“Yeah.” Shit. I hate when I can’t remember a name. “How are you?”
“Good!” she chirps and her smile grows. “Terra mentioned you were coming back to town when I grabbed some lobster rolls last week. And of course it was on the town blog and everything, thanks to me. I gave the scoop to my mom, who still runs it. We get a thousand hits a month. Heavy traffic for a tiny town.”
Right. Cassidy Green. Her mother is Nellie Green, renowned town gossip who used the guise of ‘journalist’ to excuse her noisiness. But Nellie didn’t have any formal training. Her son Eddie, who is Declan’s age, had set her up a web site when we were in junior high. Cassidy is Terra’s age. And then there’s Ronan, who I work with, the oldest Green and my least favorite. “I told her it was time to hand over the reins. I mean, I actually got a degree in journalism from South Portland Community College and I freelance. I even had an article on the new water plant published in the Mainer. Arealpublication.”
She whispers those last three words like her mom is somehow eavesdropping and she doesn’t want to get caught. I bite back a chuckle. “Anyway, one day she’ll retire or die or something and I’ll clean that site up and make it a much better news source for the town. Did you work with Ronan last night? He swung by about ten minutes ago for a coffee for him and his fiancé, Courtney. Have you met Courtney? She’s… not my favorite person, but my mom loves her.”
“Yeah he was dating Courtney before I left. Didn’t know they were engaged though.” I hand her the cash for my order but she suddenly waves my hand away.
“Yep. Never ending engagement,” Cassidy rolls her eyes. “Been two years and no wedding. Just planning. So much damn planning. She’s changed the bridesmaids dresses twice. And both times they were ugly so I’m hoping for a third.”
I just nod because I never know what else to do when someone rambles on about shit I give zero fucks about. I hand her a ten dollar bill.
“This one is on me. I’m the shift manager here. Until my freelancing takes off,” she explains and adjusts the Dunkin’s visor pressing her long dark hair to her head. “Consider it a welcome home present. And an apology gift on Ronan’s behalf. I know he can be a dick, and he was a little irked when you got the job as the other lieutenant. He’s worried you’ll screw up his chances at getting the Captain’s position when D’Amato moves on.”
I blink. “D’Amato is leaving?”
Cassidy’s eyes grew wide and she covers her mouth with her hand and then spits out a muffled answer. “I’m mean… maybe? According to Ronan. I don’t know for sure.”
“Huh. I didn’t hear that,” I mutter, wondering why the captain hadn’t mentioned it. Or Logan. Anyone, really.
She uncovers her mouth and hands over the order. Her brown eyes glancing from one drink to the other. “Extra thirsty today or do you have someone hiding in your trunk?”
“Ha,” I say and try to force a chuckle. “Bringing coffee to a friend.”
Her eyes spark with curiosity. “Don’t tell me you’ve been back in town fifteen minutes and are already off the market. That would break the hearts of so many single Ocean Pines girls.”
Is she hitting on me or just mining me for info she can pass to her gossipy mom? I’m not sure either way so I lie. “Meeting Finn for surfing.”
“Oh. Right. You musta missed that over in the mountains,” she says. “I thought maybe it was Terra since she swings through here for a caramel iced coffee three or four times a week. Come to think of it, it’s usually later in my shift though. Afternoon. And she’s never driving, someone is always with her. Usually her mom but sometimes Nova or Finn or Logan.”
“You’re observant.”
“Journalist’s brain,” Cassidy shrugs. “Hey, do you know what happened to her arm?”
“There’s something wrong with Terra’s arm?” What the hell is she talking about?
“Well most times when she swings through it’s got bandages on it,” Cassidy informs me. “Thought maybe she was donating blood or plasma or something but then I remembered she’s got that disease… what’s it called? Leppis?”
“Lupus.”
“Yeah, so then I thought can they donate blood and plasma? Maybe it’s something to do with that.” Cassidy blinks and glances out the window. There’s two other cars behind me now. “Okay well I should keep the line moving. Welcome back Jake. Come by anytime.”
I hand her the money I was going to pay for my coffee with. “Thanks for the coffees. Pay it forward by letting me buy the next order, okay?”
“You are such a sweetheart,” Cassidy smiles and I drive off.
As usual, running into a Green means receiving a dump truck load full of town gossip. Except Ronan. He spews cocky bullshit not gossip. Hell, he hasn’t even mentioned a fiancé. The stuff about our fire captain potentially leaving is big news, but I focus on the more important information Cassidy dropped as I drive home. Terra has something wrong with her arm?
Shewaswearing long sleeves the two times I’ve seen her even though we’re in an early fall heatwave. When I rolled into town the restaurant was packed, the AC barely cutting it, and she was in a long-sleeved tee while everyone else working was wearing short sleeves.Everyone. Huh.
I pull into the parking spot of my new apartment ten minutes later. Aspen’s car is in one of the guest spots so she hasn’t left yet. I was slightly worried she’d bail before I got home in an attempt to ghost me again. I walk toward the building, which in the sixties was a beach front motel. It was turned into apartments in the late nineties but still has a beach motel vibe big glass lobby and plunge pool and hot tub on the small patio that faces the dunes and ocean beyond. I got it so easily and quickly because the owner was the brother of Captain D’Amato and he put in a good word. Also, the units aren’t huge so if you aren’t single without much stuff, you probably don’t want it even with the killer ocean views. My goal is to buy something by spring. I have a nice little savings account already. There wasn’t much in King’s Rock to spend your pay checks on. I’ll be the first person in my family to ever own a home and that matters a lot to me.
I climb the stairs to the fourth floor, walk straight to the end, balancing the coffees one on top of the other while I unlock the front door. I do a horrible job and the top one leaks onto the front of my shirt because the lid isn’t on right. Fuck.
Inside, a deep, heavy bark echoes menacingly, but when I swing open the door I’m greeted by a swiftly wagging tail and Major promptly throws himself down on my feet and rolls over to show me his belly. “I’ll rub that in a minute, buddy.”
I step over him and follow the scent of bacon into my kitchen. Aspen is leaning against the counter in there, sipping orange juice out of a plastic container. On the counter next to her is a full eggs-and-bacon breakfast with a side of baked beans. I’m stunned. “I found your camping dishes, ran to the convenience store at the end of the block, got the basics.”
