Eye of the Beholder by Kathy Herman

Gordy said softly. “As far as Pam and I are concerned, there is no controversy. And the only thing that would take the happy out of the occasion is your lettin’ what anybody else thinks keep you from comin’. It means a lot to us to have you there.”
    Mina’s eyes watered. “Thank you for saying so. I will tell Ali.”
    “That’s better. Okay, where would you ladies like to sit?”
    Mina looked at Ellen. “Is table in corner by window all right for you?”
    Ellen nodded. “Yes, that’s fine.”
    Gordy picked up two menus and led the women to theirchosen table. “Someone will be right with you to take your order.” He winked at Ellen and put two coupons on the table. “Enjoy one of Pam’s special new desserts—on the house.”
    Gordy went out to the kitchen looking for Pam and nearly ran headlong into Weezie Taylor, his assistant manager. “I’ll bet I know why you’re here already. Okay, go ahead. Toot your horn.”
    Weezie let out a robust, contagious laugh. “Whooooeeee! We were up twenty percent last night. And I personally sold —notice I did not say gave away —seventeen pieces of Pam’s melt-in-your-mouth fruit pies, two bread puddings, and five pieces of triple-chocolate mousse cake.” Weezie pranced around in a circle and then stopped, her hand out. “Give me five.”
    Gordy slapped her hand with his. “You’re somethin’ else. Keep it up and I’ll be givin’ you a raise.”
    “I’m tellin’ you, boss, the staff was pumped. Didn’t I tell you we could get more people in here if you’d let me tend to the advertisin’?”
    “Yep, you did. I’m proud of you, Weezie.”
    Pam Townsend appeared and locked arms with Weezie. “Hey there, girlfriend. I’ve got six fruit pies hot out of the oven, and six more going in.”
    Weezie’s smile was a half moon. “Excellent. Now if we can just get Mr. Congeniality here to stop givin’ it away.”
    Gordy went over and stood between Weezie and Pam, an arm around each. “But I love spoilin’ my customers.”
    “I know,” Weezie said. “Can’t you spoil ’em a little less often?”
    A waitress poked her head in the kitchen. “Boss, the guys are out back. They’re wondering if you’ll be joining them.”
    “Yeah, tell ’em I’ll be right there.” He turned to Weezie. “Hang around here much longer and you’re gonna end up workin’.”
    “All right, I’m leavin’. Think I’ll go buy me a new dress with that raise I know I’m gonna get.”
    Gordy laughed. “Go on, scat.”
    Weezie left the kitchen, and he turned to Pam and pressed his lips to hers. “We’ve got plenty of help out front. I’m gonna go have lunch with the guys.”
    “Good, I need you out of my hair. I’ve got to make some more pineapple bread pudding and a triple-chocolate mousse cake before Weezie’s shift starts.” Pam giggled. “This is really fun.”
    Ellen looked out the window of the crab shack and nodded at Gordy who was having lunch on the back deck with his friends.
    “Gordy’s such a nice man,” Ellen said. “I’m glad he and Pam are getting married.”
    Mina nodded. “I remember Ali wept with him when Jenny lost fight with cancer. My husband did not think Gordy would recover from deep loss. But now to see he has found love again … well, it’s great blessing.”
    “I didn’t know Jenny, but it’s easy to see how crazy he is about Pam.”
    Mina looked out at Gordy and smiled. “Are we ready now to go?”
    “Yes, thank you for inviting me. This was so nice.”
    Ellen’s cell phone rang. Not now, Guy . “Excuse me,” she said to Mina, then reached in her purse, picked up the phone, and pushed the Talk button. “Hello.”
    “Hi, it’s me,” Guy said. “Kinsey and I are having lunch and I was thinking of you and thought I’d call and see how your morning went.”
    “Uh, fine. Pretty uneventful.”
    “Did you get any more written on the book?”
    “No, I just couldn’t get into it. You know how that goes. I’ll work on