Page 60 of Just Trouble

There are greenhouses, too, but not like the ones I remember. There were always greenhouses and market gardens, thanks to the rich soil and the sunshine. These new ones are taller and larger, enormous areas of land secured under glass. The walls are wavy, so I can only glimpse the green of the plants inside. If those are tomato plants, they’re big ones, easily fifteen feet tall, probably grown vertically and hydroponically.

I will not think about anyone who works in that business.

For the hundredth time, I wonder why I agreed to this move.

There are good reasons and I remind myself of them while Sierra dozes. I miss living in a small town. I miss knowing my neighbours and even the guys who sleep rough in the bush. I miss seeing Una all the time because talking on the phone doesn’t nearly compare. I miss the smell of the lake and the feel of the wind. I miss the sense of freedom I had when I lived here.

It’s true that I chose to leave. No one forced that on me. But I wonder sometimes if I should have toughed it out and stayed, let the cards fall as they would, given Sierra a childhood more like my own. I loved growing up in Empire.

Even now, it’ll be cheaper to live here, that’s for sure, and I’d love to be able to worry a bit less about what Sierra’s doing when I’m working late. Of course, there are creeps everywhere, but I have a hard time believing they’re quite as numerous here as in the city.

The inescapable fact is that I suspect I’m missing something. There’s been an edge to Una’s voice, the one she gets when she doesn’t want to tell me something. It’s been there a while, sometimes a little stronger and sometimes so faint that I can convince myself I hear it at all. But in my heart, I fear that something is wrong.

I was thinking of coming down for a visit before Luke showed up.

And when I looked across the restaurant that day, my thoughts were in Empire. That’s maybe why I saw a Cavendish with his back to me. His posture and silhouette were unmistakable.

I was sure it was Mike, come to mess up my life all over again, and I just saw red.

I should have realized Mike would never come looking for me. He’s had plenty of chances. He has my address. But then, Luke Jones isn’t exactly an innocent bystander.

I have no regrets, but I wonder who is behind this offer to Merrie. I can’t believe Daphne would lie, but then, who else but Mike would care about me coming back to Empire.

Except I know that Mikedoesn’tcare.

Of course, Merrie would seize the chance. She’s wanted her own place as long as I’ve known her, and of all the chefs I’ve worked with, she’s the most brilliant. Mercurial, of course, but that’s the chef temperament. She’s passionate about her work, and she’s so good at what she does that you’ll forgive her anything. I do. Plus she’s loyal beyond all expectation. She’s had my back when no one else did.

I want Merrie to have her dream come true, and if that means moving back to Empire, well, maybe it’s time that I put the past where it belongs. Maybe it’s time I stop running and face my truth.

That all sounded great until I turned onto Queen Street.

I know exactly where Leon and Dotty’s diner is, of course. I spent most of my teenage years there, scooping ice cream during the summer at first, then had my first job waiting tables. Eggs over easy, ham or bacon, white or brown toast, I can recite the menu by memory even now. It was worlds apart from the magicMerrie makes—she doesn’t do breakfast or eggs—but a great training.

There’s a new gas station and the Maple Leaf Motel looks as if it’s been spruced up a bit. Big Red is bigger than I remember even from a distance, but it has been fifteen years. The only cars parked on Queen Street are in front of the diner, the first one being Merrie’s green Cherokee. I’d know it anywhere with that replacement back gate in metallic gold. Behind it is a big silver Mercedes sedan. I park behind it and touch Sierra’s arm.

“We’re here,” I tell her and she sits up with a jolt, taking in the view with wide eyes.

I watch her face fall. “It’s nowhere.”

“Pretty much.”

Her eyes narrow in an increasingly familiar expression of teenage dissatisfaction. “If Una lives here, how come we’ve never come here?”

“Because she wanted to come and see us instead.” I get out and stretch as Merrie comes out of the diner, grinning ear to ear.

“I hope you brought mouse traps,” she calls. “We’ve got a colony.”

“Gross,” Sierra mutters.

“A whole carton, just like you asked. Good thing you called before we got past Havelock.”

“Excellent. Come and see!”

Merrie’s followed by Daphne Bradshaw, who is at least partly responsible for our relocation, and Luke Jones, who smiles at the sight of me and waves a greeting. No hard feelings, evidently.

“You know them?” Sierra demands, then Daphne and Luke turn, maybe just realizing that she’s there. They realize more than that and in a hurry.

I see Luke’s eyes widen.

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