn’t a hole in the wall, but it wasn’t elegant either. The family-run restaurant had a loyal following and was as packed as usual.
I’d already told the hostess we wanted a booth in the back and was waiting for my name to be called.
The young hostess opened the door. “Dennis, party of two.”
I raised my hand and followed her inside. “My sister will be along in just a bit.”
She smiled, grabbed two menus, and started toward the rear. She stopped at a booth very near the back, as I’d requested.
I accepted the menu and pressed a bill into her hand, getting a warm smile in return. I’d only been seated long enough to receive the bowl of chips and the tray of bean dip and salsa when Serena waved from the front. I waved back and stood.
She rushed over and gave me a hug. “Dennis, sorry I’m late.”
I’d long ago given up trying to get her to be on time. “No worries. You’re looking good.”
“Why, thank you. It’s the Pilates.”
Our waitress arrived to take our drink orders.
I chose my standard Luna Azul margarita on the rocks, no salt, and Serena asked for the same, only frozen. The blue curacao made it look similar to my favorite drink, a blue Hawaii.
Serena started in as soon as the waitress left. “I heard you got a visit from Maleficent today.”
That had been Serena-speak for Melissa since shortly after we got married, and it fit.
I knew where she’d gotten the heads up, but I asked anyway. “Who told you that?”
She scooped a chip in the bean dip. “You know Cindy keeps me up to date. What didshewant?”
She’d probably also gotten that from Cindy.
“She wanted to talk about the museum gala.”
“Dad should kick her off the committee, if you ask me. She’s just never-ending trouble.”
I felt the same way, but it wasn’t an argument worth having with Dad just yet. “That’s Dad’s cross to bear. Take it up with him.” To help smooth over the divorce, Dad had promised to let Melissa stay on the committee. It had been another of her off-the-wall demands when we ended things.
It wasn’t in writing, but Dad felt he had to honor it, even if Melissa never kept any of her promises.
Serena waved her chip at me. “Go on.”
“Nothing much to tell. She wanted me to attend with her. I said no.”
She continued to fish. “And what else?”
“Nothing else.”
“I heard she blew her top, Mount Vesuvius style, so you must have said more than that.”
“I told her I already had a date.”
“Who?”
This is where it could get tricky. “Someone from the office.”
“Really?”
Our waitress appeared to take our orders, chicken tacos for me and the enchilada suprema for Serena.
