Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“Yes.”
“Martha will appreciate all your efforts. She hasn’t been well.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
He nodded. “She’ll be back soon, but to be honest, I don’t know if she’ll stay. I think her husband wants her to retire.”
“Oh, that’s too bad. She keeps this place organized.”
He scratched his chin. “You interested in the position?”
“What?”
“Running the office. Straight days. Benefits are good—even better than you have now. Steady pay, steady hours, great holidays.” He met my gaze. “Safer, easier on the nerves.”
The chief knew my history. We’d talked about it in depth when I came for the interview. He asked me point-blank if I was going to be hiding here. I guaranteed him I wouldn’t. I still wanted to be a cop but admitted the less-dangerous aspect appealed to me.
“But I can still perform my duties effectively.” I had assured him.
He had nodded, and I was grateful he’d given me a chance.
I frowned at his offer. Two years ago, I would have said no. Before the incident, I would never have considered coming to a small town, working in an environment so different from what I was used to. Now I was actually contemplating not being a cop. It startled me.
“Um, I’m not sure. I would have to think on it.”
“Of course. Martha isn’t a hundred percent sure yet. But if she decided to leave, you are the top candidate for the job. You can do it easily. Maybe help in other ways with your experience. You’re smart and clever. You think it over, and we’ll talk.”
“All right.”
He walked away, and I mulled over his words. I looked around the office. Unlike the building in Toronto, it was small, housing only a dozen people maximum at any time. Dispatch was located down the hall. We serviced half a dozen small towns, located close together. The front main desk was staffed by one person. The waiting room had four chairs. Most days, there were two cruisers out, three if the towns were busy, but that was rare. Only two officers were in-house all the time for walk-ins, and one worked the front desk. The fire department and EMS were equally as small. But it was well-run and organized.
If Martha left and I took the job, I would no longer be a cop. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. I needed to think about it. Discuss it with Mom. Chase. I was already certain what their reactions would be. I had to weigh the pros and cons myself and make sure I was doing what made me happy.
Oddly enough, I wasn’t sure if it was the same thing I thought made me happy before.
I tucked the information into the back of my mind and concentrated on the task at hand.
The week went by fast. Chase was in a great mood, excited about the roof project on the weekend. There were no Dan sightings—even at work. I was grateful and decided he’d gotten over his tantrum and moved on. Friday, Chase and I went shopping and bought food to feed everyone for the next couple of days. It would be all hands on deck, so to speak, with all the projects. Mom was coming out in the morning. Rosa and Mack were minding the kids, and Maxx had a couple of junior mechanics at the garage, so we were going to be going at it early and hard. When I said that to Chase in the store, he had grinned and grabbed me, yanking me close.
“That’s what I plan to do before they all arrive in the morning.”
He made me laugh, kissing me hard before letting me go so we could finish shopping.
The supplies had arrived, and during the week, Chase and Dom had taken the small deck off the back and had begun the removal of the roof shingles. Dom was sure with everyone helping, they would get the roof done and start framing the deck. The weather promised to be perfect, and Chase was looking forward to the weekend. We got home and unloaded the groceries, eating some Chinese food we’d picked up. We sat on the sofa, eating with chopsticks, sipping pop from a can. Relaxed. Easy. I loved how easy it was with him.
Chase’s phone buzzed, and he looked at it with a wide grin.
“Dom’s bringing a couple of friends who have experience with roofs. That’ll make it go even faster. We can split up and do the deck supports and the roof at the same time.”
“Awesome,” I agreed.
“I hope the neighbors don’t get upset at all the bikes parked in front of the house,” he mused. “I’m sure Maxx and Stefano will be on theirs too if the weather is going to be good.”
“You don’t have a motorcycle.”
“No.” He chewed and swallowed a mouthful of noodles. “I don’t like them. I mean, they’re beautiful to look at, fun to work on, but not for me.”