Page 21 of Comforting the Grump

Auden frowned, concern etching deeper lines into his face. “Ennio, they’d want to help?—”

“Help or judge?” I shot back more sharply than I intended. “Mom would worry herself sick, and Dad… He already thinks I’m reckless. This would prove it to him.”

“Ennio, that’s not true. They love you?—”

“Sure, they do. But it’s always been different with you and Dad. Easier. If he knew about this…”

“Okay,” Auden relented after a long silence. “I won’t say anything. But you’re not alone in this. We’ll sort it out together.”

“Thanks, Auden. Really.” My heart felt lighter, though the knot in my stomach remained. Auden had always been my rock, the steady force in my life when everything else spun out of control. And right now, I needed that more than ever.

His phone rang, shattering the fragile silence. Auden answered with the swift professionalism that made him so good at his job as sheriff, his voice dropping into an octave that commanded respect and exuded calm.

“Frant here,” he announced, and I caught the shift in his posture—shoulders squaring, back straightening—as if he’d donned an invisible badge of duty.

I couldn’t hear what was said, but Auden’s face tightened.

“On my way.” Auden hung up and met my eyes, the apologetic tilt to his mouth not needed. “I have to go, Ennio. There’s a big MVC in Skykomish and they need my help. Can you make it home okay?”

“Of course.” I pushed away from the desk. “Go do your sheriff thing.”

Auden was standing right next to me when his phone trilled again, the ringtone slicing through the brief calm like a warning siren. He answered with a tired sigh that didn’t reach his stern expression. “Frant.”

“Hey, Auden, it’s Jack over at the Double F,” came the worried drawl from the speaker, loud enough for me to make out. “Marnin’s here, and he’s… Well, he’s pretty hammered.I’d drop him off somewhere myself, but we’re short-staffed tonight.”

“Damn,” Auden muttered under his breath, casting me a glance that spoke volumes of his torn responsibilities.

“I can take care of Marnin,” I offered before he could even ask, surprising myself with the readiness in my voice. “You’ve got your hands full, and it’s right next door.”

“Ennio, you sure?” Auden’s gaze flicked to mine, searching for hesitation that wasn’t there.

“Positive.” I stood taller, feeling the need to prove my capability not only to him, but to myself. “Marnin might be a grumpy bear, but he won’t bite my head off.”

“Thank you,” Auden said, gratitude lacing his tone. “Jack, Ennio will pick up Marnin. Make sure he doesn’t leave before my brother gets there.”

“Will do, Sheriff.”

Auden ended the call, turning to me again. “Keep me updated, okay? It’s not like Marnin to be this drunk. Hell, I didn’t even know he was in town.” He clapped a hand on my shoulder, a solid, reassuring weight. “And be careful. He can be a handful.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.”

“Alright.” Auden gave my shoulder a final squeeze before striding out the door.

When I walked into the Double F, the music was blaring, the patrons were dancing, and Marnin was sprawled across one of the bar’s worn wooden booths. His head lolled to the side, his dark hair a mess, streaks of gray catching the light like silver threads against a night sky.

“Hey, Ennio. Thanks for coming,” Jack said. He was a mountain of a man but much softer and kinder than his impressive posture suggested.

“No problem.” My gaze never left Marnin. “How long has he been here?”

“Two hours, but he kept ordering them,” Jack replied, shaking his head as he wiped his hands on a rag. “I cut him off, but he was already three sheets to the wind.”

I crouched beside him, my heart sinking at the sight of Marnin’s usually sharp chestnut eyes now dull and unfocused. “Marnin? It’s Ennio. We’re heading home.”

“Home?” Marnin slurred, trying to focus on me. “No…no, not yet. Just one more?—”

“Sorry, big guy, party’s over,” I said gently but firmly, slipping an arm under his shoulder and urging him upright. His body was a dead weight, heavy and uncooperative, but I managed to hoist him up.

“Need a hand?” Jack moved to Marnin’s other side, his grip strong and steady.

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