“Deputy Walker, you’re going out with us Saturday night,” Sheriff Jimmy Mason ordered from the other end of the phone.
Drew settled into his seat, placed his cup of coffee in the holder, and revved his cruiser. “Is that an order from my boss?”
“No, from Trianna, my wife. Lord knows she’s the boss and you don’t want to make her mad.”
Judy and James Benjamin passed hand in hand, walking along the sidewalk of downtown Creekside. It was difficult to believe they’d reunited after so many years. He’d left his prominent job as head of psychology at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Miami to return to his high school sweetheart. He took Judy’s arm, and helped her up the sidewalk since she wore her usual tailored dress and high heels. James wore his usual slacks and a button up. They always looked well put together and ready for customers. It was hard to believe James worked on their farm most days. They both nodded in greeting and smiled before entering J&L Antiques.
“I’m not feeling it, man. Jessica wasn’t my type back in high school, and she isn’t my type now.”
“You mean she doesn’t live up to the Jenna standard,” Jimmy said, his tone dropping from playful to lecturing.
Drew tapped the window button and clicked his seatbelt into place. Crisp air blew through his cruiser with a warning of a chilly conversation. “That was old a decade ago, and it’s even older now. Give it a rest.”
“I’ll give it a rest when you own up to it and move on. You’re not getting any younger, you know. You’ll lose that girlish figure of yours and then who will have you? Can’t be the playboy of Sweetwater County forever. Younger and better lookin’ is gonna take over that rep.”
“Ha. Ha. So funny. Just ’cause that wife of yours has you in an apron all the time doesn’t mean I want to join the reform school for bachelors. Stop watching all those chick shows on TV and play your man card once in a while. The answer’s no to couples night and no to any more set ups, okay?” Drew adjusted his rearview mirror. “I’ve gotta head out to the veteran’s facility and take a statement about the vandalism.”
“Don’t forget to drop off those supplies at the new Center for Autism,” Jimmy said.
Drew shoved the car into reverse. “You got it. If no one’s there, I’ll drop it on the front porch.”
Jimmy cleared his throat in that I-know-something-I’m-not-sharing way. “Someone’ll be there. Make sure you knock and give it to the new facility admin.”
Before Drew could ask what was up, Jimmy ended the call. He would’ve dialed back, but knew that if Sheriff Mason had some sort of top secret intel, he was better off finding out on his own. Of course, top secret usually meant a town squabble or a county board vote, neither of which Drew wanted anything to do with. That was for the town sheriff to handle and that’s why he preferred being a deputy.
He eyed the beautiful decorations of scarecrows, bales of hay, and happy faces on his way past the Main Street shops. He loved his hometown, but he tended to stay out of the business of others as much as possible. It only made life complicated.
At the edge of town, he did a drive-by of the abandoned building at the end of the block to check for mischievous teens and any squatters that might have made their way to town. Determining all was clear, he found his way back to Main and down the long hill out of town.
Around the curve, he turned onto a side street. Something darted into the road. A girl, a little girl. He slammed his foot hard on the brake and cut his wheel sharply to the left. His cruiser squealed to a stop, the two right wheels on the curb, two left on the street.
His heart rapid-fired in his chest. He couldn’t see the small child beyond his hood. Did he hit her? No, he would've heard a thump or felt his tires rumbled underneath. The thought flipped his stomach inside out. He swallowed the roaring of fear and steadied his hands. Nothing ever got him this panicked. Not even being shot at in the army, or on the job. But a kid, kids were different.
He managed to find his footing on the asphalt and peer around the front fender of his car. There she was, a little girl with wispy goldish-red hair and a tiny frame. She rocked with her hands over her ears, humming. He squatted by her side. “Hey, you okay?”
The child only hummed louder, rocked harder, and covered her ears tighter.
“Sadie! Sadie, where are you?” A woman’s voice cried from the nearby yard. Not just any woman’s voice, her voice. After all these years, it was as clear and crisp as if a yesterday memory instead of a long distance one. Jenna Mitchell. The girl who’d stolen his heart, his everything, then disappeared without a word.
“Mama, Mama, Mama,” the young girl mumbled.
“Sadie?” he asked.
“Mama, Mama, Mama.” She lowered her doll-sized hands and glimpsed at him with huge green eyes, eyes the color of an emerald. Eyes that belonged to only one other in the world. Jenna.
“Is that your mama calling you?”
She tilted her porcelain perfect face then nodded three times.
“Can I take your hand? We should get out of the road, and your mama must be worried.” Drew held out his hand and she slipped her tiny fingers into his palm. He took a long breath, settled his insides, and readied himself to face the one woman he'd ever loved.
Sadie twisted her legs underneath her and stood no taller than the hood of his car. She walked on her tiptoes to the curb where she clung to his wrist with both hands and swung up to the grass.
“Sadie!” Jenna’s voice cracked with emotion and she raced across the lawn with only a towel wrapped around her body. He tried to force his eyes away, but her beauty was just as intoxicating as it was in high school. Same full lips, nice curves, and strawberry blonde hair. She skidded to a halt on her knees and flung her arms around Sadie. “I told you to stay right there. You scared Mommy.”
She hadn’t seen him. She hadn’t realized she was half-dressed and outside on her front lawn. She had found her little girl.
“Thank you, officer. Thank you so much.” Jenna checked over her daughter, investigating each arm, each leg, her cheeks, and forehead before she looked up at him. Her bottom jaw fell and her gaze fixed on him as if scanning her phone directory for the right name. Had she forgotten about him?
“Drew,” she whispered.
“Mama, Mama, Mama,” Sadie repeated.
Drew shifted gears and grabbed hold of his training. “Your daughter’s okay. We best get you inside, ma’am.”
She shook her head and looked down. “Oh, um, yes.” She swept Sadie into her arms, stood and raced barefoot up the front porch steps. Drew moved his cruiser into the driveway while still struggling to maintain his composure. It was his job to serve and protect the residents of Creekside, and it appeared as if that now included Jenna. Mason, that scoundrel. That was why he’d brought up her name again. He knew she was here. Boss or no boss, he’d drop kick him first chance he got.
With his chin high, his shoulders back, and his pulse racing faster than a high-speed chase, he marched up the front steps and knocked on the open front door. “Excuse me, but I thought I'd check on you both before I go.”
“We’re okay.” Jenna stood next to an unpacked box, clutching the towel tight around her body. “I’m sorry, I thought Sadie would remain in the house while I took a quick bath, but I guess I was wrong.”
“Ah, we’ve got a runner here.” Drew smiled down at Sadie who nodded.
The child was adorable, but acted a little younger than she looked. It appeared as if she still wore diapers, but shouldn't she be out of them by this age? Of course, what did he know? He’d never had kids, or even been around little kids much.
“You have no idea. I can’t sleep or shower because I’m scared she’ll run off and get hurt. I plan to install an alarm system, but we just arrived.” Jenna shook her head, her far-off gaze smothering his need to attack her for answers. Why she ran off all those years ago? What had he done?
“Why don’t you call your mother? I’m sure she’d be happy to watch her while you take a break, or your husband.” Okay, that last part slipped out, but still, he waited for her reply.
Silence sounded in the room like an early warning system.
“She doesn’t know I’m in town yet.”
Drew analyzed Jenna’s face then her ring finger. Her soft lips twitched, the way they did when she was under stress, and her ringless hands fidgeted with the towel. “She also doesn’t know I’m divorced. I’d appreciate it if you gave me a chance to face her before you let her know I’m here.”
“It’s a small town, and your mother—”
“Knows everything about everyone in every way. Yes, I know.”
The way she said it sounded like there was some secret message behind it, but he didn’t have the code to figure it out. He never had.
“What are you doing here, Jenna?” he asked. His words sounded more harsh and accusatory than he’d meant them to, but he needed to know why she was demolishing his wall of protection with her move to town.
“Trust me, I don’t want to be in Creekside.”
“Then why are you here?”
“For Sadie. After the divorce, I needed a job that I could do but still spend time with her, and Judy Benjamin convinced me it would be a perfect fit. Not that I owe you an explanation, Drew Walker.” Her tone switched from sad to angry in a single breath. “I’m allowed to live in the town I grew up in. I have just as much right as you do.”
“You left your hometown without a word, so playing that card isn’t gonna sit well with some people in town.”
“Some people? Or you, Drew? Listen, I don’t care who you married, knocked-up, or are having an affair with. Go about your business. Sadie and I aren’t here to interrupt your life. I’m just trying to make a better life for my daughter.” She stomped to the front door. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.” She stood at the door and tapped her foot.
“I think I’m long past due for an explanation, but it can wait.” He turned to Sadie. “It was nice to meet you.” He smiled at her.
Sadie waved backwards and giggled. “Bye, bye, bye.”
“If you need anything else, ma’am, I’m sure Sheriff Mason will be happy to assist you.” He left Sadie sitting on the floor next to the unpacked box. Left Jenna standing in her towel at the front door, but didn’t leave his heart this time. It had been in a ten-year coma.