Southern Comfort - Fern Michaels [17]
Minutes and a few squeals of pure pleasure later, the two women agreed to meet for lunch at noon. Just in time for her to go back to the condo, pack her things, load up her car, and place a call to a Realtor. She wasn’t exactly sure at what moment she’d come to the decision to sell the condo. Not that it mattered. She was glad now she didn’t have a lot of junk to pack up. She made a mental note to ask the Realtor if she could sell the condo furnished. If not, she’d throw in the furniture or donate it to Goodwill.
Kate parked the car in the small lot behind Sassy Susie’s, a small café that served homemade food and had the best coffee in the whole state. Sassy Susie, an aging spinster, made her own bread and desserts and, while the place was feminine-looking, the menu catered to men with huge appetites. It was said by those same men with the robust appetites that a person could get drunk on the aromas that wafted about the café.
Sandra was waiting by the door. The women hugged, laughed, then hugged again as they entered the café and were shown to their usual small round table. In other words, Sassy Susie considered the two of them regulars and treated them as such, which meant they were immediately served coffee and the homemade bread with fresh butter.
Kate looked across the table at her dear friend. Sandra, or Sandy as her friends called her, looked unbelievably happy. “There must be a man in your life.”
Sandra giggled. “Yes and no. Let’s just say I’m seeing someone. I actually have free time where I can make plans and carry through with them. He’s a nice guy, but he’s not the one for me. If he were, I think I’d know. So, how come you’re dressed like you are in the middle of the day?”
Kate eyed her friend. She was so pretty—petite, dark hair, incredible blue eyes, huge dimples, and a killer smile with flashing white teeth. She was also a martial arts brown belt. Cuban by nationality, she’d done her time in Miami before being transferred to Arizona. Like Kate, she hated Arizona, yet here she was.
Kate licked at her lips. “I quit. I’m moving back to Miami. I packed up my car this morning, and I’m leaving for Harbor Island right after lunch. I’ve had enough of this place to last me a lifetime. But the best part is, I got even with Tyler for you. I broke his nose for you. I kneed him in the groin for Levinson and kidney-punched him for Jacobson. It’s a long story. He’s replacing Jelly, thanks to his daddy. Jelly is taking his job in Miami. Guess Tyler whined enough about Miami that his daddy had to do something. Jelly seems to be okay with it all. He only has two more years, and he’s not about to give it up. He can weather it. He promised to stop by for coffee.”
“Oh my God! Tell me you’re not kidding! You really decked that weasel? There is a God!” Sandy announced dramatically. “What about Josh and Roy? Did you tell them? They call once in a while. Damn, we were such a good team until Tyler ruined it.”
Kate shrugged as she spread golden butter on a chunk of stillwarm bread. “Jelly said they put in for transfers. I’m thinking he’s hoping they want to go with him. Roy always said he was going to transfer out to ATF.”
Sandy bit into her own bread and sighed happily. “I haven’t been here since I quit and walked away. I really missed this bread. So what are you going to do, Kate?”
“Finish up my thesis. Write a cookbook.”
Sandy laughed. “You don’t know how to cook. I’m ahead of you, I finished up. You can call me Dr. Martin from here on in. I have résumés all over the place.