Running Home to You (The Running Series) (13 page)

Marcus and I learn a little about Ryker’s service.  He began his training at the Joint Culinary Center of Excellence in Fort Lee, Virginia.  He then worked for four years at the DFAC in Fort Drum, New York.  I discover that DFAC stands for Dining Facilities Administration Center, which replaces the old-fashioned mess halls. While there, he learned cooking techniques, sanitary food handling, menu planning and more.  He worked in the dining hall as well as the Officer’s Lounge.  Over the course of his four-year assignment, he quickly moved from line cook to head chef.  He even competed in an Iron Chef Competition in Fort Lee where his team placed third.

“Wow, it sounds like a perfect fit.  But be honest, with training like that, why isn’t he working right now?  What’s his story?” Marcus asks Cheri.

“Two years ago, he was deployed to a Forward Operating Base in Afghanistan.  His twelve-month deployment was nearly up when they took some serious fire.  During a mass explosion, Ryker was pretty severely burned.  He’s the only soldier from the mobile kitchen that survived the attack.  He went through some pretty painful skin graft surgeries on his legs and wasn’t physically or emotionally ready to return to the kitchen until recently,” she sadly explains.

“What’s he been doing lately?” I ask.  “Does he live locally or would he need to relocate?”

“That’s the best part.  He lives alone just a few miles away.  He lives in Brick, near his family,” she says.

“Do you know anything about his cooking skills?  Does he have a specialty?  We’re a dessert bar, but I’m looking for someone with experience serving lunch and dinner,” I tell her.

“Well, I know he spends a lot of time working with fresh fish.  He was stationed at Fort Drum, which is near Lake Ontario.  He worked with a lot of fresh bass and salmon,” she claims.  “He likes to work with local products and sustainable food.  Every morning he goes surf fishing in Point Pleasant for striped bass.  He’s been preparing meals and bringing them to a soup kitchen in Red Bank almost every day.”

The moment I hear surf fishing in Point Pleasant, my imagination goes into overdrive.  My mind immediately flashes to the fishermen I encounter every day on my morning runs.  Most of them are older, retired men.  There’s one specific fisherman that seems to fit the bill.  However, Point Pleasant has several miles of beach and it’s entirely possible that she’s describing a completely different person, someone I’ve never even seen before.  It’s not likely, but I have to admit it’s entirely possible.

“Cheri,” I ask, “can you describe him to me?  I live in Point Pleasant and I think I may have seen him around.”

“Um, sure.  He’s thirty years old, has wavy black hair.  Average build, pretty tall, almost six feet.  He’s got a tattoo sleeve on one arm.  Very introverted, quiet, and cautious.  He’s got a heart of gold and would be the first one to help someone in need.”  Well, this sure does sound an awful lot like my lonely surf fisherman.

I turn to Marcus, “Listen, I’m pretty sure I’ve run into this guy on the beach.  I have a good feeling.  I think we’re supposed to help him, Marcus.  What do you say?  The decision’s yours.”

Marcus thinks for a moment, and then cautiously responds, “Cheri, can you set up an interview for tomorrow?  I’d like to meet him and look him in the eye before I commit.”

Cheri agrees, they set up a tentative appointment for tomorrow, and Marcus shows her to the door.

“Jette, please don’t go getting ahead of yourself with this.  I know you think you know this guy, but trust me.  If he’s not in a good place, we can’t bring him in.  Let me make sure he’s ready.  If it feels right, I’ll be the first to offer him the job,” Marcus warns.

“Deal.”  I have a really good feeling about this.  I feel like the universe put him in my path for a reason and I think we’re about to find out why.  Maybe Ryker is my way of paying it forward, passing along my good fortune to someone in need.

B
y the time I return home, Evan’s already returned from practice.  I find him in the living room reading his playbook, freshly showered and enjoying a serenade from Phil Collins.  I join him on the couch, snuggling up to his protective and safe embrace.

Evan closes his playbook and allows me to find a special place under his arm.  I place one arm behind him and the other finds an opening under his t-shirt and rests on his tight abs.  I love the feel of his skin against mine.  He traces invisible circles on my shoulder with his thumb.  I close my eyes, inhale deeply, and enjoy the closeness with Evan that I never seem to get enough of.

“Juliette, is something wrong sweetheart?” Evan asks.  “You seem a little blue.”

“Oh, Evan.  So much happened today.  I don’t even know where to start,” I tell him.  He listens raptly, giving me his undivided attention as I fill him in on all of today’s events, starting with Auggie and Reese, and ending with Marcus and Ryker.  He assures me that I’m on the right track with Reese.  He likes what Marcus is doing about our new hire.  And he promises me that no matter what, he will be here to help and support me throughout it all. 

The only information I leave out is the fact that our potential employee is a regular beach-goer and someone I see on an almost daily basis.  I’m afraid that if I tell him, he will insist that I wait to talk to him until someone can join me, either him or Marcus, and I don’t want to wait.  I need to talk to the fisherman right away and Evan won’t understand.  I make a silent promise to myself to bring Maddy on my run tomorrow, no matter what.  She will be my canary in the coalmine, warning me of impending danger, if any exists.

Once I’ve gotten out everything I need to discuss, Evan has a small bit of business he’d like to discuss, too.  “Now, Juliette,” he begins, “I’m going to say something you’re not going to like, but please try to see it from my point of view before you react.”

“How do you know I’m not going to like it?” I ask.  He’s been unduly worried about some recent bad press, and I can’t help but wonder if there’s more.

“It’s about Derek,” he says.

That is the last thing I expected to hear him say.  I was prepared for some earth-shattering news about his practice schedule, online gossip, or even his recovery and rehabilitation, but Derek?  He’s right about one thing, though – I do get defensive where Derek’s concerned.  But what could he possibly wish to discuss?  “I’m listening,” I tell him.

“I want you to keep your distance from him.  I don’t like what I witnessed last night.  He was all over you, Juliette.  If you give him the slightest indication, I’m pretty sure he’d try to take advantage.”  Shit.  I didn’t realize Evan saw us yesterday.  I have to get him to see it from where I stand.

“Oh, Evan, you’re just being ridiculous.  That’s just Derek.  He’s a big flirt.  He’s like that with Emmy, too,” I remind him.  “Besides, when I’m behind the bar, it’s just an act we put on for the customers.  It keeps them entertained.  You know what it’s like to put on a persona for the public, right?”

“Not the same, Juliette.  That little exchange I witnessed last night wasn’t for anyone’s benefit but his.  There were no customers at the bar.  You and I both know it.  The question is, what are you going to do about it?” Evan demands.

“I’m not going to do anything about it, Evan.  I’m sorry if what you saw made you uncomfortable, but you finally got a small taste of what I experience each and every time we go out together.  How about the women who take pictures with you, kiss you, and try to get you to sign their tits?” I remind him.

“Again, it’s not the same thing.  I don’t have a history with any of those women.  I don’t even know their names.  You and Derek have a past.  There are unresolved feelings and emotions that are boiling just beneath the surface.  Don’t you see it?”

“Are you saying you don’t trust me?  Because that’s what it sounds like to me.”  I don’t like what I’m hearing.

“It’s nothing personal, Juliette, but I don’t trust any man when it comes to you.  I know how men think.  I would feel the same way if it were Adam or some stranger off the street.  Either you tell him to back off, or I’ll make sure he does,” Evan warns.

“I will do no such thing, Evan.”  I pull away from him and slide to the opposite end of the couch.  “You better get used to the fact that I have male friends.  We’ve been locked up in this house together for weeks, and you haven’t seen me in my element for some time now.  I like being behind the bar.  I like joking around with my friends.  That’s not going to change just because it makes you nervous and uncomfortable, Evan.”

“I’m not going to fight with you, Juliette, I’m just giving you fair warning.  I better not see that shit again.  I mean it.  Next time, it won’t be you, it will be Derek getting my take on the situation.  And I don’t think he’ll be happy with my thoughts on the subject.”

“Well, I’m warning you.  If you try to get between me and my friends, we’re going to have a problem, chief.  I love you with all my heart, but I won’t be ‘handled’ by anyone, you included.”  I get up and leave the room.  I need some time to myself. 

For weeks, everything has revolved around Evan and his recovery.  Now, suddenly, he’s not in the spotlight and he doesn’t like it.  For once, I’m getting attention from someone other than him, and he can’t handle it.  This is something we’re going to have to work out quickly, because I intend to spend a lot of time with my friends at Rush.

Sing For Your Supper

I
wake before Evan’s alarm goes off.  Most mornings we wake in a tangled mess, arms and legs endlessly entwined, but not today.  Evan soundly sleeps on his side of the bed and I lie awake on mine.  Our bed is large, but lying here like this makes it feel enormous, like an entire canyon separates us.

As his alarm sounds, he quickly reaches over to silence it.  I remain still, hoping to avoid him until later today.  He is still upset about Derek and my refusal to respond to his demands.  I don’t want to give him an opportunity to bring it up again, at least not right now.  I also don’t want to tell him about my plans for this morning.  I’ve never been a good liar, and I fear he’d read the deception clearly written across my face.

I hear the shower running, and I’m relieved.  I pretend to sleep as Evan moves quietly from the bathroom and into our walk-in-closet.  He turns on the light and shuts the door so as not to disturb me.  He emerges fully dressed, kisses me silently on the forehead, and then slips out of our room.  Within a few minutes, I hear the garage door open and Evan’s gone for the day. 

I feel terribly guilty for keeping my plans from him, but I know he would never let me approach a stranger on the beach alone.  This is something I feel very strongly about and I’m not sure why.  I just know that the familiar stranger on the beach will be there today and I know he’s the one Rush needs right now.  Women’s intuition is a real thing, and I intend to listen to mine. 

I spend the next two hours wandering around the house waiting for the sun to rise.  Time seems to be standing still.  It’s like watching and waiting for a pot of water to boil.  After what feels like an eternity, it’s finally time to hit the beach.  The sun’s up and the waves are crashing.  Time to meet my new employee.

Every morning, my new friend is in the same spot along the beach, about half a mile north of our home.  I take Maddy’s leash and together we begin our run, anxious to see what awaits us both.  The first song to queue on my playlist is “Safe and Sound” by Capital Cities. I’m going to take it as a sign that everything is happening exactly as it should.

It’s encouraging to see the large number of fishermen out today.  They seem to be here in droves this morning.  The fish must really be biting.  As I get closer to my mark, I get a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.  Sure enough, the spot is empty.  Am I too late?  Too early?  I know I’m in the right spot.  The only thing to do is to continue my jog and hope he appears on my return route. 

As I run along my usual path, I contemplate the possible explanations for the missing fisherman.  If he is Ryker and he knows he has a job interview today, perhaps he’s home preparing.  Maybe he’s doing research on us.  I know that if I were a candidate for a job in a new restaurant or bar, I would learn as much as I could about its reputation and owners.  It strikes me as the responsible thing to do.