Free The Sunset Witness by Gayle Hayes Page B

always leaves me feeling drained and
lifeless.  My eyes suffer the most.  I'd worn my glasses to Twyla's Saturday
night to conceal the puffy lids and redness.  The extra makeup I'd worn left me
feeling overdone, like one of the customers.  Joel told me about her but I had
to see her for myself to fully appreciate how accurate his description was. 
The furrows in her face and bags under her eyes were accentuated by the volume
of foundation and powder she'd used to conceal them.  I hoped no one at the
restaurant was laughing at me behind my back Saturday night.
    Joel had asked if I enjoyed my visit with Sarah.  I
told him I never found her.  He said he didn't have an address for her because
she told him she was going back to Pennsylvania.  I asked him if he'd talked to
her lately.  He'd talked to her Friday.  He gave her a hard time because I had
to postpone sightseeing Saturday with Michael until Sunday.  Joel was surprised
Sarah didn't call me back.
    I'd planned to tell Joel something came up and I
couldn't make it on Sunday.  I was in no mood to have my heart broken again. 
The first thing out of Joel's mouth when he saw me was, "Michael is really
looking forward to Sunday."  I pretended I was, too.
    While we waited for our first customer, Joel and I
brought each other up to date on our histories.  I wondered what attracted Joel
to Sunset.  He lived on the surf, and Sunset was known for having great surf. 
He ran out of money at the same time Twyla needed a server.  I was surprised to
learn there were apartments on the hill above Sunset.  Joel shared a
two-bedroom with a friend who worked in Hoquarten.  The friend was touring
Europe, so Joel invited Michael to stay with him for the summer.  They'd met at
the university in Las Vegas.  Joel's childhood best friend died suddenly, and
Joel decided to put his education on hold and live a little.  Joel was raised
in Portland.  After his father died, his mother moved to Las Vegas and then to
the east coast when she remarried.  Joel said he'd never leave the Pacific
Northwest.
    The alarm woke me after I'd drifted off to sleep
again.  After a long shower and three mugs of coffee, I started feeling as if I
could join the human race again.  Joel had told me not to dress up, so I wore
jeans, a Beatles t-shirt I'd purchased in London, and sneakers.  We'd be
outside seeing the sights, so I'd have my yellow hoody with me.  I transferred
the essentials from my purse to the bum bag that I'd also bought in London. 
While I waited for Joel, Breanna, and Michael to arrive, I answered email and
tried not to notice there was nothing from Sarah.
    I heard a vehicle and shut down my laptop.  I was surprised
to see Michael standing alone on the porch.  He told me Breanna was in an
accident on the way back to Hoquarten Saturday night.  Michael asked if I still
wanted to go out.  I could have said I thought we should wait for Joel, because
I had no idea where he planned to take us.  Or I could have suggested we go to
the hospital to see Breanna.  However, the chemistry between Breanna and me was
not great.  I was sorry she was hurt, but I knew she would not have expected me
to go to the hospital.
    In spite of my vow never to fall in love again, I was
glad fate had thrown Michael and me together, and we'd be alone for the entire
day.
    Michael had backed into the spot in front of the
beach house.  When I saw the black Lexus, I wondered what he did for a living and
was sorry I hadn't asked Joel for more information.  I decided not to comment
on the car.  It might be a rental.  If he actually drove a dented, older car
with peeling paint, he'd be sure I broke up with him because of it.  The Lexus
smelled new.  I was surprised when Michael asked what I thought of it.  I said
it was very luxurious.  He waited for me to say more.  Then he told me a woman
in Las Vegas refused to go out with him when she saw he was driving a car made
in Japan.  I told him I drove a