Page 21 of Heartstring

He squeezes my arm and smiles. “Any time you need, Ty.”

I don’t know how I lucked out with my friends. I’m still on the fence with my brother-in-law after he gave me a needy dog, but even he has my back. Most days, I don’t deserve any of it.

With my shoulders held high, I walk into the main hall, letting the noise of people talking wash over me and calm me down. I love the work I do with the soup kitchen and the support it offers the community.

“Hey, Tyler, my belly’s rumbling,” someone shouts.

“All right, all right, keep your pants on. Food’s coming,” I shout back.

Emy, Cathy, Dave, and Ellis all come out from the kitchen holding food trays and set them on the warmer plates. Even before I ring the bell, people start lining up.

I can’t blame them because Cathy’s food is outstanding.

We get busy serving everyone, but my ear is trained on the conversations. Occasionally, I meet Ellis’s gaze. We’re hearing the same thing. Bills going up. Can’t afford heating. Broken windows or leaky roofs. The list is endless.

The weather forecast has been all over the news because they’re predicting the coldest winter this generation has ever seen.

At the earliest chance, I sidle up to Ellis. “The kitchen has a fund to help people, but have you seen the weather outside? How will we get through to everyone before it gets really cold?”

“Maybe we can make a list. Ask everyone what they need and prioritize it. How deep is your fund?”

“It can help a lot of people and fund some home repairs, but we need more hands. Skilled people and volunteers.”

He nods. “Leave it with me, and I’ll see if I can find some people. You know I haven’t been back in Stillwater long, but the other teachers know everyone. The perks of teaching all the kids in town.”

I bump his fist and turn back to check my station in case we need more rolls. The rain outside is relentless, so I’m glad I asked Liv from Lovely Buns for additional rolls. There’s nothing like a bowl of soup with a roll when the weather is like this. I can’t help with the soup once people are back home, but I can certainly send them home with an extra roll.

Someone calls my name again, so I get a reply on the tip of my tongue, but before I do, I find myself staring at a familiar pair of blue eyes.

I’m glad I’m not holding anything in my hands because I’d have dropped it.

“Tyler,” he says, looking as shocked to see me as I am to see him.

Around us, everyone carries on taking their food, oblivious to the enormous shift happening in my world right now.

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

“Is it really you?”

“No, it’s the Holy Ghost. What are you doing here?”

He smiles. I curl my hands into fists to remember why I hate him because even after all these years, his smile still has the same effect on me.

“I was sheltering from the rain.”

I run my hand over my face.

“No. What are you doinghere? In Stillwater?”

“Hey, Tyler, you met our friend, John,” Geoff says. “He’s a cool dude. Quiet for sure, but we’ve welcomed him.”

I stare at Geoff and then at Mik.

“I’m sorry, I need to…” I walk over to Ellis.

“What’s up? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Ellis, do you mind keeping an eye on things here for me? I’ll be back first thing tomorrow so I can clean up. Just close when you’re done.”