Deep Waters

Be Good. If You Can't Be Good, Be Careful.
    "Business is a little slow right now," Elias said. "Otis and I thought we'd take a walk."
    "Things'll pick up tomorrow."
    "Right."
    Bea nodded to Elias as she poured iced tea for a customer seated at an outside table. Radiance gave him the old sixties' peace sign through the beaded curtain of Nails by Radiance.
    It occurred to Elias that even though he had been here less than two weeks, he was developing the strange feeling that he actually belonged here on the pier. For once he was not standing entirely apart from everyone else, watching them from the balanced place inside himself. He was sharing some of the same space the others shared.
    It was as if the river of his life had flowed around an unexpected bend and mingled with some of the same streams that flowed through the lives of some of the others.
    He was not certain how to evaluate the change that was taking place. In a way it seemed to go against his training. On the other hand, it felt right. He wished Hayden were still alive so that he could ask him about the strange sensation. There were so many questions he would have liked to ask Hayden.
    Elias reached the end of the pier and discovered Yappy deep in the guts of the carousel machinery. The colorful horses were frozen in a circle around him.
    "Hey there, Winters." Yappy waved a wrench in greeting.
    "How's it going?" Elias stepped up onto the platform and propped one shoulder against the hindquarters of a flying horse. Otis stepped off onto the horse's tail, settled his feathers, and prepared to supervise the work in progress.
    "Gettin' there," Yappy said.
    Elias studied the inside drive mechanism with interest. "Find the trouble?"
    "Yeah, I think so. Should have it running again in a few more minutes. Hand me a screwdriver, will you?"
    Elias glanced at the array of tools lying on a small bench. "Which one?"
    "Phillips head."
    Elias picked up the screwdriver and slapped it into Yappy's grease-stained palm. "Going down to the beach to see the Voyagers off Monday night?"
    "Wouldn't miss it." Yappy twirled the screwdriver with expert precision. "Whole town's going to be there. Or at least, a good percentage. Bea plans to set up a refreshment stand. Sell some coffee, soda. Maybe some muffins. Figure I'll give her a hand. What about you?"
    "I'll be there."
    Yappy paused long enough to shoot Elias a speculative look. "With Charity?"
    "Yes."
    "You two are getting kind of close, aren't you?"
    "Is that a problem?"
    "No, I guess not." Yappy sounded thoughtful. "Your business."
    "That's the way I look at it."
    "Just so you know," Yappy continued in a slow, deliberate drawl. "We're all real fond of Charity around here. None of us would take kindly to seeing her hurt, if you take my meaning."
    "I think I know what you're trying to say. But she's not a kid. She can take care of herself."
    "She's got a head on her shoulders, all right," Yappy conceded. "Knows what she's doing when it comes to running a business. She's the one who came up with the notion of renting out the carousel for catered birthday parties. Doubled my profits this summer. She gave Radiance the idea of creating a special nail color for every one of her regular customers, too. Worked like a charm."
    "It's obvious that Charity has good marketing instincts."
    "Damn right. Understands how to deal with the local politicos, too. Kept the town council off our backs until you showed up. But when it comes to other stuff, she's not quite so tough."
    "What do you mean?"
    "Bea told me that Charity went through a real nasty episode just before she came here. Broke up with some rich guy in Seattle named Loftus."
    "Brett Loftus."
    "Know him?"
    "Saw him once." Elias recalled the business luncheon where the blond, blue-eyed, square-jawed Loftus had entertained a crowd of bankers and investors with witty stories and incisive insights into the murky world of the athletic sportswear business. Elias had thought about that luncheon a lot lately. Ever since Charity had mentioned Loftus, in fact.
    "Yeah, well, she hasn't dated anyone since she hit Whispering Waters Cove. Least not that Bea and I know about."
    "Until I came along."
    "Uh-huh." Yappy peered at him through a maze of gears. "Until you came along."
    "I appreciate your concern for her, Yappy. Tell me, is anyone equally concerned about me?"
    "Figure you can take care of yourself." Yappy wiped his grimy hands on the leg of his pants. "That should do it." He stepped out of