Harry
Cedric’s low voice seeped through the wall of Natalie’s garage from the kitchen. Harry inhaled deeply with only his nose and exhaled with a groan. His earlier thoughts of vegging out on the couch watching recorded episodes of How It’s Made seemed impossible now that his best friend sat in the kitchen. Harry loved the man, except now that he and Natalie had finally connected six months ago, after twenty-five years of friendship, he saw Cedric more than ever.
The door creaked as Harry pushed it open.
“Hey, there’s the man,” Cedric said. “You lost weight?”
“You ask me that every time you see me and my answer’s always the same.”
“What do you say?”
“Yes.”
“He looks great. Like he did twenty years ago,” Natalie chimed in. She stood and went to Harry. He kissed her on the cheek.
“Twenty years, huh? What I wouldn’t give to get twenty years of my life back. I may have aged twenty in the last ten.” Cedric laughed.
“You know, I think you’re right.”
“You’re supposed to disagree.”
“How can I? You use that damn cane. If you’d just move a little bit—”
“Move my ass, I move plenty. It’s this sciatic hip that gives me trouble.”
“Lying on your back while your women do all the work doesn’t count as moving.”
“You’re more of a bastard than usual tonight.”
“I am not…” Harry grumbled.
“Leave him alone, he got in an accident last night and this morning a girl was found,” Natalie said. She went behind the counter and filled the coffee pot with water.
Cedric kept his mouth shut for once. Harry welcomed the silence. He sat at the table across from his best friend.
“I know you can’t discuss specifics,” Natalie said, “but were you at least able to identify the poor girl?”
“Uh huh.”
The coffee poured into the pot. As it brewed, the aroma filled the air. Harry breathed deeply, and the tense muscles in his lower back relaxed a bit. Arabica beans acted like Valium for him.
She brought over a steaming mug and put it in front of Harry. He wrapped his hands around the cup. “Why don’t you take your coat off?” she asked.
Harry shrugged out of his parka.
Cedric looked as if he was on the verge of saying something.
“What is it you want to say? Out with it.” Harry sipped his coffee. He always drank it black without sugar.
“How did the girl die?”
“You know I can’t say anything until we inform her next of kin.”
“Do you actually think I have anyone to tell?”
“I think whoever killed Chelsea Rand just showed back up in town.”
“Or they never left,” Cedric said.
“I don’t feel much like socializing.”
Cedric punched his cane into the floor and lumbered to his feet. “See you, my man, you know where to find me.”
Harry nodded and remained seated. The other man patted him on the shoulder then showed himself out. After the front door closed, Harry noticed that Natalie had slipped from the kitchen.
He sat at the table until well after he emptied his mug.
* * *
Natalie was in bed reading a book when Harry wandered into her room after midnight.
“I was starting to wonder if you were coming to bed.” She glanced up from her latest romance novel.
“Sorry, I…” the rest of his words trailed off into an incomprehensible mumble that he couldn’t understand either. He stripped, and slid into bed buck naked.
Natalie burped. “Excuse me.” She patted her chest.
Harry looked at her sideways. “You all right, Nat?”
“I’ve had a sour stomach lately. I’m fine, better after I burped.”
“When was the last time you were at the doctor?”
She sighed heavily.
“And you want me to shut up,” he said.
“I treated myself to a physical for my birthday last week.”
“That sounds like fun.”
“Yeah, a blast.”
Natalie placed a bookmark in her book, set it on the nightstand, then shut the light off. She resituated her pillows and laid her head down, facing away from him.
Harry pressed closer to her and wrapped his arm over her. He fondled one of her breasts.
She lay still, not pushing him off, yet not encouraging him either. Okay, she had said her stomach ached. He dropped his hand back to her waist.
“Sorry…if I was feeling better, I’d be all over you.”
“Get some sleep. I know you’re not feeling well.”
“Are you sure?”
“We don’t have to do it every night, Nat. I’m content just to lay here with you.” He hugged her tighter for a moment.
“Harry?”
“Uh huh?”
She rubbed his forearm then weaved her fingers through his. “Did I ever tell you that I’m glad you finally came to your senses.”
Harry snorted. “I was an asshat.” Several months ago, he’d given in to his desire for her and asked her out. Actually, he kissed her in the front hallway of this house. She trembled almost as much as him that day. He thought it would feel odd to be with her, however, it turned out everything fit into place. Getting together was a natural progression of their twenty-five-year friendship. He never thought he’d love again after Annie passed.