by Jerry Cole
Natasha rolled her eyes. “Don’t be dramatic. I’m sure Robert will let you back into the B&B.”
“Don’t bet on it,” Grant muttered as another waitress paused at the table.
“Everything all right, Natasha?”
“Just helping a friend,” Natasha said.
The woman’s name badge said Maria and she looked even more severe than Natasha if that was possible. Grant wanted to bury his face in his hands. “What can I get ya?”
“Two coffees,” Natasha said, kicking Grant under the table.
“Could I get a sandwich?”
Maria gave him an incredulous look that could have put Natasha’s to shame. “This is a cafe. Of course, you can. What kind?”
“Just a grilled cheese sandwich, please,” Grant said, because it was the first thing that came to mind.”
Maria nodded and headed back toward the kitchens.
“So,” Natasha said, clearly not wanting to give Grant time to think. “What happened?”
Grant didn’t want to talk about it, but if it wasn’t Natasha, he was going to sulk to someone, and he would prefer it not to be Seb. “We had an argument, like I said.”
Natasha couldn’t look anymore unimpressed. “About?”
Staring down at his hands, Grant sighed. “I kinda told him I’d give him money.”
“Grant!” Natasha’s voice was a little too high, so she ducked down and whispered furiously, “I didn’t tell you that for you to use it!”
“I know,” Grant said just as fiercely. “I didn’t do it on purpose!”
Maria turned up with their drinks and Grant’s sandwich, and she looked a little intrigued, so Grant kept his mouth shut. Likewise, Natasha kept quiet, though she gave Maria a tight smile. Still, Grant didn’t relax until Maria was at another table taking orders, and even then, it didn’t feel remotely calm with Natasha staring at him pointedly.
“I can help him, and I don’t understand why he won’t accept it!”
Something shifted in Natasha’s face. She leaned forward, curling her fingers around her mug. “Robert’s not been here long, you know. Oh, longer than you,” she amended at Grant’s frown. “We’re talking years. But still a newcomer to the town, but he’s fit in well. A lot of people around here like him, but he keeps to himself. I think he wants it to work here, but he’s out of his depth.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because you’re the same. You’re out of your depth. Why did you come here?”
Grant opened his mouth and then closed it.
“If you can’t tell me,” Natasha said quietly, “I think it’s because you don’t know, not really.”
Perhaps he didn’t. He’d left quickly and told himself it was because he didn’t want Matt and Seb to talk him out of it, but really, he had been afraid he wouldn’t do it at all. Now that he was here, that he was enjoying the freedom and experience, he couldn’t imagine not having done it, but he had no reason for wanting to leave Chicago in the first place.
His mother had expected him to go home to Canada. Grant had thought about it, but ultimately, he had chosen Maine.
“Which is what Robert’s feeling right now.”
“I just wanted to help”, Grant said quietly.
Natasha’s expression softened. “Why?”
“I like him,” Grant said without hesitation. “I want him to be happy.”
“You’ve only known him a couple of days.” It was the same thing Seb had said, but there was no judgment on Natasha’s face.
“Doesn’t make it any less true,” Grant pointed out. “Haven’t you ever had that feeling? Where you felt as though you knew a person even though you’d never met?”
Natasha didn’t say anything for a long time. They drank in silence, and though Grant’s stomach rumbled, he couldn’t bear the thought of eating anything. He picked at the cheese sandwich, though it wasn’t doing a very good job of distracting him from his problems.
Eventually, Natasha pushed her mug away and reached for her purse. “I know you mean well, and Robert will too eventually. Give him a chance, Grant. He’s a good guy.”
“I know.” Grant didn’t doubt that. That didn’t make the fact that they’d had an argument any easier to take, or that Grant’s offer had come from a place of genuine caring. He didn’t know what had caused Robert to make the accusations that he had, only that maybe Grant had read it wrong all the time.
“Grant—”
“Thanks for the talk, Natasha,” Grant said, draining his own mug. “I think I’m gonna find somewhere to stay out in the forest, where the other tourists seem to like it. If you see Robert, tell him I’m sorry, okay?”
Natasha looked annoyed, but Grant didn’t know whether it was aimed at him or herself. “You could tell him yourself.”
“Yeah,” Grant said humorlessly, “I’m sure he’s waiting for me to show up to the B&B and do just that.”
“I guess he’ll be waiting?”
“For now,” Grant said. He left some money on the table. “I’ll see you around.”
Natasha nodded, though she looked like she was thinking of something to say.
Grant didn’t stick around to find out what it was. It was a short drive to the forests, to the cabins he had found himself at the other day. Perhaps there was still an empty one he could rent, though it would require finding who actually owned them. Not wanting to ask Natasha, he muttered a quick goodbye and got the hell out of the cafe. Perhaps if he could get out of the town itself and clear his head, he could figure out just what the hell he thought he was doing.
Chapter Nine
The cabins didn’t have any cell service, but Grant was content with that. It meant that Seb and Matt couldn’t call, and that he didn’t have to call his mother to confess. When he went back into town, he’d send them all a message apologizing, but for now it was a blessing.
From the road, it hadn’t been hard to find the woman in charge of the cabins. Her home was on the turn toward the forest and she’d been only too happy to rent out one of the cabins to Grant when he handed over the money in one go. Unlike Robert, she had a set number of days he could stay for, and though it was only three days, Grant would have time to set something else up—or give up and go home.
Matt would call him a drama queen, Seb would force him to suck it up and apologize to Robert, but Grant just wanted the peace and quiet to figure out what he was doing in Maine —and why it was so important that he be able to help Robert.
The cabin had Wi-Fi, though Grant wasn’t about to connect his phone to it, and he set up his laptop. He would find something shitty to watch, stretch out on the bed and pretend he wasn’t itching to call up the B&B and find out if Robert was okay.
It was only as he was botting up the streaming service that he realized his promise to Morgan that morning. There was guilt, but then he considered the fact that Robert probably wasn’t working too hard. If there were no guests at all, he could hardly tire himself out, could he?
A slightly unfair thought, but Grant couldn’t bring himself to care. It would hurt Morgan, that was for sure, and though that was something Grant regretted, he couldn’t put it right without thinking about his approach. Robert hadn’t been wrong about them being nothing to each other. It had hurt, obviously, and as much as Grant wished he hadn’t taken it personally, he was going to have to deal with it.
Robert was afraid of something, that much was clear, but Grant didn’t know if that was why he was reacting so harshly. Both Seb and Natasha had made a point of mentioning just how little Robert and Grant knew each other. Maybe if they had a conversation that consisted of more than Robert’s B&B, or superfluous stuff, they could get to know each other.
Except Grant had probably fucked that up.
Cursing himself, Grant rolled over on the bed, frowning as he looked down at his phone. He was going to be resolute and not turn it on, but it would be so easy to do something with it. For the first time, he wished he had Robert’s last n
ame, then he could find something out about him. Or was that stalking?
It was a fucking mess, was what it was, and Grant let out a long sigh. Instead of wallowing about the town like an idiot, he would just have to go into the woods tomorrow and actually write something down that was constructive, instead of just observations about what the people in town were like.
Not that he hadn’t been working. There had been that day he spent near the cabin, after all, but that was all Grant had managed to get done. If he was going to stick around town—and he still wasn’t sure how long that was going to last—he was going to have to get to work.
It gave him pause to wonder what the forest was like at night; tourists who liked night fishing, or young people who had a tendency to stay up until the early hours would no doubt be the demographic of that particular section of the blog or book, or website, or whatever it was Grant decided on. Putting his boots back on, he grabbed his notebook and key and locked up behind him. The harbor sounds were muted in the forest, but he could still smell the water, the smoke from a fire he hoped wasn’t amongst the trees. He could also hear noises filtering out of some of the cabins, their windows thrown open. He used the flashlight on his phone to navigate his way down to the water’s edge. It wasn’t the same place as he had been last time, but he could make out enough sights and sounds that it would suit his purposes.
What little light was coming from the moon and the cabins shone against the water, and Grant had to take a picture. When his phone connected, he would have to send it to his mom. Yet another picture to add to the collection he was sure she was growing.
Scribbling on his notepad, he jerked up as he heard someone coming up behind him. He whipped his head around, surprised to see a familiar face.
“I thought I saw you head into the cabin earlier,” Derek said, dropping down onto the ground next to him. “What made you move from the B&B?”
Grant figured it was probably best not to share his and Robert’s fight with anybody else. Bad enough that Natasha knew, but Robert had to live with these people after Grant went home. “Figured I should spend some time in the places I actually want to write about.”
Derek laughed gently. “Yeah, that’s probably a plan. Discover anything interesting?”
“Not really,” Grant admitted. “I haven’t been out here long. I’m not even sure what I should write about.”
“I used to write scientific papers, you know,” Derek said. Grant couldn’t see it; the man looked born and bred for the water. Derek obviously caught the look. His smile turned wry. “I know. I can’t even imagine living that life anymore,” he admitted. “I’ve been working the boats with Sval for so long that it’s become a part of me.”
“I bet,” Grant said, wondering what it had to do with his writing.
“Anyway,” Derek said, waving a hand. “I used to write papers on geology and the erosion of the coastlines. I decided to use this place in one of them, met Thor, and stayed because I couldn’t bear to leave.”
Grant still didn’t know why Derek was bringing it up. “It’s not that I don’t love this place,” he said eventually, “I don’t think I’ve spent enough time anywhere that isn’t the B&B to form an opinion.”
“Robert definitely has that kind of personality,” Derek admitted. “If that’s the way you feel, maybe don’t go back to the B&B.”
That was probably the only option open to Grant right now. He doubted Robert would let him back, even if he expressed wanting to help with the money side of things. Except that would probably get him into deeper shit with Robert. “The cabin’s nice enough,” he admitted. “Just have to find ways to fill my day.”
Derek looked thoughtful, resting his elbows on his knees. “Well, Sval and I could always use some help on the boat. We don’t get out as much as we’d like because we have the store to run as well. Sval does the heavy lifting because my upper body strength is severely lacking, I’m afraid.”
Grant smiled, giving Derek the once over. “You don’t look awful at it,” he said, to a wave of the hand from Derek. “It’s nice of you to offer.”
“But?” Derek hedged.
“But nothing,” Grant said. “I’d be glad to help. It’s not as if I’m doing something that can’t be put off.”
“That’s relative,” Derek said immediately. “Writing needs a deadline just like everything. However, far be it for me to turn down help when it’s offered.”
Grant snorted. “You offered first.”
“True,” Derek said with a grin. “Sval’s got orders coming in tomorrow. Is that too soon?”
It was doubtful that anyone—or anything—would be needing Grant anytime soon, so he shook his head. “No, that’s fine. Early, I presume?”
Derek shook his head. “No. The deliveries we have to make are close to town. We only go to those who are off the beaten track, as it were, and can’t make it to the convenience store. Nine should be about right.”
“I’ll be there,” Grant promised. “I remember where your boat’s moored.”
“Great.” Derek pushed himself to his feet, dusting off his trousers and clapping Grant on the shoulder. “Don’t stay up too late.”
“Not now that I have a job to do,” Grant assured him, watching Derek walk away. Somewhere in the back of his head, Matt was berating him for not discussing money but honestly, Grant would have done it for free. He liked helping people, even if those people didn’t want his help, and he wasn’t about to stop doing it just because he had managed to upset someone with it.
Checking his phone for the time, he sighed, turned on the flashlight and headed back toward the cabin. It was a little weird not to be going to the B&B and saying goodnight to Morgan, but perhaps that was for the best. Without the opportunity to get attached, it would be easier to stop thinking he had to help Robert in every way.
While the cabin itself felt too empty, he slipped into the bed, curling up under the duvet and flicking through his phone, setting an alarm for the next morning. He gave himself a couple of hours to get ready, eat, and sort himself out before heading for the harbor.
It took him far too long to get to sleep. He stared at the wall of the cabin and tried not to think too much about the mess he was currently making of his time in Maine. Except that seemed to be all he could think about. Robert obviously didn’t want to speak to him, but he had Derek and Sval who wanted and needed his time, and Natasha seemed easy enough to talk to. It should be easy enough to forge a space in town while he was staying there that didn’t have to include Robert if he didn’t need it to.
Chapter Ten
When he arrived at the harbor the next morning, he had a hard time getting through to Derek’s boat. The place was busy, more so than Grant had seen it yet, though he hadn’t come the day before. It made some sense that the harbor would be busier during the week, though he couldn’t imagine either fishing or shipping turning into a nine to five. It was much more sensible to go out when the tide, weather, and factors were all in alignment. It was something he would have to talk to Sval and Derek about, and maybe find someone who was a fisherman to see how they coped with their work.
“Grant!” Sval came through the crowd and slapped Grant on the back. He had some strength behind him, and Grant felt the familiar sting after Sval had pulled his hand away. “Derek tells me that you will be joining us out on the boat today.”
“Yeah,” Grant said with a frown. “I thought you weren’t going to be around and that’s why he asked for me?”
“Oh.” Sval frowned. “No, I will be on the boat.”
Derek had apparently taken it upon himself to invite Grant along under false pretenses, but Grant figured he had a good heart beneath that. He had clearly known what was up with Grant, either through Robert or Natasha, and had come to offer Grant a distraction. As irritated as he was for being led along, he couldn’t doubt that it had been a good thing to have something to occupy his time with. At least he wasn’t sitting back in the cabin wallowing in self-pity. Or
worse, hurrying over to the B&B and trying to fix whatever was going on between he and Robert. How pathetic that would have been.
Shaking it off, Grant gave Sval a bright smile. It must have been as genuine as he hoped it was because Sval returned it. “Well, two bodies with upper body strength are better than one.”
“That is very true, my friend,” Sval said. “Have you ever been on a boat before?”
“My mother was a fisherman,” Grant said. “I’ve been on plenty of boats.”
Sval looked impressed. “A wise and strong woman. In Scandinavia, our women are just as likely to be out on the boats as the men. It was an adjustment to see that things are slightly different here in the States.”
Slightly was an understatement. Grant could only attest to what he knew personally, but he knew that fishermen were more likely to be male than female, not that he had every discounted a woman’s right to be on a boat. “If you can do the job,” Grant started.
“Indeed.” Sval pushed through the crowd and they came out on the jetty close to Derek’s boat. “Grab the stern rope, would you?”
Grant moved toward the mooring bollard but caught Sval’s attention. “Don’t we have to put the stock on the boat? I had to do that for Derek last time.”
“It is already done,” Sval assured him. “None of the food is perishables, so we loaded it up last night.”
Grant untied the rope and gathered it around his arm. Sval was still at the mooring bollard and gestured for Grant to get into the boat ahead of him. Derek was on the deck, refusing to catch Grant’s eye, and Grant could see the blush starting to creep up his neck. “It’s all right, you know.”
Derek shrugged. “I shouldn’t have lied about it.”
“I appreciate it,” Grant said quietly, dumping the rope on the deck, and moving out of the way as Derek took control of the boat. “How many places are we visiting today?”
“The manifest is on the counter there,” Derek said, gesturing at one of the counters next to the boat controls.
Grant gave it the once over. There were quite a few locations, none he recognized, but already the idea of spending the day on the water was a welcome one. He put the manifest down, moving to the window and breathing in a lungful of air. It wasn’t the wisest idea, especially as they were still in the harbor, but there was enough smell from the water itself that he wasn’t sorry he had done it.