Page 117 of Perfect Harmony

“It is,” he said. “I screwed up and I’ll makesure it doesn’t happen again.”

She studied a spot over his shoulder, her curvybody tense against his. “It’s okay. I got through most of the stuff surprisinglyfast even by myself.”

“You shouldn’t have had to do it byyourself,” he said. “I should have been there with you, but I hadn’t seenPreacher since he was here with his migraine and when he asked me to go for drinks,I didn’t even think. My phone was in my equipment bag and I forgot to bring itinto the pub, and I didn’t check -”

“Gideon, it’s okay. You have a busy lifeand I know that.” She finally looked at him. “I really want to go have a shower.”

“You’re upset with me. Let me make it up toyou,” he said.

“I’m not upset with you, I’m just… upset ingeneral. I got through half the boxes and there was literally nothing thatcould be saved and it’s just,” a tear rolled down her cheek, “upsetting.”

His guilt increased and he hugged her hard.“Fuck, I’m sorry, Gracie.”

“Thanks.” She kissed his chest through hist-shirt and pushed away from him. “I’m going to have a shower. Can you get thechicken started?”

“Sure,” he said.

She left and he stared at Tank who wassitting at his feet. “I fucked up royally, big guy.”

Tank’s tail thumped on the floor and Gideonsighed and petted his head. “C’mon, let’s get the grill started.”

* * *

Gideon stared at the building that housed thesheriff’s department. He’d gone to the diner this morning like he did every morningand had breakfast with half the damn population of Harmony Falls. He’d leftafter only an hour. He didn’t have his usual patience for the complaining orthe gossip. Not when it’d been three days and Grace was still upset with him.

She said all the right things, and it wasn’tlike she was ignoring him or being passive aggressive, hell, she hadn’t broughtup the storage unit thing once since Sunday. But something seismic had shiftedbetween them, and he didn’t know how to breach the new separation betweenthem. He didn’t know if trying to fix it was even the right thing to do.

What was happening between them wasn’t supposedto mean anything. It was supposed to be a short, meaningless affair. Instead,they’d been playing house for the last three weeks, fucking like bunnies everynight, and he was imagining a life with Gracie.

Only… he’d fucked up big time by forgettinghis promise to help her on Sunday. Despite what she said, she was hurt andupset with him.

He rubbed at the back of his neck. After heleft the diner, he’d done his morning patrol through town and then did it twicemore. It was slow, not a single call had come through on the radio and he’dhad more time to think then he liked.

Just before noon, he’d finally driven backto his office. He had a shitload of paperwork that he could be doing, but forthe last fifteen minutes, he’d been sitting in the parking lot, debatingwhether he should drop by Gracie’s office and take her for lunch.

For what? To apologize again? It won’twork. You screwed up so bad, buddy. She’s pissed because you treated her likeher parents have treated her for her entire life. How could you have forgottenher? How? Jesus, you know she struggles with believing that she matters andthen you fucking forget about her and -

His phone rang and he picked it up off thepassenger seat, glancing at the screen. Once or twice a week, he took Tank tothe local boarding and doggie daycare kennel on the outskirts of town, called Guardiansof the Fuzz. He’d dropped Tank off this morning for daycare and the number onhis phone was Guardians’ number. Apprehension stirring in his belly, he hitthe answer button.

“Gideon speaking.”

“Hey, Sheriff, this is Kennedy from Guardians.”

“Hi, what’s up?”

“We think Tank has bloat. His belly isreally big and he’s restless and he keeps trying to throw up without anythingcoming up.”

He started the SUV, the apprehensionturning to fear. “Shit. I’m on my way.”

“No, head over to Brandt VeterinaryClinic. Whitney is about five minutes from the vet with him. We didn’t wantto wait. We called Dr. Brandt and gave him the instructions you have on file withus,” Kennedy said. “That he should perform life saving procedures with no costlimit.”

Fear became panic. Hard, biting panic thatate at his insides like a vicious and nasty rat.

“Gideon?” Kennedy’s voice was gentle. “Getto the clinic as quick as you can. Okay?”

“Yeah.” He tossed his phone on the passengerseat, flicked on the lights and his siren, and tore out of the parking lot.

* * *

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