CHAPTER 26MR. CHAO
Sam and I finally left and had Winston drive us over to the Ambassador Beach Bar. I told him he could come back for us in about an hour, which gave him the opportunity to make a little extra money. Joe was there, at his usual place behind the bar, not as happy as I remember. Gone was the toothy smile, the open and friendly eyes. His face had some uncharacteristic worry lines and he no longer handled the drinking glasses like a skilled juggler.
Sam and I decided to sit at the bar. There was a pleasant, cooling breeze blowing from the ocean—just enough to blow Sam’s auburn hair back, framing her face. She had let it grow longer during the past couple of years and though she had initially cut it short for the trip, it was growing back, and I have to say, it became her ver
