“Yes, of course I remember. I’m not an idiot, you know.” He closed his eyes and rolled over.
“Sleep tight, Dad.”
She heard the coffee machine belching as soon as she entered the kitchen. How many years had it been since she purchased a new coffeemaker? Her heartbeat ticked a little faster at the prospect of being alone with Karl Bjornson. Good thing Ray was not around to see this, because he had never liked Bjornson, dating all the way back to high school. She remembered Ray teasing him in the hallway one day, in front of the other kids, and Karl taking it with good-natured stoicism, which had impressed her even back then.
The coffee finished brewing. She grabbed two cups, spoons, a bowl of sugar, and the pint of half-and-half and placed them on the table between them. When she put one of the cups down, she noticed a thick brown stain running along the rim. She prayed he didn’t see it. She quickly replaced the cup without saying anything, knowing Raisin had yet again failed to check the dishes before putting them away. She poured two cups, making a mental note to remind him to do a better job next time. Karl made no move for the cream or the sugar, which didn’t surprise her. He’d always maintained spartan habits.
He sipped his brew. “Great coffee.”
“Glad you like it.” Isla sat down across from him.
“The coffee at the station is the absolute worst, but that’s all we have on the night shift.”
“How did I know you liked gourmet coffee?” She smiled.
“I don’t know. How did you know?”
“Maybe a little bird told me.” She leaned forward in her chair, two hands wrapped around her cup.
“A feathered friend I might know?”
“I saw you sitting in Café Bello one day, while I was working on a customer.”
“Spying on me, huh?”
She sipped her coffee so as to hide her grin. “I’m thinking it was the other way around.”
“For your information, I sometimes go over there on my days off and work on police business. It’s nice and quiet in there, and the coffee’s good. Expensive but good.”
“Whatever you say.”
“You really think I was spying on you?” The subtlest hint of a smile came over his face.
“Just saying, buster.” She used to call him buster back in high school.
“What exactly are you saying?”
“It’s like the way you used to stare at me from your locker.”
“If I remember correctly, the feeling was mutual.”
She sipped her brew. “Any word on that missing kid from Harper’s Point?”
“Nothing. It’s as if he dropped off the face of the earth.”
“That’s too bad. His mother used to be one of my clients. Can’t even imagine what that poor thing is going through.”
“Goes to show you that money can’t buy everything.”
“She’d been coming in before Dakota went missing, and had always been so happy and upbeat. Then that happened. You can imagine how difficult that conversation was when she finally came in.”
“What did you say?”
“What could I say? I expressed my sincerest apologies and told her not to give up hope. Then I worked on her in silence.”
He sipped his coffee. “I didn’t know your dad moved in with you. Did he sell his place up on Evans Road?”
It impressed her that he remembered the old home she grew up in. “He moved in with us two weeks ago. They diagnosed him with Alzheimer’s last year. It got to the point where it wasn’t safe for him to live alone anymore.”
“Sorry to hear that.”
“Life happens, you know?”
“That’s a tough one. My grandfather got diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and it made him angry as hell.” He fiddled with his spoon. “Hey, I heard about the girls winning the softball championship yesterday. That’s pretty awesome.”
“So awesome that Katie never even made it home tonight.”
“Kids will be kids, right? Not like we didn’t do the same stupid stuff when we were younger.”
“Funny, I don’t remember you doing anything but climbing mountains and trudging through woods.”
“Was I that much of a Goody Two-shoes?”
“Worse than you know.”
He smiled and shook his head.
“Anyway, you think I want my kid doing the things I did back in high school?” She could feel the easy chemistry between them returning. She tried to shrug off the feeling, but there was no denying it.
“We sure had some fun back then. And we’re still here to talk about it.”
“Sometimes I wonder if that’s a good thing.”
He stood. “I really gotta go. Thanks for the coffee, Isla.”
“Honest, I really did think someone had broken in. Dad’s never gotten up and wandered around like that before, breaking glasses and making a racket.”
“Call me anytime you want. The coffee alone is worth the visit.”
“What about the company?”
“Most definitely worth it. Your dad’s a great conversationalist.”
“Wiseass.” She smiled. “I hope you find that James kid.”
“Me too.” He stared into her eyes. “How’s Raisin, by the way?”
“Fine. As long as he has Scout by his side, constantly alerting me about his blood sugar levels.”
“That dog is amazing.”
“And worth every penny. Not sure Raisin could have a normal life without him. He’s our wonder dog.”
She walked him to the door, stepping over the broken glass, remembering how they had kissed all those years ago, as high school seniors. Karl exited and made his way down the steps. Off in the distance, she could see the barest hint of light creeping up over the horizon. He slipped into his cruiser and disappeared down the narrow driveway. A cool ocean breeze ruffled her hair as she stood in the doorway, admiring the first brilliant moments of sunrise. She loved the clammy smell of ocean. It was as much a part of her as anything else in this town.
She shut the door and returned to the kitchen table. It felt nice being in here with all the lights off and the house quiet. Raisin slept soundly upstairs, with Scout by his side, ready to pounce at any significant change in the boy’s blood sugar. Her father lay tucked away in his room, hopefully dreaming pleasant dreams. If only Katie were home, she’d feel more relaxed. With Katie entering her senior year in the fall, she knew she better get used to her daughter being away for long periods of time. In many ways, Katie had gotten lost in the shuffle of their crazy family dynamics, and Isla had to remind herself to spend more time with her before she was gone for good.
Dakota James had disappeared three and a half months ago, and it was all anyone in town could talk about. Isla couldn’t imagine the pain his mother must be going through. She didn’t know if she could bear such suffering if one of her own kids went missing like that.
After drinking her cup of coffee and sweeping up the broken glass, she decided that returning to bed was no longer an option. She poured herself another cup and sat quietly, thinking about all that had happened in the past year. Despite Raisin’s illness, her father’s recent diagnosis, and Ray’s irresponsible ways, she felt herself a lucky woman. At least she hadn’t lost a child like the James family had.