Avery
WEDNESDAY
Iwalked the fifty minutes along the waterfront to Gloucester station.
Taking the long way, the scenic way, because I needed that.
The harbor was calm, boats bobbing in their slips, and the sun was doing that thing where it turned everything gold.
Once again I was seeing life that only revealed itself when you slowed down.
It was a beautiful day in a beautiful part of the world.
I bought my ticket and after a short wait I was headed back to Boston on the commuter rail.
The rhythm of the wheels on the track, the low rattle of the train car, the hum of it all…
it was making me weary. That and the weight of the weekend.
But it had gone better than I thought. The family were so pleased to see me.
No one fell apart in a way I couldn't handle by now.
I told them I'd stop by more often, and I meant it.
I leaned my head against the window and thought about Cade.
Any other time I could have fallen for a man like that. Easily.
He was everything I'd never had. At least from second impressions. There was something about him that was neither bad boy nor good boy. Maybe oil and water really did go together. Maybe all it needed was a little mustard.
I chuckled at that. I had certainly been spicy enough to fit the bill.
And he had stayed. Not only stayed… he'd gone the extra mile for a stranger. For me.
I needed to apologize at some point. For the silence. When I had time. When I had the words.
I didn't want to just turn up after the weekend of nothing, but I had to get my bike. And even that thought was spiking my anxiety. Walking into the clubhouse, seeing him, not knowing what to say.
I needn't have worried.
When I got to the Skulls, Cade had been sent out on a run. Wrench was there, all business. He didn't mention Cade once. It was all about the bike and the deal he'd gotten on the stator.
I gave him the hundred he said the part had cost, and he wouldn't take a cent for the labor. Said he'd had nothing else to do so it didn't matter. I didn't argue. Men like that, you just say thank you.
Finally I asked, "Do you know when Cade will be back?"
"No. But I can give you his number."
"All good," I said. "I've already got it."
Then I headed home for the rest of the week to worry about money and where it was coming from.