Page 44 of Take Me to the Valley

“Was there anyone from the station there?” I ask.

“No, they had asked Calista to update them. Rick showed up right before we were able to see you, but Kaylee was awake by then. Why?”

“I’m just trying to think of everything they are using against her. Would you testify to that if needed?” I ask.

“For Kaylee? Hell yeah, I would. How bad is this?” Cody asks.

I don’t miss how protective he is of Kaylee and I wonder if it’s because she is his sister’s best friend or if it’s more.

“I shouldn’t say anything, but something isn’t adding up, and I think Kaylee is being set up to take the fall.”

Cody's face fills with anger, but I keep talking before he can go off.

“Calista was heading to take her to Jack with instructions to call Rick. If anyone can get to the bottom of this, it’s Jack. She is in good hands, especially since I can only do so much without getting in trouble at work,” I sigh.

“Spill it,” Cody says, knowing me well enough to know there was more behind that sigh.

“Skye has been having nightmares about me getting hurt. It was always there, the risk with my job. But now, I’m facing it head-on and need to make a decision. I don’t want her scared every time I go to work. I love my job, but I’m not sure that I want to continue making my daughter worry that I’m not coming home. There’s also the fact, I don’t want to put my life on the line again. We are too short-staffed to try to get a desk-only job, so that leaves me with a choice that has been running through my head since I’ve been home,” I tell him honestly.

“Well, you have time to work it out because you won’t be back on the streets anytime soon. Don’t make a rushed decision, and you know we will support you whatever you decide,” he says.

I believe him. The problem is I have more than just Skye to consider now. I want to take Calista into account, but I can’t tell him that. There is this part of my life I can’t talk to my best friend about just yet, and it’s killing me.

“So, distract me. What is going on at the distillery?”

Chapter 23

Calista

Once I got home, Evan and I were able to have a short talk. But with Skye around, it was difficult to keep it from her or get into a lengthy discussion. We had to wait until she was in bed.

Evan made it very clear he wasn’t going anywhere. I made it clear that I couldn’t fully commit until I knew everything was going to be okay with Kaylee. He said he was fine with that. Then we had the hottest quickie before I sneaked back into my room the night.

Today, Evan, Skye, and I are heading downtown to the BBQ event to support the distillery. Not only is this the first time Evan will be out in town, but it’s also one of the first years he won’t be participating in the BBQ festival.

Thankfully, his friend Rick was willing to step in for Evan at the festival, so the police charity will still be up and running. Though I know Evan feels bad about it and always enjoyed participating.

“I can’t wait to try Uncle Cody’s barbecue sauce. But I bet it’s not as good as Daddy’s,” Skye says from the backseat.

At her words, I look over at Evan, who is in the passenger seat, to see what his reaction is.

“Uncle Cody told me he will have some really spicy ones, but promised to have a mild one just for you to try,” Evan says.

“I can’t handle spice, Dad!” Skye says.

“Not this kind of spice. It’s the kind that will burn your tongue and make you cry,” I say with a smile.

Giggling, Skye asks “Why would he do that?”

“I don’t know. You will have to ask him when you see him.” I’m just as interested in his response as Skye is now.

When we get downtown, the festival is already in full swing. Fortunately, Cody gave us a pass to put on our dashboard to park in the employee parking of the distillery. Taking the back way in, we use the directions he gave me to find the parking area. The area is blocked with a cone, so I get out to move it and put it back when I’m done. It’s a very small price to pay for a premier parking spot.

“Let’s go into the distillery and say hi to my brothers before we check out the rest of the festival?” I say, almost like a question.

“That works for me,” Evan says.

I get out of the car and walk over to his side to offer a hand, but now that his ankle is feeling better his shoulder is the only obstacle. It doesn’t really stop him from getting in and out of the car.

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