The Homecoming

Iris grinned at him. “Why don’t you get your master’s and work with me? You have such good instincts about this sort of thing.”

“Why would I want to go back to school when I can surf and ski and dive on my time off?”

That was Troy, Iris thought. The fun guy. Active, busy, always on the move, dive trips to faraway waters, ski trips to exotic runs, very athletic and every sport was extreme and on the edge. It was one of the things she had enjoyed about him even if she didn’t share his kind of fun—he was untamed. Adventurous. He was a little younger than Iris—just turned thirty. And he was an exceptional history teacher.

“You can leave this in my hands,” she assured him. “If you think of anything more, let me know.”

Four (#ulink_019be097-841c-5381-a646-536ac51942a9)

Seth hadn’t expected his return to Thunder Point to mean he’d spend so much time with his mother, but he visited her several times a week. He had planned to spend more time with both parents, gradually wearing down Norm’s orneriness. Every week or ten days he’d wrangle an invitation to dinner. “Don’t mention to Pop that I’m coming or he’ll find a reason he’s needed at the station,” he told his mother.

“Oh, I think I know your father by now,” she said. And Seth could see by the look on Norm’s face that he was always surprised to see his youngest son present.

While Seth wasn’t making much progress with his father, something he hadn’t intended at all was showing on his mother. She was growing stronger, more confident and happier because he came around so much. He brought flowers or sweets sometimes. He happily ate her leftovers for his lunch—pot roast and potatoes, chicken, stuffing and gravy, meat loaf, lasagna—all the calorie-rich meals he grew up on. He worked out a lot so he needed those calories. Norm was cursed to be skinny but strong as an ox while Gwen grew ever rounder and softer, her exercise coming from housework and cooking. But her cheeks were definitely rosier, her eyes sparkled again.

The sparkle had left Gwen’s eyes for the first time when he’d been in that accident and lay in a hospital in Seattle, fighting for life, fighting for his leg. And then again some years later when her next-door neighbor and best friend, Rose, died. Gwen was strong—she had carried on. But it was apparent that having Seth home, obviously trying to reconnect with the father who had once been so proud of him, was filling her well.

While he was there for lunch she chattered about her mah-jongg group, shopping, his brothers, Nick and Boomer, and the grandkids. She asked about his business in town—she wanted to know all about the problems he encountered from warning drivers to slow down to the occasional arrest. She scurried, making him comfortable and feeding him. When she finally sat with him she didn’t eat; she just gazed at him and listened to every word he could get in between swallows.

“Do you see Iris?” she asked.

He nodded and wolfed down more of his meat loaf sandwich. “I run into her sometimes. You probably see her more than I do.”

“During school she seems to be busy all the time.”

“That’s understandable,” he said.

“I could have her to dinner! You could come!”

He put down his sandwich. “Let’s not do that, Mom.”

“But Seth, have you spent any time with Iris?”

“Sure. A couple of weeks ago I wrapped up my run at Cooper’s place and had a beer and pizza with Iris and Grace. We caught up on a lot of old stories. But if it’s all the same to you, I don’t want you to set me up.”

“But Seth, you and Iris were always so close and I—”

“Mom, no matter who the girl is, if I’m going to date someone I don’t want to be hooked up by my mother!” He narrowed his eyes a little bit. “Do you understand this?”

“Well, of course!”

“And you swear—no funny business?”

“Humph. I suppose.”

“Behave or I’ll stop buying you flowers.”

“Seth...”

He took another bite of his sandwich. “I have wondered—who’s cutting her grass? I’ve been away a long time,” he said.

“This or that high school boy sometimes, but mostly she takes care of her yard herself. You should see that house, Seth. All she’s done inside since Rose passed—she turned it into a showplace. It was always a nice house, but Iris really made it modern and beautiful.” Then, with a hand cupping her mouth, she continued as if imparting a secret. “I think selling the flower shop gave her a little nest egg.”

Seth laughed at his mother. It was Thunder Point at its best—everyone knew everything about everyone, right down to who they were dating and how much there might be in their nest egg. Plus, his mother really wanted him to see the inside of that house.

* * *

There were high school football games every Tuesday and Friday night and when they were home games, like tonight, Seth was absolutely certain to be there. Since he was still fairly new on the job, he wore his uniform. There were two deputies on duty plus school security, but being uniformed was all part of the town recognizing him as the law. A few more weeks and he’d be at the high-profile sporting events in civilian clothes, just as Mac had done the past few years. And with a gun on his ankle and a cell phone in his pocket, he’d be as much at the call of his staff in need of a supervisor as any other time.

Seth didn’t wander around in the stands but stayed at the end of the bleachers, on the track. From that position he had a view of the stands, the field, the parking lot, the concession area. Football was one of the town’s priorities and most of the town was there. As people passed him they said, “Hey, Seth.” Some stopped to talk a minute, shaking his hand. He saw some familiar faces—Mac, Gina and Mac’s younger kids gave him a wave; the coach’s wife, Devon, and their kids, Austin and Mercy, were right behind them. Predictably, there were a few guys he’d played ball with in high school, but it wasn’t the first time he’d seen them—the ice had been broken before he took over the substation.

He saw Iris climbing up a bleacher aisle to a higher perch. She was followed by Troy and Grace. She looked over her shoulder and laughed at something and it made him smile. That might be the thing he missed most—her wit, her unrestrained laugh. When she forgot she was mad at him, she laughed like old times, like that night they had pizza on Cooper’s deck.

“Hi,” a voice said.

He turned and, standing right there, a few inches shorter than him, smiling kind of wistfully, was Sassy. Um, Sue Marie. He smiled at her. He forced himself not to think about a gaping hole in her mouth from a missing tooth.

“I have a feeling we got off on the wrong foot,” she said.

“You still come to all these games?” he asked, because surely she wouldn’t know that he’d be here. He didn’t even live around here.

“I didn’t for years, but my daughter is cheering.” She pointed over to the line of varsity cheerleaders in their short skirts. “Rachel, third from the end.”

Whew, Seth thought. Little glass of wine before the game, Sassy? Her breath smelled like a winery.

“She looks just like you,” he said. “Hard to believe you have a daughter that old. You still look sixteen.”

“Aw. You’re just flattering me. That’s what I remember best about you—you’ve always been such a gentleman. Why don’t we try this again, Seth. Let’s get together for a drink or something. Have a few laughs. We can talk about old times.”

He gave her a very patient smile. “Tell you what, Sassy. I think we’d be better leaving the past where it is.”

“Come on,” she said. “We had a few problems. We were kids....”

He shook his head. “We’ve moved on from high school and I won’t hold a grudge if you won’t. But if we talk about old times, we won’t be laughing. I’m sure I’ll see you around town.”

“That’s a no, then?”

“Not that I don’t appreciate the invitation,” he said.

“I guess you’re seeing someone,” she said.

“Well, not exactly, Sassy, but I—”

“Sue Marie!”

“Sorry,” he said with a chuckle. “You were pretty sassy back then. No, I’m not involved with anyone at the moment. We’ve already tried this and it didn’t work then. I doubt it will work out now.”

“Did it ever occur to you that I might want to make amends?”