The City on the Sea (City on the Sea Series Book 1) by Heather Carson

Author:Heather Carson [Carson, Heather]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-12-15T06:00:00+00:00

‡ Chapter Eight ‡

Zoe’s eyes are red rimmed this morning and she yawns leaning against the kitchen wall while continuing to dry the same plate.

“Late night?” I ask. She shrugs and reluctantly reaches for the wet plate I’ve been trying to hand over. Her face says she’d rather not talk to me, but I want to get to know the person who lives next door.

“How old is your daughter?” I venture to ask.

“Four,” she says softly.

When I look up again from the soapy water, Zoe is gone, and I’m left alone with the towering stack of dirty dishes.

*

The morning shift is over. I retrieve my father’s bag from the room and slip quietly out the back door of the tavern. The wharf is packed with people shopping. Weekends always breathe life into the city. A simple reprieve in the daily trudge of survival.

The rusted bell chimes above me as I enter Thomas’s repair and parts shop. The sage old man looks up over a broken pair of spectacles. They must have cost him a fortune, but with his job specialty he’s able to afford it.

“Brooke.” He smiles warmly once I step into his field of vision. “I haven’t seen you in ages. How have you been?”

“I’m good.” I nod enthusiastically, clutching my father’s bag to my side.

“What brings you in here today?” He eyes the bag suspiciously, but he was never one to pry.

“Honestly, I was wondering if you knew anyone who worked with my father on his machine.” My words are carefully measured. I might not agree with my sister, but I respect Rowan enough to keep my promise.

“Your father’s work.” Thomas sighs as he leans back onto his stool. “It was a foolish grand scheme and you shouldn’t waste your time on it. Besides the drifter who worked with him one time, there was no one else who he could even hire to touch it.”

“Where is the drifter?” I cautiously ask, ignoring the warning in his voice.

“Where is any drifter?” Thomas chuckles. “They just drift away.”

As much as I try, I can’t recall ever seeing any drifter helping my father. It doesn’t matter. There has to be someone who can do this. “Well, I know my dad talked to you about the machine. Is there anyone you know who is smart enough to continue his work?”

He waves a dismissive hand in the air. “You mean is there anyone reckless enough. No, I don’t think I do.”

“Please,” I beg stepping closer to the counter. “I have so many questions and I need help finding the answers.”

“You won’t be able to find any answers. No one is going to help with this.” He narrows his glossy eyes as he speaks.

“Maybe you won’t.” I shake my head and turn to leave. “But I’ll find someone else who will. I’m sorry for bothering you. Of all the people I could think of, I thought you would be the man who cared. I guess I was wrong.”

“Wait,” Thomas calls out as the bell chimes above me once more.

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