Page 57 of In Cold Blood

“You going to order anything?” a young guy said from across the room. The place was under new management. Back when he was a youngster, it was owned by a hearty fellow named Al Richards. A nice guy that would give out a free sub from time to time. Not this chump. He even had a lock on the bathroom door to prevent anyone who hadn’t ordered from using it. Noah had bought a coffee but that was it.

When Noah didn’t reply, he walked over.

“Sir? Are you ordering or can I free up the seat?”

Noah looked around. The place was practically empty. He stifled a laugh. Right then Lena walked out of the post office. “Nah, I’m good. I was about to head out.” He exited and for a second he lost sight of Lena.

Then he spotted her.

She’d crossed the road that went around the back of the bank and cut through the parking lot. Noah made a beeline after her, crossing the road, almost getting hit by a vehicle. The guy honked his horn and Noah tossed up an apologetic hand. When he made it around the back of the bank, he couldn’t see her,then he spotted her tossing some bread into the water. She was standing on a bridge that arched over a slow-moving river close to the Saranac River Walk.

Noah made sure he had nothing on his top, he ran his hands through his hair and made his way over.

“You’ll attract the bears,” he said.

It was a joke between folks after an article came out advising locals to take down their bird feeders because there had been reports of bears scavenging for food.

She glanced his way, cupping a hand over her eyes to block the glare of noon sunshine. “Noah?”

A flicker of a smile danced on her lips only to vanish as quickly as it came.

As he got closer, a pained expression masked her face. Initially, without saying a word, she embraced him and held him. “I’m so sorry.”

He could tell she meant it. She held him for a moment longer. He breathed in the smell of her hair. For a second he was back there, in the past.

“Thanks.”

She stepped back from him.

“When did you get in?”

“Tuesday.”

“You’re staying with family?”

“No. I made other arrangements.”

She nodded. “How’s your father?”

“You know. Same old. Same old. I see him tonight.”

“And Kerri and the kids?’

He bypassed her question and delivered the one he wanted an answer for.

“Lena. I’ve been trying to get hold of you since Tuesday. It’s Thursday now.”

“I know. I’m sorry. We went away with the kids. My phone has been on the blink. I had to get a new one. I would have texted you but I only picked it up last night.” She took it out of her bag and showed him as if she knew he would doubt her.

“I didn’t see you at the funeral.”

“No. I….” She sighed. “I thought it was best that we didn’t attend.”

“But the kids. They’re family. Luke is their uncle. He would have wanted them there.” He raised his voice ever so slightly. “I wanted them there.”

She gave a nod as she turned away to the railing of the bridge and looked down into the river. The surface glistened, gently lapping against the banks. “I don’t know how much Luke told you… but a lot has happened between our families. When did you last speak to him?”

“A few months ago. On his birthday. We mostly text. He didn’t always pick up when I called.”