Deep Waters

"Socially."
    "Right." Charity glanced at the order forms on her desk. "How's Arlene?"
    Newlin shifted gears with enthusiasm. "Guess what? Bea hired Arlene to help out at the café. She said that business has picked up so much here on the pier that she needs someone to run the new espresso machine full-time."
    "Does this mean you and Arlene plan to stick around Whispering Waters Cove for a while?"
    "We're sorta getting used to the place, if you know what I mean. Besides, it's not like the two of us have anywhere else to go." Newlin hesitated. "It's okay if I keep on working here at Whispers, isn't it?"
    "Sure. You're doing a great job, and if business stays brisk, I can keep you on for the winter."
    Newlin's anxious look eased. "Thanks. Well, guess I'd better get back to work."
    The shop bell clanged as someone slammed open the front door.
    "Newlin? Newlin, where are you?" Arlene's voice sounded shrill. "Is Charity here yet? Something awful is happening down at Elias's shop."
    "What in the world?" Charity stood in the doorway of the back room. "What's going on?" Arlene, looking neat and tidy in a Whispering Waters Cafe apron, stared at her wide-eyed. "Ted just came running past the cafe with Yappy. They said some guy walked into Charms & Virtues and took a swing at Elias."
    "Oh, my God, not again." Charity bolted for the front door.

12

    He who observes a still pond closely will notice that there is no such thing as an isolated event. Everything that happens within the pond affects all aspects of life beneath its surface.

    - "On the Way of Water," from the journal of Hayden Stone

    Crazy Otis shrieked in outrage as Elias reeled back against the perch. The stand that supported the fake tree limb shuddered under the impact.
    Elias hit the floor.
    "Take it easy, Otis." Elias levered himself up on one elbow and gingerly touched the side of his mouth. His fingers came away wet with his own blood. He glanced at the streak of crimson and then looked up at Justin Keyworth, who was standing over him with clenched fists. "Satisfied?"
    "No, you sonofabitch. I'm not satisfied." Justin's blunt features were twisted with rage. His cheeks bore the shadow of two day's growth of beard. His hand-tailored, cream-colored shirt was badly creased and stained with sweat. "It's your fault, and by God you're going to pay."
    A great weariness settled on Elias. "What do you want from me, Keyworth?"
    "I want to know what you said to my father that made him try to kill himself, you bastard."
    "I don't have an answer for you."
    "You're damn well going to come up with one," Justin said through clenched teeth. "I read Dad's suicide note. It mentioned your name and then said that the past could not be changed. What did you do to him?"
    "I didn't touch him."
    "Goddamn liar." Justin reached down to haul Elias to his feet. "It was your fault. I know it was."
    Otis screamed and flapped his wings in agitation as Elias allowed himself to be hauled to his feet.
    "This isn't going to do any good." With a sense of deep fatalism, Elias readied himself for the next blow.
    "Maybe not." Justin slammed his fist into Elias's stomach. "But I'm going to enjoy it."
    The punch was awkwardly delivered. It lacked the power and focus a trained fighter would have given it, but it carried the force of Justin's rage. Elias absorbed the pain as he sprawled back against the counter and slid to the floor.
    "What happened between you and my father? Tell me, damn you."
    Elias sucked in his breath and eased himself into a sitting position beneath the cash register. "You'll have to ask your father."
    "He won't talk to anyone." Justin took a step forward. "The doctors sent him home yesterday. He just sits alone in a room, staring out at his garden. He won't see anyone. Won't even take business calls."
    "I know you aren't going to believe this, but I regret the fact that your father tried to commit suicide."
    "The hell you do. You did this to him." Justin started to reach for Elias again.
    Crazy Otis spread his wings and screeched a warning.
    Elias heard the shop door slam open. Voices called out. Feet pounded in the aisles between the display counters. From his position on the floor behind the cash register he could not see anyone, but he could hear quite clearly.
    "What the devil's going on here?" Yappy shouted.
    "Told you, some guy just walked into the shop and took a swing at Winters." Ted sounded out of breath as he pounded down the aisle. "Saw him myself."
    "I don't get it.