The Maine Events, Rodney Riesel [best books to read in your 20s TXT] 📗

“And thanks for not kicking my ass earlier for being alitterbug.”

Donnie grinned. “Couldn't. It's way too cute.”

The two men shook hands. Allen clipped the leash onFrankie's collar and started across the parking lot.

“Morning, Allen,” said Jay, on his way to his truck.

“They got you working on a Saturday?” Allen asked.

“Not usually, but someone broke into the Ogunquit site lastnight and I gotta run up there and make a list of what was stolen.” Jay checkedhis wristwatch. “I'm supposed to meet the cops there at ten-thirty, so I betterget my ass in gear.”

“Well, you have a fun day.”

Allen and Frankie crossed the street and stepped upon thesidewalk. They paused on the sea wall to have a look around. For the first timesince Allen's arrival, there were no boats, jet skis, or surfers anywhere insight. He knew that would change over the next hour as cars began lining upalong the seawall.

After staring at the ocean and watching the birds for tenminutes, dog and master continued on up the sidewalk. After they passed theAnchorage Inn, Allen led Frankie down the steps and onto the beach. Allenreached down and removed Frankie's leash.

“Don't cause any trouble, or I'll hook you back up,” Allenwarned the dog.

Frankie took off running after a flock of seagulls near the water’sedge.

“That's exactly what I meant by don't cause anytrouble.”

Allen kept his eye on the dog as he strolled along. Frankiestopped to sniff every person he passed. Allen watched as a female jogger rantoward him. She had the same build and hair color as Mya. He hoped it was her.He hadn't seen or heard from her since the night before. He held his breath asthe woman neared. It wasn't Mia.

Allen couldn't get it out of his head that Tucker must havesaid something to Mya that made her act the way she did the night before. ButMya didn't seem to Allen like the type of person who would give intointimidation.

What could Tucker have said? Allen wondered.

He thought about calling her, but he didn't want to bepushy. He figured she should call him after the way she acted. But maybe shedidn't think she had acted funny. Maybe it was all in Allen's head. In thatcase, Mya was probably wondering why he hadn't called.

Allen nodded and said, “Good morning,” when the jogger ranby. She ignored him. She probably figured earbuds would make Allen believe shehadn't noticed him.

“Good morning, sir,” Allen mumbled to himself. “How are youtoday? Good. You?”

When Allen arrived at the stairs that led from the beach tothe street in front of the Oceanside Store, he shouted for his dog.

Frankie was having fun chasing a screaming kid around sevenyears old. Allen hoped the fun was mutual.

“Frankie!” he hollered again.

Frankie stopped and looked toward Allen.

“Come on!”

Frankie sprinted toward his friend, and together the twowent up the stairs to the street. When a driver finally came to a stop to letthem cross, they jogged to the other side. Allen walked his dog up to the orderwindow at the Oceanside Store and ordered breakfast. He ordered the exact samething he'd ordered a week ago—coffee, two eggs scrambled, home fries, bacon,and white toast, and an order of sausage for Frankie.

“Your number sixty-one,” said the woman, handing Allen hisreceipt.

Being the only one seated at the picnic tables that morning,the breakfast came much faster than the last time. Allen stepped back up to thewindow and grabbed the two Styrofoam containers.

“Thank you,” he said, and he and Frankie walked back down tosit on the beach and enjoy their breakfast.

Allen sat down on the damp sand, and Frankie sat down besidehim. Frankie stared at the smaller container, knowing that was the one thatcontained his sausage. The dog moved his body back and forth, and pushed upagainst Allen's shoulder.

“Hold on, dog,” Allen said. “Let me get situated here.”

Allen extended his legs out in front of him, unfolded anapkin, and placed it on his lap. As he readied his meal, his eyes keptsearching up and down the beach. He knew this was a little later in the daythan last week when he saw Mya, but he still hoped she would run by. He openedthe small container and grabbed a sausage patty with his fingertips.

“Now, chew this slowly and enjoy it,” he told the dog.

Frankie snatched it like lightning.

“Jesus, dog!” Allen said, yanking back his hand. “You almosttook my fingers off.”

Frankie had already swallowed the patty and was staringlongingly at the to-go container again. He licked his chops and his doggie eyebrowstwitched.

“Did you even taste it? Christ.”

Allen unwrapped his plastic fork and scooped up hisscrambled eggs. As he shoved them into his mouth, he once again scanned thebeach for Mya. He remembered joking with her a week ago about being a stalker.Returning to the beach with breakfast to watch for her was starting to make himfeel like one. He laid his fork down, grabbed his cell phone, and dialed. Mya'scell phone went directly to voicemail.

“Hey, it's Allen. Just calling to say hi.” Just callingto say hi? he thought. That sounded stupid. “Anyway, give me a callback when you get this message.”

Allen finished his breakfast without tasting it, absentlyfeeding Frankie his other two sausage patties. Afterwards they walked along theseawall back to the motel. When they crossed the street, Allen saw Cam andMildred walking out of the office.

“Hey, Allen!” Cam shouted, waving his arm over his head.

Allen waved back. They met in the middle of the parking lot.

“We just walked up to your room,” said Mildred.

“Wanted to say goodbye,” said Cam.

“Goodbye?”

“We're gonna light out tomorrow morning,” said Cam.

“We just wanted to make sure we saw you before we left,”Mildred said. “And thank you once again for signing my books.”

“My pleasure,” Allen said. “I'm always humbled when a fanasks for an autograph.”

“Don't gimme that bullshit,” said Cam. “You know you eat itup.”

Allen blushed. “You have keen insight into human nature,Cam.”

Laughing, the geezer stuck out his paw; Allen shook it.

Allen reached over to shake Mildred's hand as well, but thatwasn't enough for the grandmotherly woman, who seized him in the bear hug toend all bear hugs.

“Let him