"What are you doing here?" Jake asked as he looked behind to make sure no one from the table could see him and Ivy.
"Last I checked, it was a free country. Unless there were changes I am not aware of," she responded as she came to hug him.
He let her, but did not partake of the greeting festivities in any manner whatsoever. It was as if her hands went around a statue. She released him and smiled as she looked at him, inspecting his frame.
"You look really good."
"Thanks," he responded as he pushed her further to the side so she would remain out of focus.
Across the mall restaurant space, an expecting and eagle-eyed Hazel had spotted the contact between the two and in as inconspicuous a manner as possible watched without alerting the guest in her presence of the happenings elsewhere.
"So Cindy, how have you been?"
"I've been alright. Busy."
"The motel remodel?"
"Yeah, that. You heard?"
