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“It’s nothing. I just… I hope me being here hasn’t upended your life.”
Was that what he’d been thinking about since leaving the sandwich shop?
“Hell no.” I knotted our fingers together. “You being here has enriched it.”
I watched his Adam’s apple bob. “You’ve enriched mine too.”
29
LACHLAN
Foster had to work the next morning, but he looked tired and spent from his weekend. The Monday after a trip always sucked, I certainly remembered that.
He’d said his mood was improving, but maybe his body was telling him otherwise. I’d done some research while he was gone and learned a lot about depression. It apparently wasn’t a straight line out of the gray—as Foster liked to call it—it was a lot of ups and downs, and that made plenty of sense. It mimicked life in that way.
Still, he insisted on walking with me and Oscar that morning, as if he needed to spend as much time with us as possible. And I got it. I felt the same.
Instead of making coffee, we walked the familiar route to the coffee shop he used to frequent when I lived in my yellow tent.
We passed people I recognized from when I was without a home, and it felt strange. No one gave me a second glance now, nor tightened their hand on their bag. It felt like a luxury not to have that unsettling scrutiny, but I pushed the guilt aside.
As Foster tied Oscar’s leash to a tree, I promised him a treat after for being a good boy, and we both stepped inside.
While we ordered coffees and muffins, I could feel someone watching us from a nearby table. When I turned to look, I immediately zoomed in on the manager pin on her lapel as she continued to scrutinize me. What the hell? Was it because she recognized me from the street?
Now I was itching to leave as soon as possible. Coffees finally in hand, we turned toward the exit. The woman stood and approached us, and I braced myself for whatever she had to say.
I have every right to be here. Old habits sure died hard.
But she addressed Foster. “Are you the gentleman who approached me once about the assaults happening on the homeless?”
Foster side-eyed me as he replied, “Yep, that’s me.”
What in the world? He never told me that.
“Like I told you, I’d only get involved if the police contacted me. And now they have. Our security department is working on pulling the surveillance video from the street.”
“That’s good news. Thank you.”
I followed him outside in a daze. “Why didn’t you ever tell me you asked the manager questions?”
He winced. “I don’t know. Nothing came of it, so I didn’t want to get your hopes up. Or maybe I didn’t want you to be mad that I interfered.”
“Truth is, I might’ve been,” I replied, remembering how tightly wound and suspicious I was—had to be—while living on the streets. “But that was then, and this is now.”
Foster snickered. “Still a stubborn man.”
“Are you referring to you or me?” I kissed his cheek. “Thank you for always having my back.”
I untied Oscar and gave him a treat, and then we walked partway with Foster toward the university.
“Try to have a good day.” I squeezed his shoulder, wanting to get in one last touch. “I can tell you feel groggy.”
“Thanks. I’m sure I’ll get my second wind.”
He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Maybe he should’ve called off work.
But I kept my mouth shut and continued on my walk with Oscar.
In the afternoon, I took a bus to the nearest superstore to buy toiletries, then wandered down the shaving aisle. When I saw the cordless clippers on sale, I only hesitated a moment before setting the box in my basket. On the way to the register, I loaded some waters as well as batteries for the device, an idea forming in my head as I checked out.
After getting back to the apartment, I prepped some things and stuffed them in my backpack. I fetched Oscar’s leash, but then thought better of it. I’d taken him with me to the bridge before, and he seemed to enjoy the attention he got, but today I needed to remain focused on what I was trying to accomplish. I’d only be distracted if I brought him with me. “I’ll be back. Be a good boy.”
When I got to the bridge, not many people were around, likely because it was a beautiful day. Bummer.
But Joe and Darius were there, along with a couple of others, so I pushed on.
“Anyone need a cut? I brought clippers today.”
Darius’s eyes lit up. “Can you do a fade? Haven’t had me one in a long time.”
“Sure!” I replied confidently, though I felt nerves creeping up.
He got situated on the overturned barrel as I pulled out my supplies. After his hair was shampooed and rinsed, I got comfortable with the clippers in my hand. “I’ll start with a higher grade up top. Sound good?”
