The men’s bathroom door swung open and James came out. “Hey, Rob,” he said, clapping an older man on his flannel-shirted back as he passed by the slot machines. Rob, a resident at Cree’s mobile home park, had lived in the town for all of his seventy-two years of life; he sold James the building that housed his auto-shop. James stopped for a quick catch-up, laughed at something the old-timer said, and gave Rob’s shoulders a gentle shake before he headed towards the food service area looking noticeably more energetic than he had in days.
He saw the back of Celeste’s head, her profile in the reflection of the plate-glass window by her booth.
“Hey.” James dropped in across from her dressed in jeans and a button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up. His legs stretched under the table. One of them settled comfortably against hers. “You doing alright?” A quick double-take out of the corner of his eye caught a familiar blonde sitting nearby. He lifted his chin in greeting at Phanuel.