Running Northwest (48 page)

“So what do you want me to do Ann, what am I supposed to do?” Derrick asked

“You’re going to forget this night ever happened, you and Erin both. You are going to forget you ever saw Stephanie here. She did not go see Thomas for a reason Derrick. It was dumb luck they almost ran into each other here in town a few days ago. She does not want to hurt him that is why she is leaving, but I suspect she will be back eventually when she is ready. Do not speak a word of tonight ever to anyone especially Thomas, I love him like a son and I will not have you upsetting him. I’ll be seeing him and Daniel soon enough and I’ll know if you told him,” Ann said. The old woman walked closer and leaned over until she was face to face with Derrick and said, “Do you understand me, if you don’t I am sure Pockets will make you understand in his own way
,
”

Derrick was silent and glanced over at Pockets who was looking at Derrick like he was corpse he had killed himself. He looked back at Ann and nodded a silent agreement.

“Wonderful Derrick, you know I do like you, I really do. Your temper pisses me off and concerns me though. Erin should be out front waiting for you now. I don’t want to see you around here for a while I think,” Ann said with an evil smile as she walked through the back door followed by her husband Ben, Jack and Ryan.

Derrick stood up and began walking down the alley but stopped when he heard the gun Pockets was holding click. He froze in place as the older man with gun walked around him the barrel pointed at Derrick’s chest as he moved.

“Ann meant what she was saying Derrick, don’t doubt that. We like that girl an awful lot and Thomas also. It would be wise to do exactly what Ann said otherwise you will be getting a visit from some friends of mine. I think you know what I mean by that,” Pockets said.

“I do Pockets, I understand Ann completely,” Derrick said.

“Good, and don’t forget who owns your booze license Kiddo, they are hard to get around here. It would be a shame to have The Whaleback close down, I like that place. And I am well aware that Thomas has no idea about the arrangement between you and me
,
” Pockets said then adding, “hopefully next time we meet it will be on better terms”. Then the old man nodded for Derrick to walk and Derrick did just that. Pockets put his gun in the holster under his coat and went back inside the bar through the same door Ann used.

Derrick walked to the front of the bar. Erin was waiting for him by his motorcycle. He smiled when he saw her but it was not returned. “So, feel better about yourself honey. You made a complete ass out of yourself,” She said.

“I’m sorry baby, I just couldn’t control myself I was so furious that she was here,” Derrick said grabbing her hand lightly but she pulled it away.

“It was none of your damn business Derrick. Just take me home, I’m pissed and embarrassed and I don’t want to talk to you right now because that was bullshit. You did not even give her a damn chance to speak you just started screaming like a jerk. Let’s just go home maybe I’ll talk to you in a few days,” Erin said as she got on the back of the motorcycle and put on her helmet.

The drive back south to Tillamook was silent and awkward and Derrick could not help but think about how horrible his decision was and what Ann had said to him. As they drove they passed the dirt road that led to Thomas’ cottage, he thought about stopping but Erin was not in the mood and he didn’t bother asking.

.
             
.
             
.

It was getting close to midnight and Daniel had been in bed for a while already. Thomas as promised had read the book of ghost stories and his son seemed to enjoy them, the night could bring a different reaction though. Now Thomas was sitting on a wooden bench next to a dying fire. The stars and moon were coming out from the behind the clouds and it was looking to be a peaceful night compared to the last few.
He sipped the
beer in his hands as he watch
ed
the light reflect off the ocean.
He had a feeling something was up
,
his gut was telling him that but he didn’t know what it was. His thoughts wandered onto Stephanie ever now and then the whole night. At first, he fought it, but now he just let them come. Harley, his oldest dog was sitting in the sand near his feet, her head resting on his leg. He rubbed her ears and head and she closed her eyes enjoying the attention. Thomas smiled and looked down at her and a thought came to his mind.

“Do you even remember Stephanie old girl, that was a long time ago but you have a pretty good memory even though you’re old. I wonder if you do. I wish you could talk I
’
d really love your opinion in this. After all who knows me better than you do huh
?
” Thomas said to his dog.

Harley wagged her tail over the sand in a response of no particular meaning. She knew what she was saying but Thomas could not understand. If she could speak, she would have said something like, “yes I do, I saw her just the other day dude, she petted me, I like her nails
.
”

Thomas smiled and patted the old dog
’
s head and she crouched down in the sand and stretched out on her side. Thomas looked out over the ocean and glanced down the beach, he saw a raccoon savaging the beach about 40 yards away. Between Daniel
s
mom Sarah and Stephanie no other women managed to hold his heart they way those two did. The only one that was close was Jade and that was over before they had a chance to even see where it was going, but that was long before Stephanie came along when he was in his mid-20’s. Stephanie’s face came to his mind again and he smiled a little.

“Where are you I wonder, what are you doing right now Stephanie. Do you ever think of me anymore
?
” Thomas said out loud to himself.

Behind him he heard a cough and sniffles and turned around to see Daniel standing at the slider door.

“Who’s Stephanie, Dad?” the boy asked.

“Oh, she’s just an old friend that Dad thinks about once in a while. What are you doing up, buddy?” Thomas asked as he stood and poured water on the fire’s few remaining embers.

“I had a bad dream Dad, I’m sorry” he said meekly.

Thomas smiled and chuckled a little and said, “Don’t be sorry buddy. Do you want to hang out in my room and watch TV for a bit?”

“Is that okay?” the boy asked.

“Sure. Come on, let’s get inside. It’s pretty cool out here,” Thomas said as he, Harley, and Daniel went inside the house and settled in for the rest of the night. He took one last look out at the water and smiled.

.
             
.
             
.

At the same time a few miles north Stephanie sat on a log on the beach not too far away from her cottage. Haystack rock stood just in front of her and she could hear the waves crashing lightly on the far side of the rock. She looked up at the stars, which were beginning to appear from behind the clouds that covered the skies for the last few days. The walk down the beach after she left Riptide had helped however; an occasional tear went down her cheek. She was worried; worried that Derrick was this very moment talking to Thomas and letting him know she was here on the coast. She hoped that somehow that would not happen. It would ruin everything if he did.

She was furious with Derrick for how he treated her in front of all those people and mad about how he spoke to her. However, she knew Derrick always had a temper that he usually kept in check…usually. Stephanie wondered if this was all her fault by doing things the she had done while out on the coast. Maybe she should have just went and seen Derrick first as soon as she got out here, maybe that would have helped she wondered. She would never know now with what just happened. She thought about her friends as she saw the lights from a ship out on the horizon heading north. She was worried about the old men, Ann and Beth and how things went with Derrick.

She set her elbows on her knees and rested her head on her hand, rubbing her head with the tips of her finger. She missed her dog Shadow right now. Usually when she was upset rubbing her dog's belly made her feel better. Shadow always knew when Stephanie was sad and was always there for her. She turned her head and looked south down the beach. Somewhere that direction was Thomas she thought about him all the time now and could not stop herself. She knew the feelings for him were real now and they were not something she could control. His bearded face, squinty green eyes and big smile entered her imagination and heart.

“I wonder what you’re up to right now Mr. James, are you with your girlfriend or is it just you, your son and your dogs. Why do I get the feeling you’re walking on your beach right now?” she said aloud with nothing to hear her but wind and lightly rolling waves. “This would be a whole lot easier if I knew you still loved me, or missed me at all. I just wish I knew something about what you were feeling Thomas, I’m scared as hell right now.” She also said talking into the nature around her. Another tear rolled down her cheek, which she wiped away. At one point in time, she would have felt ridiculous talking to someone who was not there. For some reason though she didn’t care and didn’t mind, the stars and sand heard her questions and thoughts.

Stephanie stood up and walked further down
the beach and eventually came
to the cement drive that led up a small hill. On the top of that hill was her rented cottage. She looked at it from down on the beach and realized she left the lights on inside. She loved that cottage, despite the stress and conflicting feelings since she had been in Cannon Beach the cottage felt like home to her now, with the exception of her dog not being here however.

After a few minutes, she made her way back to the cottage and went inside. On the couch, her suitcase and bags were sitting and ready to leave the next day. When she was walking up, she noticed the lights in Ann and Ben’s home were off. Ben’s car was not in its parking spot, which told her they were not home yet. She opened the fridge and realized she had not eaten yet that day. She had planned to order food at the Riptide but never got the chance. She grabbed an open bottle of wine, some cheese and crackers and walked out onto the deck. Not even bothering with a glass she pulled the cork out and took a sip from the bottle. She figured Ann and Ben would be home shortly, she knew Ann would stick to her word and check on her so she sat and waited, enjoying her last night with this view.

Around twelve thirty or so, Stephanie saw the headlights of Bens car turn into the drive. Barely two minutes after that Ann walked into Stephanie’s cottage and came out onto the deck, knowing that is where Stephanie would be. Ann looked down at the remains of the cheese and crackers and noticed the empty bottle of wine.

“You feeling okay?” Ann asked as she sat down in the Adirondack chair next to Stephanie.

“Oh yeah I’m fine…you know outside of being berated and screamed at in public by someone I thought was one my oldest friends but yeah I’m good…the wine helped a lot I think” Stephanie said giving a slick grin and a wink.

Ann studied Stephanie’s face, searching for what she was really feeling and thinking.

“So how did it go after I left with Derrick and the boys?” Stephanie asked her speech slightly slurred from the wine.

“Oh you know there was arguing and posturing and such. But it was a good talk and I think Derrick understands things, and what’s expected of him; I don’t think he will be causing any more issues for you” Ann replied.

“So no one was hurt then” Stephanie asked raising an eyebrow.

“No dear, no one was hurt. I'm sure Pockets wanted too for a minute or two but no, no one was hurt. Derrick and Erin left and went home, she was quite pissed at him,” Ann said

“I’m sorry still Ann I feel like I ruined your night,” Stephanie said hunching down in her chair and stretching her legs.

“Bah you didn’t” Ann said with a growl and adding “we were having a good ol' time until Derrick showed up maybe we will have others chances at getting together with you” Ann said suggesting Stephanie coming here again. Stephanie just starred though out at the ocean an
d said nothing except “perhaps.”

“So are you going to be okay?” Ann asked.

Stephanie had been asking this question to herself for the last two hours now. She wasn’t sure herself if she would be okay. “Ann do you think if Thomas knew I was here, like here in Cannon Beach that he would have come to see me and talk to me,” She said.

“Well I wondered about that, and think he would have. I do not know how it would have gone, but I am sure it would not have been as bad as how things went with Derrick. Thomas is a very understanding guy most times
,
” Ann answered.

“Do you think I should have gone to see him, honestly?” Stephanie asked as her gaze shifted and she looked directly at Ann.