2020-10-16 Uncharted Charter

 2020-10-16 Uncharted Charter

Flynn Lancaster pulled up to the Alexandra docks in an old small cargo ship. He docked it and was immediately greeted by dock crew demanding papers for the legitimacy of his rig. He put on a smile and produced some. He had anticipated this and knew the drill. He paid the docking fee and then tied up his boat and stepped off. It was seven in the morning. He had left the Vancouver shipyard at five and found a good headwind that helped him make good time. He had borrowed a bit of cash from an old cronie but it wouldn’t last long. Now he pulled on a black baseball cap and a black hoodie, pulling up the hood. It was cold enough that it wouldn’t be too suspicious. He added a pair of sunglasses. He had on nondescript blue jeans and a pair of black runners. Under the hat and hood his hair was blonde going white. He was clean shaven from last night and had a handsome face a bit weathered by the sun and time on boats. From his recent time in prison he was still pretty fit. 

Flynn walked down the docks to the sidewalk leading from the ferry port. He was a dark figure in the misty morning walking alone. At 7am there was a delivery of papers to a newsstand at the end of the docks. As he walked further he passed some shops, trees, and then crossed the street to a laundromat that still looked closed. There was a motel behind it. Good to know. He might need it depending on how things went. The coffee shop across the street seemed to be opening and there was a smiling black woman talking to an old white woman over some sort of exchange of pastries and coffee carafes. He walked at an incline as the sidewalk and land rose upwards. There was a post office and a worker inside bustling around. An unmarked purple and pink shop with white siding and then a garden centre of sorts but not yet open. Same with the grocery store and the restaurants. All Flynn had seen for living spaces were apartments, some above shops. That wasn’t what he was looking for. Sharon liked houses and yards. She would have gotten a house for her and the boys. Now down to one boy, not his boy, hers. His boy was gone and he was here to mourn and make her boy pay for selling out his brother.

A sign caught his eye across from one of the closed restaurants; Pacific Shores Credit Union. A smaller version, a new branch of where Sharon had worked for years. Bingo on finding her workplace. Now to find the house….

There was a dentist, an eye doctor, a clinic and a pharmacy. He turned the corner at the town hall and then hugged close to it as he walked because on the other side of the street was an obvious cop shop. He was legally out but he still wanted nothing to do with that. He turned after the town hall ended and he crossed diagonally and walked past the fire hall and then finally saw houses. He walked down third street and looked at the big detached ones and the row houses. Surely Sharon would set her and the boys up in a  big fancy house? He began walking slower and looking in windows. People were still getting up so he might have to make a few passes. He decides to cut through the first yard and look at the houses from the back and the cover of trees and do a slow walk past them all. 

Ursula Norris had done her morning devotionals and was now onto her fastidious rounds of housecleaning. She took her front and back door mats out the back door to her desk to shake them out and beat the dust from them with her straw broom. Housework was good for the soul. But as she raised her broom a figure skulked past heading for the trees. “Who’s there?!” She shouted, brandishing the broom defensively. Probably one of the neighbourhood hooligan teenagers plotting to egg her house again. Hood up and the peak of a baseball cap she saw in a flash. They definitely dressed like the teenagers. She huffed and stormed inside to call the police only to be dismissed by them again. Useless incompetent heathens! Yes she was calling again. How dare they? 

Little Katie Reinhardt loved having a big yard to play in and right now there were leaves to crunch underfoot so with Iris and Daddy’s permission she ran out to run and jump and crunch. Daddy was watching her through the window and said he’d be right behind her. He just needed coffee. Grown ups sure needed a lot of it sometimes. Katie sang a little song to herself as she crunch crunched around the fire pit but as she circled a third time she saw a man in the trees watching her and gasped, backing up in fear of him into her father’s legs.

Seamus had gotten himself a cup of coffee and come out behind Katie only a couple of minutes behind her.  He listened to her singing as he approached the fire pit and stood looking at this man as he walked past their backyard.  Katie gasped and backed into him, but Seamus only silently toasted the man as he past by, noting that he’d never seen the guy in his life.  Add to that the man was going through the backyards, he reached down for Katie’s shoulders.  “Hey, Katie.” he said to her cheerfully.  “I bet you’d like to say good morning to Great Uncle Mikey, wouldn't you?”  He takes her by the hand and leads her into the house with his coffee to call his uncle.

Joseph Samuels walked out onto his back porch with a cup of coffee and his tablet computer.  He’d prepared pancakes and sausage patties for Ruth and Daniel, fed himself and put their plates in the oven to keep warm.  He ate while they dressed, but decided not to hover over their breakfast.  So he sat himself at the outdoor patio furniture and read the news on his tablet.  It was an old habit and never completely cheerful, but it wasn’t something he was quite ready to give up.  Looking up, he noticed a man walking along the edge of the property.  He watched the man, who he realized he had never seen before and then he realized that the man was walking behind the houses and not on the sidewalk in front of the houses.  As the man vanished into the year next door, he tried to go back to his online newspaper, but his concentration was broken.  He stood and took his coffee and tablet back in the house, where he called the police.

Wendy Stanley was bound and determined to start practicing yoga today.   She went to the classes when she could but finding the time to practice at home just wasn’t as easy as she had hoped.  Even now that Robbie was in day care full time and the twins could take him to school so Robbie felt like a big boy, she just couldn’t find the time.  But this morning, she had set out cereal and milk and taken her yoga mat into the cool fall air to try and sneak in some early morning practice.  But before she could even roll out the mat, she saw a man in jeans and a pulled up hoodie cutting across her back yard.  He was unsmiling and he creeped her out.  It was the hoodie, she thought and then realized it was the man.  He was a stranger.  In the private residential area of Alexandra.  That gave her pause.  Quickly, she turned and took herself and her yoga mat back into the house and called the police.  Then she walked all three of her children to school, feeling a little silly for panicking herself into overprotective mother hen mode.

At the white house with the greenhouse off the back there was music playing from inside, Puerto Riccan music but a recording, not live today. It was muffled until a window opened and voices layered on top of the music, many of them speaking quickly in Spanish with a smattering of English words now and then “Miguel Santiago Hernan Negron! Quemaste todas las tostadas! (You burned all the toast!) yelled loudly by a woman’s voice. Followed by “I’m sorry Mama!” And then the grumblings in both English and Spanish. “He’s a baby, why did you let him make the toast?” and “Nosotros vamos a llegar tarde! (We’re going to be late!)”

Behind the blue house there was a teenage girl with her hood up too over top of headphones and light pink hair walking two big labradors, one chocolate and one golden. She was also trying to read something on her phone but the chocolate lab kept pulling at the leash and making it impossible “Oh come on Bean…..just poop already so we can go in…” As she pocketed her phone she saw a flash of someone in the trees and froze. It was a male figure in a hoodie. He didn’t stop but he looked her way and kept going. Mina James felt her body tense up. It was a stranger. This island didn't have many of those, especially at this time of year. Mina yanked on the leashes and took the dogs into the house quickly but was confronted by her foster mother.

“Did they do their business?” Lydia was packing lunch bags at the kitchen island.

Mina shook her head and put the leashes back on their hook “No...sorry…” She grabbed her lunchbag and didn’t mention the strange man and then dropped it with her school bag at the front and went up to her bedroom until it was time to go.

Lydia frowned at the dogs “There better be no poopin in the house then!” She pointed at Bean specifically. She sighed as Mina went upstairs instead of staying to talk with her. She felt like the girl had something on her mind but it was like breaking into a  safe to get anything out of her sometimes.

Cath Beaulieu had just said goodbye to her parents as they left out the front door for work. She knew she still had to take Taffy out for one last pee before the little dog was cooped up in the house all day. So she put her puppy on his leash and just walked him around the yard a bit, waiting for him to pee. But there were so many things to sniff. She could see Mina out behind the Alvin house with the two labs and she tried to catch her eye and wave but you never knew with Mina. Sometimes she was social and other times she wasn’t. Today she suddenly pulled the labs with her back into the house. Cath made a face and muttered “Well that was rude…” And then as she got close to the trees a man in a black hoodie and baseball cap zoomed by her on the other side of the trees and she jumped almost  a foot in the air from the startle. Then her breath came fast and she scooped up Taffy and ran back into the house where her brother was still in the dining room. “Rene….there was a weird guy out back in the trees….” She breathed hard as she backed herself into the door to close it. She looked frightened.

Rene was packing up his school bag for the day and waiting on Cath to take Taffy out. But then she came almost right back in, looking scared.  He moves to the door and looks out of it, seeing the man vanishing into the next yard.  “Well … “  he considers.  HIs parents had just left and Taffy hadn’t had time to do any business.  “He’s gone now …’  he says and opens the back door.  “Let Taffy out.  I’ll be with you.  Safety in numbers.”  he told her.

Cath worked to catch her breath and nodded “Thank you. I’m probably just being silly.” It still unsettled her though. She took Taffy back out but stayed closer to the house. Taffy saw it as a bonus outing but within minutes lifted his leg on a shrub and had a piddle. “Ok Taffy, you should be good for being inside now. Let’s go.” She smiled at Rene for having her back and headed inside with him to grab her school bag and get ready to walk to school.

Adam Brate stood outside of the door to his small apartment.  He absolutely loved his life now, which might seem odd to most.  But he was back with his family and still worked doing what he loved.  He had blueprints tucked under his arm, a hard hat on his head and a large laptop case in his hand.  As he closed the door, he noticed a stranger in the backyard.  “Morning.”  he greeted the man, casually, but instead of heading left to cut through the trees on his way to the new office he shared with Mint Portia, he turned right and into the house.  As he opens and closes the door, his voice may be heard saying.  “Morning, son.”

Flynn Lancaster was annoyed by the time he got past the green house. A man had greeted him there but he had ignored him. None of these houses had Sharon or Nolan in them? Did he have to comb the row houses next? Because from the looks of it, that would be way more obvious. He kept going through the trees and found himself on a little dirt road where he could now still see the school through the next section of trees. He stood at the edge of the treeline and watched, thinking.

Nolan walked out of the space between the backs of all of the rowhouses with his hand in Elise’s.  Smiling and laughing, he was focused on her and the building.

Elise looked up and Nolan and laughed with him, her long dark hair shining in the morning sun. She was on the third street side in how they were arranged walking but Nolan could be seen easily past her and above her because of their height difference. Just before they crossed to the school she stopped and turned, standing on her tiptoes and kissing him sweetly. Then they kept walking, crossed the street and climbed up the front steps of the school together before going into the building.

Flynn crept forward when he recognized Nolan and his gaze became intense. How could he be laughing when his brother just died? Then he smirked darkly. “He’s got himself a little girlfriend…..isn’t that sweet. And something I can use on him…” He was muttering under his breath mostly. Flynn mentally mapped out where they had emerged from and then as the crowd of students and parents thickened around the school he decided to use that to his advantage. But he had to look more regular so he took off the sunglasses and hat and pulled his hood down. Just a middle aged tourist out for a morning walk. He hit the sidewalk across from the school and then walked through the greenspace between the row houses, realizing there was a whole other street of row houses and gritting his teeth. Finding Sharon’s house would not be as easy as he had hoped.

In the meantime, Sharon Lancaster was already walking down 3rd on her way to work in a rust coloured blazer and black slacks and black flat shoes with a pretty fall multicoloured blouse. She was determined to go in today despite the news of yesterday. She would pick and choose her days off as she needed to take them for bereavement.

Chris Peterson had been typing in some data on reports where notes were missing. It felt like his butt had a real connection to his desk chair lately and he was itching to hit the beat today. He overheard Uilick taking call after call about something on 3rd street. The first he could tell was Mrs. Norris and he tuned it out. But then the ones that came after seemed...legitmate from Uilick’s side of the conversation. Chris got up and walked over to Uilick “Were those three calls about the same thing? What’s up Fitzpatrick?” He leaned sideways onto the edge of the counter looking curious and concerned.

Ulick Fitzpatrick had never fielded so many calls in one morning.  So many, Chris Peterson was curious.  Then again, poor Chris had been riding the desk all month so far.  He was about to reply to Chris when Michael Reinhardt walked in the door.  

Michael, barely missed a step, walking around the front desk and heading for his own.  “Hey Fitz, I got a call from Seamus about some strange man walking along his back yard.”

At the same time, Josh Greene came out of his office.  He paused and looked at Michael and then Ulick.  “I just got a call from Adum.  Some stranger was walking back of his place, according to Adam.”  he approaches the desk.  “You’ve had other calls?”

Ulick nods.  “Mrs Norris, Mrs Stanley and Mr Samuels have all called about one man cutting across their backyards.”  he reports.  He looks at his notes.  “Blue jeans, sunglasses.  Black runners.  And a hoodie pulled up …  baseball cap, too.”

Josh frowned slightly and looked between Chris and Frank.  “You two head up to the residential area.  Tourists shouldn’t be cutting through backyards.  Go find out who this guy is.”

Frank Sharp had been listening to it all and she knew Chris was just itching to patrol.  “Sure thing, Chief.”  she claps Chris on the shoulder.  “Let’s go, Mr Secretary.”  she teases.

Chris frowns at all the info and nods at Josh “Yes Sir.” Then he snorts at Frank “Gee thanks...just so you know I’ve tripled my typing speed in the last few weeks though.” He waggles his fingers as he heads out with Frank.

Sharon turns onto Water street and her phone rings in her purse as she’s reaching the fire station. She stops because she needs to fish it out to answer it and she’s juggling the purse, her laptop briefcase and a lunch bag. “Oh for Pete’s sakes…” She mutters as she digs.

Flynn has emerged from the green space and is now half a block behind Sharon, following her. He recognized her form immediately despite her new haircut and colour. She’s a little slimmer which is easier on the eyes. She had gotten dumpy after having the boys and it had curbed his desire for her exponentially. As she stopped he also did, and once again put on the sunglasses and baseball cap, but left the hood down.

Sharon began to walk again as she answered “Yes Tina….I will be in today. No no I’m ok to do it. Keeping busy is better and I have that regional meeting I’d rather do with the office at my fingertips. Mmmhmm…..ok well I would trust Matt’s judgment on that he’s the mortgage broker by trade. But I know the clients would likely prefer a variable rate…..mmhmm….listen I’ll be there in 5 minutes and you can have him show me the portfolio. OK. Thank you Tina...bye now.” She crossed the street towards the town hall.

Chris and Frank had just crossed from the police station towards the fire station when they saw an unfamiliar man in a black baseball cap with sunglasses on and a black hoodie on top of blue jeans. Chris glanced at Frank and then the man, who was now crossing the street and walking behind and seemingly catching up to Sharon Lancaster as she headed to work. “Excuse me Sir!” Chris called out and started to cross back over Water and then towards the town hall.

Flynn froze and then put on a charming smile “Oh good morning Officers...can I help you with something?” He looked between the two of them.

Sharon had heard someone say Excuse me Sir but as she wasn’t a Sir she had kept walking….until a familiar voice made her stop in her tracks and turn like a deer in the headlights. It was Flynn. He was here. Was he following her? She looked at the police officers and then ahead on her path to work. Should she just go? What the hell was he doing here? Sharon was rooted to the spot and then grabbed for her phone again and dialed “Tina...I might be a bit longer…..” She hung up with the voice of her assistant manager on the other end still talking at her.

Frank approached the man, not as if she suspected anything.  Not until he gave her a reason.  She considered telling him about the complaints, but there were others on the street and she didn’t want to cause worry if there was no reason for it.  “We just like to introduce ourselves to tourists and newcomers.”  she told him with a smile.  “I just don’t know which you are…”

Chris followed Frank’s lead and put on a smile “That’s right. I’m Officer Peterson.” Chris was not a formal person by nature so his leaving off his first name meant he was not really offering friendliness as he did wonder about this man and why he was sneaking through backyards.. But only Frank would know that.

Flynn kept smiling and turned back, seeing Sharon standing there. Good, let her hear what he was about to say.  He took off his sunglasses and flashed a pained look from his baby blues, setting a hand on his heart “Well I’m not really sure which I am yet. It’s been a hell of a few days. You see I just lost my son…..and I’m trying to reconnect with the family I have left. Because...life…..life is precious.” He exhaled emotionally and then extended a hand to Officer Peterson “Nice to meet you Officer Peterson. I’m Flynn Lancaster.” He would shake the man’s hand and then offer to the woman officer as well “And you...Officer?”

Sharon felt her jaw set. Was he playing them? Some of it got under her skin though. She knew he really did love Brett. Maybe loss would soften Flynn, make him realize some things. It was a horrible thought and she felt guilty for it. He was her son too. But she stayed about 10 feet away still.

Frank notes Chris’s introduction and offers her own.  “I’m Lieutenant Sharp.”  the man explains himself and she arches her brows.  “So you’re Brett and Nolan’s father?”  she lets herself sound mildly surprised, as obviously they had never met.  “And Sharon’s … “  she lets the sentence lag, as she isn’t sure if Sharon is divorced or still married … and where this man has been all these months.

Chris raises a brow when he says Lancaster but does shake his hand “Condolences on the loss of your son.” He offered, but he knew what Brett had done and what had happened to him and why. Still, if he was the man’s child. Something didn’t sit right though. Chris looked over at Sharon as Frank said her name seeking context. She wasn’t standing beside the man….

Sharon slowly approached but didn’t step right beside Flynn. With a resigned sigh she greeted him “Hi Flynn…..” She looked unsure how to interact with him and a little anxious. She was reassured by the presence of the police to be honest. “Lieutenant Sharp. Officer Peterson...good morning.”

Flynn immediately shifts his attention to Sharon like she’s a beacon he’s hyper focused on but he answers the Lieutenant “Husband. I’m Sharon’s husband. We never did divorce.” He looks at Sharon like he adores her “You look beautiful...better than I even remember…..our boy Sharon…...our boy is gone...I had to come to you, comfort you….Nolan….we’re…...we’re still a family. We can make it work….” He looks like he’s almost begging her and even produces some tears.

Sharon tenses and backs up but her eyes water in response to Flynn’s attention and emotion “Perhaps we could talk about this...later. I need to think...I have to work. Where are you staying?” She looks a bit awkward that things have gotten so personal in front of the cops she’s barely met herself.

Chris exchanges a look with Frank over how thick the guy is laying it on and the estranged wife’s reaction. Definitely something off here….

Flynn sniffs and wipes at his face “I’m sorry...of course…” He pulls out his docking permit “I don’t really have anywhere to go but a friend lent me his boat so I suppose I can sleep on it too….dock 3...the boat is...well it’s the blue and white one with all the rust and the BC flag in the window. Fancy digs….” He tries to sound as down on his luck as possible.

Sharon approaches them and Frank nods.  “Ma’am.”  she listens to the interaction and realizes how little they know about Sharon Lancaster.  She takes the permit and looks at it.  “There’s worse places.”  she murmurs.  The permit is in order.  “I’m afraid we didn’t realize …”  she pauses.  “We’ve never met you in the months the Lancasters have lived here, Mr. Lancaster.”  she is being as diplomatic as she can, asking where he has been without asking where he has been.  She doesn't like the look of this one.  Maybe it was a gut reaction, but she was curious.

Chris knows Frank well enough to know her subtle digging. He glances at the permit too over her shoulder and is almost disappointed it’s legit. Sharon Lancaster looked uncomfortable with Flynn and it was raising questions.

Flynn looks humbly at the cops. It was practiced “I’ve been away. I was incarcerated. I got mixed up in some things….bad life choices. It may have cost me my family….but I’m a new man now and I want to do right by them, especially now that we’ve lost one of our sons. So maybe this is my fresh start…” He looks hopefully at Sharon “I still love you…”

Now Sharon gulps, tearfully again and chokes out “I have to go. Pardon me Lieutenant and Officer…..have a good day.” And she reshoulders her laptop bag and turns and hurries towards work, letting out a small sob as she’s about 5 feet ahead. Flynn had gotten to her and she hated it. She wanted to believe he loved her. She wanted to believe he could change…..

Chris cleared his throat and looked at Frank and then Flynn “Maybe give her some space Mr. Lancaster….”

Flynn put on a show of watching after Sharon like his heart was aching. Then he turns to the police and sighs “Yes...I will. Thank you...and I’m sorry you’re watching us air out our dirty laundry so to speak…..”

Frank watches Sharon go and nods her agreement with Chris.  “Give her time to adjust.  Nolan, too.”  she suggests.  “In the meantime, you are of course free to explore Alexandra.”  she tells him.  “If you’re planning on staying, I’m sure there places that could take you on.”  she pauses again.  “Were you released, or paroled?”  she asks, gently without judgement in her voice.  

Flynn nods contritely “Of course...of course.” He smiles about the places that could take him on “Well I’d take any job. I’m not too proud. Left that behind the bars…” He chuckles sardonically and then gives a nod “Parolled. So I need to access the internet somewhere by next Tuesday morning. I was hoping Sharon….” He sighs a little “Is there a public library or a coffee shop with free wifi? I have a tablet I can use to do a virtual meeting with my parole officer. I will keep my appointments and stay on the path.” 

Chris nods along with Frank. “There is a library. And the community centre itself does have wifi. You might have better luck getting privacy on the grounds….but maybe not the playground side. It can be fairly busy and not to be indelicate but parents might react to the subject of your video call. Also, be aware of private property. Folks mostly all know one another in this town so a new person walking where they’re unexpected can…..cause concern.” He doesn’t directly say they’ve had calls but he’s hoping this is the only warning he needs to give the man.

Frank nods along with Chris.  “This is a small town and a very close knit community, usually.”  she has to admit she had no idea about Sharon Lancaster's husband until now.  “And of course, trespassing is trespassing.”

Flynn is clever enough to realize they somehow know he was in the deep backyards and then decides to play the fool “Oh….I may have made a faux pas then...I’m terribly sorry. I was just exploring the shoreline this morning and all of a sudden there were houses. Are the yards really that deep? I figured I was on municipal land but I’ll be more careful...must pay a pretty penny in taxes for those folks on the waterfront. No wonder Sharon bought one of those row houses.” He still doesn’t know which one of course, but he’ll find out. He smiles at the police “You’ve been very helpful. What a lovely town you all have here. I might go find myself some breakfast. If you’ll excuse me. You both have a great day now.” He begins to move off towards the restaurant that he knows has a view of Sharon’s workplace.

Chris darts a look sideways at Frank and then raises a brow at Flynn’s floundering. Was he for real? Chris tries to look impassive and then gives the man a short nod “You’re welcome. Take care then.” And after the man is out of range he’ll turn to Frank and just bounty state “I smell bullshit.”

Frank doesn’t even allow herself to nod at the guess that Sharon lived in the row houses.  And she definitely doesn’t give him an address.  She nods as Flynn leaves them.  “You too, sir.”  she watches him go and sighs when Chris voices his suspicions.  “So do I, but so far … he’s just a guy trying to get his life back on track.  All we can do is look him up in the system … and see what, if anything he left out.  Because it could be trouble if the father and son have anything in common … because Brett’s apple didn’t fall far from the tree as far as looks go.”  she is wondering about personality.  And police records.  She heads back to the station.  “Lets put in the request and then do a patrol .. get you out of the house.”

Chris sighs “I know, we can’t do anything on a gut feeling but…..yeah...face value for now but let’s look into him. And yeah he seems a lot like his son….the one we arrested and who just died…..because someone finally nailed him for raping someone.” He walks along to the station too “Oh man please...I need to get off that fucking chair today. I swear my thigh muscles might atrophy.” He jokes. And then they're inside.

Sharon goes into her office and shuts the door and then leans her back into it and lets herself quietly have a cry. She pulls it together to get through her morning meeting and then she realizes she has to tell Nolan before he runs into his father somewhere in town unexpectedly. She checks her phone for his class schedule. She doesn’t want to call him during a lesson. It’s Friday and he has a spare before lunch, an extra long lunch he’s mentioned. Sometimes he and Elise even go home for lunch and until he recently admitted they weren’t having sex Sharon had wondered if that was why they went home. She tries not to pry regardless. But now she calls Nolan’s number and it rings.

Nolan has gone home for his extra lunch and is fixing something for he and Elise when his phone rings.  It’s his mother, which is strange under the best of circumstances.  So he looks a little confused as he answers.  “Hey Mom ….  What’s up?  Is something wrong?”  he realizes he sounds like .. well like a worried parent.

Elise had come in and gone up to use Nolan’s bathroom while he kindly made them lunch. He was honestly the sweetest and most doting boyfriend in the world. She stood at the mirror and gave herself a pep talk “Take him by the hand…..you can do this…” She was going to tell Nolan today that she was on the pill and she was ready to be more intimate in their relationship. Just a few more deep breaths and she could find the courage.

Sharon clicks and unclicks a pen nervously at her desk “Hi Honey.” she sighs. She can’t lie to Nolan “I ran into someone today I wasn’t expecting to see. And I think it’s only fair to give you some warning in case you run into him too. Your father is here on the island. I’m not even sure how he knew we were here. He….wants to he’s suggesting he wants to reconcile and that he’s changed. I honestly don’t know what to think Nolan. I left the conversation without finishing it.” she blows out a breath.

Nolan was pulling plates out of the cabinet to put their sandwiches on while his mother speaks.  He freezes with his hand on the plates as she mentions his father is on the island  and is pulling his hand back ass he mentions he wants to reconcile.  The dishes crash loudly to the floor.  “Are you fucking kidding me?”  he demands.  “Dad … no … fuck that and fuck HIM!”  he growls, frowning deeply and glaring at the broken plates on the floor.

Elise took her breaths and then as she had joked to Gen about wearing lacey bra and off the shoulder tops she gives herself a confident look and pulls her top off the the side down her shoulder, exposing a deep purple lacey strap to reinforce her words and offering “Be confident Elise...be sexy…” She heads out of the bathroom and down the stairs as she hears dishes falling and breaking and looks puzzled. Now Nolan sounds super pissed off and she forgets her exposed shoulder and bit of lace is still on and dashes into the kitchen looking worried. He’s on the phone. She quietly goes to the cupboard she’s seen has a broom in it and get a dustpan and whisk, trying to be helpful. She looks at Nolan with questions in her eyes.

Sharon sighs “Honey...I know. I didn’t ...I didn’t just accept it. But….maybe there’s something too it? Maybe prison did change him this time? Or your brother’s death….I don’t know what to think. I don’t want to believe him…..he just sounds so broken…” She breaks off at the end like she’s becoming emotional “Listen we’ll talk when I get home. I’m sorry to upset you with all of it. I just didn’t want him to spring himself on you.”

Nolan inhales and exhales slowly.  Then Elise comes into his sighs and she is cleaning his mess.  He knows this is probably confusing and he stares at her while his mother keeps talking.  Her shirt has fallen and is exposing a pretty purple bra strap.  “I …  I doubt it .. I don't know Mom.”  he sighs and hears the emotion in her voice.  “Thanks for the warning, mom.  I love you .. and ..  I’m OK, Mom.  Honest.  See you.”  he clicks the call off and looks at Elise, a little lost.

Elise stands up with the dustpan and carries it to the garbage and dumps the broken pieces into it. She puts the cleaning supplies back and walks back to Nolan sliding her hands up his arms “What happened? Is your mom ok? Is this about Brett? You sounded so angry…” She had heard the word dad and it confused her but maybe it was about arrangements after death or something for his brother.

Nolan doesn’t feel a shock.  Instead he feels a soothing warmth when Elise touches him.  Calming, he blows out a breath.  “No .. I mean .. its not … well maybe it IS about Brett …”  he looks down at her and is tempted to pull her into his arms for more of that calming, soothing warmth.  “My … my father is on the island.  Out on parole, I think.  She’s seen him.  Talked to him and .. and she’s so .. empathetic …”  he sighs.

Elise looks shocked and does pull Nolan a little closer, her arms around him loosely “Oh my god. From everything you’ve talked about with your dad...that’s not good. Your mom saw him TODAY? Why is he here...I mean dumb question probably to see you and your mom but….oh Nolan…..” She hugs him now “Are you ok? I know you told you mom you were but if you’re not...please talk to me. I love you.”

Nolan immediately holds her close, needing only the welcome to do it.  “I love you, too.  Apparently he’s here to save his family, I guess.  I mean … what better way to get to my mother.”  he closes his eyes.  “OK, I’m not being fair …  I mean .. maybe … maybe she’s right?  She says my father has good in him.  So maybe…”  he pulls back and rubs his hands along her shoulders, then blinks.  “Purple?”

Elise leans into Nolan, hugging him tightly “That sounds...ugh I don’t know. I hope your mom is right. Maybe see what happens?” She looks at him when he pulls back and then his hand is on her bare shoulder and he’s noticed her hint of lace. Elise blushes and laughs “Oh god never mind that...I have the worst timing…” She self consciously pulls the shirt back up “Conversation for another day.” Now revealing that she was in fact revealing the lace on purpose. “So what are you going to do if you see your dad?”

Nolan bites his lip for a couple of reasons.  “I hope she is, too.”  he sighs and looks curious.  “Worst timing?  Oh …  I mean …  oh ….  It’s ….  Pretty.”  he swallows and then sighs as his father is brought back into the conversation.  “No idea.  Maybe just keep my mouth shut …  keep the peace …. Try and see that good.”  he sighs and moves to sit on the couch.  “God.”

Elise smiles self consciously at the compliment “Thanks.” She sits down beside him but as she’s still trying to comfort him she’s sort of half in his lap and her fingers run through his hair “Nolan, what was your dad in prison for again? Weird that him and Brett both…..maybe not weird…..”

Nolan is perfectly happy with her in his lap.  He inclines his head into her touch and winds up resting his head on her shoulder.  “Accessory to human trafficking.”  he sighs.  “He’s ….”  he moves his eyes to her without taking his head off of her shoulder.  “Him and Brett both .. what?”  he wonders.

Elise keeps stroking his hair because it seems to be soothing him. As his head rests on her the shifting of it slides her shirt collar over again and within a minute or two he’ll be on her bare shoulder, because the collar is just loose enough. When Nolan says what his father was in for Elise makes a horrified face “Human trafficking? Holy shit…...like exploting worker for next to no wages or women for….you know sex work? Cause there’s two kinds right…..I wrote a paper on it last year for school and the research was upsetting. I meant him and Brett both ending up in prison.”

Nolan notices the shift of the collar.  He breathes onto her shoulder.  “It … it was sex trafficing. And yea … they both wound up in prison and ..”  he looks at her.  “Elise … this needs to be the last time we see each other for a while, I think.”  he declares in a tone of voice that says the very thought is killing him.

Elise pulls back a  bit to look at him with a pained expression “Nolan…..you’re worried you’re dad’s going to ...I dunno traffic me or something? I think you and my parents would notice before he succeeded. I don’t want to leave you alone with all this……” she looks genuinely at him and then leans in kissing his cheek and then his forehead and pulling back again with tears in her eyes “Please don’t push me away…”

Nolan sighs deeply and looks at her, seeing her tears.  “I just ..  I don’t trust him.  I don’t want to push you away, Elise.  Jesus I love you.  You …  you center me .. calm me.  I need you …”  he searches her face.  “I … don’t even know if I can do this without you.”  he sighs.  “It’s … him and Brett are the ones with the charm.  Not me.”  he worries Flynn might be able to convince Elise, as he has always convinced his mother that there is good in him.

Elise has a melting look as he says she calms her, centers herand he needs her “Then don’t do it without me. For the record I thought your brother was an arrogant ass even before he tried to rape my best freind. I’ve seen his kind of charm before and I have no idea how people fall for that crap. If you dad’s the same that sucks...mostly for you and your mom right now. I feel like maybe having an extra witness would keep you both safer if that makes sense. You have genuine charm...because you’re the real deal. I know you don’t believe it about yourself. You can’t see how amazing you are but I can. And I love you too...so much. So much it makes me a little bit crazy sometimes.” She notices he’s on her bare shoulder again. She had felt his breath and it was distracting a  bit. She chuckles “Sorry this shirt just wants to make me show everything off apparently.” She tugs at it a little under his head and then gives up “Oh whatever….”

Nolan is relieved that she hadn’t fallen for Brett’s charms.  Maybe it could be the same with his father.  “Alright … then … please stay with me through this.  Please.”  he’s nearly begging.  “I love you too and .. I don’t know how you can see me as anything…”  He stops and smiles a little.  “Crazy?”  and then she tugs at her shirt.  “Did it make you wear purple today?”  he teases a little, his mind off of his father and back on her.  Maybe the shirt was distracting them both.

Elise kisses him lightly “I’m staying. I’m pretty stubborn about it. Don’t worry.” It makes her sad to hear him question his value and she sighs at him and then he asks her if her “crazy” made her wear purple today and she can’t help but blush “Yes...yes it did. And I may have chosen the wrong adjective about that.” She kisses him again and this time she lingers and then leans into his neck and breathes into him “Ok maybe I should have the other conversation with you then….it’ll either cheer you up or stress you out a whole different way…” She laughs nervously and then buries her face in his chest.

Nolan enjoys the lingering kiss and shudders a bit at her breath on his skin.  “Well ….”  he begins when she says the other conversation will either cheer him up or stress him out.  “You never know until you try … right?”  he kisses the part of her head he can.

Elise nods into him, feeling his kiss. She had felt the shudder too. So she pulls back so they’re face to face to talk and bravely makes herself say it “About a week ago….I uh…” She takes another breath “I went on the pill.” She looks at him “I’m not meaning it as any kinda we have to do it now pressure….and it takes a month to be...effective. I …..I guess I just want you to know I want to. I want you….Nolan I love you and I’m ready for us to be closer that way. When you are of course.” She holds up a hand “You can totally think about it….I mean…” She stammering and spiralling.

Nolan listens to her.  The pill.  He bites his lip and nods.  “I love you, too.  God, Elise I really do.”  he takes the hand she holds up and kisses her palm.  “I told you … we do what you want .. when you want …”  he searches her face.  “You just have to show me what to do…”

Elise smiles shyly at Nolan. He was so sweet about this it made her want him all the more. She gives him a little nod “OK. Well like I said a month for….you know...but….we could do some things…” She gets up off his lap and as Gen suggested, takes him by the hand and blushes “Can we…..go up to your room? I will show you…..but I also want you….to show me...about you….” She gives him another kiss if she can get him to stand with her, but this kiss begins timidly and ends hungrilly.

Nolan listens and is let fors to his feet and then into his room and at last into the next stage of their relationship.  They make it back to school but even then, he feels so much closer to her .. more secure in what they are.  He doesn’t forget about his father as the afternoon progresses, but he feels, by the time school lets out for the day, that he can handle anything his father throws at him.

Flynn has had a long breakfast across from the Pacific Shores Credit Union in a seat at the front window, nursing a whole carafe of coffee very slowly. He watched with a perfect view. He couldn’t see Sharon’s office as it seemed to be further back but she came out front often to interact with her staff and customers, even going so far as to jog after an older man who’s left his card in the credit union and hand it back to him in the street. She didn’t see him in the window but he watched her see the man off and then take a deep cleansing breath of fresh air like she was trying to be calm. He had gotten to her and it satisfied him, for now. He paid his tab and left, walking the town a bit, careful not to “trespass” again since it seemed small towns had eyes. He ddi walk that green space between the row houses again at one point and as he was just stepping into it he paused and stepped behind the cover of trees as Nolan and his tiny little girlfriend seemed to be emerging from the back door of one of them. He was careful not to be seen but counted in from the community gardens and it was the second one from that break. Now was it Sharon’s house or the girlfriend? He waited until they went through to the school and then lingered a bit behind that house. Then he had an idea after he noticed a flyer littered on the ground. He picked up the flyer and walked around to the front of the house by way of the community gardens. He folded the flyer more neatly and walked up to the red trimmed house and pretended to be delivering it to the mailbox, hoping the post had already arrived that day. At a glance he saw the mail as his fake flyer delivery went in. Sharon Lancaster was the name on what looked like a utility bill of some type. “There you are…” He muttered.

At this point Chris and Frank were still patrolling. They were walking past the pizza place when Chris looked down the street and spotted Flynn putting something in a mail box about halfway down. “Frank!” He elbowed her in case she hadn’t spotted it too. “Is that the Lancaster house?”

Frank looked where Chris was nodding and looked carefully.  “Yea … that’s him.”  she confirmed and then looked at her young and passionate protege.  “But I don’t see him breaking any laws, Chris.  Maybe he slipped her a love note.  Something sweet and romantic.  The problem IS that WE cannot legally now take that flyer out without a warrant .. which we don’t have.”  it’s that Catch 22 of law enforcement.

Chris grumbled “I hate this. What if it’s a fuckin letter bomb or fuckin ricin…..like that French chic who tried to off Trump?” He was keeping his voice low. He sighed and kept walking “We’ll circle the block but maybe we should have some extra foot patrols in this area...between the credit union and the house, just make it the route this week?”

Frank sighs.  “We can ask the Chief, but my guess is he will say no.  Because we can’t treat the man like a criminal when hes broken no laws.  He didn’t go to jail for wife beating.”  she snorts at the irony.  “Only human trafficking.  For all we know he HAS turned over a new leaf and will be the best citizen Alexandra has ever seen.  We don’t know yet.  And yes, I am well aware of what has happened in that house, but again, that wasn’t Flynn Lancaster.”  she gives him a sympathetic look.  “Let’s keep walking.”

In the Perkatory after school Elise walked in hand in hand with Nolan to hang with Gen as they had planned earlier in the day. There was a shift between Elise and Nolan, a comfortable shift and they seemed a bit extra affectionate that day after lunch somehow. But Elise knew full well that her new closeness with Nolan wasn’t something she wanted to flaunt, while Dante was still so far from Gen so she put her jacket and bag down on the chair right beside Gen at the table of four to claim a spot before ordering coffee which she did at the counter “Hi Buni...double dark please. How are you today?” Elise adored Buni as much as her coffee. But today she was just kind of glowing too.

Nolan walked in and, finally, let go of Elise’s hand.  He knew not to flaunt it in front of Gen, and he quickly stopped by the counter.  “Pumpkin Paradise, please Buni.” he smiled at the lady.  She really was great .. and made great coffee.  He was happy.  Happier than he thought he would be at this time, knowing his father was around town someplace.

Gen had noticed the shift between her friends and was happy for them, but also very glad they weren’t rubbing it in her face.  She didn't know what happened, but they just seemed closer.  More affectionate.  At her turn, she smiled at Buni.  “Trinidad coffee, please and thank you, Buni.”  she had yet to taste the Pumpkin drink.  Dante had told her she could but she wanted him to be there when she tried it for the first time, and that meant she had to wait until next October.

Buni Chuku was like a dancer behind the counter, even though it wasn’t very crowded.  These kids claimed the table first, so they got it.  But it was Friday afternoon .. and would be Friday night .. so things would pick up before she closed.  “I doin good taday tank ya Miss ‘Lese.”  she smiled at all of them.  She assumed everyone was happy because it was Friday.  No school all weekend.

Flynn had been kind of roaming aimlessly, restless and a little agitated, although he tried not to show it. As he passed the Perkatory where he saw the pastry coffee exchange in the morning he glanced through the window and saw the back of Nolan, the tiny girlfriend and a taller blonde girl at the counter. He quickly got out of their line of sight but devised a way to observe them. He crossed the street to the laundromat that had windows facing the coffee shop and went inside. It was  busy enough to blend. There was a vending machine with canned drinks so he went and plugged in a toonie and got a can of coke and then casually leaned on one of the unused machines so he could look across.

Elise took her coffee and paid when it was her turn “That’s good Buni...thank you so much. Oh coffee!!!” She took hers to the table and dropped into the chair, flipping her hair over the back of it . When Gen and Nolan got back to the table she smiled “Would you rather..” It was a conversation game she sometimes played “Would you rather have super sensitive taste buds or super sensitive hearing?”” She looked at Gen first but it was implied she intended them both to answer.

Jacob Carpenter came bounce walking in the door of the Perk and smiled at Nolan, Elise and Gen “Hey.” He greeted casually. But he was looking behind the counter hopefully and then looked somewhat disappointed for a moment before greeting Buni “Hi Buni. Keisha’s not on tonight?”

Gen sipped at her coffee and, when Elise asked her question she smirked, almost devilishly.  Yes, she horribly missed Dante and didn't always wanted to be reminded that other lovers could still touch and taste when it would be who knew how long before she could touch Dane again.  But that didn't keep her from teasing her more slow paced friends.  “Taste.”  she replied, immediately.  “Because I miss it so much.”  she winked at Elise.  “I don't need super hearing with as loud as my family and those fosters are.”  and smirks at them both, knowingly .. even though she didn’t know anything .. she just highly suspected something.

Nolan nearly chokes on his coffee, blushing and laughing all at the same time.  Elise asked the worse possible question for the game this time, and he had to wonder if she meant to do that or if it just slipped out.  “Oh god …  I … um … I’m going to pass on this one just because I can.”  he insists, shaking his head and drinking a bit more of his coffee.

Buni looks at Jacob Carpenter as he walks in and looks behind the counter as if there was an entire department store where Kiesha might be hiding.  “Do ya see her?”  she demands.  “Couse she ain’t here … keep tryin .. she ain’t left da island I bet.”

Elise gasps and liggles at Gen and then swats at her “Oh my god I meant coffee and food you dirty bird!” Then she just shakes her head smiling “Alright. But I’m going to argue that with super taste buds that could be overwhelming too.” She teases. Then she giggles at Nolan and looks back at Gen “Now you broke my boyfriend…..thanks.” She laughs and casually looks over at Jake “Hey Jake. I thought I saw her walking with Romeo and Zach….probably towards Romeo’s…..you’re straying from the herd?” Then she gives Gen a determined look “Alright next question….would you rather be feared by all or loved by all? Think hard about both and the implications.” She looks between Gen and Nolan.

Flynn sipped his coke and watched the three teenagers and now a 4th in range talking and as well their interaction with the proprietor. It was actually pretty tedious to observe but useful. Nolan did seem happy though, too happy.

Jake chuckles at Buni’s bluntness “Thought maybe she’d be ducked down counting coffee beans.” He joked. “I will have one of those pumpkin paradise things and text her...thanks.” Then he smiled a bit at the conversation he overheard from the table of his peers and turned when Elise mentioned seeing where Keisha might be “Yeah I had to stay late and rewrite a test I bombed….buggers didn’t text me. Cheers.”

Gen laughs at Elise.  "Oh bullshit!"  she argues.  "Who needs hearing for food OR coffee?"  she demands to know.  Then she smirks.  "You'll just have to fix him right back up."  she keeps teasing.  She looks at Jacob Carpenter and then back to Elise when she asks the next question.  "I'll say loved by all ... but keep them all away from me."

Nolan smirks.  "She has a point."  he agreed with Gen, but also he thought his mind might just still be on the lunch time closeness.  "As to the rest .."  he sighs.  "I really hate both options.  Completely."

Buni blinks at Jacob.  "Ya, cause I dock er pay fo eber bean dropped."  she fakes trying to hit him with her cleaning cloth, then turns to get his order.  "You text her yasef."  she insisted, making the drink up quickly for him and giving it to him.  "An don run it be hot!"

Elise rolls her eyes at Gen and laughs “Obviously the hearing was not about food…..I mean unless you hunt for your food. Then it might be handy so you can catch it.” She points at Gen “See if they love you they might flock and smother….that’s the challenging part.” She smiles at Nolan and tries not to let it show that her mind immediately wandered when Gen said fix him right back up. She clears her throat and nods at Nolan “Neither are ideal choices.” She looks over at Buni “Never run with coffee….you might spill the coffee!”

Flynn watched people walk by and the folks in the laundromat and then looked back casually at the window. No one seemed to pay him much attention, which suited him fine.

 That was until the door opened and a young woman with obvious dyed blond hair walked in “Mom!” She hollered towards the back office “I’m supposed to come get money from you for groceries.”

A haggard middle aged woman sauntered out from the back office. She had a TV on in there and it was a little loud “What’s that Brookie?”

The girl she called Brookie walked up to her “Grocery money….Dad placed an order online because he doesn’t want to get off his ass. But they said we missed the deliveries so I gotta go get it. Assholes.”

Flynn glanced back at the conversation and then back to the window.

Jake snorts “Every bean is sacred. I am texting her...halfway through it….” He pockets his phone though to pay “I won’t spill…” After he pays he sips but slowly “Mmmm October...pumpkin paradise…” Then he takes two steps and pads his pocket to find his phone again but a voice comes through it….Keisha’s voice.

“Helloooo….Jake! Did you pocket dial me again? JAAAAAAKKKEEE!”

Jake fishes out his phone and switches it off speaker immediately “Shit sorry hi. I was actually trying to text. Are you all still at Romeo’s? Yes I have spies……” He walks to the table by the window and sits to have his chat after a wink at Elise “Oh yeah it’s a network…….definitely mole people……

Elise mouths back with a hint of a whisper “Mole people?!”

Gen giggles, especially after the coffee talk ensues.  She just shakes her head watching it all go down, but she does mock cradle her coffee as she sips at it.

Nolan laughs and shakes his head at Jake when he starts talking about mole people.  “Yea, because the Alexandra sewer system is so vast … there's bound to be mole people and tunnel people and the underground homeless armies…”

Buni simply leans on her counter, shaking her head at Jake as he … does whatever it is he thinks he is doing.

Elise turns back from Jake and nods at Nolan and Gen “What about Lizard people? Don’t forget the reptilians…...they’re replacing us all. Especially the government. Hey do you think they got Mayor Brate? Gen you live next door….any beams coming down from the sky next door for abductions?”

Jake is still talking “What are you guys watching….god why? Oh it’s Miranda’s….yeah that explains it. I’m coming. Just having a coffee first. Well I thought you were working tonight. No I’m not stalking you.” He snorts “But I was wondering…..if you wanted to catch a  movie later…..” He pauses and looks suddenly really awkward as he sips his coffee. Then he quickly says “Oh yeah...I meant the guys too...course…” He clears his throat and downs his coffee “Ok I’m walking your way now….see you in 10.” Jake looks down at his phone and sighs and then walks out the door looking a little deflated.

Elise’s eyes go wide as she tunes into Jake’s side of his conversation and then exchanges a look with Nolan and Gen as her mouth forms an O.

Flynn was still looking across but then some tall frizzy haired blonde kid sat right in the window seat and talked on his phone. Flynn grumbled a bit and then the girl who the laundromat lady called Brookie. Clearly her daughter bumped him as she passed and he turned and gave her a hard stare. He had taken off his sunglasses awhile ago.

Brooke pocketed the cash from her mother by tucking it into her bra and accidentally hip bumped a guy in a black hoodie and jeans as she passed. “Oh sorry Mister….” She does a bit of a double take “You look really familiar….” His face, his eyes. She was trying to place him. He was also kinda cute. Older…..but she didn’t mind.

Gen giggles.  "Yes, the reptile people.  I don't think they got the mayor.  Or if they did ... did they get him before or AFTER his wife got pregnant?"  she wiggles her fingers like an evil witch.  "Has the next generation been turned already?"  she looks at Jake and smirks, sipping without commenting.

Nolan shakes his head even more, especially at the before or after comment.  "So the mayor's wife doesn't know she's married to a lizard man?  That's kind of scary, actually..."  he watches Jake and, after he leaves, he winces.  "Oh ... poor guy."  he shakes his head.

Buni watches Jake get shot down and watches him leave with a slightly sympathetic look.  She's seen almost all of it before.  The coffee will cheer him up.

Elise snaps her fingers and points at Gen “Ooooh! Keep an eye on that baby! Lizard baby ...more or less scary than human babies. Because human babies, as I said yesterday...are a little freaky...ya gotta admit.” She laughs and doesn’t explain why she and Gen were talking about babies to Nolan. She doesn’t want to freak the guy out with everything in one day. Then she looks in the direction Jake went and nods at Nolan’s words “I kinda wondered if she'd end up dating one of those three guys. Guess we can cross Jake off the list? Sucks to be him.” She casually glances at Buni and smiles “I bet Buni knows everyone’s business. Bird’s eye view?” She calls over to Buni “Mayor Brate….human or lizard person?”

Flynn can’t help but flash Brooke one of his signature charm smiles “Do I? Maybe I just have one of those faces. I’m Flynn. Flynn Lancaster.”

Brooke’s eyes light up “Are you Brett’s dad or something? You smile EXACTLY like him. He’s a good friend of mine. I was super bummed when he got sent off to jail….I swear that girl was making it up so her boyfriend didn’t think she was a cheat.”

Flynn tunes in to Brooke completely “I am Brett’s dad….but I have some bad news if you two were close.” He swallows hard and his voice cracks a bit, some put on and some real “He was killed in prison two days back...in a fight. But I’m glad he has one friend to remember him at least.”

Brooke gasps and then bursts into tears “No….oh no...not Brett………” Joey and then Brett. It was too much.

Gen just shakes her head at Elise.  "You better be careful, before Buni thinks caffeine is like alcohol for you and cuts you off."

Nolan laughs at Elise's question and Gen's reply.  "That's my beautiful conspiracy theorist."  he grins and looks after Jacob.  "Never know.  She could be a lesbian?  Then it sucks ot be all three of them, if any of them wants a relationship with her."

Buni looks at Elise when she asks if Mayor Brate is human or ... a lizard man?  "I nebah tell."  she proclaims, looking mock insulted, even though she would never tell, even if she knew.

Elise bats her eyelashes at Gen “I think caffeine might be what keeps me grounded so if she cuts me off that’s when shit gets real...mind you I’ve never been drunk on booze so only time will tell.” She beams at Nolan for calling her beautiful even though it was in with conspiracy theorist. Then she ponders about Keisha “I don’t get that from her...but then again I’m straight so maybe I’m just not tuned in. Not that she can’t just be friends with boys. It’s all good. I just know from my old school how the whole dating pool thing can work and it can get brutal so if she ends up dating one of them but another one likes her….there’s the brutal.” Elise pretends to pout when Buni says she’ll never tell and then laughs.

Flynn puts an arm around Brooke “I know Sweetheart...I know. Who is the girl who accused him. I mean I came here to mourn my boy…”

Brooke cries into Flynn’s shoulder and then lifts her head to look at him and ends up tilting her head as she catches a glimpse of who’s across the street in the coffee shop “Oh that’s interesting. Well you’re other son is in the coffee shop with her. The blonde…” She head juts “Gen they call her. One of the French dentist kids….Beaulieu is the last name.”

Flynn shifts his eyes without turning his head “And Nolan’s friends with her….huh…” He studies this Gen as well as staring hard at his son and his girlfriend.

Gen arches her brow.  "I'm almost scared to see you without caffeine in your system."  she admits.  "Or to see you drunk for that matter.  But we'll find out after Dante gets home."  she declares.  Then she also considers Kiesha.  "Maybe she is like my sister?  Slow to notice boys even exist?  I mean Romeo Rogers has a regular fan circle and he never seems to notice them."  she winces.  "Brutal, but could be interesting to watch?"

Nolan grins at Elise.  "You without caffeine.  Would everything slow down?"  he blinks and quickly changes the subject.  "Romeo likes girls ... I think ...  I don't know honestly.  He isn't a hockey player.  But Jake ... he's bleeding crush out of his eyeballs."

Buni cleans the counter space and all of her machines again.  She is listening ... of course.  If she was the type to write a tell all book, shed be rich.  But she wasn't ... so she wasn't.

Elise holds up her hands “I’m partially made up of caffeine now.  I might just be a shell without it.” She has a bit of a blush at Nolan’s words. Is he feeling they’ve gone too fast? Elise feels like they’re perfect right now. So she focuses for now on the whole Keisha Jake drama “Interesting to watch indeed. Emma and Ava once made one of those police board things with the string for our class to draw the dating lines and make predictions on who they were shipping by the end of junior high. It was a dedicated project.” She smiles at Nolan “I only need one string now.” She looks at Gen “And you too....but we could speculate on everyone else.” She giggles.

Brooke puts her hand on Flynn’s chest “You know Brett and I were pretty close. You’re so much like him. I guess all his hotness came right from you.”

Flynn begins to smirk “Well thank you. If you’re curious about test driving the older model I have a boat at the end of dock 3. Blue and white with a BC flag in the window. Don’t follow right behind me.... I am technically married but we’re separated.” He’s seen and learned enough about Nolan and now Gen. But he’s missing one fact “Oh Brooke...what’s Nolan’s girlfriend’s name?”

Brooke grins at the offer “I do like older and younger models. And Elise. Her name is Elise.” She adjusts her bra strap “I’ll come by after my shopping.”

At this point Flynn doesn’t care if Nolan sees him so he walks right out of the laundromat and slowly ambles towards his boat.

Gen laughed a little at the idea of a string board that shipped people.  “I’ll ship Jake and Kiesha.  Root for the underdog and all.”  she smiles about Elise and her one string.  Her best friend deserved happiness, and she was glad she’d found it.  Sighing, she glanced out of the window and jumped as if someone had slapped her.  “Oh my god .. when did he get out?”  she demands, her voice low and shaky.  If she can, she will grab Elise’s arm in a near panic.

Nolan smiles about being the only string Elise needs.  He feels exactly the same way.  Gen decides to root for Jake and he grins.  He’s about to offer his opinion on the odds of that when Gen demands to know when he got out.  ‘He’ could only be one person and he follows her gaze.  His father and his brother really do look alike, but Nolan can tell them apart, of course.  Flynn was taller, for one.  But his jaw tightens.  “That’s not Brett, Gen.  That's our father.”  he pauses and watches as his father vanishes in the trees on his way to the docks.  “My … father.”

Buni stepped into the kitchen for a moment and missed the exchange.

Elise feels Gen grab her arm and puts her hand over Gen’s as she hears her and then Nolan’s words and  turns around and sees the man who looks like Brett if you aged him a bit. But clearly he has a young face and could almost pass for Brett. It was uncanny . She speaks soothingly to Gen “He’s dead remember? I know it just happened.” She looks at Nolan “I had no idea they looked so much alike....that’s creepy. I am so glad you look like your mom.” She looks sympathetic for Nolan because she knows his father being here is hugely stressful. With her free hand she reaches for Nolan’s across the table “It’s ok....” She knows it might not be but those are the words that come.

Across the street Brooke then walks out of the laundromat and looks right at the trio at the coffee shop table and smiles like she knows something about them before walking off with a pronounced swing in her hips.

Gen began to relax, realizing that she had misspoke.  Brett was dead.  He’d been killed.  But this man … his father … looked so much like him she couldn’t believe it wasn’t Brett.  “Why is he even fucking here/’  she demanded, looking at Nolan for answers.

Nolan sighed deeply.  “He got paroled I guess.”  he replies and looks at both Gen and Elise.  “And now he wants what’s left of his family back.”