Page 11 of All Too Well
It’s why I love it here so much.
“I see. Maybe after school we can go see them?”
She claps her hands. “Yay!”
It’s so easy to make this kid happy. I drop her off at school and pull her teacher aside, letting her know about the issue between Rose and Briggs.
“I’ll keep an eye out, Lachlan,” Ms. Moss assures me, standing a bit too close. Not that it’s abnormal, since Pam has been incredibly obvious about what she hopes for out of our relationship. It’s definitely not a parent-teacher thing. “I didn’t see you at the fire hall for the party last night. I was really hoping you’d be there ...”
“Sorry, I was busy with Rose.”
She purses her lips. “Aww, maybe next time.”
“Maybe,” I lie.
“We could always make plans for just the two of us.”
I don’t know how many times I have to explain that’s not going to happen.
Dating for me is not a priority. I’m completely fine being single and having my sole focus on Rose. She’s probably the only kid I’m ever going to have, and that’s perfectly fine by me.
Her mother and I were a one-night thing, and she gave me the option to either take Rose and raise her or put her up for adoption. I didn’t hesitate in taking my daughter.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea. I work crazy hours, and you’re Rose’s teacher. It’s better we keep things as they are.” Her face falls and I quickly try to smooth things over. “You know how people talk. I wouldn’t want to make things awkward for either of us.”
She forces a smile. “I get it.”
I don’t think she does, but it’sfine.
“I need to get to the station. Thank you for monitoring the Briggs-and-Rose thing.”
“Of course.”
I quickly get out of Dodge and make the fifteen-minute drive to the station. When I get there, my three night guys are heading out of the building.
“Hey, guys, quiet night?”
Lopez lifts his chin. “Sure was, Chief.”
“Quiet is good.”
Davidson huffs. “It would be nice to do something other than clean up after these two asshats.”
Jones flips him off. “Yeah, right, motherfucker. It’s you who leaves your shit everywhere.”
“Now, ladies, let’s not fight.” I do my best to stop the argument before it gets heated.
They laugh and Lopez speaks again. “I get what he’s saying, but I’m happy with quiet as well.”
“Good man.” I clasp his shoulder. “I’ll be switching you guys to days as of next week, unless you’d prefer to stay on nights.”
We’re a small department, and the one thing I hated when I started here was the rigid schedule. The former chief didn’t rotate any of us and that was my first change as the new chief. A lot of them are way overdue for doctor’s appointments, and God only knows what else that working nights makes even harder to take care of.
“I’m good with nights, boss. It’s with the kids,” Jones explains.
“Okay. What about you guys?”
“Who would clean up after Jones if we switched?” Davidson jokes.
