Running Northwest (27 page)

“Fine, I suppose I should give you a ride to the airport and see you off, I am the one who got you into this sort of,” Karen said.

“What would I do without you” Stephanie said

“You would be lost and boring forever, and never do crazy irrational things ever again, and I want the whole day off too. But I should get going and get the coffee ready and put my face on
,
” Karen said
.

“The coffee is made already, I did it for you. And I already gave you the day off” Stephanie said laughing and then adding “but yeah
,
you should do something about your face though”
.

“Ha, ha, very funny. I’ll come bother you again in a bit and we can talk more” Karen said. Then she stood up, grabbed her purse and walked out of her friends office as quick and as blustery as she when came in
.

Stephanie spent the rest of the day feeling more at ease than she had since all of this had started. She felt as if she was actually taking a chance in life and that was something she had not done in a long time. She was not sure what would happen in Oregon, but she was glad she was doing something. She looked forward to going somewhere new that she had never seen, and forward to getting the hell out of Michigan.

It was Tuesday night in Oregon and Thomas had a busier day at the shop than normal. Derrick had stopped by to talk to him about the whole Samuel Terreto situation. Derrick had done some more digging on his own concerning Terreto and had relayed most of that back to Thomas during their conversation earlier in the day. However, Derrick had left out for the time being a few things. He had a hunch about some
things
, certain coincidences that he had noticed lately and he decided to keep an eye open on things for his best friend. The police had been to the shop to deal with a few unruly teenagers that Tracie
did not have the patience for
. Thomas had to stop back after picking Daniel up from school and talk to the two police officers who came, it happened on occasion though and wasn’t usually a big deal. Thomas also decided earlier in the day after talking to Tracie
,
to invite Derrick and Erin over for dinner to celebrate their engagement. Considering the potentially bad weather, Tracie took up Derrick’s offer of riding with him and Erin to Thomas’ house.

It was lightly raining now and nearly 7 pm and the four grownups and Daniel had just finished with dinner. Tracie had insisted on cooking everything despite Thomas’ offer to help. She made her homemade spaghetti with the biggest meatballs Thomas had ever seen in his life. The girls insisted on cleaning up after dinner so they could have girl talk and Thomas sent his son to his room to do his homework after dinner which was part of their agreement. Thomas and Derrick were now standing outside the back of the house that faced the road and were enjoying a cigarette and a beer and some nonbusiness talk.

“She seems really excited man
,
” Thomas said.

“You have no idea Bro; she started crying as soon as I pulled out the ring. I had to wait five minutes just too actually ask her” Derrick said laughing.

“I’m proud of you man, I never thought I would see the day that you actually asked someone to marry you, it’s pretty great” Thomas said then adding “looks like both our crazy days as bachelors are finally over”

“Yeah, but it had to happen sooner or later for us both. I called my mom, dad, and my brothers today with Erin and we told them the news. They’re very excited, they’re going to try and come out for a week sometime in July or August and see us” Derrick said.

“I bet they’re happy their baby boy is finally getting married. They still hate me for talking you int
o moving out here,” Thomas said.

“Yeah they seem really happy about it, and I think Mom is still not your biggest fan but it happens” Derrick said.

“So you guys figure out a date yet
?
” Thomas asked.

“I think so actually, you know how women are. I think Erin had this planned out in her head before I even asked her” Derrick said then adding “I think we’re loosely shooting for early next spring, end of March maybe”.

“Sounds awesome man
,
” Thomas answered.

Thomas and his friend stood outside for a few more minutes and finished their cigarettes and man talk then went back inside. Tracie and Erin were already sitting on the couch with a wedding magazine in between them looking at dresses. Thomas went into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of wine, opened it then grabbed four wine glasses and set them down on the coffee table. He poured the wine into the glasses and handed them to his friends and Tracie.

He looked at Derrick and Erin who were now sitting next to each other and said, “Hey you two, I just want to say congratulations. You are two of my closest friends in the world a
nd I love you.
I could not be happier for you both, now Derrick don’t mess it up”.

Derrick and Erin laughed and Erin said “thank you Thomas, I hope he doesn’t mess this up either”.

“Hey now, If I was going to mess things up I would have done it far sooner than this
,
” Derrick said laughing

“You must be in love…or she really loves you” Thomas said.

“I can’t believe you managed to put up with him Sweetie” Tracie said to Erin.

“Well what I can say I’m a very patient woman, right baby
?
” Erin replied as she patted her fiancés leg with her hand.

Thomas leaned back onto the coach and Tracie rested her head on his shoulder.

Erin was whispering something into Derricks ear when she turned and looked over at Thomas and Tracie then said, “We have something to ask you two”.

“Sure what’s up
?
” Tracie answered after giving Thomas a wondering look.

“Well…” Erin started saying then she looked at Derrick and whispered “baby why don’t you go first”.

“Okay babe sure thing” Derrick said then looking at Thomas and saying “I was wondering i
f you want to be my best man?
”

“For real…what about your brothers”? Thomas asked
kind of surprised
.

“They’re in South Dakota
and
Michigan and you’re here Tom. Y
ou’re like a brother to me to man, we’ve been through some shit together” Derrick said.

“Well I don’t know man” Thomas said as he pretended to think about it, Even though he had already decided to say yes.

“Oh shut the hell up, you know you already decided to say yes” Derrick said.

“Sometimes I hate how well you know me Derrick” Thomas said then adding “But yeah man I’d love to, if I’m your guy…then I’m in”

“I wouldn’t have asked if I thought otherwise” Derrick said and reaching over the table and shaking his best friends hand. Then barely even waiting for Derrick and Thomas to finish talking, Erin blurted out “TRACIE WILL YOU BE MY MAID OF HONOR”?

“OH MY GOD REALLY…yes, yes
of course I will” Tracie yelled. They stood up at the same time t
he
n the
two women started screaming at the top of their lungs and crying.

“For real, are you sure…I mean what about your sister”? Tracie asked as she tried to calm down.

“Of course I’m sure honey, you’re by best friend. And my sister lives all the way over in Boston and she’s a bitch anyway…and you’re so not a bitch” Erin said, her face full of smiles a tears.

“Awe you don’t think I’m a bitch, you are such a great friend” Tracie said as tears came out of her eyes.
Thomas and Derrick looked at each other not knowing what to think and had to fight not too break out laughing.

The next minute or so was full of screams and female crying and hugging. Thomas and Derrick were fighting the urge to plug their ears from the high-pitched noise.

A moment later Daniel came out of the bedroom with his pajamas on, both dogs following and said “is everything okay I heard crying and stuff, the dogs were kind of freaking out”?

“Oh everything is fine” Erin said as she ad Tracie ran over and hugged the little boy as hard as they could, tears still coming out of their eyes.

“What the heck is wrong with them Dad” the very confused boy asked as his father who tried not to laugh.

“Oh they’re just really happy buddy, they will be okay though” his father said

“Why, what happened” Daniel wondered not knowing the good news.

Erin leaned down on one knee, looked at the boy and said, “Me and your uncle Derrick
are going to get married” Daniel
.

The boy looked at her for a second and sort of cocked his head not sure what to say.

Then he simply said “Oh okay, well I’m going to get ready for bed now I think”.

Thomas and Derrick almost fell over laughing because the boy clearly did not understand the importance of it all.

“Goodnight Dad” Daniel said then turning around and going into his bedroom.

The two women followed him to tuck him in and give him a goodnight kiss. When they came out, they found Thomas and Derrick out on deck. The rain had stopped briefly so they walked around on the beach for a while. After a little bit they went back inside and had one more glass of wine when the rain started coming down again. A half an hour later Derrick and Erin decided it was time leave so they left Tracie and Thomas alone for a minute to talk and say goodbye. The new couple was standing alone at the back of the house holding hands.

“You are going to look very sexy in a tuxedo Mr. James” Tracie said as she poked Thomas in chest with her finger.

“Me…I’m more looking forward to seeing
you all dressed up and sexy
” Thomas replied then adding “I’m really happy for them”.

“Me to, Erin was worried Derrick would never ask her to marry him” Tracie said.

“Yeah well he’s full of surprises these days” Thomas said then asked so you don’t work tomorrow, what are you up to…do you have plans
?
”

“No not really just some shopping and stuff, why what’s up
?
” she asked.

“I was wondering if you want to have lunch, just you and me” Thomas asked.

“Yeah I’d love to, just give me a call in the morning, around ten
?
” she said smiling.

“I will do that,” Thomas answered. Then he bent down slightly, pulled Tracie into his arms and kissed her, not attempting to hide it from his friends who were standing nearby and yelling at them.

A few minutes later after saying goodbye Derrick and Erin and Tracie left and Thomas went back inside his house. He went and opened his son’s door just a crack to see if he was sleeping. The boy was curled up with his arm wrapped around his dog Harley who lifted her head just a little to acknowledge Daniel
s
father. Thomas shut the door and a few moments later sat on the couch to relax. Or at least try to. For some reason he was feeling very restless since Tracie and his friends left and could not figure out why.

A few days had passed by since Sunday night and Derrick sat on his motorcycle rumbling his way through the wooded curves of the coastal mountains on his way back from Portland. Sometimes Derrick did things without Thomas’ knowledge, usually because they had to be and because Thomas himself for many reasons was not always able to take care of it personally. Usually Derrick already knew how Thomas wanted things to be dealt with without Thomas even having to say so. It was how friendships worked or at least theirs had worked that way. However, it was always Derrick’s choice and his friend Thomas never forced the choice upon him. Today was one of those kinds of days…sort of. Derrick had thought all week about the situation with Samuel Terreto; if they should deal with it or not and how. He had long talks with Thomas about it, but Derrick had kept some of his gut feelings to himself. Moreover, those gut feelings combined with what he and Thomas had talked about led him to Portland, and the newspaper that employed Samuel Terreto.

H
ours earlier Derrick had pulled his motorcycle loudly behind Terreto’s car as he was getting out of it and about to head into work. It was for show more or less and was intended to only prove a point and scare him. Derrick never meant Samuel Terreto any real physical harm. As soon as Terreto got out of his car and saw Derrick, sitting on his motorcycle looking at him his face went pale. Samu
el knew exactly who was sitting
only a dozen feet away from him and he had a good idea as to why.