Thomas Patrick

Mr. Patrick arrived in Willmet just a little after eight p.m. on Friday, February 18th. He meandered around the village aimlessly, admiring the classic simplicity of the buildings, which were all dark by now. He recognized the quiet streets, the gentle lullaby of the rolling hills, and the grey stone church. Mrs. Barnby was just finishing her mopping at the bakery when she peeked out of the window to see the well-dressed young man as he walked slowly through the cobblestone streets.

"George, whoever could that be?" Mrs. Barnby called to her husband, who was currently in the back of the bakery preparing some bread for the morning. George came to the front of the bakery and peeked out of the window with his wife.

"Why, that's Thomas Patrick!" George nearly exclaimed.

"Thomas Patrick? No, it couldn't be. Doesn't Thomas Patrick live in York now?"

George squinted a little bit harder as the man passed by the bakery. "If he did, he's back now," George muttered, "and whenever a Patrick is involved, it's not going to be good."