Page 80 of Chasing Fireflies

“You decided to go your own way. He had a hard time with that, Cash. You’re our only child…” She shakes her head. “We tried to make a good life for you. I don’t know where we failed.”

“Why do you think you failed?” I ask.

“Because you took off and never looked back.”

“That had nothing to do with you or Dad. I needed to make my own way. I didn’t want to be his shadow, and you said it yourself. Sara had a reputation here. We both needed a new start, away from here.”

“Well, you did it,” she says, looking away from me. I see her sigh, and I look at her face when she turns back. She gives me a small smile, causing wrinkles to appear beside her eyes. “Are you happy?” she asks me.

“I am.”

She nods. “You take that money. Get your roof fixed and whatever else you need, but you make sure you call me and come visit. Bring Sara, too.”

“Yes, ma’am. I can’t thank you enough.”

“I’m glad I was able to help. Take care, baby boy.”

I give her another hug and head to my truck. Getting in, I turn back to look at her before I take off. She waves, and I lift my hand as I head back home with good news.

*

The workers get here at five a.m. every morning, waking Sara, Bear, and me. We’re getting a brand new red tin roof, and the heat in the truck is getting fixed, too.

“Come on, Bear. Let’s go for our morning run,” I say, tying my shoes and standing. I kiss Sara’s forehead. “We’ll be back.” She smiles and pats Bear’s head before we take off outside.

“Morning, deputy.” I hear as I come down the steps and look up.

“Morning. You boys need anything, you just ask Sara.” I pick up my steps and start my run down our old road. It’s peaceful this time of morning, but hell, it’s peaceful here period. I get into a good stride with Bear running alongside me. My thoughts run, too, and I think about my mama and the money she let me borrow. I can’t believe she had that much stashed away, and I bet she has more after all these years. I’m glad. My dad’s a hard ass. She needs to protect herself, and it looks like she has. All those times she cried over him when I was younger—I always felt sorry for my mom and wished better for her. Now I see she has choices, and she isn’t as stuck as I thought she once was.

I turn down into town with sweat dripping down my back. The sun is rising, casting a soft golden glow over the town of Green Ridge. I see stores starting to open, and once Bear and I make it to the small diner called Chevy’s, I tell him to sit outside, and he does. I open the door, the air conditioner instantly cooling me off. Sliding onto a barstool, I grab the menu and look it over.

“What’ll you have, Cash?” the waitress, Piper, asks me.

“The usual, please.”

She nods, and I turn back to look at my dog who is sitting at the window looking in at me. I’ve been coming in here a lot lately after my run, so I’ve become a regular and so has Bear. Turning around, I see Piper has placed a bowl of water in front of me.

“He looks thirsty.”

“I’m sure he is. Thank you,” I say, grabbing it and walking it out to him. I open the door and place the water in front of him.

“Here you go, boy. Piper says you look thirsty.” I pat his head as he laps up the water, and then I make my way back inside. A few minutes later, my food is placed in front of me, and I gulp it down before I throw some cash onto the counter.

“Thanks,” I say before I head out.

Piper waves bye as she grabs my plates.

“Come on, boy. Let’s get home so I can get ready for work.” We walk back, and I see Anne opening up the office so we jog over to her. “Hey, Anne,” I call out. She turns around.

“Cash, I tried to call you. I was hoping you were here. It’s Drew. I’ve had to take him to the hospital.”

“God, is he okay?” I ask.

“He was having problems breathing. The doctor said it’s pneumonia. Oh, Cash, I’m worried sick about him,” she says, resting her face in her hands. I reach over and hug her.

“He is going to be all right, Anne.”

*

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