Chapter 7
Nate
This was a mistake.
I know it as soon as we sit down in a booth at The Brew House.
The scene here is a little too hip for me and the crowd is on the young side.
I suggested it, because it was new since I was here last, and I figured I couldn’t go wrong with a brewery and taproom.
Not to mention, the only other option would be The Kerrigan Pub, which has been around since before I was born, and was always the local hangout for the old sheriff and his cronies.
I have no desire to bump into any of them, not when I’m taking a pretty girl out for a drink.
Except, that was probably a mistake as well.
It seemed like a good idea, a nice distraction for what otherwise might have turned into a night of solo drinking to nurse the sting of rejection I have no right to feel, but Ginny is not the right solution.
Don’t get me wrong, she’s a knockout and clearly in the market for a little diversion, but she also owns the local hardware and supply store.
I’m a contractor who does not want to have to drive into Spokane, wasting a couple of hours, whenever I need a box of screws or some duct tape, only to avoid her when whatever this might be is over.
Also, she is not Savvy.
There are so many things wrong with this situation I created.
It started when I walked out of the house, followed by the look of disappointment on Tatum’s face when I mentioned I was going out for a drink, and now I’m sitting here, waiting for a server to show up and take our order, realizing I suck at this parenting shit.
Or maybe I just suck at life in general.
“That bad, huh?”
I lift my head and meet Ginny’s eyes. The look in them is sympathetic, so instead of insulting her by pretending nothing is wrong, I opt for honesty.
“I’m sorry. It’s just, I realize I’m here with you for all the wrong reasons, and it isn’t fair to you.”
She waves me off with her hand and shakes her head, chuckling.
“My…you are a serious one, aren’t you?” Then she leans forward, patting my forearm resting on the table.
“Honey, you need to lighten up a little. When you walked into the store earlier—wearing that serious look on your face—I was just flirting with you a little to see if I could get you to crack a smile. You did me one better than that and offered a drink. I’m not gonna say no to a drink with a handsome guy like you.
I may be a fool on occasion, but I’m not an idiot.
Besides, you looked like you could use a friend, and I’m always in the market to expand my slim circle. ”
I search her eyes for any sign she might be covering up hurt feelings, but all I see is open honesty. When I blow out an audible sigh of relief, she laughs, the sound as bold and attractive as the woman herself. It puts a grin on my face.
“Yessss. There it is,” she claims triumphantly as she points at my face.
“Good evening, folks.” The server is a young Black guy with a friendly smile.
“What can I get you?” He points at two massive blackboards on the wall behind the bar listing names of what I assume are the resident brews on one of them, and the other lists choices of easy pub grub.
“We have ales and IPAs at the top, followed by our selection of lagers, and if you’re looking for a bolder flavor, we have a sweet German-style bock and a dark stout.
Of course you’re welcome to try a selection of your choice with our three or five glass tasting flight. ”
Ginny indicates for me to go first, perhaps waiting to see if I’ll pass on drinks with her after all.
“Line me up three of your favorites,” I tell the guy, adding, “and maybe bring us that fried combo platter to share.” It basically offers a sampling of everything on the menu. A little belatedly, I turn to my companion. “If that’s okay with you?”
“Honey, fried is the magic word with me. I came by these curves honestly.”
I notice our server trying to check out said curves covertly. He fails miserably when Ginny catches him staring and points two fingers at her own eyes.
“Up here, my friend. Up here. I’ll do a flight of three as well. The blond ale, your pilsner, and the bock beer.”
With a mumbled, “Of course,” the guy slinks off in the direction of the bar, and I’m about to return my attention to the woman across from me, when I notice the front door opening.
In walks Savvy, out of uniform this time.
She looks more approachable, younger even, in a simple pair of jeans and an unzipped hoody over a tank top.
I’m too busy studying her, it takes me a moment before I catch sight of Auden Maynard behind her. Also no longer in uniform.
“I see…”
I turn my head and find Ginny smiling at me.
“Only one reason a man looks at a woman like that,” she shares.
I shake my head. “Nah, old news. Very old.”
“Maybe so, but I’m thinking there’s a story here.”
I scoff. “Not a pretty one.”
“Well, you’ve got a flight of beers coming, a fried combo platter on the way, and a new friend who happens to be a good listener sitting across from you.”
In the end, it turned out to be exactly that simple. I haven’t really talked about my life before leaving this town with anyone. Why would I? It became a past I didn’t care to remember the moment I walked away.
But being back in town, confronted with everything I thought I’d forgotten, I find I want to talk about it. Especially with someone who seems understanding and kind, and who is new enough to town, she has no preconceived ideas about who I am.
I end up giving this virtual stranger my life’s story. From my rough childhood, my brushes with the law, the support of her uncle Will in finding my path, my relationship with Savannah, and the reason for my abrupt departure from Silence a decade and a half ago.
When I take the last sip of the stout—my preferred beer of the three—and sit back, I’ve even shared how I ended up a single father to a beautiful teenage daughter.
It’s pretty sad when you can sum up your whole life in less than forty-five minutes.
“I’m sorry, I’ve been yapping off your ear,” I apologize to Ginny, who has been listening attentively, which makes me feel like an ass. I haven’t even asked her a single damn question. “I’m not usually a big talker so I’m not sure what got into me, but let me apologize.”
She ignores what I say, waving it off with a hand, before she pins me with a serious look.
“You need to tell her.”
It takes me a moment to clue in she’s talking about Savvy.
“Water under the bridge.”
“No,” she disagrees, shaking her head. “It isn’t. The whole time you were talking to me, she’s been glancing over here.”
I continue to resist the temptation to turn around I’ve been battling since seeing her walk in.
“Pretty sure that ship has sailed,” I insist. “Clearly, she’s moved on.”
“With Auden? I don’t think so. For one thing, the man is a natural flirt who hits on anything with two legs and a heartbeat.
She’d never put up with that. Look, I could tell you all the reasons why, but most of that is hearsay and not mine to share.
Which is why I really think you should talk to her.
There’s obviously a lot you don’t know about each other. ”
She leans forward and places a hand on my arm.
“You don’t want to live the rest of your life wondering what if. Trust me on that.”
Savvy
I can’t believe I let Auden drag me out here.
I should’ve been back at the office, or maybe grabbing a few hours of rest in my bed after slogging through the rough terrain around the lake most of the day.
Instead I’m sitting here, wishing I could stop glancing over at Nate’s broad back.
His date sitting across from him caught me looking a few times already.
I caught sight of them almost immediately as we walked in.
I would’ve turned right back around if Nate hadn’t already seen me.
Not that Auden would’ve let me walk out that easily.
He was pretty insistent, suggesting we could easily discuss the case over some food and a drink.
I’d still been tempted to duck into bed and hide out there after I stopped at home for a quick shower and change.
The shower had been necessary. I was covered in mud, and God knows what else, and was pretty rank by the time the state police forensic team showed up to the site.
We discovered the original crime scene midafternoon when the sun was at its hottest. It was the loud buzzing of flies that allowed us to pinpoint the location, just steps from the trail. We probably would’ve walked right by it otherwise.
There was a fair bit of blood once we knew where to look, and we also discovered what looked like the blunt object—the thick end of a tree limb with biological material stuck to it—used to knock our victim out.
Rather than inadvertently mess up the scene, I made the call to bring back the state crime scene techs.
I guarded the scene while Auden hiked back to meet them and guide them in.
It was already getting dark out by the time the techs processed the scene.
“Feel better?”
I look up at Auden, who appears to be studying me.
“Maybe,” I reluctantly admit.
The greasy food may not have been the healthiest choice, but it was tasty and it filled my belly. Comfort food was just what I needed.
“Good. You were starting to look a little the worse for wear. You’re not doing anyone a favor by running yourself into the ground.”
Ironically, these are similar words I used on my father, back when he was still sheriff and burning the candle at both ends. He didn’t listen and ended up getting hit with a major heart attack that landed him in the hospital, where he underwent open heart surgery.
I’m painfully aware I carry at least half my father’s genes, and already my doctor cautioned me about elevated blood pressure last time I had a physical.