CHAPTER FIVE
The road into town had washed out from heavy rain. The storm pounded on the sidewalks, knocking gently on the windows. It created a pleasant and ominous sound akin to soft, distant drumbeats that warned of imminent danger. Big, kerplunks fell onto Linda’s umbrella while she waited for Eric in front of the diner. By the time he arrived, she had become lost in thought, envisioning an entire percussion section tinkering with the heavenly, waterlogged music.
A familiar voice broke into the flow of her imagery. “Hey pretty lady with the light brown hair,” Eric called out from under a saturated, olive-green hoodie.
She knew the voice, but at first didn’t recognize him. “Mystery man, huh?”
He stuck his head under the umbrella and gave her a quick kiss.
That clean soap smell had
