Empty Chairs by Stacey Danson

Author:Stacey Danson [Danson, Stacey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Night Publishing
Published: 2011-01-19T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

I slept longer than I should have. It was almost sunrise when I awoke. I readied myself to leave, then decided against it. I could move soon enough if I needed to. I really wanted to stay close to the water. The park would get busy, but I was just as entitled to use the facilities as anyone else. I wanted to see the big yachts and the start of the race.

The harbor began to fill up, spectator crafts in all shapes and sizes dotted the water, and music and laughter drifted across to my little hut. By nine a.m the wall along the walkway was filled with people. I got some looks from people, clearly wondering why I was alone in a hut that would have seated eight or more of their number. I ignored them. Until and unless someone asked me directly if they could join me, I sat up on the table, with the radio playing, and tried to look like I was waiting for the rest of my friends to arrive.

I was like a damned dog, territorial as hell. I’m still like that. My space is my damned space. Most people have learned to respect that. Some take a little more convincing. I can’t stand being crowded in. It would be many years before I would allow anyone too close, with rare exceptions.

While I enjoyed the show on the water, my thoughts turned to Gwen. I wondered fleetingly if I had caused her any permanent damage. I caught myself wishing that I had.

So much for the spirit of Christmas.

I walked quickly back up to Paulies the next morning, finding myself a little anxious to see if the world had burned down due to my absence. I think it's funny now. I felt as though the Cross ... the people, the Botanical Gardens all would be different simply because I hadn’t seen them for two days. I needed so badly for things to be familiar and predictable. I felt safer that way.

Paulie’s was open and doing a good trade. I stuck my head in the door and said, “Mornin’ Paulie.”

He looked up from what he was doing and gave me a grin. “Coffee?”

“Just water, thanks. How was your Christmas?”

“Fine. Wife’s got a big family. Plenty of beer, so yeah, it was fine. Yours?”

I smiled. “Thanks to this guy I know, it was really good.”

He smiled at that. “Go sit down out front. I’ll bring ya water out soon.”

I sat and checked everything out. Nothing looked different, which was a relief. I lit up a smoke and took a deep breath. I was earlier than usual; the girls weren't in sight. There didn’t seem to be as many of the business types around. Maybe they had kids and had taken holidays.

Paulie came out and put a cup of coffee in front of me. I looked up at him, ready to remind him about the water thing, he stopped me.

“Coffee is only water with something added. Just shut up and drink the bloody thing.

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