THE NIGHT ETHAN COLE FINALLY FELT AT HOME
Chapter 5
Later, Ethan found himself sitting at a long table with people he barely knew.
A fisherman named Sam told a story about catching the largest salmon in Oregon.
Nobody believed him.
A woman named Rachel claimed she had seen the fish.
Someone else accused her of being part of the conspiracy.
Ethan laughed.
Then someone asked him a question.
“So where did you come from?”
The table went quiet.
Ethan felt the old instinct return.
Protect.
Deflect.
Leave.
But before he could answer, Sam interrupted.
“Doesn’t matter.”
Ethan looked at him.
Sam shrugged.
“He’s here now.”
The conversation continued.
No interrogation.
No curiosity.
Just another story.
Ethan looked down at his plate.
Something inside him loosened.
He realized something.
Greyhaven didn’t need his history.
It was making room for his present.
He raised his bottle.
“To Greyhaven.”
Sam lifted his.
“To Greyhaven.”
The others followed.
“To Greyhaven.”
Ethan smiled.
