Running Northwest (47 page)

As Stephanie was talking
,
Ann looked over at Beth and smiled a smile only understood between the two old women. Ann had taken a particular liking to Stephanie, just as she had with Thomas. Neither one of them knew how close they both were to Ann and Ben and a few of the others. The two women had worked out a plan of sorts, which would hopefully reunite Thomas and Stephanie when the time was right…assuming things worked out right.

“Your gut never lies to you if you listen to it and don’t over think what it’s telling you. Too many people make that mistake,” Pockets said.

Stephanie laughed and said “Pockets I had no idea you are so poetic
.
”

“Stick around and I’ll show you more” he replied with a smile and cheesy wink.

The band across the room began playing a song that brought a smile to Stephanie’s face. It was the song “Fly me to the Moon”, it was one her favorite songs. She watched as people got up to slow dance on the bars small dance floor with their husbands, wives or significant others. Beth and Jack got up and walked to the dance floor.
From the other side of the table Ben reached out his hand to Stephanie, smiled and said, “Honor me”.
She looked at Ann who seemed to approve, grabbed Ben’s hand, and bushing got up. It was Ann who suggested the dance to her husband while watching Stephanie watch the others go to dance. Ben guided Stephanie to the floor and Ann and Pockets were following them.

“Thank you Ben, I’m sorry if I dance badly. It’s been a very long time since I’ve danced with anyone,” Stephanie said. As she danced, she realized that the last time she slow danced with anyone was with Thomas when they gone to Florida together.

“You dance fine dear, just fine,” the old man said as he twirled the young woman around as fast as an old man could, which was not fast.

A tear came down Stephanie’s face as she danced. Ben saw this and pulled her closer to make her feel better. As they danced, the tears stopped and smiles came to her face. When the song was over, they all walked back to their table. Ann grabbed Ben’s arms and whispered into his ear.

“That was sweet, I think you’re gunna get lucky stud,” She said with a wink.

The old man’s eyes got wide and matched the silly grin on his face.

.
             
.
             
.

After making, a few stops in Cannon Beach and driving around just checking things out Derrick and
Erin pulled up to the
Riptide
. They were hungry and ready to eat, inside they could hear music playing and Derrick recognized the music style.

“Thomas would love this music they got here tonight,” Erin said
.

“Yeah he would, maybe we should call him. We know the owner I am sure he could bring Daniel in for a little while;
I do not think Jack would mind,”
Derrick said.

“True, but I think Thomas had a rough day already. I would imagine he is just fine sitting by the fire and the ocean outside his cottage
,
” Erin replied.

Derrick smiled and said “you are probably right, and this is why I love you
.
”

They got off the motorcycle and took their riding gear off. Erin was wearing a dress and Derrick was amazed at how she got it under her leather riding pants. They held hands and walked into the bar, not having any idea who was inside already.

.
             
.
             
.

After dancing, Stephanie and Beth went into the bathroom to freshen up. This left Ben, Ann and Pockets sitting at the table. They did not notice when Derrick and Erin walked into the bar and sat at a table not too far away from them. Pockets, who had his back to them was the first to notice them when he happened to glance over his shoulder.

“Shit…Ann We might have a problem here,” he said in a quiet voice and nodding over his shoulder in the direction of Derrick and Erin. Ann’s eyes got wide when she saw Derrick sitting there, she glanced at the bathroom hoping Stephanie and Beth would take a little longer. However, that of course was not how it worked out.

“Oh hell,” she scowled this was supposed to be a good last night for her here on the coast she thought.

At that moment, Derrick’s eyes locked on the Ann, Ben, Jack and Pockets sitting at their table across the room and he smiled and waved. Then an instant later, he noticed the two women walking out of the bathroom towards Ann’s table, and then his smile went away. Ann could see Derricks face turn red and Erin’s head turning to look at what he was looking at.

Stephanie who was lost in conversation with Beth as she walked did not even notice Derrick staring at her with daggers in his eyes. Even if she had, she had not seen him in person in so long she might not have even recognized him. She sat down at her seat on the end of the table and Ann barely had time to get the words “Derrick just walked in, I’m sorry he just saw you” out of her mouth before Derrick was up and walking over fast. Stephanie looked and saw him and her face turned white, smile disappearing. As Derrick was getting up Erin attempted to grab her fiancés’ arm and stop him but she could not. He walked up red faced and angry right to Stephanie practically standing on her.

“Dammit I knew you were here, what the hell are you doing here Stephanie? You were told to leave Thomas alone, he came here to get away from you and the pain you caused him and now you show up. Why, to mess with his head even more, to hurt him again just as you did before. You should have told me you were coming or came to see me first before you try to wreck his life again you stupid bitch. You wreaked his life in Michigan and now you want to wreck his life in Oregon too is that it
,
” Derrick was practically yelling and the only thing that drowned out his loud voice was the band’s music.

Stephanie was white as ghost; she had no idea what to say. She looked at Ann for help. “Derrick, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to…” was all she got out before her old “friend” began yelling again cursing even more and at one point slamming his hand on the table and knocking over a glass of wine. All three old men around the table were on their feet, two other men were coming over and Ryan the bartender bounded over the bar top to help.

Suddenly out of nowhere, Pockets came up behind Derrick wrapping one arm around Derrick’s throat while shoving something into the small of his back that made Derrick stop what he was doing and stop speaking altogether. Pockets whispered something into his ear and a moment later, they were going through the kitchen door and out the back of the restaurant followed by Jack and Ben and Ryan. Pockets did not let Derrick go the entire time until they were outside. The band had stopped playing during the last part of Derricks cursing tirade and the Riptide was silent; all eyes were on the groups table. It all happened so quickly Stephanie had no idea what do to or say and began crying hysterically. She grabbed her purse and jacket and ran out the front door as fast as she could. Ann left her own purse and ran out after the young girl. Eventually the she caught up to her a little ways down the street.

“Are you okay Sweetie?” Ann said as she reached for Stephanie to hug her and calm her down.

“No, no Ann I’m not, maybe Derrick’s right I should have never come. I don’t even know what just happened in there. I should have never come to this place; I should have just let my mistakes stay in the past. This was stupid of me to come here. I’m sorry if I caused any trouble” Stephanie said wiping her tears.

“Oh you hush up, now you’re a good girl with a good heart. Do not let that loud mouth get to you I do not care how long you have known him. I know him well, and he is a hot-tempered son of a bitch. He has no idea who you are now, or what’s in that heart of yours anymore, all his frustration is from ages ago,” Ann said holding Stephanie’s shoulder, as she cried but not as hard.

Stephanie looked up towards the direction of the bar and thought about what was going on. “I hope the Pockets, Ben and Jack are okay, and I hope Derrick didn’t hurt them. I will feel horrible if something happened to them,” She said.

“Oh don’t worry about those old men; any one of them can take Derrick…well except Ben he’s is a bit frail now. However, I am willing to bet Pockets has something pointed at Derrick that goes faster than Derrick could ever move.

Stephanie’s eyes got wide “oh my God Ann he won’t shoot Derrick will he,” she said.

“Oh lord no, the gun is empty, Pockets always carries it out at night…for protection.
But Derrick doesn’t know
it’s
empty and Derrick is a li
ttle scared of Pockets for
r
easons that we are not quite sure of.
He will be fine trust me,” Ann said smiling.

Stephanie thought about it and in all realty Ann knew Derrick and all of them better than she did now. Therefore, she trusted what the old woman had told her and sighed. “I should go Ann, I can’t go back in there now” she said. The thought of anyone scaring Derrick she found a little funny, he
had always been a guy that doesn’t
scare easy.

Ann nodded her head in agreement.
“
I understand Sweetie. Have a nice walk on the beach and be careful okay? I will take care of everything here do not worry about it. Expect me to come and check on you when we get back,” Ann said
.

“Okay
,
” Stephanie answered quietly and adding, “I’m so sorry still, I was having a nice time with you all”

“It’s not a big deal and it will all get squared away. Go get some air Sweetheart and I will see you later,” Ann said. Stephanie smiled faintly, turned the corner, and headed for the ocean her head down and lost in thought. Ann growled aloud and began making her way back to the Riptide, she walked around the backside to the alleyway to where her husband, Pockets and Jack had Derrick sitting on some wooden crates and surrounding him. Beth was inside the restaurant and hopefully having a nice chat with Erin.

“Well Derrick have you calmed down some you brooding moron” Ann yelled asking as she pointed a wrinkly finger at Derrick. “You know I’m not thrilled with the way you talk to women Mr. tough guy, do you yell at Erin like that when you
can’t control your damn temper?
” she added.

Derrick glanced up at her and looked down shaking his head in mild defeat. He was not sure what to say and was not happy about the gun the man known as “Pockets” was holding at his side, a finger on the trigger. He knew Pockets very well and knew he was not the kind of person you want to piss off, the man had a serious past and connections bigger than Derrick and Thomas could ever dream of having. In addition, Pockets had some leverage over Derrick that the others did not know about when it came to his business, his partner and best friend Thomas had no idea about it either. So he sat and listen to Ann, a woman he had known for quite a while talk.

“What was the point of that entire thing Derrick, I mean really is you’re hatred for that poor girl that deep and hard
,
” Ann asked.

“I don’t hate her Ann, but you have no idea what she did to Thomas,” He said.

“The hell I don’t Derrick, I sat and talked Thomas through so much of what he went through with that girl when he first rented our old place. He told me things he never told you or could ever tell you. Do not forget Tom was here for nearly six months by himself before you got here. You were not around for the worst; I sat for hours on that deck at the cottage, listened to him, and just sat with him. Hell I had to make sure he ate half the time. So don’t you dare get all high and mighty with me you ass” Ann said red faced and angry.

“I know I kind of went off the handle in there, I was just protecting my best friend Ann, you have to try and understand that. I was caught off guard, walking in here and seeing Stephanie was the last thing I expected
,
” Derrick said. He was not entirely truthful and was not about to admit his suspicions about Stephanie being here. He began slowly to stand until Pockets pointed the gun at him and motioned for him to sit and the tattooed Ryan stepped closer. Derrick sat back down, lit a cigarette, and breathed the smoke in he was frustrated.

“And how are you protecting him Derrick. How do you think Thomas would feel if he heard and saw what you just did to the woman who loves him and that he may still love? You know how much she will always matter to him unless you are an idiot, and I do not suspect you are. We both know he would be pissed as hell and beat your ass,” Ann said.

Derrick thought about this, he knew Ann was probably right and Tom would be furious as hell. He knew Thomas himself had forgiven Stephanie long ago for all the things he just yelled at her for. “I should at least say something to her and try to apologize, Ann,” Derrick said.

“No you will do nothing of the sort; I don’t want you near her right now Derrick. That entire bar in there thinks you are a complete nut job right now. I know where she is staying and there is no way I’m telling you. You scared the hell out of her and she’s leaving tomorrow. She came here for many of the same reason Thomas did, and she met people Derrick, people that care about her. You should know that whatever and whoever she was before, she is not the same person now, she different and she’s better,” Ann said.