THE NIGHT ETHAN COLE FINALLY FELT AT HOME
Chapter 3
As darkness settled over Greyhaven, the music changed.
The children were given blankets.
The older residents moved their chairs closer to the fire.
The band slowed down.
Someone began playing an old country song.
Ethan stood near the edge of the crowd.
He held a beer in one hand.
The other was tucked into his jacket pocket.
He watched the flames being prepared.
The bonfire was enormous.
Wood had been stacked almost as tall as a house.
An old fishing boat had been pulled onto the beach and decorated with lights.
Someone explained that every year, the boat was eventually burned as part of the celebration.
Ethan stared at it.
“Why burn a boat?”
Claire appeared beside him.
“Symbolism.”
“Of what?”
“Leaving the old behind.”
Ethan looked at the boat again.
That answer felt strangely personal.
Claire noticed.
“You okay?”
“Yeah.”
“You’ve got that look.”
“What look?”
“The one where you’re thinking about things you don’t want to talk about.”
Ethan smiled.
“You’re getting good at reading people.”
“I’ve known you for a while.”
He looked around.
“I guess you have.”
Claire smiled.
“That’s what happens here.”
“What?”
“People notice.”
She walked away.
Ethan looked toward the harbor.
The lights of the boats flickered on the dark water.
He had spent so much of his life trying not to be noticed.
Greyhaven seemed determined to do the opposite.
