Two years ago I’d bought a house in a little village a few hundred miles from where I’m staying now. At one point the house had been a church. It looks like a traditional church with turret, stained glass, and steeple, and has a long, rich history. I got a good deal for it and plan to renovate it with a few modern amenities to make it comfortable for living. A little elbow grease and I can turn it into a beautiful home. There’s enough property to have a farm as well. I want to build a small cottage on one end of the property nearest to the village for Johnathan to live on. He could maintain his independence while being close enough for me to look after him.
I never thought of myself as the marrying type, and never thought I’d meet someone like Channa, but now that I have, I can see us on the farm, sitting by the fire with a couple of dogs, and maybe a children at our feet. I see it so vividly with her. She’s the one. Every fiber of my being screams it.
“Kain, it was good to see you, mate,” Roy says in his thick Scottish accent. Sounds more like ‘Keen, itwa gootta see ya mate’ when he says it. He heads down the dock with a roll of rope slung over his shoulder. He’s built like one of the cargo containers we stack: tall, boxy, heavy bones. He’s ugly as sin with his jutting chin and too close eye, but his humor and personality make up for it. Sweat has darkened his gray sweatshirt at the collar and armpits. His hair, so red it nearly glows in the shadow of the storm, sticks out in all directions.
I give him a hearty handshake and clap him on the back. “You too buddy. It’s been a while.”
Roy and I have worked several jobs together over the years. He’s grown up on the docks, around boats. In the winters he works as a crab fisherman. It’s a dangerous job but he’s just the right amount of crazy to love it.
“My sis is in town. Come have a pint with us,” Roy says. “Here she comes.”
Behind us is a leggy blonde wearing far too much makeup and a too-short skirt for what the weather permits. She struts our way and gives me a come-hither smile when Roy points at her.
“This is Jess,” Roy says.
She looks me up and down and holds her hand out to me. I give it a good shake, and when I try to let go she holds on just a bit too long. Her flirting is not subtle. I give her points for being bold.
“Nah, man, I appreciate the offer, but I have to get back to my flat.”
“Come on,” Jess says with an over-exaggerated pouty bottom lip. The dark color of her lipstick is a stark contrast to the paler skin on the inside of her lip. “It won’t be any fun without ya.”
Roy laughs and rolls his eyes. “Well shite, maybe I should leave the two of you alone then.”
“No.” I’m quick to interject. Normally I have no problem with the long days working. They fly by because I’m working with nothing on my mind but making enough money to send back to Johnathan and fix up my home, but today is different. I haven’t been able to get Channa off my mind and all I want is for time to speed up so I can get back to her. “Sorry, I can’t. I have plans tonight.”
The girl shrugs. I think I’ve hurt her feelings. “You don’t know what you’re missing,” she says.
And I don’t care. I do know what I’m missing with Channa and I don’t want to miss any more of it if I can help it.
I give Roy another handshake and tell him goodnight. I got permission to take one of the dock trucks for the duration of my stay, so I won’t have to wait on a taxi.
Driving on the opposite side of the road, on the opposite side of the truck, sitting in what would typically be the passenger seat, can be tricky the first few miles, but it doesn’t take me long to get used to it.
I head back to the flat as fast as I can while still making sure to drive safely. The storm has unleashed itself midway back, making the roads slippery and difficult to maneuver at a faster pace. Rain pelts the windshield faster than the wipers can keep up. I wish I could close my eyes and just be back. All I want is to see Channa again.
I’m so relieved when I get back to the flat. I park in the driveway, lifting my raincoat over my head to keep from getting saturated. The muddy ground sucks at my boots, everything trying to slow me down.