The Sailor Who Washed Ashore (Daytona Beach Book 1) by Frank W. Butterfield

Author:Frank W. Butterfield [Butterfield, Frank W.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2018-10-07T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Driving south along the beach

Thursday, September 11, 1947

Later that morning

Howie looked over at Mr. Grisham and wondered why he'd suddenly wanted to take a ride on the beach in the middle of the workday.

As if to answer his question, the man looked over with a wide grin. "How're you doin', Howie?"

"Fine, Mr. Grisham."

"You sleep well last night?"

Howie turned and looked out the windshield. He was torn. He'd gone into Mr. Jarrell's bedroom to let him know how much he appreciated being able to stay at his house. When he'd stretched out on the bed, he meant to show him how much he was grateful. But, for whatever reason, he'd reached for Mr. Jarrell's hand and held it. He'd been surprised when the dawn came and neither of them had moved. He was relieved that he hadn't done anything more than hold hands.

"You OK, Howie?"

"Sure, Mr. Grisham. Sorry about that."

The man reached over and patted Howie's leg with his big hand. Once again, Howie felt a shock of electricity, just like the day before in the office. He was more confused than ever.

"You have somethin' on your mind?"

"No, sir."

"You miss your dad?"

Howie shook his head without thinking about it and then felt bad. Of course he missed his daddy. But not the falling-down drunk one. He missed the daddy from before his mother died. He missed her too, but he missed the way things had been before even more.

"I understand. When my old man kicked the bucket, I was more relieved than anything else." Mr. Grisham squeezed his leg and then moved his hand back to the steering wheel.

Howie nodded but kept his eyes on the beach and the surf.

"I wanted to have a little chat with you before we go do a bit of work. That OK with you?"

Howie nodded again.

Mr. Grisham sighed. "Well, it's like this, kid. I know you loved Skipper, right?"

Howie nodded.

"And you loved him like some of your pals love their girls or their wives, right?"

Howie nodded one more time.

"I just want you to know that there's nothing wrong with that kinda love."

Howie turned to look at Mr. Grisham who had both hands on the wheel and was looking straight ahead.

"And I'll tell you a secret."

Howie, not knowing why, blurted out, "I know you're in love with Mr. Jarrell!"

Mr. Grisham glanced over at him with a strange kind of grin. "Yeah, kid, that's right. I am."

"For how long?"

The man dropped his right hand onto his leg and glanced at Howie again. "Since the day I met him."

"That's how I felt about Skipper."

Mr. Grisham nodded but kept his eyes on the beach. "How was it between the two of you? Did Skipper treat you nice?"

Howie looked back at the beach. "I guess you could say he probably didn't."

"That so?"

"Yeah," said Howie with a deep exhale, "he was kinda mean to me at the very end."

"Wanna tell me about it?"

Howie reached over and put his hand on top of Mr. Grisham's. The man took hold of Howie's hand and moved it over to the middle of the car bench.

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