THE NIGHT ETHAN COLE FINALLY FELT AT HOME
Chapter 1
Ethan Cole had learned that every town had its own language.
Some of it was spoken.
Most of it wasn’t.
In Greyhaven, you learned the language by watching.
You knew when the fishing boats came back because the harbor suddenly became noisy.
You knew when the weather was about to turn because Walter started complaining about his knees.
You knew June had received fresh pie because the diner smelled like cinnamon before you even opened the door.
You knew someone was getting married when the old church bells rang twice instead of once.
And you knew the Bonfire Festival was coming because the entire town seemed to become ten years younger.
Ethan had heard about it for weeks.
He had seen people dragging tables toward the harbor.
He had watched strings of lights appear above the streets.
He had noticed boxes of decorations being carried into the community center.
But he hadn’t paid much attention.
He wasn’t a festival person.
At least, that’s what he told himself.
He had spent too much of his life moving from one place to another to develop attachments to traditions.
Traditions required staying.
Staying required belonging.
And belonging had never been something Ethan trusted.
On the afternoon of the festival, he finished his shift at Hayes Marine & Auto earlier than expected.
The shop was unusually quiet.
Everyone had gone home.
Even Walter had disappeared.
Ethan locked the front door and walked toward his truck.
He had barely reached the driver’s side when he heard footsteps behind him.
“You going?”
Ethan turned.
Walter stood there.
He wore an old flannel shirt, faded jeans, and a ridiculous straw hat.
Ethan stared at him.
“Going where?”
Walter looked offended.
“You really don’t know?”
“Know what?”
“The festival.”
“Oh.”
Walter pointed toward Ethan’s truck.
“Don’t.”
“I was going home.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m tired.”
Walter stared at him.
“You’ve been working eight hours.”
“Exactly.”
“You’ve worked harder than that.”
Ethan opened the truck door.
Walter closed it.
“Hey.”
“You’re coming.”
“I wasn’t invited.”
Walter laughed.
“Nobody gets invited.”
“Then how does everyone know?”
“Because it’s Greyhaven.”
He clapped Ethan on the shoulder.
“Come on.”
Ethan sighed.
“You’ve already decided.”
“Yes.”
“Fine.”
Walter smiled.
“Good.”
