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“Hi there!” the stranger called out, his voice confident and welcoming. “Beautiful day, isn’t it?”
“Sure is,” I replied, my gaze locked on him, curiosity piqued.
Lucy and Logan seemed to recognize the motorcycle rider, their faces lighting up in delight.
“Tim!” they exclaimed in unison, bounding toward him for a quick hug.
“Hey, you two! Look how much you’ve grown!” Tim laughed, ruffling their hair affectionately.
He then turned his attention back to me, extending a friendly hand, a teasing glint in his eyes. “You’re the fresh face in town! Tim Wells. Just got back from college, and I see there’s a fresh buzz in Pebble Point.”
“A buzz? That’s one way to describe my stay here,” I said, returning his smile as I shook his hand. “Mia Fairchild. Nice to meet you, Tim.”
“Likewise, Mia!” Tim replied, his voice warm and friendly. As he let go of my hand, he pivoted smoothly, launching into a hilarious tale from his recent escapades. “You won’t believe what happened last week,” he began, leaning in conspiratorially as if sharing state secrets. “I was hiking in the hills, trying to enjoy solitude. I’d packed a picnic, expecting a quiet afternoon.”
“Then, out of nowhere,” he continued, widening his eyes and using his hands to emphasize the surprise, “a llama appeared! And not just any llama. This one was wearing a hat!”
I stifled a laugh, intrigued. “A hat? Seriously?”
“Absolutely!” Tim said, nodding with enthusiasm. “It was a stylish little fedora tilted to one side. Looked like something straight out of a 1920s gangster movie. This llama had style!”
“What did you do?” I asked, trying to picture the scene.
“I decided I couldn’t just leave him there, looking all dapper but clearly lost,” Tim said. “So, I guided him back to town. But, let me tell you, guiding a fashionable llama through the countryside isn’t as straightforward as it sounds.”
As Tim continued, detailing the antics of the hat-wearing llama, I was in stitches. From trying to steal his picnic to determinedly stopping to pose whenever they passed a reflective surface, the story was hilarious.
Between bursts of laughter, I caught glimpses of Lucy and Logan, their eyes wide with awe as they listened to Tim’s tale. He clearly possessed a gift for storytelling, effortlessly captivating and immersing his audience in his adventures.
“...and when I finally got him back to town,” Tim concluded, “I found out the llama’s name was Spartacus! Turns out, he’d wandered away from a local farm, and the farmer had given him the hat as a bit of a joke. The farmer was so thankful to have Spartacus back, hat and all!”
“The sound of our shared laughter must have traveled into the house because Max suddenly appeared in the doorway. His brow furrowed as he assessed the situation. As Sheriff Thornton, Max was accustomed to being the one in control, and I could see a hint of unease in his eyes as he took in the scene before him: Tim, the familiar young man from his past, effortlessly bonding with me.”
“Dad! Come join us!” Lucy called out, waving her father over, her face alight with excitement.
Sensing an undercurrent of tension between Max and Tim, I held my breath as they locked eyes for a moment. Then, with a hint of cheekiness, Tim greeted Max. “Long time no see. And I must say, you’ve got impeccable taste.” He winked at me playfully, leaving Max with a guarded expression.
“Tim,” Max replied with a nod, forcing a smile as he approached us. “Good to see you back in town.”
“Thanks, Sheriff,” Tim said, grinning. “Just here to reminisce and reconnect with my old stomping grounds over the summer before starting my new job in the city.”
As we continued to chat, I couldn’t help but notice the subtle dynamics unfolding between Max and Tim. Tim’s flirtatious nature frequently surfaced as he teasingly challenged my views on a variety of topics, from favorite music to opinions on classic novels. The atmosphere buzzed with an energy that was both fresh and intriguing, leaving me caught in a whirlwind of emotions. In contrast, Max remained a steady, calming presence, watching our interactions with a hint of reservation.
“Is there anything you’ll miss about Pebble Point once you move to the city?” I asked Tim, curious about his feelings towards his hometown.
“Definitely the people,” he replied, glancing around the yard affectionately. “Pebble Point has always been full of warm, welcoming folks like you and the sheriff here.” He patted Max on the shoulder, eliciting a tight-lipped smile from him.
It was time for Tim to depart, but he couldn’t resist leaving with a parting, flirty comment. “Well, it’s been a delight meeting you, Mia. You’ve certainly brightened up this little town.”
“Thank you, Tim,” I responded, amused by his teasing tone. “I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of each other while you’re still in town.”
“Count on it,” he promised, firing up his motorcycle and flashing us one last playful grin. As he vanished down the road, I stood beside Max, watching the fading trail of dust kicked up by his bike. A shadow of unease seemed to cloud Max’s face, and I wondered what lay behind his unreadable expression.
“Are you okay, Max?” I asked gently, concerned about his sudden shift in mood.
He took a deep, steadying breath, the weight of memories pressing heavily on his shoulders. “Before Tim left for college, he was known around here for causing a fair bit of trouble. I had to intervene a few times,” he said with a sigh of remembrance. His words hung heavy with the unspoken past.
Seeing my puzzled look, Max continued, “Don’t get me wrong, Tim isn’t a bad person. He’s just... been thoughtless and selfish at times. When he came back from college last summer, I offered him work repainting the house, hoping it would give him some responsibility and a fresh start.” Max’s voice took on a more reflective note, “At first, he worked diligently, but as the weeks went on, he started showing up late or not at all.”
