Page 6 of Chasing Fireflies

“I just can’t today.” She turns away from me. “I’m sorry. I just…can’t.”

“But I made you breakfast,” I say. She sits up.

“Cash, don’t you think I’d eat if I could? Don’t you think I’d get up if I could?”

“You can.”

“Please leave me alone,” she says, rolling over and covering herself with the blanket. I walk in and place the food on her nightstand. I see tears on her cheeks, and I feel useless.

“I’m sorry,” she cries.

“Don’t be. Just sleep a little longer, and then we’ll have some lemonade on the porch swing when I get back,” I say it with high hopes, but I should know better. Sara’s mind is making the rules for her now, and I have no say. “I love you forever,” I whisper into her ear.

“Promise?”

“Promise, promise.” I kiss her hair, and with a heavy heart I walk down the stairs. Doubts run through my mind as I pass by boxes that still need to be unpacked. I sigh and grab my keys. Her parents said it over and over.Don’t move her away from here. Who will watch her when she is having a hard time and you need to leave?I pick up the house phone and call her mom. I have to see if she can come over until I get finished down at the station. Her drive is about thirty minutes and Sara will be pissed, but I can’t risk it. I just pray she sleeps until Debbie gets here.

*

I pull up to the chief’s office and hop out of Old Blue. It’s early morning still, and I look down the street and see people opening up their shop doors. My attention turns back in front of me when I notice a short, round lady unlocking the door that readsChief’s Office. She gives me a smile, and as she opens the door, I hear a bell ring.

“Well, hello,” she says, holding the door open for me to walk in. The smell of coffee and flowers hits my senses as I step inside.

“Good morning.”

“Would you like a cup of coffee? The chief tells me I fix the best, but you know he may just be trying to butter me up. After all, I am his wife.”

“Please, and I’m sure that’s not the case.” I wink.

She laughs, and I see lines of age around her soft blue eyes. With that and the streaks of gray in her hair, I’d say she’s in her mid-fifties, just like I’d assumed the chief was. “What brings you here?”

“He is here for a job,” the chief says, walking from the back of the office.

“Good morning, sir.”

“Son.” He nods, then turns to his wife. “Anne, how about you print out some forms for this man to sign? You and I will go for a ride around the town,” he says, looking back at me.

“I’ll get on that,” she replies. “I’m sorry.” She shakes her head. Her cheeks turn bright red, and I know I’m going to like this woman. “I didn’t even introduce myself. My name’s Anne Rogers.” I take her hand when she reaches it out–– it’s small and soft. “And this is Chief Drew Rogers.”

“I’m Cash. Cash Williams,” I say.

“Well, Cash Williams, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” The bell rings and in walks a man shorter than me with a head full of curly dark hair. He looks a lot younger than my twenty-seven years, and he has a suit on so I’m assuming he is the other deputy.

“This here is Guzman,” Drew says.

I stick out my hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Cash.”

“Pleasure. Name’s Ben, but everybody calls me Guzman. You can call me either or.”

I nod when the chief speaks. “We’ll get those papers signed when we get back, Anne. Guzman, you checking in on the Kingsleys today?”

“Headed over there now,” Ben replies.

“Well, grab you some coffee first. You don’t wanna offend Anne here.”

“No one is offending me. You boys go along now. I need to clean up this here office. I swear, you dust, and then bam, it’s right back like you didn’t do anything at all.”

I smile as Drew lifts his hat from the coat rack, and the bell dings when he opens the door. I grab my coffee from Anne and follow him out.

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