Page 28 of Blind Date with a #FIREFIGHTER
“She’d be my mom?”
“If that’s what you want.”
“Yeah, I didn’t like the other one we had.”
I choke down my regret and guilt. “I know, son. But she won’t bother us anymore.”
“When does it start?”
“When does what start?”
“Thea being my mom?”
“Well, I guess as soon as we tell her you approve. Officially, when we get married, which might be next week.”
“I’ve never had a nice mom, but Nicci says it’s the best. When her dad says no she asks her mom and sometimes she says yes.”
Wiping my hand down my face, I cover my smile. I don’t remember being this clever at his age.
“Should we go talk to her?”
“Yeah, but I think we need to get more ice cream to celebrate with Brad, Marie and Thea. Maybe chocolate and vanilla.”
Two weeks later we marry at the courthouse, Aaron is ring bearer, Brad and Marie witnesses.
I glance at my wristwatch. Tonight is an adult only date night.
Thea is reading at the Book Nook this morning with Aaron then meeting me at the house. I’m running home to change so the three of us can do lunch. Afterward Aaron is going to a sleepover at Brad’s in order to help him paint the baby’s room. I can’t wait to see those results.
Dressed and ready to go, I see Thea pull into the drive. She and Aaron have just gotten out when a squad car pulls in behind them. I recognize Turner and Davis as they get out.
Cersei. I’ve gotten a lot of looks and unwanted questions regarding my ex-wife the last few months. She’s been making quite the reputation for herself spiraling down a path of excesses, both alcohol and drugs, public displays and outburstswith Tyne and others. I wish I knew what she had and on who in the judicial system that she always get off. Maybe if she did a little time, she could get help and clean her act up.
Walking out I meet the two officers.
Thea looks at me then the officers.
“Hey, Aaron, give me five.” Turner holds up his palm.
“Some place the four of us can talk privately while Aaron is occupied?” Davis asks quietly.
“Sure, come inside. I’ll get him busy with cartoons in his room and be right there.”
“Follow me, gentlemen,” Thea says, “Can I get you a coffee, iced tea or soda?” she asks as they walk ahead of us.
I settle Aaron with his favorite cartoon and explain that the adults have business to discuss so he can watch until I come back for him.
On the back patio, Thea hands me a tea and I turn to the officers. “What’s up?”
“You were at that house fire north of town last night, right?”
“Yeah, two alarm. Your guy Petersen was there. We talked. I’m not the inspector, but it looked like faulty wiring to me. Lot of structural damage though.”
“Yeah, that’s what he said. There was another fire south that had a couple fatalities.”
“I heard there was a fire but not much else. Was busy dealing with my own. Why are we talking about this?”
“Two bodies were found inside the warehouse once the fire was out. Tyne and Cersei, both shot. The warehouse has been suspected of drug movement for some time, but they always seemed to know about the raids in advance. Product that we would have expected to find there appears to have been removed before the department was called. When they found Tyne’s car the trunk was full.”
