I persisted.
“Well, you know. Racists will be racist. It is a small town after all.”
“Really? I hadn’t noticed anything like that. Everyone seems so accepting.”
I pursed my lips apologetically.
“It’s not horrible, better than other places I’m sure. But you still have the odd ones that think I’m stealing their jobs. I don’t see any of them lining up to run a convenience store. But whatever. I learned not to let them get to me a long time ago.”
“Well, I for one am sorry you have to deal with that. I’ll try and do better at spotting it in the future,” I said.
I wondered if Zach had experienced any racism since he’d gotten here.
“Thank you, Dare. Always kind. Alright, I better get those jams shelved before the hordes come in.”
I chuckled and tipped my non-existent hat to him and returned to my car. The next stop was the grocery store at the end of the road and this time I parked in one of the designated areas to unload when someone called my name.
“Dare? Well, hello stranger.” I turned around and I couldn’t help the smile that crawled on my face.
“Warren, you bastard! Where have you been?”
I put the cases back on the trunk and embraced the young man who’d stood by me through everything in the last five years.
“Ah I know. I know. I was deployed all over the place. I’m sorry. I meant to keep in touch,” he said, and I patted him on the shoulder.
“It’s all right. I know how it is. How long are you off?”
Warren sighed.
“I honestly don’t know.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Really? How come?”
“I don’t know, man. My heart’s not in it anymore. I want to help people. Not whatever it is we do.”
“Well, I could always use a pair of hands around here.”
Warren gasped. “Please. You think I’ll ruin these bad boys to pick your blueberries? Fuck off, dude.” He showed me his hands as if they were in pristine condition and I rolled my eyes.
“Are you visiting…him?” I huffed.
“If you’re talking about my dear brother then yes. I assume you still haven’t mended that fence yet?” He crossed his arms and stared at me.
“I’ve told you. That fence is unmendable. He betrayed me. He broke his promises. He abandoned me.”
Warren watched me for a moment or two and then he sighed and put his hands on my shoulders.
“I know. What Wyatt did sucked, but you know he’s so deep in the closet. It didn’t have anything to do with you.”
“If he truly loved me, it wouldn’t have mattered,” I said.
“I still think retiring here, back home, was a bad idea. But I guess it’s too late now.”
“It is,” I huffed.
“I wish you’d just let it go at least. It’s been five years.”
