Page 35 of We're One

Mr. Carter gives a harumph, then walks away to join Mr. Fox at a window table where they’ve shared breakfast together for many years. The two old men are both widowed and retired, so they like to sit and gossip as much as the trio next to us. They also like to go down to the docks and cast their lines in the water. I don’t know if they ever actually catch any fish. I think it’s the sunshine and company they’re really after.

Chief Mitchel comes in next, most likely to pick up his usual order of breakfast burritos for his crew at the fire station. None of those men can cook worth a lick unless it’s on a grill. If it wasn’t for The Mermaid Café the men would most likely starve. It’s a good thing there aren’t too many fires in town because they play a lot more than they work. When the time comes that they’re needed, they’re professional and amazing. They also save a lot of cats in trees and help our seniors. They’re good men.

“Hey, Callan, up for another burn-to-learn?” Chief Mitchel asks, making Callan groan. I smile. I love the torture Sasha put Callan through. I think men are much better off if the beginning of the relationship is set in fire. That way it’s all downhill from there in the best of ways.

“I think my brother would love to come to one,” Callan quickly says.

Chief Mitchel shakes Zach’s hand. “We’d love to have you. Your brother did so good, I have no doubt you will too.”

Zach laughs. “I’d love to just as long as it’s not on a chicken farm,” Zach quickly says and the chief laughs with delight.

“I can’t guarantee anything but a good time,” the chief says. Amelia steps from the back with two large bags and the chief takes them and rushes away. His men need fed quickly or they get up to no good, like having hose wars that leave a river of water running down the street. The kids love when that happens. Lots of homemade sailboats come out of closets.

A few more people approach the table and Callan lets out a laugh as he leans back sipping on his coffee. “Maybe it wasn’t the best idea bringing you here so you could hear all about the torture I went through.”

“Are you kidding me? This is amazing,” Zach replies.

I want to continue listening in on Zach, but I need to get to my mom’s house. I’m already later than I was planning but it’s hard to pull myself away when I’ve been gone for so long. I’ve missed out on some great gossip. “I love you guys, but if I don’t leave now I’m going to get a spanking. My mom always says I’m not too old to be punished,” I tell the girls as I stand.

“Okay, be back at the beach at nine for the biggest bonfire of our lives,” Jess demands.

“I wouldn’t miss it.” I look at Zach from the corner of my eye as I exit the café, and see him watching me leave. As usual, my heart picks up its pace. After a month you’d think I’d be used to it, but I’m not, just like the first time I was with him. He’s always left me feeling dizzy. I wonder if it will ever stop.

I make my way down the beautiful streets of Seaville to my parents’ quiet neighborhood. There’s something magical about coming home. I pray they never move. I can’t imagine how sad it would be to lose my childhood home. People do it all the time, but this place is so comforting, knowing no matter where I go I can always come back home.

I rush through the front door and find my mother in the kitchen. She turns with a huge smile on her face. “It’s about time you got here. You’ve been in town for an hour already,” she says with a laugh as she enfolds me in a perfect hug that only she can give.

“I knew you’d find out before I got home. I wanted to surprise you,” I tell her with a laugh.

“I was very surprised when Julia called me. I’ve been counting down the minutes until you got here. I knew you’d swing by The Mermaid Café first. You’re a creature of habit,” she says. “I made a fresh batch of iced tea so let’s pour some glasses and sit on the back deck.”

“Sounds like heaven, Mom.”

As soon as we sit down, Mrs. Jones peeks over the fence and greets me with a smile before she grumbles at my mother, then disappears again. I laugh heartily. “It seems the feud over the blackberry bushes is still going on.” My mom and dad, Carol and Ben, have been neighbors with Mrs. Jones for as long as I’ve been alive. They’ve always feuded over the property line. I think they do it because they’re bored.

“I’m not letting Mrs. Jones win this battle. It’s been going on forever, and I’ll be the last man standing,” my mother declares with a determined glint in her eyes. I lean over and give her another hug.

“Oh, Mom, it’s so wonderful to see some things never change. I love coming home.” I lean back and sip on her perfectly made sweet iced tea, listening to the birds and enjoying the beautiful sunshine on my face. We don’t get nearly enough sun in Seattle. That’s reason alone to come back home.

“Well then, you need to do it more often,” Mom says, always good at filling me with guilt.

“Well, now that I’ve run into Sasha and she comes down here pretty regularly, I might be able to do that. It’s so expensive to fly and takes forever going through the regular airport. As long as she’s willing to give me a ride, I’ll come home monthly.”

“That’s music to my ears, darling,” Mom says. I admire her and how beautiful she is. She doesn’t look old enough to have a grown daughter. Mom likes to spend a lot of time in the sun, but she’s a firm believer in sunblock, and is meticulous with her morning and night face routine. She says she wants to be a grandmother sooner rather than later, but she doesn’t want to look like one. I love it.

“Tell me all about your work,” she demands. “How is everything going on your big job?”

“It’s amazing, Mom. I’m having so much fun with Zach’s house. It’s certainly the biggest project I’ve ever done, and it’s sure to lead to more. I took a bunch of before and during pics. When it’s all finished, I’ll put them on my website. With a project this big, I can really show what I can do. Maybe I’ll even get hired to do new construction. How fun to have a blank slate. I do love remodels, but I want to do it all.”

“That’s wonderful, darling. Do you have more jobs lined up?”

I beam at her. “I was hired to do a re-haul on a small boutique hotel that I’m super excited about. Their budget is smaller than I like, but that only challenges me to find the best deals possible. I get bored if things come too easily.”

“You’ve always been that way,” Mom says. “It’s good to like a challenge. It keeps you young. I’m very proud of you.”

“Your confidence in me is why I’m where I’m at today. You’ve always told me there’s nothing I can’t do if I work hard enough. It helps me get through the hard times, and makes me push even harder. You hear all about me each phone call we have, though. I want to hear more about what you’re doing.”

Mom laughs again. I love the sound of her laughter, love how happy she is. She and my father are perfect for each other. He’s out playing golf right now. I love my dad to the moon and back, but I also love one-on-one time with my mom. As an only child I’ve always been showered with affection from both of my parents.

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