Page 105 of Floodgates

“And I didn’t mean to burden you with my ancient history.”

“No, thank you for telling me.”

“You’re welcome.”

I coughed. “So you went from Cornell and came back here to work in law enforcement?”

“No. I went and got a degree in chemistry, then a master’s, as well, at Cornell, and finally a PhD in chemistry from Dartmouth.”

“And came back here to do what?”

“I tried teaching in Burlington at the University of Vermont, but it just didn’t agree with me. Then I tried high school, and that was worse.”

“You didn’t want to get a job at a lab somewhere?”

“No.”

“So you came back to Fieldcrest.”

“I did, and after taking a look around, I decided private security was what was needed in this town. I mean, it’s a small community, but we get a lot of tourists, a lot of people coming through all the time, and people need to have their homes protected.”

“Sure.”

“I’ve been back about seven years.”

“And is there anyone in your life?”

“Not yet.”

“Because of Turi?”

He looked pained. “There have been a few people but… no one important.”

“I’m really so sorry.”

“My whole life just stopped that summer. I’ve done things, gotten my degrees, traveled, but as far as….” He trailed off, his gaze flicking to me and then away.

“What?”

“I’m rambling, and you’re a complete stranger. I’m surprised you haven’t gotten up and run away yet.”

“No,” I said, reassuring him. “I feel very privileged that you’ve trusted me with this.”

He was silent for a minute or so, and I stayed quiet, giving him time. “You know, his parents never once went to his grave.”

“I’m so sorry,” I said sincerely.

“It was their choice.”

And then it hit me that there was something odd about his sentence. “Went? Did they move away?”

“No, they died.”

“Oh, that’s terrible.”

“Yeah. Seven years after Turi died, I guess they hit a patch of black ice and went right off the road. I heard they both died instantly, so that was some comfort at least.”

“Was that before you moved back or right about the same time?”