Page 10 of Bear Strength

“Me and the guys have been neglecting to do it for ages, but now we have to. And, I have your son to thank for it.”

“Well, that’s a nice way of looking at it, Mr. Towers - “

“Mason.”

“Mason,” I repeat. “And, I appreciate your kindness. I really do. That’s why my son will be happy to do it all for nothing.” I turn to Dominick. “Am I right?”

“Yeah…” he replies, sounding a little annoyed, but aware that he lost this battle.

“I’m sure we’ll be done in two weekends,” Mason tells me. “I wouldn’t want it to interfere with his school work.”

“Thank you,” I try a smile.

“Well, I won’t take up more of your time,” he stands up, then pushes the chair back to where it was. This surprises me. He looks like the kind of person who expects others to do those kind of things for him. “Someone will come pick him up on Saturday at, say 8 am?”

Dominick snorts, but before he can say anything I just nod.

“Perfect,” I solidify the deal.

“Thank you for your understanding,” he offers me his hand.

I swallow heavily, as I take it into mine, trying to give him a manly squeeze. His hand is warm, calloused, twice as big as mine. His thumb traces an invisible line on mine, then I quickly pull back.

“No, thank you,” I correct him.

Dominick and I walk him out of the house, and he just waves at us as he sits on his bike, and drives down the street. His broad back blends in perfectly with his bike, as the sound of the angry, revving engine dissipates all around us. Then, something hits me.

“Did he drive you on his bike back here?”

“Yeah, it was so cool, mom, you should have seen - “

“I’ll come pick you up next time,” I grind my teeth. “And, I can take you there on Saturday morning.”

The very thought of my boy on that bike, being recklessly driven by any of those biker guys sends shivers down my spine. We came here because this little town seemed to offer a safe haven. We didn’t come here for my boy to end up at the hospital because some idiot drove him on his bike, without all the necessary safety precautions.

The very idea of the hospital hits me like a ton of bricks. For others, it was a place of healing.

“But, why? He can just…”

“No!” I snap back. “It’s dangerous.”

“He wasn’t driving fast.”

“I don’t care,” I turn around, signaling that this conversation is over, at least for the time being. “Let’s get some dinner now.”

My stomach refuses any idea of food, but Dominick wolves down the mac and cheese I whip him up quickly, and surprisingly, agrees to being grounded without a single word of defiance.

CHAPTER 6

It’s a slow afternoon at the diner. The guests are the usual faces, and I know what they’re going to order even before they greet me. I have nothing against that. Routine may be boring, but it lulls you into a cradle of safety. But, I know what lies beneath all that. The question that Old Bill asked me during our initial interview. What are you running away from?

Just as I bring over a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon, with a fresh cup of coffee to Joan and her sister, I hear the bell ring. As always, my eyes fly over there. It’s already become an instinctual response. I don’t hide my surprise when I see Susie.

“What are you doing here?” I smile at her, as we both walk over to the counter. This time, I go behind it, and she stays in front. “You miss this place so much you need to come here even when it’s not your shift?”

“It sure ain’t the food!”

I hear the voice of George Jefferson, one of the oldest living people in town. He’s 92, or so I’m told, and still able to hold a knife and fork perfectly. His secret? Yard work. We always laugh at that, no matter how many times he swears it’s true.

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