Roman met Rick by the old jukebox machine, which featured a jazzy reggae beat. He glanced around, taking in the familiar atmosphere. “Except for the music, nightlife in Yorkshire Falls is as exciting as ever.”
Rick shrugged. “Did you really expect things to change?”
“I guess not.” Even the decor was the same, he noted. Thanks to Norman senior’s obsession with bird-watching, the restaurant’s motif was comprised of wooden hand-painted birdhouses lining the walls, while pictures of varying species in their natural habitat hung in between.
The place had been and still was home to the older teens seeking independence from their parents, the singles in town, and the families needing a bite after Little League practice. Tonight, the patrons included the Chandler brothers. After living out of hotels for weeks on end and rarely seeing his New York apartment, let alone his family, Roman had to admit coming home felt good.
“Just tell me the burgers are as good as I remember and I’ll be a happy man.”
Rick laughed. “Takes so little to make you happy.”
“What would it take to make you happy, Rick?” Years had passed since Rick’s marriage ended in a devastating divorce, his wife leaving him for another man. To his credit, Rick had remained the happy-go-lucky brother, but Roman often wondered what pain he hid inside.
Rick folded his arms across his chest. “I’m already a satisfied man.”
After all Rick had been through, Roman hoped his brother meant what he said.
“Hi, handsome. What can I get for you?” a high-pitched female voice asked.
Roman rose to give Isabelle, Norman’s seventy-year-old wife and everyone’s favorite waitress, a swift hug. She smelled like a unique mixture of home cooking and the good old-fashioned grease Norman used in the kitchen when she wasn’t looking.
He stepped back. “Good to see you, Izzy.”
She smiled. “Your mother’s over the moon that you’re home.”
He settled himself back into the chair. “Yeah, just wish the reason were different.”
“Your mom’s a tough one. She’ll be fine. Norman and I sent over enough prepacked meals to get her through the week.”
“You’re the best.”
She grinned. “Don’t I know it. So what can I get you? Cheeseburger deluxe?”
Roman laughed. “You’ve got a memory like an elephant.”
“Only when it comes to my favorite customers.” She shot Roman a wink, then turned to Rick. “Steak and mashed potatoes, that I know. Soda tonight, Officer?”
Rick nodded. “I’m on duty.”
“I’ll have the same.”
“So what are you up to while you’re home?” Izzy asked.
“One day at a time. Tonight I’ll see if Chase needs any help while I’m around.”
She stuck her pen behind her ear. “You Chandler boys work too hard.”
Rick shrugged. “It’s the way we were raised, Izzy.”
“That reminds me. Put a burger up for Chase. He’ll be here any minute,” Roman said.
“I’m here now.” His older brother came up behind Izzy.
“Perfect timing. One cheese, one burger, and a steak. You have a seat and I’ll bring your drinks.” Isabelle started to leave.
“Coke for me, Izzy.” Chase shrugged off his jacket and hung it over the back of the chair, then settled into his seat. “So what’d I miss?”
“Rick was telling me how happy he was with his life,” Roman said wryly.
“He ought to be. You’d be amazed, the predicaments the women in this town find themselves in just so they have an excuse to call and have the cop come to their rescue,” Chase said. “We could donate a full page of the paper and online to Officer Rick’s exploits.”
Roman smirked. “I’m sure he doesn’t find it a hardship, do you?”
“No more than Chase finds it tough fending off the women with picnic baskets who try to coax him out of the office and onto his back. I mean onto the picnic blanket.” Rick laughed and eased back in the vinyl-covered chair, satisfaction etched on his face. “So many women, so little time.”
Roman laughed. “But there’s a bigger choice outside of Yorkshire Falls. How come you never made the move?” He always wondered why his middle brother was content policing the small town when he could make better, more varied use of his talents in a big city.
Lord knew, during the summers Roman had spent reporting for Chase, he’d felt confined by the small and often trivial stories he’d been assigned, while the outside world pulled at him, beckoning him toward bigger and better … what, exactly, he hadn’t known at the time. He still wasn’t sure what the draw was, but he wondered if his brother ever felt similar dissatisfaction, or the pull to move on.
“Roman? Roman Chandler? Is that you?”
Apparently he wouldn’t be getting his answers anytime soon. He pushed his chair back, glanced up, and found himself face-to-face with one of his old high school girlfriends.
“Beth Hansen?” He rose from his seat.
She squealed with excitement and wrapped her arms around his neck. “It is you. How are you? And how’d I miss the fact that you were home?”
“With my mom out of commission, things are a little slow on the gossip mill.” He returned the friendly hug and stepped back to look her over.
Professionally touched-up blond hair fell to her shoulders, well styled and making her look more chic and less like the relaxed, California-type girl he remembered. And was it his imagination, or had her breasts grown tremendously since he’d been gone?
“I heard about Raina. Is she okay?” Beth asked.
He nodded. “She will be, if she takes it easy and listens to the doctor.” And she’d be even better if Roman married and impregnated a woman as soon as possible. No way could Roman think of his mission in terms less than clinical, not when love and desire had nothing to do with it.
He appraised Beth once more, this time as a potential candidate. He’d always liked her, which would help in accomplishing his goal. They’d been good friends, nothing more, but back in high school, he’d asked her out anyway. They’d gone out a few times and had had sex in the backseat of Chase’s car—because she was willing and he’d been horny. But mostly because he’d been in desperate need of ego-soothing after Charlotte Bronson’s rejection. If he didn’t “do it” for Charlotte, he’d decided he was damn well going to “do it” for Beth.
And that had been all male ego, he admitted now. But he and Beth had stayed together till graduation because it was fun and easy, going their separate ways after. Neither had been hurt and their camaraderie obviously remained.
“Give Raina my love, okay?” Beth asked.
“Will do.”
“So how long are you here for this time?” Her bright eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Beth didn’t attract him like Charlotte had, but she had a good heart. Was she still interested? Roman wondered. And if so, would she settle for a friendly but loveless marriage? He leaned closer. “How long do you want me here?”
She laughed and punched him in the shoulder. “You’re still such a tease. Everyone knows you don’t stick around any longer than you have to.”