Twenty-one
It was starting to feel like Eliza was avoiding him. Joey had hoped to see her on the day of the tea party, but he’d had so many flights he didn’t get a chance to go inside the tea shop until she was long gone.
He’d offered to help clean up, but after half an hour, there was still no sign of her.
“Is Eliza around?” he asked Mackenzie as casually as he could muster.
“She’s not feeling well.”
“Oh. Can I check on her?”
She shook her head. “I’m sure she’s asleep.”
After they locked up the shop, he sent Eliza a text. “Sorry to hear you’re sick. I’m also sorry I’ve been MIA recently – Russell needed me for a lot of flights. I guess I have to do my job occasionally, ha.”
She wrote back the next morning. “Ha ha, yeah. I’ve been busy too. Maybe we’ll find some time next week?”
He first wrote out, “I’d love that,” decided it was too eager, and instead sent, “Sure!”
He spent the rest of the evening in an unfamiliar state – racking his brain for what he might’ve done to offend her.
This was uncharted territory. He rarely stayed in one place long enough to develop any sort of relationship, let alone one that made him doubt himself.
Was it Cora? Had she told Eliza what they talked about and now she was too embarrassed to face him?
His stomach churned at the thought. If only he could ease her mind and put into words the strange pull he had toward her, while simultaneously assuring her it was nothing to worry about.
Every time he tried to think it through, his body became unbearably fidgety. His shoulders ached, his scalp itched, and the muscles in his legs cramped. The longer he went without seeing her, the more he thought about her, until there was little else he could think of.
Joey took a late walk that evening and scanned the dark sky, tracing the stars above. He walked and walked, venturing further, then closer to shore, the sound of the water crashing fading and building as he powered on.
He returned to the house only when his legs were tired and his face was frozen from the wind.
On Monday morning, Russell ruined his plans to stick around the tea shop all day.
“Bad news. All the morning ferries coming in from Anacortes were canceled.”
Joey groaned. “Again?”
“Yep. I’ve got some workers on the way with supplies. We’ll have to leave some things behind, but can you pick them up?”
It wasn’t like the walking had solved anything. Maybe a delay in going to the tea shop was a good thing. It would give him more time to think. “Sure.”
He landed in Anacortes and taxied as close as he could near the ferry terminal. A wall of cars and trucks were stacked upon the sea, sunlight glistening from the clear blue water and onto the scowling faces of stranded passengers.
He tied the plane up and walked down the dock. Children splashed in the shallow waters, shrieking and giggling. The adults’ faces were without smiles, sullen and red.
His phone rang. Russell.
“Hey, I just heard they hired a water taxi.”
“Oh.” He stopped walking. “Okay. I just got here. Is there anyone else I should pick up?”
“Not that I know of. Maybe later? We’ll see. Sorry to waste a flight.”
A couple came down the steps from the commissary with ice creams in hand.
Now there was an idea for a good breakfast.
“Not wasted. I’ll get something to eat. Do you want anything?”
“I’m good. Thanks, Joey!”
Maybe there was some tea on the mainland he could buy for Eliza? It’d be a great excuse to see her.
The ferry terminal was a bit far from town, but he could try walking. Or hitchhiking. Except for the bank robberies, it was an incredibly safe place to live. What were the chances he’d run into that guy again anyway?
He was staring at the map on his phone when he felt a tap on his shoulder. Joey looked up and saw a set of bright white teeth. “Hey there, is that your plane?”
Joey looked over his shoulder. “Uh, yes.”
“Is there any way I can get a ride to Orcas Island? There might not be a ferry for hours and I’ve really got to get over there.”
Something about her voice was familiar. He stared at her dark, shining hair, and the big, black sunglasses perched on her small nose.
Agent Stacy. Now there was something Eliza would want to hear about. If he could get her to say anything…
“You’re with ATF, aren’t you?”
She raised her eyebrows. “I am. Have we met?”
“Briefly,” he said with a laugh. “You’re investigating the robbery.”
“That’s right!” Her expression brightened. “I need to get to the island to look into some things.”
“I’d be happy to give you a lift.” They walked outside, the sun burning a hole in the bright blue sky. “As long as you tell me more about the case.”
She laughed. “Right. I’ll tell you…and every other nosy busy body.”
He wasn’t going to give up that easily. Joey smiled at her, leading the way down the dock and toward the plane.