Page 106 of Saving You

I had to go into work this morning. There is coffee in the coffeepot, and I’ll be home for dinner.

Love you,

Caleb

Igrin at the note and hold it close to my chest. Derek never would have been thoughtful enough to leave me a note if he left before me. I fold the note in half and tuck into the bedside drawer before grabbing my robe and securing it around my waist. Phone in hand, I make my way downstairs. I pour myself a cup of coffee. It’s not as hot as I’d like, so I pop it into the microwave and text Caleb.

Bailey: Thank you for the coffee. You good with BLT’s for dinner?

Caleb: You’re welcome. I’m good with whatever you want.

I grin at my phone.

Bailey: BLT’s it is.

Caleb: Ok, let me know if I need to grab anything from the store on my way home.

Charlie and I go to the park during the day. When Caleb comes home, we eat dinner together as a family and finish our night with a movie before bed.

CHAPTER 36

Caleb

The days following New Year’s Day are blissful. We settle back into a routine as Charlie goes back to school and Bailey gets everything ready for the sale of their place. We’ve gone over and started packing up the sentimental items she wants to keep and figuring out what she wants to sell. Lily is supposed to go with us this weekend and decide what she wants to take, and then the guys and I will deliver it to her place.

On Friday morning, I’m pulled into my staff sergeant’s office. I take a seat in one of the leather-back chairs across from his desk, clasping my hands in my lap.

His head swivels from his computer to me, and he settles back into his chair. I watch as he twists the edge of his grey moustache. He sighs heavily before bracing his arms on his desk.

“Sutton, I’m going to need you to lead the elementary school event today. Bell called out.”

“Of course. Is there anything I need to know?”

He grunts as he adjusts himself in his chair. “No. You’re just doing a basic presentation on safety. There’s a manual you can take with you. I’ll have someone else cover your patrol forthe day.”

I nod. “Of course, sir. What school am I heading to?”

“Dogwood Elementary.” I grin to myself as he says the name, because that’s where my little girl goes to school.

I slap my hands against my thighs and push up from the chair. “I’ll grab that binder and the other guys and head over there right away.”

He nods as I make my way out of his office and into the bullpen. I find the binder and gather the guys, and we figure out rides. I decide to take my truck, and Officers Whitmore and Haas join me. Haas jumps in the front, and Whitmore opens the back door and just stands there for a second.

“Whitmore, in or out, let’s go,” I call.

He pulls himself in, and his head pops up between the front seats. “Sutton, why do you have a booster seat back here?”

“Because my daughter needs it,” I grunt.

Both men’s heads swing to me as their jaws drop.

“Daughter?” Haas asks, seeming to gather his wits first.

I nod.

“Ummm, not to seem rude or anything, but when the hell did you get a daughter? She’s obviously older if she’s in a booster seat.”

“My girlfriend has a daughter with her deadbeat ex.”

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