2. Galvin

galvin

. . .

G alvin Winters pulled alongside the curb and put her ancient but extremely reliable four-door Camry into park. She allowed the car to idle while she took in the surroundings. For years, she’d listened to her father, Martin, tell stories about the few spring and summer vacations he spent in Seaport with his college buddy, Jack Carter. Having lived on the west coast her entire life, she never had a chance or reason to visit. Until now.

The sound of horns and motors caught her attention. She looked across the cobblestone road and waited for a group of walkers to pass by. A smile formed as Galvin took in the scenery before her. Boats of all sizes lined the wooden docks—or were they piers—and swayed slightly from the ebb and flow of the water. Out farther, there were yachts anchored in the middle of nothing, swaying briskly when other boats motored by. She’d never been on a boat and figured she would need to rectify this soon if she was going to live by the water.

Glancing at the building she parked next to, she sighed as she looked at Carter’s Diner. People crammed into the booths, stood in line by the door, and swiveled back and forth on their stool at the counter. Galvin had looked the diner up online to get a feel for where she’d be working. She’d been skeptical when she saw #1 Diner in all of New England in bold across their website, but by the look of things, they weren’t wrong.

The key to her future was inside those walls, with the people gathered in there. She needed money for law school to offset the measly loan the school and financial aid department had given her. Ever since she watched shows like Perry Mason and Matlock with her grandma, Galvin had wanted to be a lawyer, and she would work her fingers to the bone to become one.

When she heard how much money could be made from waiting tables, she scoured the internet for the right location. Places like Vail and Cape Cod seemed like the obvious choices, but those were seasonal. She wanted something year around. No, she needed something year around. A place where she could come back to on the weekends or some nights while in school.

Carter’s was it, according to her father. He also told her they had very little turnover, so the fact they offered her a job was bigger than big.

Galvin pulled her visor down and checked her make-up. She ran her fingers under her eyes to clear away any smudges from her liner and reapplied her red lipstick. One good lip smack and finger comb through her chestnut and naturally blond highlighted hair, and she was as ready as she ever would be.

She reached for the key in the ignition and paused when her eyes caught sight of her red, almond-shaped nails. Red was her signature color, especially when it came to her nails. She couldn’t recall a time when her nails were any other color and really hoped Jack wouldn’t care.

Resigned, she turned her car off, grabbed her bag, and waited for a guy on a bicycle to pass by before opening her door. Normally, she wouldn’t lock her car. It was old and wasn’t worth much. At least to anyone other than her. However, the back was full of her belongings, and she didn’t want anyone driving off with her things. She slipped her key into the lock and turned. Galvin shouldered her bag, took a deep inhale, closed her eyes, and gave herself a quick pep talk. Less than a minute later, she opened her eyes and squared her shoulders.

“You’ve got this,” she said aloud and walked toward the diner.

At the door, she sidestepped the people waiting for a seat. A few grumbled as she walked by, which she expected. She would be miffed if someone cut in front of her. At the wooden host stand, Galvin waited behind a couple, who added their name to the extensive wait list. When it was her turn, she stepped forward.

“If you want to sit at the counter, it’s a twenty-minute wait. If you want a table, it’ll be an hour,” the young woman said as she held her tablet up, ready to take Galvin’s name.

“Actually, I’m here to meet Jack Carter.”

The hostess set the tablet down. “One moment and I’ll get him for you.”

Now, if the diner wasn’t busy, Galvin would’ve sat down, but as it was, there was very little room to move because of the number of people. She had waited tables before, but she couldn’t recall a time when she’d seen this many people in one place, waiting for food.

While she waited, she took in the retro vibe. Sparkly red vinyl covered the booths and stools, which she appreciated. She quickly looked at her nails and chuckled. Maybe she would change her signature red to a sparkly version to match the décor. In the corner, a jukebox played fifties music. The wait staff all had a little pep in their step, and everyone looked as if they were enjoying themselves. What really caught her attention was the antique cash register, which was fully functioning. This alone made her want to work there.

“Galvin?” A tall, fit man, with a head full of dark hair came toward her with his hand extended. She shook his hand. “I’m Jack Carter,” he told her. “Follow me. We’ll go to my office and chat where it’s quiet.”

Galvin followed Jack through the crowd of people, around the counter, through the kitchen and down a hallway. The farther they got, the quieter it became. Jack stepped into his office, placed his hand on the door, and waited for her to enter.

“Are you okay if I shut the door?” he asked. The question made her pause. No one had ever asked her something like this before. She quickly nodded.

“My dad speaks very highly of you.”

Jack chuckled. “Oh, Martin. I do miss him and his antics.”

“Oh, boy.” Galvin sat down, setting her purse on the floor. Instead of walking around and sitting behind his desk, Jack pulled his chair around and sat casually.

“How is your dad?” he asked. “I was pleasantly surprised to see his name pop up in my email. It’d been years since we last talked.”

Which was why Galvin didn’t want her dad reaching out to Jack Carter. She thought it would be awkward and presumptuous to take him up on the proffered, “if you’re ever in town” invitation that everyone says but never truly mean.

“He’s good,” Galvin said. “Close to retirement.”

Jack laughed heartily. “Believe me, I’m counting down the days.” He reached for a sheet of paper on his desk, read it, and then set it back down. “Your dad said you applied to law school in Boston?”

Galvin nodded. “Accepted and deferred. I saw how much it was going to cost me and figured I needed to build my savings account up before I go,” she told Jack. “Which is why I’m here.”

“A lot of people work while in school,” Jack told her. “I know the schools tell you to spend all your free time studying, but honestly, how much can you study?”

Jack had a point. Having her nose buried in overpriced books wasn’t her idea of a good time and wished there was some magic whatever to get her from now to passing the bar exam.

“Anyway.” Jack leaned back in his chair and cross his ankle over his knee. “It’s been nice catching up with your dad. He’s very proud of you.”

A grin spread across her face. “I’ll have to thank him.”

Jack smiled back. “As you know, I told your dad you could work here. It’s up to forty hours a week, sometimes more. My oldest runs somewhat of a dance club or whatever he likes to call it in the back on the weekends. He may ask if you want to work there, but it’s not required as part of your employment here. And as luck would have it, the studio above the diner is available. Your dad said he’s paying your rent?”

Galvin nodded.

“Don’t tell my sons,” he said, laughing. “I don’t want them to get any ideas about me paying for their rent.”

“I promise.” Not that Galvin knew who his sons were or how many he had.

“Before I show you around the diner, let’s head up to the loft. One of my boys is around and he can help bring your things up after we’ve finished the tours.” Jack stood. “I just want to prepare you for when you meet my wife, Pearl. Once I told her you were Martin’s daughter, she insisted on you living at our house so she can take care of you. The family invites will be plentiful. Feel free to ignore them,” Jack chuckled.

“Thanks.” Although it was unlikely she would ignore any or most of them. Having a family was something Galvin always wanted. She grew up without her mom being in her life and longed to have a motherly connection with someone.

Jack walked down the hall away from the diner, and through the back door. They were in a small courtyard with a picnic table and one of those beach umbrellas. In the corner was a wooden staircase.

“This is where staff come to take their breaks,” Jack told Galvin. He pointed to the stairs. “Those are the stairs to the loft.”

“Do I come through the diner to get to them?”

“No,” he said as they climbed. “There is another set on the front side. I’ll show you after we do a quick tour.”

They reached a small landing where a tiny bench sat, allowing someone to sit and look out toward the water. The railing was wide enough for plants or some potted vegetables if she wanted to grow something.

Jack opened the door and waited for her to enter.

The small space had a broom, mop, and a garbage can already there, and on the wall, a shelf with pegs to hang coats.

He motioned for her to step into the kitchen. The oven, refrigerator, and two counters were going to be perfect for her. One had an overhang, giving her space to eat and study at. The sink looked over the courtyard and had a ledge she could use for more plants.

“There isn’t a dishwasher.”

“I don’t need one,” she told him as she looked around the furnished studio. Galvin stepped into the living space. It was bigger than she expected, and she could easily separate her living room from her bedroom with a wall of bookcases.

“It’s not much,” Jack said as they stood in the space. “Your rent includes all the utilities, including the internet. You’ll have a parking pass to park on the street behind the diner. There’s a pathway you can take unless you want to walk around the block.”

“Honestly, this is perfect.”

“Great. We’ll sign a lease to protect ourselves, but this place is yours as long as you want it.”

Galvin nodded and thanked Jack. He put his hand on her shoulder, in a friendly yet fatherly gesture. She was going to like living in Seaport.

“Now, about the diner. I hope you like to be busy.”

“Is it like that all the time?” Galvin pointed toward the window.

“Pretty much. It dies down after dinner, but we get the late-night crowd as they leave the bars.”

“How late are you open?”

“Until three in the morning on Friday and Saturday. Midnight on the other nights.”

“Wow.”

“Don’t worry, scheduling is flexible.”

“So, you’re not really a diner?”

Jack laughed and shook his head. “We haven’t been a diner in the true sense of the word in years. There’s a lot of money to be made in this town, and we like to make it. I’ll take you down and introduce you to Penny. She’s my niece and the manager of Carter’s. You’ll like her.”

When they reached the courtyard, Jack paused. “The one thing you should know about living and working in Seaport is we don’t take shit from tourists. If they’re rude, we are rude back. If they threaten to leave, let them because there are ten more willing to take their spot.”

Galvin let those words sink and then wondered what in the heck she’d gotten herself into.