Page 12 of Waves of Reckoning (Echoes of Camano Island #1)

Chapter Eleven

N ikki’s hands shook as Paul pulled up outside of the restaurant. Her heart thumped in her chest, and her head ballooned.

“Maybe we’re too early,” she commented.

“It’s happy hour,” Paul told her. “We might be late.”

“Oh dear.” Nikki instantly pulled down the visor to use the mirror. She pinched her cheeks and smoothed her hair. “How do I look?”

“I doubt she will care about that,” Paul replied.

“Humor me,” Nikki insisted.

“You look fine,” he told her. “Now, can we go before you get cold feet?”

Nikki placed her hands on her chest to help with steadying her wildly beating heart. “I feel like I’m going to pass out from anxiety.”

“You’re exaggerating,” Paul replied and got out of the car.

He met her by her door as she got out. She wore a pair of black skinny jeans and an airy white top that flowed over her hips.

Ankle boots finished her look as she walked next to Paul who was similarly dressed in black jeans and a gray T-shirt.

The place was teeming with life when they walked in. It was either the hippest spot in Seattle or the only one.

“Isn’t this a popular joint,” Paul commented, echoing her thoughts.

“I was just thinking the same thing,” Nikki said as they walked up to the desk. Luckily, they had a reservation. “Reservation for Humphry please,” she told the obvious college student.

In fact, she wasn’t the only one. The place was full of college students and otherwise young people. Music blared from the speakers, and the hum of voices filled the air.

“Right this way,” the blond-haired attendant told them and led them to a table along the wall with the street view.

“Thank you,” Nikki replied nervously as she took her seat. She instantly started looking around. “I wonder if she’s already here.”

“She should be,” Paul noted. “Based on Greg’s info, she starts her shift every evening at six.”

“I don’t see her,” Nikki replied as she continued scanning the crowded vicinity for Amy.

It was difficult for her to do with all the movement around them—servers and waitresses kept hurrying by, guests came and went, and it was a constant passing of bodies that her eyes felt like they’d pop out of her head.

“Just relax,” Paul told her. “How about we get something to eat or drink to calm your nerves. If you meet her like that, you just might spook her.”

Nikki’s eyes widened as she looked at Paul. “You’re right.” She sucked in a deep breath, closed her eyes for a couple of seconds, and then opened them again. “Okay, I’m fine now.” But moments later, her eyes were roaming again.

Paul laughed. “Don’t worry. She’s here,” he said and chin-nodded past Nikki. “She’s over at that table.”

Nikki snapped her neck so fast that she almost got whiplash.

“Where?” But she didn’t have to look for too long.

It was Amy. How could she miss seeing the face that looked just like the one she’d grown up with?

“Oh my.” She covered her mouth. “I thought she looked like Trish in the picture, but this is insane.”

“Don’t stare so hard,” Paul warned. “You might creep out some folks.”

Nikki tore her eyes away, but she had to force herself from looking back every couple of seconds.

Her eyes followed her, as inconspicuous as she could, while she floated from table to table, wearing the same infectious smile.

She wore the customary black-and-white outfit, and her hair was caught at her nape.

“I hope she comes to our table,” Nikki said.

“Can you handle that?” Paul chuckled.

She’d hardly said the words when she noticed Amy coming toward them. “Oh shoot, she’s coming.”

Paul continued laughing at her. She was acting like a teenager, and Nikki knew it well, but she couldn’t help it.

“Good evening,” an all-too-familiar voice said as she stood next to the table. “I’m Amy, and I’ll be your server for this evening.Are you ready to order, or do you need a couple of minutes?”

All Nikki could do was stare at her, which only produced tears. Amy started to look uncomfortable. “I’m sorry, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Paul interjected. “She just got some news recently that still has her all worked up.”

“Oh,” Amy replied. “Should I come back?”

“I’m fine,” Nikki replied instantly. She didn’t want her to leave. “I’ll have some lemon water.”

“I’ll have a Long Island iced tea,” Paul said.

“I’ll be right back.” Amy hurried away.

“Oh God, I think I scared her off,” Nikki said as guilt gripped her.

“Nah.” Paul waved her off. “I’m sure she’s seen worse customers.” He grinned.

Nikki laughed. “Is that your way of making me feel better?”

“Depends if it’s working or not.”

“It’s not,” she groaned. “I feel like I’m about to sit for a bar exam.”

“Whatever that feels like.” Paul shrugged. “Just pull yourself together. Here she comes again.”

Nikki sucked in a deep breath. She had every intention of not being weird, but she couldn’t help but stare as Amy set the glasses down. “You’re so beautiful,” she blurted out.

Amy paused and stepped back a little. “What’s the matter with you?” Paul hissed under his breath. “Forgive her,” he told Amy, who seemed to be maintaining a safe distance. “I think we’re ready to order. We’ll just have the endless wings if you don’t mind.”

“I’ll be right back with your order,” Amy replied, scurrying off.

“Why are you trying to spook her off? You’ll be lucky if she even comes back to this table,” Paul accosted Nikki, though gently.

“I couldn’t help it. It just slipped out,” Nikki replied.

“If she does return, you need to keep a lid on it. You don’t want to give her a bad impression of you only to turn around and tell her you’re her long-lost aunt.”

“You’re right,” Nikki replied, and then her eyes widened. “What if I’ve already ruined my chances?”

“Just try to relax,” Paul implored her. “Let’s just focus on what we came here to do and don’t overthink it.”

Nikki inhaled deeply. “I’ll try.” But it was easier said than done.

Her eyes found Amy as she waited tables, and she forcibly kept quiet when she returned with their order.

She wasn’t hungry, so the wings tasted like paste in her mouth.

She gave up after a while, but her roaming eyes kept searching for Amy.

Paul tried to distract her. “You do know we have to wait until the end of her shift to talk to her, right?”

“I know, but it’s taking so long,” she moaned, just as she noticed something off about Amy.

She was waiting on a table at the back, but the guest seemed rude.

She could see Amy’s face visibly upset, and as soon as the man reached for her, she flinched and backed away.

Other guests had begun to turn their heads to the man’s raised voice, and a feeling of doom descended upon Nikki. She started to move.

Paul placed his hand on hers to keep her seated. “Are you crazy? You don’t even know what’s going on.”

“It’s not good,” Nikki replied without taking her eyes off Amy. “He seems aggressive.”

“It’s not your place,” Paul reminded her.

“She’s my niece!” Nikki said louder than she had anticipated.

“She doesn’t know that,” he reminded her. “Here she comes again. Do nothing!”

Nikki ignored his warning. “Is everything alright?” Nikki asked her as soon as she got to the table.

Amy seemed dazed, and her color had faded. “Yeah, I’m fine,” she said, immediately plastering a smile onto her face.

“I noticed that,” Nikki said and thumbed toward the man.

“Oh, that,” Amy replied with a casual laugh. “I get those customers all the time. Nothing new,” she said and waved it off. “He was just upset about something on the menu.”

Nikki didn’t want to press it and scare Amy off even further, so she remained silent even though she still had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. She could barely see his face because of his positioning, but like Paul had said, there was nothing much she could do.

“Hey, do you have a minute after your shift ends? I’d like to speak to you for a moment,” Nikki blurted out.

Amy narrowed her eyes at her. “Why?”

“There’s something you need to know,” Nikki told her flatly. “Please. I’ll only take a few minutes of your time.”

Amy’s posture went rigid, and her eyes squinted. “Um, okay,” she replied, almost reluctantly. “I’ll meet you back here, then. My shift ends in an hour.”

“Okay, and thanks.” Nikki smiled. She shook when Amy walked off, and she looked across at Paul. “I feel like my insides are about to fall out.”

Paul chuckled. “Well, this is an important moment. I’d be surprised if you weren’t anxious at all.”

The hour seemed to creep by. By the time Amy returned, she was practically a basket case. She pulled up a chair to the booth table they shared, all the while being careful not to sit too close to Nikki.

“Okay, what’s this about?” Amy asked.

Nikki exhaled sharply. “I don’t think there’s any easy way to say this, so I’ll just get on with it. I’m your aunt.”

Amy looked confused. “Aunt? Mom doesn’t have a sister.”

“I’m your real mother’s sister. Your biological mother,” Nikki clarified. “Amy, you were adopted.”

“Is this a prank or something?” she asked offensively as her features darkened.

“No, I swear, it’s true,” Nikki told her. “Your mother had to give you up because she was too young to take care of you.”

“Why now?” Amy asked. “Twenty-one years, and now she’s interested in me? She couldn’t even come to face me herself?” Amy spat, and Nikki’s worst fears began to materialize.

“She couldn’t come,” Nikki explained. “She was in a car accident and is in a coma now, but she was trying to find you before the accident. I came to finish what she’d started.”

“I don’t believe any of this nonsense,” Amy said and pushed her chair back. “I have to go.”

“Wait!” Nikki jumped up and handed Amy the envelope. “Here’s proof. Everything about the adoption.”

Amy stared at the envelope like it would swallow her up if she touched it.

“That doesn’t prove anything to me!” she snapped.

“Is that the only reason you’re here? To let me know that I was put up for adoption by a woman who is in a coma?

What’s the point of that? I find out I have another mother who’s practically dead? ”

Her words stung Nikki. “She’s going to wake up, and she’ll want to meet you.”

“Too bad,” Amy replied. “I don’t want any part of this.”

“Here,” Nikki said quickly and handed her a card for the inn. “If you change your mind, this is where you can reach me. All my contact information is on it.”

Amy stared at the card before she swiped it from Nikki’s hand and brushed past her.

Paul got up and walked over to Nikki. He put his arm around her shoulders as they began to shake from her sobbing.

“I knew it!” she said through tears.

“Hey, you just shook her world with that bit of news. You didn’t expect she’d be happy about it, did you?” He tried to console her. “Just give her some time to wrap her mind around it. I’m sure she’ll reach out when she’s ready.”

Nikki wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “You think so?”

“I know so,” Paul replied. “Now, let’s go. We’ve been here long enough.”