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“You looking for someone?” An older man walked down the stairs, a wife beater pulled tightly over his rounded belly. His hair was thick and curly, long enough for the ends to reach his shoulders. “You from the bank or something?”
The man reached the end of his yard, and pushed open the half-hanging front gate. There was something familiar in the way he walked. Aiden frowned for a moment, trying to place him. “No, I’m not from the bank.”
The man looked him up and down. “So why are you here?”
“I used to live here.” Aiden lifted his glasses from his eyes, trying to get a better look at the guy. He looked like he was in his late thirties, maybe early forties.
“No you didn’t. I’ve lived here all my life, and I don’t recognize you at all.” The man crossed his arms over his chest, resting them on his gut. “If you’re one of those loan sharks, you can get out of here now. We don’t deal with people like you.”
Finally the recognition set in. The guy in front of him wasn’t in his late thirties at all. He may not have even reached his thirties yet. No wonder the walk was so familiar, Aiden had seen it every day of his childhood. “Paul?” he asked. “Paul Thurso?”
“Who wants to know?” The man shifted from side to side. His tone was suspicious.
“I used to live here,” Aiden said again, pointing at the yard in front of him. “My mom rented that house for years.”
Paul shook his head, his dark curls lifting as he turned. “You know Joan Black?”
“She was my mom. I’m Aiden. I used to catch the school bus with you.”
Paul’s mouth dropped open as he took a wide eyed look at Aiden. “No shitting, you’re really Aiden Black? Jesus, I didn’t recognize you. What are you doing driving around in that thing?” He pointed at Aiden’s Audi. “Did you steal it or something?” The questions came out in a rush.
Aiden wanted to smile, but it felt wrong. He’d bought the car with cash. “No, I didn’t steal it. It’s mine.”
“It’s beautiful,” Paul whispered, taking a step toward it. “Christ, a car like this must cost a fucking fortune.” He looked back up at Aiden. “How’ve you been, man? I haven’t seen you for years. I haven’t seen any of you, not since that summer Jamie came back.”
Aiden felt a chill wrap around his neck.
“After you all left so suddenly, we didn’t think we’d see any of you again. Then Jamie came back the following summer, spent some time with the Grant brothers. The next thing I knew he was arrested for something and that was the last we saw of him.” Paul looked up. “Is he doing okay?”
Aiden shrugged. “He’s in jail.” He swallowed, remembering the way his brother had looked at their mother’s cremation. Wiry, muscled, eyes full of hate. “I don’t keep in touch with him.” He smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “And how about you?” he asked. “You doing okay?”
“Can’t complain. I got a job at Newtons. And I’ve got two little girls – the light of my life.” For the first time, Paul grinned. “They’re with their mom this weekend. My ex-wife.” He looked around again, nodding toward his house. “You want a beer or something?”
There was a squeal of brakes as a kid rode his bike down the center of the road, pulling up on his handlebars until he was balancing on the rear wheel. A little girl playing in the front yard of the house on the corner started laughing, clapping her hands together with glee.
In his mind’s eye, Aiden could picture himself as a young boy, carrying his books in his hands because his mom couldn’t afford to replace his bag until the following school year. His hair was cut short at the collar – courtesy of his mom’s kitchen scissors – and his pants were flapping around his ankles, thanks to too many growth spurts, none of which they could afford. And yet, as he used to turn the corner into the road, and kick the front gate open with his sneakered foot, he always felt a sense of warmth suffuse him, warming him from the inside the same way the sun heated up his skin.
Looking at it now, the house he’d grown up in had been too small, too run-down, and too expensive for them to afford. And yet it had been full of love.
It was home, and that was somewhere he hadn’t visited for a long time. Not for ten years.
Bringing his gaze back to Paul, he felt his mouth lift into an unexpected smile. “Yeah, sure. I’d like that a lot.”
* * *
“There they are!” Nick pointed toward a blanket about ten yards ahead of them. He ran off, kicking the sand up beneath his bare feet, and breathlessly apologized to a woman who somehow got a faceful of grains. Brooke followed behind him, weaving her way through the maze of chairs and towels the sun lovers had placed on the beach, a backpack full of towels and toys on her back, the food and drink cooler in her hands.
It was a beautifully sunny day. The ocean was still, much to the disgust of the surfers who were gathered around the boardwalk, their boards leaning against the side of the surf shop. She looked out across the expanse of green-blue water, topped in the distance with barely-there white foam. Sometimes, when the conditions were right, you could spot dolphins blowing water out of their spouts.
“You made it. Come here, you gorgeous boy.” Ally stood up and ran over to them, lifting Nick in the air and swinging him around. The soles of his feet were covered in sand, the rest of him pale from a liberal application of sunscreen. “You wanna come get a soda and cake?” She pointed over at the coffee shop. “Nate’s inside. I’m supposed to be working, too, but I wanted to see you first.”
With her fiancé, Ally ran the coffee shop, along with overseeing the chain of Coastal Cafés Nate was slowly developing. The two of them, along with Nate’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Riley, were disgustingly happy. It made Brooke so pleased to see.
“Can I, Mom?” Nick looked at her with puppy dog eyes.
“Sure. But make sure you keep your hat on if you sit outside.” She threw him the LA Galaxy cap. “Are you sure you can keep an eye on him?” she asked Ally, who was pulling the cap down over Nick’s dark hair. “I can come over too if it helps?”
“I’m sure. And if I get busy, Nate will be there. Now go and talk to Ember. She’s stressing about what to get Lucas for his birthday. She’s been driving me mad for my entire break.”
