Page 5 of Always in Watch Hill
“Apparently not.”
“That’s good.” Grayson hesitated. “Haven’t seen Justin in a little while. He’s... well, it’s been a hard time for a lot of people, so—”
“You’re right, ithasbeen hard,” I replied, noticing the familiarity of this conversation. I’d had some version of this chat with almost everyone in the last few months as regions opened from lockdowns and quarantines.What a weird year...A lot of people have been having a tough time... I got the vaccine... I just haven’t seen them since before this all started...“I’m still trying to wrap my head about what has happened to everyone.”
“So many people really suffered.” Grayson glanced around the dining room and bar area, which had a decent crowd already. “We got lucky here. People kept coming even when we were only open for takeout.”
“Glad to hear that.” I raised my drink his direction, giving him a one-sided toast. “Loyalty goes a long way.”
“Sure does.” He focused on me again. “And what I’m also saying is that... I hope Justin has done okay as well. He used to come here a lot, but we haven’t seen him in over a year.”
“That’s a shame.”
“People handled things different. I get it. But I have wondered if he’s okay.”
“Seemed fine when I saw him this afternoon.”
Sipping my cocktail, I thought about Justin’s jaw and the concern behind his eyes when he asked about my trip to Watch Hill. I couldn’t remember the last time someone had looked at me so earnestly. Dating during the pandemic had been a joke, dominated by online dating apps, stupid conversations over text message, and “Zoom” dates that ended with me flipping off the video screen and sobbing into a glass of red wine while sitting at the kitchen table. Being alone had somehow felt better than that.
“I didn’t notice anything strange,” I added. “Not that I know him, of course, but when we talked, he seemed fine.”
“Good. I hope he is.” Grayson pushed off the bar. “Anyway, what can I get you to eat?”
“A cheeseburger. Bring me your best one.”
“Coming right up.”
Grayson moved away from me and toward the register to place my order. I followed him with my eyes, thinking about his comments just a few minutes before.He used to come here a lot, but we haven’t seen him in over a year...I could sympathize with that, but it felt like a shame too.
If there was thing I’d learned through the pandemic—it was that people needed each other, and humans weren’t made to be alone. Not like that, at least.
FOUR
JUSTIN
Ispent a lot of timewatching TV.
