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said we d been exclusive. We d roamed the streets of tiny River Falls at the top of the food
chain, taking whomever and whatever we d wanted. Our partnership had been so solid that
when I d left for Juilliard I knew Jordie would always be there for me, whenever I needed
him. I left and never looked back. I hadn t known that someday I would want something
different.
I didn t expect to see Shawn again. A guy like Shawn could move on, and Jordie offered
warmth and security and the press of human flesh. I knew it wouldn t take me too much
time succumb to him, because I d learned long since to take what comfort life offered and
live with it.
I wondered at the time, though, what Jordan had learned.
66 Z. A. Maxfield
Chapter Eleven
The small city of River Falls, Wisconsin, where I grew up had grown considerably
since my childhood. Once a tiny town that boasted a state normal school for teachers, it was
now a bedroom community of St. Paul, a short drive across the border from neighboring
Minnesota.
It still had only two stoplights, one at the beginning of Main Street, and the other,
predictably, at the end. While it now had more suburban tract houses, and a number of chain
fast-food restaurants, Mama Lina s Ristorante Italiano, unchanged since my grandparents
courting days, still occupied its cavernous place on Main Street between the movie theater
and what was once the Sears Catalog store.
I entered the front door during the lull between lunch and dinner and was told to wait
until Jefferson, the grandson of the original Mama Lina, was ready to speak with me.
I remembered Jefferson from high school, primarily because Julie once had a crush on
him. He hadn t been interested though, and had taken some other girl out for most of his
days as an RFHS Wildcat. I hadn t heard anything about him since. Julie had moved on to
college and older boys who liked her just fine.
Cooper Wyatt, said a voice from the hallway behind the bar. Come back here, if you
don t mind, to my office. Jefferson had changed little, his boyish face passive as he ushered
me into a small room with a desk. Framed photos of notables dining in Mama Lina s red vinyl
booths, including Minnesota s famous governor, Jesse Ventura, hung on the walls. I hadn t
heard you were back in town.
I didn t know what to say to that. I didn t suppose anyone cared whether I was back in
town enough to actually talk about it. I haven t been back long.
St. Nacho s 67
I see, he said. I see Julie around every now and then, he added, and I wondered if
he regretted blowing off my sister s crush. More than one man in this town had eyes for my
beautiful, and now very successful, sister.
I genuinely smiled when I thought of Jules. It s been good to be with her. She d sent
someone to Mama Lina s the day before to get me an application to fill out.
I think her coffeehouse is just about the hippest place to be in River Falls, he said.
You can t get near it on a Friday night. Folks come from a ways away. Are you working
there?
Uh, no. That s what I wanted to talk to you about, actually, I said. I refused point
blank to work for my sister. If my past in this town was going to embarrass my family, the
least I could do was not take it to their doorstep. I wondered, since I have culinary arts
training, if you might have a place for me here?
Oh. Here? he asked. I could see his brows come together in the middle. Well.
The last job I had, at Nacho s Bar in California, I did food prep in the kitchen until the
peak hours, and then played the violin from table to table for tips. People seemed to think&
I pushed the application, which I d painstakingly filled out, toward him. It s all there,
restaurants I ve worked in, places I ve played.
He did a double take when he saw my cramped writing. Wow, you ve moved around a
lot. What kind of music did you play? He seemed at least a little interested.
I played customer requests. Love songs, Happy Birthday, mariachi music, Irish folk
songs. Whatever. You know, I was there to amuse the crowd. They liked me.
I see. He steepled his fingers. You know lots of songs, I presume?
Yes, I said. And a lot of classical music.
It s going to be hard. People have long memories.
I know.
It might not be the best thing that you returned, you know? Jordan Jensen is back as
well.
I know. I held my breath.
Is that why you re here? he asked. Because Jordan got out?
I hesitated. It wouldn t do to prevaricate about something that would so quickly
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