Free Farewell to Cedar Key by Terri Dulong Page A

like it, the position is yours.”
    â€œOh, gosh. Yes. Definitely. Yes, I’d love the position, and thank you. Thank you so much.” I knew I was babbling, but I couldn’t help it.
    He laughed again and reached his hand across the table to shake mine. “Well, welcome aboard, Josie. I think I’m going to enjoy working with you.”
    Brandy cleared away our lunch plates and asked if there would be anything else.
    â€œCoffee?” Simon asked.
    â€œSure,” I said, not knowing his schedule. “Sounds great.”
    â€œSo,” he said. “Tell me about yourself. You’re originally from Cedar Key? Do you have siblings? Do they live here too?”
    I nodded. “Yes, I’m originally from here. I’m an only child, but my parents live on the island. My mom’s an author, and they live out near the airport.”
    â€œNo shit,” he said, causing me to smile. I liked this guy. He was a doctor, but he was down to earth and easy to talk to. I had a feeling he’d be a hit with the locals. “Your mom’s an author? What does she write?”
    â€œRomance novels,” I said, and heard him say No shit again, followed by laughter.
    â€œWow. I don’t think I’ve ever met a romance writer before. Do you also write?”
    I shook my head, and it was my turn to laugh. “Ah, no. Much to my mom’s disappointment, I am not a writer. She had a degree in journalism and was working as a journalist when she met my dad. She was hoping I’d follow in her footsteps.”
    â€œBut you chose the noble profession of nursing. Good for you. Sounds like you’re quite an independent woman. Raising a child alone, living on your own, doing what you enjoy for work rather than something you felt obligated to do.”
    â€œThanks,” I said to Brandy as she placed the coffee in front of us. “Hmm, I guess you could say that,” I told Simon. “Actually, my mom would probably say I’m much too independent. How about you? Are you originally from St. Augustine? Dr. Clark said that’s where your practice was located.”
    Simon took a sip of coffee and shook his head. “No, I’m originally from Gainesville. Born and raised there, went to the university, and that’s why I wanted to set up a practice here. I come from a pretty large Italian family—two brothers and two sisters. My dad’s Italian, but my mom is British. They met when she did a transfer year at UF, where he was also a student. We used to come to Cedar Key for long weekends when I was a kid. Boating, fishing, that kind of thing. I always loved it here, and it brings back happy family memories, so when the opportunity arose, I thought, why not? Just do it, Simon. Live on the island and open up a practice there.”
    I nodded. “Well, good for you. Sounds like you also do what will make you happy. Gosh, I can’t even imagine having four siblings. Are you close? Do you still see each other?”
    Simon laughed again. “Oh, yes. My parents insist on it. They’re very big on family. So at least once a month we gather at their house in Gainesville for dinner and to catch up on things. My brothers live in the Tampa area, and both sisters live near Jacksonville. So getting to the folks’ house for dinner is easy logistically.”
    The more Simon talked, the more I liked him. “And so,” I said, remembering Chloe’s words to Gabe, “how do you think Mrs. Mancini will like living here on the island?”
    Without hesitating, he said, “Oh, there isn’t a Mrs. Mancini. Not anymore. I’ve been divorced for over ten years. She remarried—a lawyer this time. So she’s Stephanie Pope and lives on Amelia Island.”
    I knew Amelia Island was on the east coast and close to St. Augustine, where Simon’s previous practice had been located. I thought it odd that he would stay in the same area for ten years