Forever yours

Chapter 3 - Thomas

Their first date had been at Julio's. Thomas remembered how nervous he had been, and how cool Esmeralda had looked. He had been certain that he had messed that date up. He had rambled on about cows and horses, and had not asked a single question. He had completely forgotten, and he had cursed himself the rest of that night. And yet, she had sent him a text the next morning that she had enjoyed their date quite a lot.

He remembered how their second date was so perfect. The way Esmeralda had laughed at his inability to throw rocks on the water. The way they had laughed while picnicking on a blanket next to the White River bank. How he had held her soft hand-,

"-mas. Thomas!" Julio called. The farmer pulled his eyes from the bottom of the beer bottle and looked up at the dark skinned man.

"What did you say?" His words were slurred, both from the alcohol and the abrupt interruption of his mind's safe haven. He was still smiling at the memory.

"I think it's time for you to go home, Gonzalez. If there is one thing I've learned in my many years of bartending, it's that alcohol only brings back ghosts. And that never helps anyone."

Julio was a good man with great advice, he might as well be the local psychologist. Yet, his advice lately stung.

Thomas slid from his bar chair, almost falling over. He regained his balance after the sudden adrenaline kick. It was enough for Thomas to find his way outside the bar.

Once outside, a cold breeze made him remember his jacket which he forgot inside. When he turned around he was startled at the man standing behind him. Thomas stumbled backwards and tripped over his feet. Before he painfully crashed on his backside, Julio caught his upper arm and pulled him back up.

"You forgot this," Julio sighed. "Seriously, go home, Thomas, and don't wander off. The last person I want to see get hurt is you."

The native American man helped the young farmer put on his jacket before he gave him a comforting shoulder pat. Thomas shuffled over the cobblestone path that led to his empty house.

"Oh that poor dear. It's so sad to see him still broken," two women Thomas couldn't recognize in the dark murmured to each other when he passed. "He was such a sweetheart, always helping me carry my bags home. It's sad to see him like that, just a shell of who he was."

Not that it mattered to him, they could have easily been talking about somebody else. When the rushing water of the White River dominated the distant sounds of the town, another person interrupted his walk home.

Mayor Lucas Devon was not the man Thomas wanted to face. First, he reminded Thomas of Luna, his daughter that was one of the victims. Second, he was never a particularly big fan of the man. His wife on the other hand, he liked. She organised the most fun gatherings and social activities in town. She had been a great help in the planning of his big day ... She was charismatic in a way that was natural, whereas with her husband it had always felt forced. It always felt like he was there against his will, because he was born into the job and had no other choice but to lead this town.

The suited man stepped up to the farmer, and Mayor Devon cleared his throat before he spoke.

"You live at the end of the street, right?"

Thomas snorted, like mayor Devon didn't know who he was and where he lived. He was certain everyone knew where he lived. They had all been invited to his wedding.

"Let me help you, people shouldn't walk alone at night with everything that is happening."

The man led Thomas the rest of the street. Both of them stayed quiet, until Mayor Devon broke the silence once more.