Weathering the Storm. Morgan Q O'Reilly

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СКАЧАТЬ started taking pictures. Karl could give me names later. After the first couple of shots, people figured it out and it became a game. Pictures and names.

      Mrs. Sorenson, my fourth grade teacher. Of course, now I recognized her. She invited me to stop by the gift shop she’d taken to running for her retirement.

      Once I had everyone at the table, the conversation moved on. I took an extra of the builder just for fun.

      Although people looked at me with questions, their eyes straying to the scarf around my head, probably wondering where I’d been injured, they didn’t ask. Instead they concentrated on Aiden, the newcomer from Outside, and the upcoming summer season.

      Bill told of his plans to double the size of the inn he’d bought twenty years earlier and had turned into something of a local favorite.

      Karl nodded to the flight crew renting two of his eight rooms for the summer. Two pilots and two mechanics, they all found seats nearby. I hadn’t had much time to do more than try to memorize which face went with which name. Which I couldn’t remember, so I took their photos, too.

      Bill insisted I fill in his contact information with phone, website, address and every other detail he could think of. Including his birthday.

      “I expect a present this year. You’ve forgotten all about me these past eleven years. You’ve got some making up to do.”

      “Yeah, sure, just as soon as you cough up eleven years of birthday presents for me,” I teased right back. “Let me eat first, then I’ll get to the gory details.”

      The juicy moose burger distracted me from the conversation around me. God, it was so good! Lean and minimally processed with just the right seasonings, it was meat I could eat without worrying. Now, if only I could get free-range chickens and turkey without making a huge process out of it.

      Unwilling to give up the least bit of flavor, I licked my fingers clean of the juices and sighed with pleasure.

      “Done?” Karl stuffed a napkin into my hand. The odd note in his voice made me look over to see his mixed grin. A bit amused, a lot dismayed, somewhat confused. “Be kind to the local males, please. Save that orgasmic look for inside four walls, would you?”

      I blinked back at him. “Huh?” What was he talking about?

      “Never mind, just wipe your face, okay?”

      I rolled my eyes and wiped my face and fingers. Thirsty, I reached for the nearest plastic cup in front of me. Logic said it was mine, but it was empty. I nudged Karl with my elbow. “Thought you were getting me a beer? What’d you do with it?”

      The look he gave me was one part wary caution, another part exasperation. “You drank it. I told you not to guzzle it.”

      I concentrated on the flavors in my mouth. Meat, ketchup, pickle, mustard…but no beer. “I didn’t drink it.”

      Karl rolled his eyes but poured a few ounces from his cup into mine. “That’s all the more you get. If you can’t remember what you’ve been drinking, then you shouldn’t be drinking alcohol at all.”

      Although he had a point, I didn’t want to let it go. However, for now, with an audience, I shrugged him off. Later, we’d talk.

      My gaze caught that of the Irishman across the table. Eyes as clear as lab grown diamonds with rare-earth ions inside the crystal structure–something like praseodymium would give it that incredible blue shade–drilled into my head. Like a good laser, the stare aimed at me set fire to places I’d forgotten about, and made me aware of him in a way I didn’t recall ever feeling. Not even with Mike, but that could be one of the memories lost when the rocks I’d landed on changed so many things from my past.

      No, I didn’t want to lose this memory. I gulped down the last sip of my beer, then reached for my phone again. I’d forgotten to make notes on him. So far it had proven to be the most reliable method for keeping track of new information. People were more than happy to pick up where they’d left off so I could eat.

      After entering the numbers and names to go with the faces, I needed a break. “Back in a minute.” The escape gave me a chance to sort all the new data into the mental memory banks. But there was something I’d missed. I had that feeling. With a glance over my shoulder, I made sure Karl was looking the other direction, then altered my trajectory toward the rack of party pig beer holders. A helpful, if tipsy, soul filled a cup for me and I gulped half of it down before turning back to the table. Cold and slightly fizzy, it tasted damn good. Like something I’d once had on a hot afternoon. Beer, wine, and any other form of alcohol, had been on the doctors’ not approved list and I hadn’t had a sip, not one, since the fall.

      Back at the table, I saw the smiling Irishman again and remembered. I’d taken his picture, but hadn’t input any information on him. At Karl’s raised brow, I tipped my cup so he could see the level of liquid barely reached the half way mark. What he didn’t know… Dammit, I was an adult.

      While conversation flowed, I pecked at the tiny optical keyboard on the screen of my phone. Aiden Seanessy, I typed next to his photo. I hadn’t asked for his phone number, so I made a note he worked for Bill, and a few other tidbits I recalled. He was from Montana, and built homes. Construction worker. Or was he a general contractor? Did it matter? I rubbed my eyes, sipped my beer and let the gentle mellowness ease over me as I typed in my notes using the shorthand I’d often used in the lab.

      About the time I finished, Karl nudged my arm. “Our day starts at oh-dark-thirty. The crew needs a good hearty breakfast to get them through the day. If you’re cooking, you need some sleep.”

      “Oh-kay.” I glanced up at the sky and then down at my phone. Nearly eleven, and it felt like Colorado nine o’clock. Yeah, getting used to the long daylight again would take a bit of time. Good thing I could sleep in the light, even though Karl had assured me the light blocking blinds in my little room under the kitchen worked just fine. And I was tired. Lord, I was tired. And maybe a tad tipsy. Perhaps that second beer hadn’t been a great idea after all, but it had tasted so good.

      Getting up from the table, I stumbled a little.

      Karl grabbed my arm. “Tell me you’re not drunk.”

      “I’m not drunk. A bit jet lagged, a little tired, long day. You know. But I’m not drunk.”

      He gave me a long look. “Yeah, okay. I keep forgetting you just flew in today. That, and your body clock needs adjusting. All the more reason to get home and get some sleep.”

      “Damn.”

      I turned to look over my shoulder. Aiden stood close.

      “I was hoping to dance with her now that the music is mellowing out.”

      “I could dance,” I said and turned his direction.

      “Zettie, that’s not a great idea. I made a promise and I’m not going to break it the first night you’re here.”

      I looked back at Karl and frowned. “What promise?”

      “Your folks, remember? I’m your surrogate father while you’re here and I wouldn’t be doing my duty if I just handed you over to some guy none of us know.” He shrugged at Aiden. “Sorry, but you’re a stranger here.”

      Bill СКАЧАТЬ