Chapter 86

We were driving past Biscottis as we spoke. “Biscottis,” I said, pointing at the restaurant, “is one of our favorites. Next time you’re in town we’ll take you there.”

“How about lunch tomorrow?” Charles said.

“We can do that,” I said, “unless you’d rather drive down to St. Augustine for lunch.”

“How far is it?” Philip said.

“About thirty miles,” Mike said.

“Then St. Augustine it is,” Charles said. “We’ve never been there.”

We were driving down Riverside Avenue, and I pointed out various places of interest.

“Speaking of tearing down buildings,” I said. “They demolished a good-sized hospital right here and built this Publix Supermarket and strip center in its place.”

“Yeah,” Mike said. “I always wondered about that one too.”

“Actually,” I said, “I think I read that Riverside Hospital just couldn’t compete with St. Vincent’s and Baptist Hospitals. It was large, but not large enough to achieve any economies of scale.”