Running Northwest (22 page)

“So it seems like you missed me Mr. James,” Tracie said smiling as she looked up at Thomas.

“Well…maybe,” he answered and giving her a wink.

“Just maybe?” she asked.

“Well if maybe means all day, then yes, maybe,” he said smiling.

“That’s a good answer, because I missed you a lot to” she said.

“So it seems that we are on the same page then. You missed me and I missed you, so it works,” he said.

“Yeah, I think it does,” Tracie said as she laid her head on Thomas’ chest.

“I should get going to meet Derrick, but I just wanted to say thanks for watching Daniel. It means a lot to me, I wasn’t thrilled with the idea of having him up until damn near midnight,” Thomas said as he reached up and ran his fingers though her hair.

“Yeah, I know you; I wondered if you were gunna change the time. It’s weird for you to have him out that late on a school night,” she replied.

“Well it wasn’t my first option so I’m glad Derrick was okay with meeting earlier,” Thomas said quietly and with a far off look.

“You’re worried about the meeting aren’t you? About what Derrick needed to talk to you so quickly for?” she asked.

“Yeah a little bit, it’s just weird timing is all. I hope it’s nothing too serious.
When we were having lunch he didn’t even hint about what it was,” Thomas said, then adding, “Oh and by the way, I’m suppose
d to tell you that Erin is going to
call you tonight.
Apparently she has some things to discuss with you.”

“Really? About what?” Tracie asked.

“Well, I wasn’t too sure what it was originally. Then after lunch Daniel spilled the beans about you staying over last night. I tried to play it off as nothing, but I think she has suspicions. You know how she can get sometimes. She’s very intuitive,” Thomas answered.

Tracie laughed hard and said, “Oh yeah, I’m fully aware of how nosey she can be. At least I can be a little prepared now. But what should I tell her when she asks about anything concerning me and you?”

Thomas thought for a minute and answered, “That’s up to you but I was planning on just telling Derrick about us, and tell him we’re gunna slowly give it shot…but still sort of wait and see where this is going. Besides, I think he already has an idea anyway. So tell her whatever you’re comfortable with.”

“Sounds good, I’ll figure out something to tell her. So you think you really
want to
try dating me and see what can happen here?” she asked nervously

“I do, beautiful. I’ve been thinking about it all day and all last night. I’m not gunna lie…I’m scared as hell. But you and I seem to have something interesting Tracie, and I suppose, for me at least, it’s worth giving it a shot,” Thomas said, then adding, “So what about you? Are you okay with trying to date an older man, who’s a single father and also happens to be your boss?”

Tracie looked at Thomas for a minute and stared into his steely blue eyes then said, “Thomas, I may be younger than you, but I know you and I know what kind of man you are. You're one of my best friends. I know there aren’t many men out there like you. And even though I’m young, I’m also smart enough to know a great guy when I see one. I’m smart enough not to walk away from a good thing when I feel it
. I made my decision when I came
and kissed you on the couch last night, Tommy.”

Thomas was feeling and thinking many things at that moment. He felt nervous, awkward and scared but somehow in a good way. Tracie was amazing and had had a way of calming him down with just the sound of her voice; the way she said things. He smiled at her and pulled her hand to his mouth and kissed it.

“But hey Stud, you should get going or you’re going to be late. We can talk more later, okay?” Tracie said.

“You’re right, I probably should get going,” he said as he looked at his phone.

“Okay, well you boys have fun and be safe. Don’t kill anybody,” Tracie said jokingly.

“Oh, we won’t, trust me…well at least not too many,” he answered and laughed.

Thomas gently put his fingers on the side of her face, leaned in and kissed her one last time. He got into his pickup trucks and watched her as she went inside the house and waved goodbye before driving away. Tracie only lived a little ways away from The Whaleback and it took him less than ten minutes to get there.

As he pulled into the parking lot of The Whaleback, he was surprised at how busy it was for a Sunday night. The parking lot was not full but it was close and there seemed to be many cars parked on the street. Since Thomas was part owner of the bar he would usually go through the employee’s entrance at the back of the building. Nevertheless, tonight he went in the main entrance, since it was busy Derrick was probably behind the bar helping. Another reason was since Thomas was part owner and very well known around town it was always a nice thing for him say hello to the locals and spend some time chitchatting.

He walked through the heavy wooden door and into the bar, it was not wall to wall packed but the girls that were serving appeared busy. There was a Karaoke DJ at far end of the bar on a small stage and a handful of people were slow dancing. A woman who looked to be in her mid-40’s was singing her heart out to some old country song. There were baseball games and a hockey game on the various TV’s placed around the room. As he walked in Thomas waved at the one bouncer that worked there named Jerry, who was standing against a wall scanning the room. He was a large older man who was near 50 years old and could handle himself very well. Jackson was one of the first people him and Derrick had hired when they opened The Whaleback. Jerry was a former professional fisherman who was in an accident years ago and needed a part time job. He had a history and most people wouldn’t take chance on him. Jerry had become a good friend to both Thomas and Derrick and they would occasionally ride their motorcycles together on day trips.

Since Thomas was quite tall and a large framed man, when he walked into rooms people tended to notice, he was very hard to miss. And he was barely in the room for twenty seconds when a few people turned and looked at him nervously; most people though looked and gave a quick wave. He heard someone call his name from a table towards the right side of the room. After looking, he realized that it was Pete and Aimee Denning they were friends of his. Both of them were in their early seventies and very spirited and active for
people their age. The Denning’s
lived here on the Oregon Coast in the summers just a little bit north of where Thomas’ home was, the rest of time they were in Arizona.

After realizing they must have just gotten back into town he walked over and talked with them for a few minutes after shaking Pete’s hand and giving Aimee a big hug. As he stood next to their table and caught up with
the couple one of the waitresses
came over and brought Thomas a gin and tonic. It was his usual drink and Thomas realized Derrick must have seen him walk in. He thanked the young woman who happily said “no problem boss” and walked away after Thomas gave her a five dollar tip. He looked towards the bar and saw that Derrick was looking directly at him. Derrick nodded towards the backroom and held up five fingers, letting Thomas know too meet him in the office in five minutes. Thomas lightly nodded in response and continued his conversation with the Denning’s. A few minutes later after promising to bring Daniel over to visit them soon Thomas said his goodbyes and walked away. He moved intently across the bar and though a group of people that separated as he walked towards them. He walked past the end of the bar and through a door that led to the kitchen and soon was sitting on the leather couch in Derrick’s office after taking off his black pea coat. He flipped on the television and turned it to a hockey game and watched it while he waited for his best friend.

A few minutes later Derrick walked into the office carrying his notepad and two drinks, one for him and one for Thomas. He sat down in a leather chair next to the couch Thomas was sitting on and handed Thomas his drink after shaking his friend’s hand. Thomas, who seemed to be focused on the television and the hockey game, could see Derrick staring at him out of the corner of his eye. He had been waiting for his friend to start the conversation and was curious why his old friend was being so reserved with whatever it was he had to say and Thomas was feeling impatient at the moment.

“So buddy, what’s going, why are you holding back?” Thomas asked.

“Oh, I’m not holding back, just thinking about what I want to talk to you about first. Just relaxing a little bit also, tonight has been busy as hell,” Derrick replied

“I see that, looks like the karaoke thing is paying off. Its gunna be a good thing
if
you can keep this up,” Thomas said.

“Yeah, I hope so, apparently it’s been a while since a bar had it in this town,” Derrick said and then adding, “So I have something to show you and then ask about.”

“Sure, what’s up?” Thomas said as he watched Derrick stand up and grab a box out of his desk and then sitting back down. Derrick handed Thomas the small box and he opened it. Inside was a white gold ring with a sizable diamond on the top.

“Derrick? I’m sorry, but I can’t marry you, Bro,” Thomas said laughing.

“Shut the hell up, you old dumb ass, you know it’s not for you. What do you think of the ring Tom? I’m gunna ask Erin to marry me,” Derrick said looking his friend in the eye, obviously nervous.

Thomas took a sip of his drink and leaned back on the couch and returned the stare from his friend and said, “Are you sure you’re ready for this, man?”

“I’m more than sure, Bro. I have known I’ve wanted to do this for a long time. You know me and how I am; you know I take this stuff seriously. I love her and I don’t want to take a chance on going one more day without her,” Derrick said with a hopeful look in his eye.

Thomas was quiet for a minute, still holding the ring in his hand. Then handing it back to Derrick with a very serious look on his face said with a grin, “Well it’s about damn time you fool. I can’t believe you made her wait this long…if it was me I would have dumped you a LONG time ago.” He then stuck out his hand to shake his best friend’s hand.

“Congratulations, man. I’m seriously happy for you; when are you gunna do it?” Thomas asked.

“Thanks. I wasn’t sure what you would say. I was going to do it today on the bike ride but I got too nervous.”

Thomas waved his large hand in the air at his friend and chuckled, “Man you don’t need my permission; with all that we’ve been through you should know I’m behind you no matter what.”

“Of course I know that, but it never hurts to get the Don’s blessing if you know what I mean,” Derrick said jokingly, referencing Thomas’s old nickname from back in Michigan, making Thomas laugh mildly.

“Yeah, that’s what they say,” Thomas replied as he slowly took sip of his drink and then added, “So when do you think you’re going to ask her?”

“Hell, I don’t know…thinking about tomorrow. I don’t want to put it off any longer than I already have. I’ve had the ring for over a month now,” Derrick said.

“Seriously? You’ve had it for a month and you haven’t told me about it yet? You’re breaking my heart man…we used to be so close,” Thomas said, trying to pretend to be put off but laughing.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. I think I’m going to take her out for a ride and then dinner tomorrow; ask her then,” Derrick said.

“Right on, man, sounds good. Do you think she has any idea?” Thomas asked.

“I don’t think so. I mean, we have talked about it before, but I don’t think she knows I’m this close to actually asking her,” Derrick said.

“Well I won’t say anything,” Thomas said.

“But since we are on the subject of relationships, Mr. Man…what the hell is up with you and Tracie?” Derrick asked making no attempt at being subtle.

Thomas looked at Derrick and shook his head, grumbling, “I was wondering when that was going to come up.”

“Well now that it has, spill it. What’s going on there?” Derrick asked again.

“Well the attraction and connection is there, I think anybody can see that if they spend some time around us. It may have just been something I was mentally shutting myself down to; maybe I was just wasn’t ready. I don’t know. Next to you, she’s my best friend here in Oregon and we talk about everything…we know how one another ticks. I don’t know if it’s one of those weird timing things or what, but I’m pretty crazy about her. We’re gunna take it slow – or at least as slow as we can. I think the last thing either of us wants is to mess up our friendship. But she says she knows a good thing when she sees it and would regret not giving a ‘us’ a try, so we’re going to date and see how it goes,” Thomas said slowly and carefully.

“Uh-huh…well how does your boy feel about all of this?” Derrick asked.

“Well you know he’s completely nuts about Tracie. And she loves him and would do anything for the kid. I think he would be okay with it, but I don’t know for sure. I mean, I’m not going to hide it from him by any means but it’s a fairly recent development so I haven’t thought of just how I’m going to tell him exactly…but I will. Truth be told Derrick I’m nervous as hell about it. I’m sure it’s obvious why,” Thomas answered as he quietly thought to himself how and where he would bring up this subject to his son.

“Abundantly aware of them, man; all of them,” Derrick said as he leaned back in his chair and looked long and hard at his old friend.