Page 74 of Hiding Hollywood

“Nice night,” called Cameron as he approached his dad.

He glanced up. “Where’d you ride off to?”

“My house.”

His dad set his phone to the side. “You’re off duty. You could have stayed.”

“I didn’t even go down the driveway. I need to solve this case. If the guy strikes tonight, I want to be available.” He leaned on the hood. “I still haven’t figured out what to do about Addie.”

“I’d think the situation was pretty black and white to most people looking at it.” He crossed his arms and stared up at the sky full of stars. “According to you, you two are on opposite sides of the law. That’s a pretty firm line in the sand when it comes to being Sheriff.”

“Believe me, I know. And she refused, again, to stop working.” Oh well for giving him insight into the situation. Cameron had figured that one out quick after finding out what she does for a living.

“But,” he began. Cameron’s body tensed at the phrase. At the hope. “Who am I to tell you what to do? I met your mother when I arrested her for underage drinking.”

Cameron shot to his feet. “No way.”

“Met her the second time when the next county over called in back-up for a sit-in protest over a land developer. She’d chained herself to the front of a tree-cutting machine. I helped cut the chain when she dropped the key down the front of her shirt and dared me to frisk her.”

“Mom did that!”

“The third time—”

“We’re talking about the same woman, right? Tanya Dempsey. A school teacher.”

He cleared his throat. “The third time I caught your mother speeding- ninety in a fifty-five zone. She had to do community service and worked at the Sheriff's Office helping with filing and such to earn her license back. Addison reminds me of her in a way. Back in the seventies, your mother didn’t appreciate law and order very much. Still doesn’t, but she amuses me from time to time.”

“I can’t believe you arrested mom and still married her.” He’d always thought he’d followed his dad’s rise to Sheriff. He’d held a strict, no lie policy in their house. Even if it meant you were in worse trouble, you told the truth. You followed the law.

“Son, I got to a point where I begged her to marry me. Couldn’t see spending a day without her by my side.” He rubbed a hand over his face, his five o’clock shadow scratching in the quiet night. “Considered giving up my job for her.”

Cameron shoved his hands in his pockets. He’d thought about that. Part of him understood why Addie had looked so confused and in disbelief at his suggestion that she does the same and changes jobs. He was born to do this job. She felt the same way. But if neither one of them conceded, they’d never have a future.

“What made you change your mind?”

“Your mother did. I told her that I would find another job if it meant she’d be mine. I guess she took pity on me and announced that not all cops were there to quiet her voice or something like that. She believed and still does, in all the flower power movement that happened back then. Wore her signature flower crown in her hair the day we got married.”

“I’ve seen the picture.” His father had been willing to give up his job. Cameron couldn’t. It was what he loved.

But what if he went to California with her? He’d miss Statem, and his family, but without the small-town constraints of being Sheriff and living with Addie. In a larger city, her hacking career wouldn’t matter. But could he get past the ethical issue with her job?

“What are you thinking?” His father stared at him with a blank expression, the same one he used for possible witnesses to a crime.

“I’m thinking that life has a way of changing all your plans.”

He stared hard at Cameron before giving him a subtle nod. “You planning on following that woman across the country?”

Cameron let out a harsh laugh. “If she’ll let me, I guess I will. Although, I don’t know if she’ll take me back at this point. I made her pretty mad.”

“I think a good place to start would be to tell her you’re in love with her.”

“You don’t think I’m crazy? We’ve only really known each other the past couple weeks. It sounds insane that I’m considering it.”

“I knew I wanted to marry your mother on our second date. A lot of people will say you’re crazy. That it won’t work. And it might not.” He pointed at himself. “The few people in this world who’ve met their soul-mate and remember that feeling of falling hard and fast will be your strongest supporters.”

“Then,” Cameron began, taking a deep breath. “Then, if she lets me, consider this my two-week notice.”

Addie satup straight from a dead sleep at the rapid session of high-pitched barks. Lacy tore out of the room, her toenails tapping down the hallway. Is that how she greeted Cameron usually? Lacy barked again.

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