AFTER A FRUITLESS SEARCH for my necklace at the cafe and many tears on my part, we reluctantly gave up and drove over to the marine store.
“Welcome to Melvin’s Marine Emporium,” Chad said chirpily. He adjusted the name tag on his blue vest, then held out his hand to Scooter. “Nice to see you back here, Mr. McGhie.”
“I’m surprised you aren’t on a first-name basis by now, considering my husband is in here practically every day,” I said.
“That’s what we like to see—satisfied return customers,” Chad said with a big grin on his face. “Now, what can I help you with today, sir?”
Well, of course they were fond of return customers. The whole marine industry depended on repeat business. Everything on a boat broke down frequently, almost as if it had been engineered that way. And while you might
