THE TOWN WHERE ETHAN COLE WASN’T A STRANGER
Chapter 4
The little girl first appeared at the repair shop on a Thursday afternoon.
Ethan was beneath a pickup truck when he heard a voice.
“Mr. Cole?”
He slid out.
A girl stood there.
Nine years old.
Red backpack.
Dark hair tied into two uneven ponytails.
She looked at him with complete seriousness.
“Are you Mr. Cole?”
“Depends.”
“On what?”
“Who’s asking.”
“My mom.”
Ethan sat up.
“What does she need?”
“Her truck doesn’t work.”
He looked toward the parking lot.
An old blue pickup was parked crookedly beside the building.
A woman stood next to it.
She was holding a baby.
Rain had soaked her hair.
She looked exhausted.
Ethan stood.
“Stay here.”
He walked outside.
The woman immediately spoke.
“I’ve called three mechanics.”
Ethan opened the hood.
“And?”
“They all wanted money I don’t have.”
He looked at the engine.
“What’s it doing?”
“Nothing.”
“That’s a pretty serious problem.”
She gave him a tired look.
“I know.”
Ethan checked the battery.
Loose terminal.
He tightened it.
The engine started immediately.
The woman stared.
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
“How much?”
“Nothing.”
“I can’t—”
“You can.”
She looked at him.
“Why?”
Ethan closed the hood.
“Because someone helped me once.”
It wasn’t entirely true.
Someone had.
Many people had.
But none of them had fixed a truck.
Still, the answer was easier than explaining his life.
The woman looked at him.
“Thank you.”
The little girl stepped closer.
“What should I call you?”
“Ethan.”
“Mr. Ethan?”
“If you want.”
She smiled.
“I’m Lily.”
“I know.”
She looked surprised.
“How?”
“Your mom called you.”
Lily nodded.
Then she whispered:
“She’s sad a lot.”
Ethan looked at her mother.
The woman gave him an embarrassed smile.
“Kids notice everything.”
“They do.”
The woman introduced herself.
“Anna.”
Ethan nodded.
“Nice to meet you.”
Anna put the baby into the truck.
Then looked at Ethan.
“You’ve just moved here?”
“Yeah.”
“How long?”
“Few weeks.”
“Do you like it?”
Ethan looked toward the ocean.
“Yeah.”
Anna smiled.
“Then you’re doing better than most people.”
She drove away.
Ethan watched the truck disappear.
He didn’t know that would be the last time he saw Anna for three days.
