THE JOB THAT MADE ETHAN COLE PART OF GREYHAVEN
Chapter 4
Ethan’s schedule quickly became complicated.
Hayes Marine & Auto from eight until four.
The hotel from five until nine.
Breakfast again from six until eight the next morning.
He slept whenever he could.
The first week was exhausting.
The second was worse.
By the third, he had developed a routine.
At 5:30, he woke.
At 5:45, he arrived at the hotel.
At 8:15, he drove to the marina.
At four, he returned to the hotel.
At nine, he went home.
At ten, he sat on the porch.
Sometimes he read.
Sometimes he stared at the ocean.
Sometimes he simply sat.
He had spent years living from one emergency to another.
This felt different.
Tiring.
Ordinary.
Predictable.
And somehow, good.
One Friday night, June found him sitting at the diner after closing.
“You look terrible.”
Ethan took a sip of coffee.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
She sat across from him.
“Too much work.”
“I’m fine.”
“That’s what tired people say.”
“I’m not tired.”
“You just yawned.”
Ethan paused.
“Allergies.”
June laughed.
“You’ve got terrible allergies.”
He smiled.
She pushed a plate toward him.
“Eat.”
“What is it?”
“Meatloaf.”
“I didn’t order.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re becoming too skinny.”
Ethan looked down at himself.
“I weigh the same.”
“Then you’re still too skinny.”
He picked up the fork.
June watched him eat.
“You’re settling in.”
Ethan looked up.
“Maybe.”
“Good.”
She stood.
“Greyhaven needs people who stay.”
Ethan’s hand stopped.
June noticed.
But she didn’t explain.
She didn’t need to.
He understood.
People who stayed were rare.
People who left were common.
And Ethan had always been one of the people who left.
