Page 33 of Reunited with the Sheriff

Cassidy nearly sputtered on her lemonade. “Granddaughter? She’s Doc’s granddaughter?”

“She sure is. Robin and her mom moved here about six or seven years ago after her parents got divorced. She’s a nice girl, but quite the firecracker. Keeps Doc on his toes.”

Regina stopped talking long enough to take a sip of her lemonade. After one sip she puckered her lips before dumping two packets of sugar into the glass. She swirled the contents around with a spoon then took another sip. She let out a satisfied sigh.

“I’m so glad you called me for lunch, Cass, although I’m a bit surprised.” Regina bit down on her lip. “I haven’t exactly rolled out the red carpet for you since you’ve been back.”

“It’s okay. We’ve always had an up and down relationship,” Cassidy said. “When we were growing up we were more like sisters than cousins, including the whole sibling rivalry thing. But ever since I left we haven’t had much to do with one another.”

A look of sadness passed over Regina’s face. “Cass, I don’t think you realize how much things changed when you left. I lost you, Holly and Jenna all at once.”

She furrowed her brow. “What are you talking about?”

“You were the center of the friendship. When you left it all fell apart. Within a few months the three of us weren’t even speaking.”

Cassidy’s mouth swung open. This whole time she’d assumed that the three other roses had continued their friendship without her. It was shocking to find out that it had all collapsed in the aftermath of the accident. She reached out and clasped hands with Regina. Compassion rose up within her for her cousin.

“I’m so sorry. That must have been hard for you to lose all of us at once.”

Regina shrugged. “I guess you went through the same thing, huh?”

“Pretty much. But I’ve learned a lot about loss over the years. It’s something all of us go through at one point or another. I just came from the church, and the congregation is devastated about the loss of the roof. Somehow I can’t help but think that there are other communities that lost lives in this storm. There’s no loss greater than that.” Cassidy knew she’d be adding those lost souls to her prayers tonight.

“How is Uncle Harlan handling this crisis? I’m sorry that I won’t be able to swing by and see him until this afternoon.”

“He’s doing as well as can be expected. First and foremost, he’s holding up the entire congregation. He’s dried more tears this morning than he’s probably done in twenty-five years. He’s like the Rock of Gibraltar, which makes me worry about him.” At times like this Cassidy often wondered who her father turned to when everything around him seemed to be falling down. She smiled, knowing with a deep certainty what her father would say in response to that question. He’d quote Isaiah, as he always did, saying “The Lord God is an everlasting rock.”

“That doesn’t surprise me at all,” Regina said. “He’s always been the one to lift everyone else up even when his own soul is weighed down.”

Out of nowhere a petite blond woman showed up at their booth, both hands planted on curvy hips, a warm smile enhancing her delicate features.

“Sorry to interrupt, Regina, but I just wanted to stop by and say hello to Cassidy!” The woman’s bubbly voice was loud enough to turn heads at neighboring tables.

Cassidy discreetly gave her the once-over, from the top of her newly dyed hair to the soles of her high heeled feet. She looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t place her in any memory, either from childhood or adolescence. With her long blond hair, almond-shaped eyes and trendy outfit, she was attractive in a very polished way. Despite the niggling feeling that she knew her, the woman’s identity eluded Cassidy.

Before she could say a word, Regina stood up from the table, rising to her full height of five feet ten inches. She enveloped the woman in a tight hug.

“Goodness. I haven’t seen you in ages, Kit,” Regina gushed. “Where have you been hiding?”

Kit made a face. “Might as well have been under a rock. I’ve been up to my elbows in legal briefs. For once I actually had more clients than I had time to represent.”

Kit. Kit Saunders? No, it couldn’t be! Cassidy vaguely remembered her from high school. She’d been very overweight, always dressed head to toe in black and tended to be a recluse. The glamorous woman standing before her bore no resemblance to that frumpy girl. Her transformation was staggering.

Kit glanced over at Cassidy, a pretty smile lighting up her face. “It’s nice to see you back in West Falls.”

Cassidy returned the smile. Something eased inside her chest. It felt so nice to be treated like an old friend. “Thanks, Kit. It’s nice to see you again, too.”

“How long are you staying in town?”

“Until the end of the summer. Then I’m headed back to Phoenix.”

Saying it out loud gave her a reality check. Even though West Falls was feeling more like home each and every day, it hadn’t been her home for a very long time. Soon she’d be returning to Phoenix and the life she’d so carefully built for herself.

“Well, please tell your folks I said hello,” Kit said in a chirpy voice. “Enjoy your summer.”

After Kit left their booth and headed to the exit, Cassidy shot Regina a look of disbelief.

“I’m not trying to be rude, but wasn’t she two hundred pounds or so?” The memory of a heavy-set, sullen Kit popped into her head.

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