Free Wintertide: A Novel by Debra Doxer

two end up here?"
    I spent six weeks on crutches. As
soon as the cast came off, the first place I went to was old man Matthew's
creek because it was spring time and I couldn’t stay away. I remember thinking
how most people didn't really know Eddie McKenna. He wasn't what he seemed. He
could be kind. That was before the perilous night rides in his Camaro and the
afternoon in his garage. But as I sat there across from him at the bar, I
remembered that day, and I felt sorry for him and the dark side that he
couldn’t escape.
    "You really saved my life that
day," I said seriously to Eddie.
    "You repaid the favor,"
he replied. Then he quickly turned to the bartender and ordered another drink,
his sixth or seventh. Seth didn't appear to have heard him. I realized that he
must have been referring to that night on the ledge when I pulled him back from
the brink by the end of his coat. Eddie had never said a word about it since that
terrible evening, until maybe now. I ordered another beer.

eight
     
    The night went on in that same way,
reliving old times, the bar bill growing larger, mainly due to Eddie and Seth. I
did loosen up. Well, as loose as I ever get. I didn't really intend to see
either one of them again after tonight and that thought prevented me from
making an excuse to leave early.
    It was just after midnight when the
bar began clearing out. Eddie threw some bills down. “Let’s go,” he said,
walking to the door, not waiting to see if we followed. I pulled out my wallet
and felt Seth’s hand on my arm. He gestured toward Eddie’s money still sitting
there. I saw a one-hundred dollar bill on top. Eddie had obviously paid for all
of us. I pulled on my wool coat and followed Seth outside.
    Warmed by the alcohol, it took a
few minutes for the cold to penetrate. When it did, it was relentless. I could
hear the ocean waves crashing in the distance. The sea cliff was several yards
behind us. I purposely kept my back to it, not wanting Seth or Eddie to be struck
by the need to reminisce about it. The dirt parking lot was mainly empty except
for my mother's Buick, Eddie's Camaro and a few other large American model cars.
I dug my hands deep into the pockets of my coat and stamped my feet in the dirt
trying to keep warm by moving. I was preparing to say goodnight to them when
Eddie turned to Seth and gave him a meaningful look.
    I consider myself fairly adept at
intuiting what other people are thinking by their expressions and body language.
Because I had known Seth since the first grade, he was basically an open book
to me. Eddie was a bit more complicated. As Seth grasped Eddie's meaning in
that moment, his eyes widening, the beginnings of a sly grin curving the edges
of his mouth, I knew that I wasn't going to like whatever idea Eddie was about
to present. The sea cliff first came to mind. Finally I just asked. "What?
What are you two thinking about?"
    Eddie turned to me. There was a
devious twinkle in his eye. "How do you feel about breaking and
entering?"
    I knew I wasn't going to like this.
"Well,” I began, “as a generally law abiding citizen, I'd have to say I'm
against it."
    "How is it different from
trespassing? Which you're obviously not against," Seth stated.
    "Well for one, there's no breaking
involved.”
    Eddie shook his head at me and
began to turn away.
    My bottom and top teeth were
beginning to knock against each other. "Where are you planning to break into?"
I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.
    Seth became excited. "Eddie's
been doing it all winter. It's so easy, it's like you can't not do it. That big
grey house up on the cliff overlooking the ocean has been empty for months. Kids
have been getting in through the living room window and lighting fires in the
fireplace, hanging out, screwing around, getting drunk. It's completely
deserted. So, there’s no risk involved."
    I vaguely remembered my mother mentioning
something about it.
    "Come on, Danny,” Seth pushed.
“You've got to see