Page 25 of Tide and Seek
As we reached town, the open road narrowed.Out at Malibu Lagoon, surfers in black wetsuits straddled their boards, bobbing in the glassy swell, while tourists clogged the sidewalks near the Malibu Country Mart.The coastal wildness had given way to polished disorder: stucco boutiques with hand-painted signs, a weathered falafel stand squeezed between a cold-pressed juice bar and a taco shack.
With the help of Max’s memory and the Hummer’s GPS, we headed for one of Max’s favorite Mexican restaurants.We pulled off the main road onto a side street and into a cramped lot.Beside the parking area, there was a low-slung building painted faded turquoise with terracotta trim cracked from too many salty summers.A crooked sign over the door read El Mar y Sol in white scrawl.
“It doesn’t look like much,” Max said, when I killed the engine.“But the food is amazing.I ate here all the time when I’d stay at the beach house.”
“Some of the best places aren’t fancy,” I drawled.“Of course, since this is Malibu, they’ll probably charge thirty dollars for two tacos and a spoonful of beans.”
He grimaced.“You’re not far off.”
I jumped out of the big vehicle and Max scrambled awkwardly from the Hummer.A warm breeze tugged at my shirt as I slipped my arm around Max’s shoulders.Approaching the front door of the eatery, the air was fragrant with the scent of grilled peppers and sizzling meat.
Considering how tense Max had seemed in the car, it was a nice surprise when he looked at me suddenly and said, “I feel better already just being alone with you, Royce.”
“Yeah?”Pleasure washed through me at his uncharacteristic enthusiasm.“I’m happy about that too.”
“Never in a million years did I think we’d come to Malibu together.”He smiled.“I wanted to bring you here, of course.But we’re both so busy and it’s hard to get away.”
“Well, we’re here now.”I smiled down at him.
“Yes.”He winced.“Hopefully we won’t find any more dead bodies.”
I gave a weak smile.“Oh, I think we’ll be fine from here on out.”
“From your lips to God’s ears,” he murmured.
We entered the dark restaurant and it took a moment for my eyes to adjust after being out in the sunlight.The temperature shifted from the outside air to the warmth inside, carrying the rich aroma of toasted cumin and fresh corn tortillas.The lighting was warm and inviting, amber pendant lights hanging from the ceiling, casting a golden glow over the space.Colorful papel picado banners stretched in festive zigzags overhead, and the walls were painted in deep terracotta, adorned with hand-painted Talavera tiles.
A girl with dark eyes and curly black hair stood behind an oak counter stacking menus.She was young and very pretty, her smile shy when she first noticed us.Then she straightened and said cheerfully, “Welcome to El Mar y Sol.How many in your party?”
“Two,” I said.
She grabbed two of the laminated menus.“Follow me, please.”She led the way through the busy restaurant, past tables of crying kids in high chairs and groups of people in suits and ties having loud business lunches.Wooden tables of varying sizes filled the space, some topped with colorful mosaic tiles and others with smooth, polished wood surfaces.The bar showcased an impressive collection of tequilas and mezcals in bottles of various shapes, backlit to highlight their amber and gold tones.
The sound of conversation blended with the rhythmic chopping of knives on cutting boards from the semi-open kitchen and the gentle strumming of guitar music playing through hidden speakers.The satisfying hiss of fajitas on a hot cast iron plate punctuated the atmosphere, and customers turned their heads to watch as servers carried the steaming dishes to tables.
My nerves were already on edge from the events of the day, so I was grateful when the hostess led us to a booth in a quieter section of the restaurant.Around us were mostly couples, some gray-haired and clearly comfortable with each other, others younger, possibly on first dates, making stilted conversation.El Mar y Sol seemed to appeal to both the young and the old.
“Harry will be your waiter, but can I get you a drink while you wait for him?”she offered politely.
“I’ll have a margarita, blended, no salt, please,” Max said eagerly.
I smiled at his enthusiasm.“I’ll have iced tea.”
“I’ll just go get those for you.”She headed back into the noisier side of the restaurant.
“I realize you’re driving, but you could have one drink,” Max said, frowning.
“I know, but I feel on edge with everything that’s happened.”
“Which is exactly why you should have a margarita.”Max smiled.
“I’d rather not dull my senses any.”I nodded at the dark-eyed kid who dropped off a basket of warm tortilla chips and salsa.“I’ll just focus on the chips and salsa,” I said with a smirk.
Max shrugged and helped himself to some chips.The drinks arrived quickly and before long, a tall, blond kid with a nose ring approached to take our order.He looked like a surfer dude, but a very tired surfer dude.His eyes were bloodshot and his T-shirt wrinkled, but despite appearing half asleep on his feet, he was polite and efficient.
Once the ordering was out of the way, Max sipped his margarita, appearing more relaxed.I studied him as he placed his napkin on his lap, taking in his high cheekbones, thick dark lashes, and his full mouth.He really was good-looking, and I sometimes forgot just how attractive he was.Being away from Rainy Dale allowed me to see him in a different light.More objectively.And even objectively, Max was a catch.
As awkward as Max could be, I understood why James struggled with letting him go.When you knew Max, really knew him, his quirkiness was less abrasive and more endearing.Max always assumed that most people disliked him, and he did put people’s backs up easily.But many people in Rainy Dale loved Max.Girdy was one and many of his patients refused to go to any other doctor.Sure, he put his foot in it more often than not, but one thing you couldn’t argue with was that Max was an excellent doctor.He cared deeply about his patients.
