Page 27 of The Hampton Beach Café 3
Clarkson shrugged, which made Frances do a small double take.
"Sure, I can see that getting to you," he said. "We weren’t exactly exclusive and serious. Why don't I put up a short post addressing it, and let everyone know we aren't dating? It'll make Kennedy happy too."
That might well be true but the entirely flippant tone he said it in made Frances recoil. He was so casual about it––like she was nuts for thinking they were even dating. And what the heck was up with that one-eighty he just pulled?
"Thank you," she said stiffly as the bell tinkled again.
FOURTEEN
Perfect timing,Frances thought as Kennedy strode into the café like it was her own.
"Shall we get started? Then I think we'll go to the Harbor View for the meeting portion."
Luckily the Harbor View was only a two minute walk up the street and Frances wouldn't have to get in the car with her. Frances followed her around as she took notes on all the things they still had as 'pending approval' on their application.
Within fifteen minutes, they were seated at the cocktail bar at the Harbor View.
"I'll have a Pina Colada please," Kennedy said with a thin-lipped smile at the waiter.
"Just a G&T for me, thank you," Frances said. "So, how are we going in your assessment plan?"
Normally she wasn't so forward but the morning had been tense and her nerves were frazzled. That didn't stop Kennedy from looking at her in surprise.
"My findings are...satisfactory," she said, "…so far, at least. There are a few more things I need to talk to you about. Clarkson said you're planning on renovating the garden, and while I think that it would make an ideal addition, it will extend your probation until the work is complete and the council can be satisfied that it's safe for patrons to frequent. We wouldn't want your haste or callousness to get someone hurt, would we?"
With just one sentence, Frances felt her nerves go from frazzled to snapped. "My callousness? Are you serious? What makes you think I'm callous?"
Kennedy tilted her head to one side, her eyes widening as she failed to contain her anger.
Kennedy snorted. "What doesn't? You jump into things you haven't thought about for three seconds, treat everyone around you like they're disposable, and take whatever you want whenever you want, with no consideration for the people you hurt. I've said it before and will say it again, like father, like daughter."
Frances blinked hard. This again? Why did Kennedy keep landing on this, and why was she so violently angry about it?
"What is your problem, Kennedy?" she asked sharply. "I've never done anything to you! You were the bully in high school, always! If anything, I should hate you!"
Turning red in the face, Kennedy leaned forward and hissed between her teeth. "Oh, didn't you? Your family ruined my life. Of course I hate you––"
A wave of confusion and nausea rolled over Frances as she watched Kennedy spit this accusation at her––the anger was real. Kennedy was still talking, fast and low––like she didn’t want anyone to hear her. Kennedy glanced up and caught sight of Frances watching her with a look of complete confusion on her face, stopping mid-sentence.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Frances said. "I really don't know why you hate me so much."
"How can you not...?" Kennedy whispered. "Oh my lord, you really don't, do you?"
Both women fell silent as the waiter arrived with their drinks. Kennedy snatched hers up and took a long sip from the straw.
"No, I don't know."
Kennedy's face had lost any color that had rushed to it in the moments before.
"I have a little brother, you know, William," she said finally. "He graduated from Yale last year. Now, medical school."
What did that have to do with anything?
"Do you remember that I also got into Yale?"
Frances nodded and Kennedy continued.
"Well, I never went," she said.
