The Homecoming

“You’re a wuss,” Iris said. “I ran today and everything.”

“It sounds like you didn’t run enough....”

So they went out to Cooper’s. Iris thought it was probably better anyway—it was casual and laid-back. Troy Headly, fellow high school teacher whom she’d dated briefly, was behind the bar. He worked part-time for Cooper. He explained that Cooper was gone because the Oregon Ducks played California today and Cooper and Sarah had driven to Eugene for the game. The place was full but not busy—it was pretty quiet for a Saturday night. Iris and Grace sat at the bar and kept an eye on the deck, ready to pounce on a table out there when one became available. After getting a glass of wine each, Grace poked her and they dodged for an empty table and settled in.

Iris put her feet up on the porch rail and smiled. “I wonder what the poor people are doing.”

Grace laughed. “They’re having a glass of wine at Cooper’s.”

Grace was young to own her own successful business. She’d been working for a popular florist when she got a settlement or inheritance of some kind and went looking for a shop for sale. It was an ambitious venture for such a young woman, committing all her capital like that. But she knew what she was doing; she had been a shop manager before, kept the books, bought the stock, supervised the event contracts. She stretched her money further by renovating the space above the shop into a small apartment. And Iris was so glad Grace had been the one to buy the shop because they became good friends almost instantly. They had a lot in common—both very serious about their work, didn’t date much, both alone and without family.

Thunder Point was Iris’s family; the kids she was responsible for were her family.

Iris enjoyed having a friend she could actually be quiet with—Grace was almost like a sister. They spoke little as the sun was making its downward path. Just a remark here and there about the week, the special challenges. And how nice Sunday was going to feel. They watched the red-orange collage of sun, ocean and haystack rocks before them. And then the sky began to darken.

“How are you feeling about dinner?” Grace asked.

“Not that hungry,” Iris said. “A bowl of soup at Cliff’s will do it for me.”

“How about another glass of wine and one of Carrie’s deli pizzas? Cooper’s got a bunch of them in the cooler and Troy will put a couple in the oven.”

“I could do that,” she said.

“I’m going to go get us some tortilla chips and salsa and another wine. Hey, is that our new guy?” Grace asked.

Down on the beach, running at the water’s edge, it was him. Seth. What was he doing? He didn’t live here. But it was obviously him. She could tell by his light hair, his slight list to the right because of his limp. He was wearing fitted running pants and a sleeveless T-shirt, a jacket tied around his waist. “Yeah, I think that’s him,” she said to Grace.

“I’ll be right back,” Grace said.

So, he’s out for a run, Iris thought. What incredible dedication that must take, to keep up all his physical fitness even though he had issues with his leg. But then, that’s why he did it. He was a cop. He couldn’t be the slow one or the weak one if he came up against a bad situation. And by the look of his arms and shoulders, he didn’t end his workout with a run. He was so beautiful.

He must not have a good place to run near his residence, which she had heard was near Bandon. He got to the dock in front of Cooper’s and she expected him to turn and jog back to town. But, no. Hands on his hips, he walked in circles, slowing down, cooling off. Then he looked up to the deck. And smiled.

Crap! she thought. Is there no God? What the hell?

He walked around a little more, then wiped his face with the towel that hung around his neck. He climbed the stairs. Just as he hit the deck and headed for Iris’s table, Grace came out of the bar holding a glass of wine for Iris and a basket of corn chips.

“Hey, Seth,” Grace said in greeting.

“Hey, yourself. Is this chair taken?” he asked, indicating one at their table.

“No, please join us. Can I get you anything while I’m up?”

“Water would be good. Thanks.”

Grace disappeared again. Iris frowned. And what really pissed her off was Seth smiling. In fact it was a smile she remembered. It was the “gotcha” smile.

Grace was back with the water, adding salsa to the table, then disappearing again. Seth put on his jacket and zipped it up. “I don’t think this is going to work out for you, Iris,” he said.

“What?”

“Dodging me all the time. Avoiding me. Pretending you have important business elsewhere or appointments you’re late for. All your excuses. Sooner or later you’ll have to actually talk to me.”

“Oh, didn’t anyone mention? I’m moving.”

A laugh burst out of him. He opened his water bottle and chugged down half of the liquid in a couple of gulps. “No one mentioned,” he said.

“Are you everywhere?” she asked in a lowered voice. “You don’t live here! What are you doing here on a Saturday night? Running on the beach.”

“I had some paperwork to finish up today and I brought my running clothes. I wanted to see what’s happening on the beach tonight—Saturday night.”

“The kids usually hit the beach after games,” she informed him as though he wouldn’t remember.

“I know. I was watching last night from Cooper’s parking lot. It looked pretty familiar. And pretty tame. If memory serves, every night they’re not busy is party night.”

“And you decided to spy on them?”

“Well, I thought I’d have a look. And let them look at me—not far away in case anyone needs anything. Iris, we have to talk out this little grudge you’ve been nurturing for over fifteen years.”

She leaned toward him. “Two things, Deputy. One—we have talked. Several times. And two—I haven’t been nurturing anything. I’m merely minding my own business.” She grabbed a chip from the bowl and crunched down on it. Hard.

“Bullshit. You forget I know you. It takes a lot to piss you off and you’ve been stroking this one since our senior prom. I said I was sorry a hundred times. I was a dumb and insensitive teenage boy and I really regret hurting your feelings. I had no idea what it was going to cost me. Or you, for that matter.” He drank the rest of his water.

Iris looked over her shoulder and saw that Grace, in the bar, was up on a bar stool, laughing with Troy about something. She was probably giving Iris time to work things out with Seth while waiting for their pizzas. Grace knew about the prom thing, knew Iris was pissed. She didn’t know everything, however.

“I don’t know what it is about girls and proms,” he said. “You were absolutely crazed. And I never knew you to be that kind of girl, crying and carrying on. You used to beat me up, for God’s sake!”

“Apparently, I fell down on the job,” she muttered, lifting her wine.

He smirked. “I am an officer of the law, ma’am. Watch your threats.”

“Why aren’t you out with some skinny blonde tonight? Like usual?”

“I don’t think I know any around here. Is Sassy still around town?”

“She is, indeed. Need me to hook you up?”

“No, thanks,” he said. “She never left town? That’s a surprise. She was ready to move on. How’s she getting along?” he asked.

Iris took another sip of wine. “It appears she’s gained a couple of pounds.”

“That must thrill you.”

“And she lost a tooth,” she added. She pointed to a very obvious incisor. In front. “Here.”

He threw his head back and laughed so loudly that people actually turned and looked at him.

“Stop it!” Iris hissed. “You’re making a fool of yourself!”