THE NIGHT ETHAN COLE FINALLY FELT AT HOME
Chapter 14
A few days later, Ethan returned to work.
Walter was repairing an old fishing boat.
“You know,” Walter said, “we could use someone like you on the festival committee next year.”
Ethan looked up.
“Next year?”
“Yeah.”
“What makes you think I’ll help?”
Walter shrugged.
“You already said you’d be here.”
Ethan smiled.
“Fair enough.”
Walter handed him a wrench.
“Then you’re officially responsible for the barbecue.”
Ethan groaned.
“Absolutely not.”
Walter laughed.
“You lost by one point.”
“Because June cheated.”
“She won.”
“Exactly.”
Walter shook his head.
Ethan started working.
For the rest of the afternoon, the sound of tools filled the shop.
Outside, Greyhaven carried on.
Cars passed.
Boats moved through the harbor.
People walked down the street.
Nothing dramatic happened.
And that was precisely what Ethan had begun to appreciate.
His life no longer needed to be extraordinary every day.
He had spent enough years surviving extraordinary things.
Now he wanted ordinary.
A place to work.
People to laugh with.
Someone to call when something broke.
A town where people knew his name.
A porch where he could sit at sunset.
A reason to wake up tomorrow.
That was enough.
More than enough.
