Dog Tags

by Heidi Glick

  The old love song about what a man would do when he loved a woman played over the radio waves as he pulled into the front parking lot of Fishy Business—the spot where Beth had first parked—where they’d run into each other. He went inside and grabbed a soda from the cooler. The same beverage he’d taken to her while he helped her with her tire. Too many reminders.

  The register drawer slammed shut and caught his attention.

  Bill counted change to a customer then waved to the man as he left. He faced Mark. “Back so early? How was dinner?”

  “Huh?” Mark made momentary eye contact. “It’s a long story. Beth’s friend was busy, so Beth and I took the boat out for a while.” He could talk about it to try to gain answers, but opening up about his relationship with Beth might only expose him to teasing.

  Sighing, Mark opened his can and took a huge gulp.

  “Anything you want to”—Tim cleared his throat—”uh, talk about?” He opened yet another bag of chips.

  Mark could ask the same question. Perhaps there was something Tim wanted to share. “We went out on the boat, she caught a fish—big one too, and later, she hooked her finger, and then…” He shook his head.

  Tim smirked. “You didn’t get all professorial and recount tales of the discovery of Band-Aids, did you? Or tell her about the history of the use of leeches for medicinal purposes, or—”

  “No. None of that. I tried to help her, and she said she wanted to leave.” Rather quickly too.

  Bill closed the register drawer. “You seem bothered by that.”

  “She left so abruptly. I hope I didn’t do or say something to hurt her.” The last thing he wanted to do was to hurt the Martindales—any of them.

  “Well, sometimes, you appear menacing.” Tim nodded as he munched.

  Bill glared at his brother then stared at Mark. “So do you like her or what?”

  Mark shrugged. “We have fun together. She’s a good friend.”

  Tim smiled. “You’re from the same area. That’s kind of cool.”

  Cool and awkward at the same time. “It feels a little weird. I was best friends with Chris.” Besides, what would she want with a guy like him, one with such scars? Assuming Tim hadn’t already said anything, and Mark and Beth got closer, he’d have to tell her everything.

  “And that’s a problem because…?” Bill asked.

  “Because I was there when Chris died.”

  “Yes, you were. But so was I and so was Tim and the rest of our unit.”

  “Yeah, I’m not afraid to ask her out,” Tim said.

  Mark clenched his teeth. Maybe Tim did have a thing for Beth.

  Tim patted him on the shoulder. “I’m kidding. Look, before you ran into her, you couldn’t talk much about Chris’s death. I think she’s good for you.”

  Mark nodded. Maybe he shouldn’t have doubted his friend. “You’re right. She did help me to talk about Chris’s death more.”

  “You’re going to tell her everything eventually?”

  “Wasn’t planning on it. Guess I need to. I’m afraid of what she’ll think. In fact, even talking about telling her is stressful.”

  “You seem to enjoy each other’s company,” Bill said. “Maybe opening up to her might help. Beth seems understanding and compassionate. The longer you wait to tell her, the worse it’ll be. Anyway, let’s just say we’re thinking of making you a silent partner because you spend so much time away from the store.”

  Tim sighed. “Women are complicated.”

  Mark shook his head. “Tell me about it. I’d like to know what happened tonight, but maybe I should let it go unless she brings it up.” The way she hung out at the store, he’d run into her soon. As much as girls liked to talk, she was bound to let something slip about the incident.

  “That sounds like a good idea,” Bill said.

  Mark stared at Bill. “Why is it that in some ways being in the Corps seems better than civilian life? Think about it. There’s always proper chain-of-command, standard operating procedures, a sense of order about things.” He sighed, heading for home.

  Too bad SOPs didn’t exist for women.

  Once home, he wheeled to the back door and let Sparky outside. The ride home had been a blur. Having traveled on autopilot, he thanked the Lord he hadn’t wrecked his car.

  He sat at the dinner table alone and stared into the distance, unsure of what he felt for Beth. First, his friends thought he should avoid Beth, and now Bill told him honesty might be helpful.

  If he told Beth everything, she might get mad at him or never forgive him. Getting close to Beth while keeping secrets was like playing with fire. Someone was bound to get burned.

  18

  The late afternoon sun shone through Beth’s windshield as she sat in the Warner’s Bay Middle School parking lot. She cranked the engine. Nothing. She checked her fuel gauge, but the needle indicated her tank wasn’t empty. Beth had stayed late to chaperone and lead the monthly drama club meeting and then to meet with a parent, who later called and cancelled. By now, most other teachers, including the bubbly female math teacher across the hall, had left for the day. A little unnerved at the thought of being stranded in the school parking lot alone, Beth reminded herself the notes from the Knight had stopped. But why? Had the Knight become scared and stopped writing, or was he lurking in the shadows, watching her every move and calculating his next step, waiting for the opportune time to encounter her alone—like now.

  “Everything OK?” a male voice asked.

  She gasped and looked up from the dashboard. Only Antonio, the PE teacher.

  He flashed a smile. “Car trouble? I’d be more than happy to help.”

  She didn’t want to call Mark. But neither was she sure she wanted to accept help from Antonio. “My car won’t start.”

  Antonio glanced at her dashboard. “Well, it’s not your battery.” He propped open the hood and looked inside. With each passing minute, Beth’s mental cash register raised the total on her car damage. Something she hadn’t budgeted for. She’d need to look for a second job—something she’d been wanting to do anyway to prove to Mark and her dad that even the littlest Martindale could be responsible and take care of herself.

  Antonio closed the hood.

  “How bad is it?”

  “Could be the fuel pump, but I don’t have the tools I need to look at it here. I can call a friend of mine, and he can tow it back to his garage. I’ll make sure he gives you a good deal.” Antonio smiled.

  “Thanks.” As much as Beth wished to avoid awkwardness between her and Mark, right now, she longed for his presence. Though there was definite history between them, that familiarity was part of what helped her to feel safe. While she knew plenty—good or bad—about Mark, she was unfamiliar with Antonio. Still, she couldn’t continue to run to Mark whenever she encountered trouble.

  When the mechanic arrived, Beth let Antonio and his friend do most of the talking.

  The mechanic closed the hood and wiped his hands on a rag hanging from his pocket and faced Beth. “I’m going to need to keep it at least overnight. Do you have a ride home?”

  “I’ll give her a ride,” Antonio said. “Thanks, man. Call me when it’s ready.” Antonio waved to his friend, and he and Beth got in his car. “I don’t know how long it will take him to get the right parts and get it fixed. Don’t worry though. I can give you a ride to work until your car is fixed.”

  “Are you sure? You don’t need to do that.”

  “That’s what friends are for.”

  Right now, with plans that included avoiding Mark, Beth could use a friend. If nothing more, someone to share her concerns about the Knight.

  She glanced out the window. As much as she wanted to tell Antonio about the notes from the Knight, fear prevented her. If he wasn’t the Knight, he might think less of her as a professional for being afraid of a silly message from a student. If he was the Knight, it would be better not to discuss the communication.

  She studied him as he drove. He c
ould be the Knight. But then so could anyone. All someone would have to do is find a less-than-scrupulous janitor and offer him some money in exchange for access to her classroom or be adept at picking locks. Or be a teacher. Antonio could easily ask the janitor to unlock her room. Her shoulders tensed. Or maybe the janitor himself.

  “Everything OK?”

  “Yeah. It’s been a long day.”

  Antonio paused at the light. “Which way to your place?”

  “Oh, sorry.” She gulped then reminded herself that as a teacher he already had access to her address. “Make a right here.”

  Minutes later, they arrived in front of her apartment. “Thanks for the ride.”

  “You’re new. And while the school is in a safe neighborhood, you don’t want to sit there stranded. I moved here a couple of years ago, and it’s tough when you’re new and trying to make friends. And with the problems you’re having with your car, you seem like you could use some help.”

  That was it—friendly help with no strings attached? “Well, I appreciate all you’ve done.”

  “I can stop by tomorrow morning to pick you up. Is six thirty OK?” Other options had to exist, and yet she couldn’t think of any. Marisa came to mind. But with her high school schedule being different from Beth’s, carpooling wasn’t an option.

  “Yes, thanks again.” Beth hopped out of the vehicle.

  Antonio waved and drove away.

  Once he was gone, thoughts about the Knight still raced through her mind. She checked every square inch of her apartment before going to bed. With each passing hour, she remained awake, the red glow of her alarm clock taunting her.

  19

  Beth gazed out the window as Antonio drove along Riversdale Boulevard. The bank marquee on the corner alternately displayed the time, date, and temperature. The date stuck in her mind. Two weeks had passed since she last saw Mark.

  A sign on the side of the road indicated only two more miles to the mall. Beth grasped her purse. She might be low on cash, but she could still window shop.

  While stopped at an intersection, Antonio turned up the volume on his radio and stared at the red light. “I’m thirsty. Can we get something to drink? A soda maybe?”

  At this rate, they were never going to get to the mall. She questioned whether he really needed a soft drink. On the other hand, when her car had given her problems last week, he’d been more than willing to help her. And until hers came back from the mechanic, she would need to rely on him for a ride to and from work.

  Beth flipped down her mirror and adjusted her hair. “We’re almost at the mall. You could get something at the food court.”

  “I’m pretty thirsty, and I’d sort of like to find a bathroom, too. Wait, there’s a place. It’ll have to do.”

  She flipped back the mirror.

  Antonio pulled his blue truck into the front parking lot of Fishy Business.

  Her shoulders tensed. “Why here?”

  “I bet they have a restroom and maybe something to drink.”

  Right on both accounts.

  Antonio got out of the car, door still open. “You’re not coming inside?”

  “No, thanks.”

  “Come on. Don’t sit here by yourself.”

  “I…” How sad was it that a drama teacher couldn’t act her way out of this? “OK.” With any luck, Mark wasn’t working today. It felt odd coming in the front entrance. She kept her sunglasses on and ignored the door chime announcing their presence.

  “I’ll be right back.” Antonio walked toward the right.

  But the restroom was on the other side. Go left.

  He must have spotted the sign because he headed the other way.

  How fast could she get his drink and leave? She hoped Antonio wouldn’t put up a fight like Mark. Mark would fuss about a woman buying him something. Not that it was a bad trait in him, but at the moment, she needed to speed things up and get out of there.

  Beth grabbed a soda and strolled to the counter where Tim worked the register.

  “That’ll be a dollar fifty, ma’am.”

  She handed him a five-dollar bill. If she kept a low profile, maybe no one would recognize her.

  Tim glanced at her for a minute. “Beth?”

  Busted. “Hi, Tim.”

  He turned around, “Hey, Mark, look who’s here.”

  Antonio walked back from the restroom, and Beth handed him his drink.

  Mark looked at them from behind his desk but said nothing.

  She wished a massive earthquake would open up the ground and swallow her whole. “Hey, Mark, Antonio. You might remember each other from the back-to-school party.” Did Mark wonder why she’d stopped coming around?

  Antonio leaned over and whispered, “Shouldn’t we be going to the mall?”

  Before she could respond, he touched her shoulder.

  Had Mark seen? And why did she care? Beth could explain that she and Antonio were just friends, but it wasn’t like Mark deserved an explanation. Except for maybe because he’d suggested Antonio had an interest in her. But it wasn’t like that.

  “Sorry, but we really have to go. See you later.” She waved and jetted out with Antonio.

  The vending truck sat in the driveway. Randy entered the store as Beth and Antonio left. Randy waved. Maybe she should have stayed longer and chatted with everyone.

  Antonio turned toward her. “Everything OK with you?” She managed a slight smile. “Yeah.” The sick feeling in the pit of her stomach begged to differ.

  20

  Friday afternoon, Beth entered a student’s grade into the online progress report program on her classroom computer then gathered up her belongings. Wow. Four thirty already? If she didn’t leave now, she’d be there all night.

  The security guard had escorted her outside the previous month, but the notes from the Knight had stopped. No sense in bothering the guard now.

  Beth flipped the light switch and stepped outside her classroom. She caught the shadow of a man’s frame from the corner of her eye. Maybe the Knight! She jumped and shrieked, her heart racing.

  Antonio threw up his hands. “It’s just me.” He placed one hand on her shoulder. “You OK?”

  She clutched one hand to her chest. “Sorry. I wasn’t expecting you to be standing there.”

  He walked down the hall beside her. “Hey, I don’t have a game tonight. Would you like to see a movie?”

  “It might be fun.” She smiled and strolled along with him, passing brightly colored bulletin boards along the way. Cheerleaders chanted in the gym at the end of the hall. Kids were having fun, so why couldn’t she? The voice of reason interrupted her thoughts. “I’d love to, but I have to grade a few more papers, and then I need to go to the mall. But after that, I’m free.”

  “Cool. There’s this new action-adventure movie I want to see. You up for it?”

  “Sure.” Beth walked with Antonio to the parking lot. Further proof she no longer needed the security guard to follow her outside. Besides, it seemed the kid who’d written the notes had gotten the message.

  When they reached her car, Antonio’s phone rang. He looked down at the display and sighed. “It’s Coach Saunders. I have to take this. See you tonight.”

  Beth waved and then drove away. She doubted she could be any more exhausted than she already was. Still, Antonio had been a good friend, so she could at least hang out with him a little.

  She’d barely finished grading homework assignments when Antonio called. Minutes later, he met her at her apartment and drove them to the mall.

  As wind rattled leaves on the trees surrounding the mall parking lot, Beth was glad she’d decided to pull her hair back. She entered the building with one goal in mind: find a second source of income, preferably one that didn’t require her to have to interact with Mark. After a quick stop at the drinking fountain, she toured the mall with Antonio, noted the stores with “Help Wanted” signs, and decided on her plan of attack. On her way out of California Chic, Beth added another appl
ication to the stack in her purse as she passed several well-dressed mannequins. She’d successfully moved all her junk to Riversdale and almost secured not only one but two jobs. A feeling of pride swept over her.

  Antonio sat on a wooden bench in the center aisle of the mall, next to a planter of red and pink geraniums. His warm smile greeted her. “Got what you needed?”

  She nodded. The extra money would help her pay for car repairs, and she’d bank whatever else she earned. No reason she couldn’t save up money without Mark or her dad urging her to do so. Enough about Mark. She was at the mall with another friend.

  Antonio adjusted his blue San Diego Chargers cap. It reminded her of when Mark and Chris played football in high school. She had cheered for the Beaumont Junior High team, but she still got to watch the high school guys warm up. Sort of what precipitated the Valentine’s Day debacle.

  She gazed at Antonio. It didn’t matter anymore. At the moment, it looked as though she might not be alone when February 14 rolled around. Maybe the two of them could hang out and do something friendly.

  “Wanna go to the movies now?” Antonio asked.

  Beth sighed. “Yeah, but I really should start these applications.”

  Antonio smirked. “Live a little. Have fun.”

  Guilt got the best of Beth. Antonio had given her rides to and from school, made sure his mechanic friend didn’t overcharge her for repairs, and had come to the mall with her. “OK, but just this once.” Beth walked with Antonio toward the movie theater, passing by the food court along the way. The smell of pepperoni pizza permeated throughout—the same scent as the Beaumont Mall. Maybe food courts everywhere smelled the same.

  After they’d paid for their tickets, settled into their seats, and the previews started, Beth caught a glimpse of Antonio grinning at her. While Mark was serious, Antonio proved to be the opposite. No worries, no cares. Being around him was fun, life on the go. And being just friends—friends who didn’t share a past—removed any pressure. Still a nagging sense of something missing plagued her.