Running Northwest (37 page)

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The farther down the beach they walked, Thomas noticed that the waves were getting bigger and higher. The wind had picked up to the point that it was a consistent blow, however he loved the way it howled as it blew in between the old buildings. Thomas and Daniel had been watching the waves hit the west side of haystack rock ever since they got onto the beach. In addition, the closer they got to the huge monolith rock they realized just how large the waves were that were crashing against it. When the waves hit they sounded like thunder from a storm and sent frothy white water high up against the rock and spray into the air. Thomas knew this was supposed to be a big storm but even he was surprised at how big waves had gotten already. As they walked closer and closer to the large rock and eventually in front of it they started seeing more “treasure” that had washed up onto the beach. Thomas had put Layla back on to her leash for her own good. A little ways down the beach after leaving the log, she got a little over anxious going after a stick and was nearly sucked out into the ocean by a receding wave. The poor dog was rolling in the surf and had swallowed salt water until Thomas ran into surf, and grabbed her. This venture had left his pants wet to the knees and his boots soaked. This sort of thing had happened a few times before near their own cottage. Thomas knew eventually Layla would learn to be careful in the ocean waves just as Harley had learned years before. Harley was still off her leash but stayed at the side of Daniel the whole time.

Standing now directly in front of the huge rock Thomas and his son looked up at the birds near the top that were circling and fighting with the wind. The beach had cleared out quite a bit since the wind, waves and rain had picked up, the storm was getting ever close to shore. Thomas looked over at his son who was watching the wave’s crash again as the boy rubbed Harleys head.

“So what are you thinking about buddy
?
” Thomas asked noticing his son was somewhat quiet.

“Well lots of things I suppose Dad” the boy answered
.

“Like what, or is it personal
?
” Thomas asked since he was curious.

“Well I’m thinking about the storm and how cool it was and how much Grandpa would like it. And I’m thinking about Mom and stuff
,
” the boy answered quietly.

“I bet old pop would love this buddy, someday we will show him
this. But what about your mom?”
Thomas asked.

“Well did sh
e ever tell you how I was born?”
the boy asked.

“Yeah she did, you were born in big storm just like the one that were about to get. I remember her telling me that the power went out at her work at the art gallery she used to work at. And the ambulance people had to deliver you right th
ere because you were ready to come
right then
.
”

“Mom was pretty brave for doing that huh Dad, I mean she must have been really scared,” the boy said quietly with a deep sigh.

“Yeah I would imagine so, at least I think so” Thomas replied then kneeling down to look his son in the eye then adding “Danny your mom was one of the bravest women I have ever known in my whole life, what’s the matter buddy” he asked squinting his eyes and studying his sons face. He knew there was more that Daniel was not saying and he always thought it was important for his son to speak his mind no matter what.

“It’s not a big deal Dad but…well when we were walking down the beach I remembered that mom and I came here for the day a week before her accident. We had a lot of fun; we went swimming in the ocean even though it was a little cold. She helped me find lots of shells and we just goofed off and had fun ya know. I just wish I could have told her goodbye I suppose and tell her I love her one last time, we never got to say goodbye
,
”

Thomas smiled at his son, he knew things like this were going to happen the older he got and remembered things more clearly. He thought about what to say that would ease his sons mind. After a moment of thought he grabbed his sons small hands, looked into the boys eyes, smiled and said “well, I remember that day you went to the beach with your mom. That night she kept me up very late wanting to talk about it, she went on and on about the whole day with you. And do you know what she told me buddy
,
”

“What Dad
?
” the boy asked as he started to breath heavy and tears began to show in his eyes.

“She told me that you were her whole world and that she loved you more than anyone or anything. She would tell me about that day at beach a lot when it was just you and her. She would say it was going to be one of her best memories of her whole life
,
” Thomas said
.

“Did she really say that Dad
?
” Daniel asked as tears began falling more down his little cheek.

“She sure did buddy, she loved you and always will
,
” Thomas said not lying about one word to his son.

“I miss her so much Dad,” Daniel said back as the tears started flowing and he threw himself into his father’s arms.

“I miss her too buddy, every day, every damn day” Thomas said as he wrapped his strong arms around his son and held the crying boy close to him. Thomas also started tearing up a little bit also, his own breathing became heavy.

Layla and Harley must have noticed something was going on or wrong with Thomas and Daniel. Harley rested her head on Thomas leg and Layla rested her head on Daniel’s tiny thigh. Thomas was content with holding his son as long as the boy needed to be, despite the slight rain and blowing wind.

As Thomas held his crying son in his arms, he glanced to his left at the houses that sat in a group near the beach. On a deck a few houses up, and about a hundred yards away or so, he saw a woman watching them. Her long hair was blowing in the wind and she seemed to be watching him and his son. He watched her for a minute he was sure he did not know her but for some reason a feeling of familiarity was inside of him.

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Stephanie had been sitting on the deck of her rented cottage for a little while now. She was talking on the phone to Karen and telling her what had happened in town with Thomas and his son Daniel outside of the coffee shop. At least she was until she saw a man and a boy walking on the beach in front of haystack rock followed closely by two dogs.

Mid conversation, she quickly said, “Karen I got to go”, literally dropped her phone onto the wooden deck, and just stared in disbelief.

After a mere few seconds, she knew it was Thomas and his son. She could not make out his face but recognized the clothes he was wearing from earlier, the way he walked and moved. Stephanie stood there motionless and entranced as she watched Thomas and his son walk with their dogs, laughing and talking to each other. They stopped at one point, looked up at haystack rock right in front of them, and watched the birds flying around. Stephanie looked up and watched the birds too. She saw Thomas bend down onto his knees and look at his son; they appeared to be talking. Daniel looked so small in comparison to his father who was very tall and burly in Stephanie’s mind. She watched as Thomas grabbed the boys hand in his own. He looked so gentle and sweet with his son, she had never seen Thomas with kids like this all those years ago. Suddenly for some reason the boy threw himself into his father’s arms, he appeared to be crying. There was tenderness and kindness in the way Thomas was holding his son. Thomas had always been very sweet and gentle at least with her but seeing him now, like this was a different side of the man she knew before. Or maybe it was a new side to a whole new man that Stephanie never knew and maybe never would.

As she watched Thomas hold his son in his arms Thomas turned his head and looked up. He appeared to be looking in her direction, and right at her. She froze where she was standing and did not move. In her mind she wondered if he could see her, if he knew it was her. More thoughts went through her mind as she watched the man she loved who seemed to be looking at her. She stood there and watched them, she knew she should go inside but for some reason could not. And for some reason the lyrics to the song “Stardust” came into her mind as she watched them.

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After a few minutes of holding his son and trying to make him feel better Daniel pulled away from his father and smiled. Thomas looked at his son and wiped the few remaining tears from the boy’s cheek. Thomas had learned that his son would open up and talk when he was ready to and it was better that Thomas did not push him.

“You gunna be okay?
” Thomas asked
.

“Yeah Dad I think so” the boy said then add
ing “Dad I’m glad I have you to
be there for me when I get sad and upset. I don’t know why it happens but sometimes it just does”

“Well me too and you know what Kiddo, I’m glad you’re there for me too when I need you. I do not think I could have made it through a lot of stuff if it was not for you being in my life. You keep me strong Kiddo just like your mom used to do for both of us
,
” Thomas said smiling.

“So we keep each other strong huh Dad” the boy said quietly.

“We sure do buddy
,
” Thomas said smiling
.

“I love you Dad
,
” he said as he poked his dad
’
s
large
shoulder
.

“And I love you too buddy, always will
,
” Thomas said as he pulled his son in for another hug and then lifted the boy into the air in one fast motion.

Daniel hung on around his father’s neck then shimmied around to his back.

“Dad I’m tired and cold, can we go home now
?
” Daniel asked
.

“Sure thing, I think all four of us are cold. The dogs are gunna need a bath you wanna hel
p me with that when we get home.” Thomas said.

“Sure thing Dad,” the boy answered

“All right sounds good buddy, well why don’t you just stay on my back and let your dad do the walking. Oh, and don’t forget your uncle is coming over when we get home to help me get ready for the storm, I think he’s bringing dinner too
,
” Thomas said.

“Sweet cause I’m hungry again” Daniel said

“You keep eating that much and you’re gunna be big like me ya know
,
” Thomas said smiling
.

“That’s the plan Dad
,
” the boy said with a laugh.

With his son on his back and surrounded by their two dogs, Thomas turned and began heading north down the beach. After a couple of feet, though he turned around and looked in the direction he had seen the woman that was watching them before. He saw the deck she was standing on but she was no longer there. He squinted his eyes to look harder. Then he shrugged and kept walking north.

Daniel had been watching his dad and asked, “What were you looking at Dad?”

“Oh nothing buddy, there was a lady watching us earlier from a house up there. Just had a feeling, it’s hard to explain I guess” Thomas said.

“Kind of like that feeling I had earlier with that lady by the coffee shop?” the boy asked.

Thomas stopped dead in his tracks, cocked his head to the side and thought for a second and then said, “Yeah buddy actually just like that
.
”

“That’s a weird feeling huh
,
” Daniel said.

“Very weird man, very weird
,
” Thomas said.

As he walked up the beach with his son on his back Thomas noticed the waves had gotten enormous and were flooding the beach past the protection of haystack rock where they had been. After bringing it to Daniel
’s
attention, they decided to cut up through the small neighborhood that lined the beach and take the side walk back to their truck. It was nearly 3 pm by the time they reached Hemlock Street, so Thomas sent Der
rick a text message letting him
know they would be heading back soon from Cannon Beach.

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Stephanie had finally come to her senses and went inside the house and out of view from the beach. The way Thomas had been looking at her or at least in her direction made her nervous, although she was not sure why. She sat just inside the slider in a chair and watched through the decks railing. Stephanie watched, as Thomas wiped his sons face and hugged him again, and then she saw him pick up the boy and put him on his back. As Thomas and his son and their dogs began walking back the way they had come down the beach Stephanie craned her neck to see them. She almost went back out onto the deck, until she saw Thomas turn around and look back towards the cottage. They eventually turned back the other direction and walked away somewhere down the beach and out of sight. Stephanie sat silently watching the
wave’s
crash against the rocks and onto the beach and covering most of the sand.