Page 31 of Hometown Heart

The beef in the pan was done, threatening to burn. I quickly turned down the heat, but instead of reaching for seasoning, I answered the message.

Jack:Sounds like you could use an extra set of hands. And I haven't eaten yet.

Three dots started flashing immediately. Butterflies fluttered in my gut as I waited for the response.

Silas:Neither have I. Fair warning. Only coffee and day-old scones here.

I glanced at the cooked meat and the empty chairs around my kitchen table. It was surprisingly easy to make a decision.

Jack:Give me twenty minutes to wrap this up. Then lobster rolls at Eugenie's?

Silas:You are turning into a real Mainer.

I smiled, already reaching to turn off the stove. The beef could go in the fridge. I didn't have to settle for a solo meal in an empty house. I could do something else entirely.

Eugenie's sat next to the old hardware store near the docks. Its windows glowed amber against the deepening dusk, and the smell of lobster mingled with sea air on the boardwalk.

Silas waited by the entrance, hands in his pockets. He spoke as I approached. "I should probably let you know. Friday nights here can get interesting. The cod boat crews usually dock around now."

The interior was warm and already a bit noisy. Dark wainscoting climbed halfway up walls covered in maritime memorabilia—brass navigational instruments, worn life rings, and black and white photos of stern-faced lobstermen from another era.

Silas nodded to the bartender and led me to a booth in the corner. The vinyl seats, patched with duct tape, squeaked as we sat. A tiny candle flickered in a jar painted to look like a lighthouse.

"So, this is where all my coffee regulars hang out after hours." Silas shrugged off his coat.

Do you know everyone's usual order here, too?

"Maybe." He smiled, picking up a laminated menu. "Though Pete behind the bar still won't tell me the secret sauce seasoning used in the lobster rolls."

A server appeared—Katie, according to her name tag. She moved efficiently among the tables. "Evening, Silas. This must be Jack—Cody's dad?"

When I raised an eyebrow, she laughed. "Small town. Plus, my nephew, Tyler, won't stop talking about his new teammate."

After she took our orders—classic rolls for each of us—we stared silently at each other. A charge bounced between us. Without Cody as a buffer, we found ourselves in uncharted territory.

"The photos and messages show that the display case is coming along well."

Silas ran a hand through his hair, dislodging a sprinkle of sawdust. "It's going slower than I expected. That varnish is stubborn, but it's worth it. Underneath…" He pulled out his phone, showing me more detailed photos of the grain patterns. "See how the woodworker matched the pieces here? So intricate and such a perfect fit."

I leaned closer, drawn in by his enthusiasm. Our shoulders brushed.

The door opened, bringing a gust of cold air and a group of fishermen still in their rubber boots. Their booming voices filled the space as they claimed spots at the bar. Pete started pulling drafts before they could order.

I smiled at the easy camaraderie. "Sometimes I forget what it's like to be part of something this solid. In New York, everything was always changing. Here, it's like everyone's anchored to each other, and the changes are slow and incremental."

Silas studied me over the rim of his water glass. "Is that what you want? To be anchored?"

The question was a deceptively heavy one. Before I could answer, Katie arrived with our lobster rolls on plates piled high with hand-cut fries."

"Have you had one of these yet?" Silas watched as carefully lifted the roll.

"No, I heard Eugenie's is a local institution, and I've been meaning to get here. Is there something I should know?"

"Nothing other than these lobster rolls have convinced more than one summer tourist to extend their stay."

I took a bite. The seasoning was complex—something peppery and warm that I couldn't quite identify. "Okay, you win. This beats cooking for one."

"Speaking of which..." Silas popped a fry in his mouth. "Is this your first night without Cody? How's that working for you?"

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