Page 74 of Chasing Fireflies

“Cash!” I say, surprised, as I look at Bear upside down. Bear looks at me curiously before he barks again and follows behind us. I slap my husband’s ass as he hauls me up the porch steps. I hear the door open and watch as we pass by the couch before he takes me up the stairs.

“Where are we going?” I ask.

“Our bedroom. I need you to find my balls.”

I burst out laughing again, and he pops me on my behind.

“You’re so romantic, baby,” I tell him.

“Only for you,” he says as he walks us into our room and shuts the door, leaving Bear out.

*

Cash

“How’s the chief feeling?” I ask Anne as I take a seat across from her desk. She’s got her reading glasses on top of her head.

“Still not great. The doc says he needs to stay in bed.” She rubs her eyes.

“Anything I can do? Take him some soup or something?” I ask.

“No, son. Thank you, though. I’m keeping him drowned in soup.” She sighs. “Once he is better, I’m sure he won’t ever eat soup again.” She laughs and puts her glasses back on. “Well, I’ve got some paperwork to get done here.”

“And I’ve got some rounds to do. See you back here later.”

She nods and looks over at the computer screen. I step outside, hearing the little bell above the door ring before I jump into my truck. I see Banner outside having a smoke, and I park the truck and hop out.

“How’s it going, man?”

“It’s going,” he replies, taking a drag from his cigarette. “How’s the chief doing? Heard he was sick.”

“Yeah, doc has him on bed rest. Anne isn’t giving a whole lot of details, though.”

He nods and hits his smoke again. I turn to look at the small bar that seems like it’s been here forever.

“How’d you come to own this thing?” I ask. He blows smoke from his mouth and flicks his ashes.

“Had some money put back, and I decided to buy this place.” He shrugs. “Dad owned a bar my whole life. Guess I just felt like following in his footsteps.” He kind of laughs, but it’s without humor.

“What about you? Grow up wanting to be a cop?” he asks me.

I laugh without humor, too. “Just following in Daddy’s footsteps.”

*

Sara

I walk into the record store and look around. The smell alone tells me this place has been here longer than I’ve been alive. An older piano sits in the middle of the store, and music plays softly in the background. I search through boxes of old records and find a few I have to have. I take a seat on the floor and cross my legs, placing the records I want beside me.

“Let me know if I can help you with anything.” I hear and peek around.

“I will. Thanks,” I say to the older man who smiles and then disappears to the back of the store. I hum to the music, and my stack grows beside me as I slide across the floor and search through more boxes. I get up and walk around, looking through the shelves. I make my way over to the piano and lightly run my fingertips over the keys. My mom made me take lessons when I was a kid, so I can play a little. I sit down and let my fingers remember the old lessons. The door chimes, and I turn around to see my husband.

“Hey, baby,” I say, smiling back at him.

“Hey, I saw Old Blue out there, so I figured you were in here,” he greets me as I stand up from the piano. “Don’t stand up. Play me something.”

“Okay.” I sit back down and inhale before I slowly exhale. I press the keys, and just like riding a bike, I remember the notes to “Can’t Help Falling in Love”. I sway as I play, and as I come to an end, I see Cash watching me. I drop my hands and stand up to face him. He reaches around me and presses down on a few keys.

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