Page 5 of Call it Reckless

“Love you guys. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Cameron’s phone call had been perfect timing. I’d been getting a little too lost in the past. It was time to move forward.

With a snap of my wrist, I twirled the keyring on my finger before settling on the key for the front door. Taking a fortifying breath, I unlocked the door and stepped inside for the first time in years.

Everything looked clean and crisp. As I moved through the rooms, I was thrilled to see the red oak hardwood floors refinished to a beautiful shine.

In the living room was the mahogany secretary desk brought from Ireland by one of my many great-grandmothers who’d come to the states as a mail-order bride over a century and a half ago. A wagon had carefully carted it across the mountains to its new home. In the large room at the back, I spied the huge rolltop desk that my granddaddy used to sit at to write checks and manage his business. There were several other pieces with stories and memories.

Knowing I planned to keep much of the furniture that was as old, or older than, the house, I hadn’t brought much from North Carolina. But what I had moved would go a long way to make the place feel more like “mine.”

I climbed the staircase that divided the entranceway in half, hating that I wasn’t yet able to sprint to the top but pleased that there were no twinges of pain. I flicked on the light to the bedroom at the end of the hallway, the one my grandparents had used since it was the biggest and had an adjoining bathroom. I was relieved to see the new furniture I’d ordered was already in place.

Cameron had worked her magic in here, too. The sleigh bed was already made with the linens I’d let my sister pick out. I wasn’t that picky. The comforter was a mixture of blues and grays, and there were enough pillows to smother a small party of people.

I laughed to myself. She’d known exactly what she was doing when she put them there, knowing I’d probably ditch them on the floor and never put them back. My idea of decorating was minimal at best since I was on the road as often as I was. But I had to admit, they looked warm and inviting. Maybe I’d change my ways and try harder to keep the room like it was now, especially now that I’d be coming home to the same place every day.

Home.

Not a house where I stayed when in town, but an actual home. One filled with memories from generations of family members. I could almost feel the house begging me to add to those experiences. Maybe in time. For now, I was content to simply exist in the memories.

I found several meals in my freezer courtesy of Emalee, complete with instructions on warming them up. Unable to resist a taste of her cooking, I picked a dish marked “pot roast” and ate. Her cooking was as good as ever.

After I ate, I got busy moving in. It took time, but I managed to get all the boxes I’d stuffed into my Jeep and the trailer carried in and mostly unpacked. But the extra activity plus the stress of driving several hours took its toll. It might only be eight-thirty, but I was tired, and my new bed beckoned me.

I took a shower before settling in for the night. By the time I finished, I’d left the shower steamy, but I felt much fresher. My hair was thick and wavy and took too much time to dry naturally, so I plugged in my blow dryer. It worked for about one minute before everything went dark.

CHAPTERTWO

Reid

My sheriff’s department SUV cruised easily down the mountain road until it widened and leveled out to a stretch of flat land. It had been a long day, but fortunately, there hadn’t been any major incidents. I knew that would change as the weather continued to warm and more people flocked to the mountains on vacation.

A few years ago, the sheriff’s station decided that all of us would rotate weekends being on duty. There were just enough of us that we could team up in small groups and usually only work one weekend a month, but we were on duty and on call the entire weekend.

I loved it. It gave me more time to devote to my daughter, Lexi, and all the chores that piled up over the week. My turn was the first weekend of the month, so I’d send Lexi to spend it with my in-laws.

It worked out for everyone. I was still close with Gail and Al even though my wife, Abby, had died over six years ago. It allowed them precious time with Lexi, and they spoiled her rotten. Pretty much a win-win for all of us.

I took advantage of the quiet time and called Lexi. My heart lightened when she answered with a happy sounding, “Hi, Daddy.”

“What’d you do today, cupcake? Are you having fun with your grandparents?”

“Grandma took me to that big mall in Knoxville. We had lunch at some nice place. Then we looked at alotof dresses until wefinallyfound one for the cotillion.”

There was a brief pause, and I gave a quick prayer of thanks that I wasn’t the one who took her shopping. I waited for the “but.”I wasn’t disappointed.

“But you need to talk to her, Daddy.” Her tone held the sternness I’d expect from a CEO of a business, not that of a nine-year-old. I hoped that meant big things for her future.

“Oh? Why?”

“She wanted to buy everyday dresses.Noone wears those to school.”

I choked back a laugh. I’d learned the hard way this was not a joking matter. God help me when she became an actual teenager because I already felt unprepared for this pre-teen—ortweenas she once corrected me—stage we were fast approaching.

“Maybe not, but they do at Miss Pettigrew’s School. You’re expected to look like a young lady when you’re there.” I tried to keep my voice stern, knowing an argument about Miss Pettigrew was always on the horizon.

Whoever coined the phrase “silence is deafening” most definitely had kids. I didn’t need to be on a video call to see her eyes roll or the way her nose scrunched up at the wordlady.

---