Page 23 of Little Girls Sleeping
“Hello, Katie dear,” said Aunt Claire, taking her arm and squeezing it affectionately. “You look lovely.” She was dressed elegantly in a beige dress and spiked strappy sandals.
“Thank you,” Katie replied, feeling self-conscious as her aunt proceeded to parade her around the room.
“Everyone, our beautiful guest of honor has arrived,” Claire announced.
The other guests proceeded to clap and cheer, and Katie felt her face flush and her pulse race as she greeted them all. Some were people she had never met before; others were old friends or people from the sheriff’s office. To her surprise, she saw Chad standing in the corner drinking beer from a bottle. He had a genuine smile on his face as he watched her.
Sheriff Scott entered the grand room and moved toward Katie, giving her a hug. “Glad you could make it,” he said in low tone.
“Did I have a choice?” Katie whispered back.
“C’mon, I’ll get you some wine and you’ll feel better. Then you can tell me why you have scratches on your arms and cheek,” he said, steering Katie to the beverage area.
“What?” Katie said with alarm.
“Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. For now.” He laughed and moved back into the crowd to mingle with the guests.
Katie had always known she couldn’t keep secrets from her uncle. He had been the youngest officer in the county’s history to become a detective, and his solve rates were higher than those of any other officer in the department, a record that still held today. But he hadn’t been content with that; he’d aspired to become sheriff and he didn’t stop until he had achieved that goal.
No one else commented on her scratches, even if they noticed, and that was fine with Katie. It made her evening that much more enjoyable. A few people asked about her experiences in Afghanistan, but it was on a superficial level, and no one tried to dig at her dark secrets or the horrors of the battlefield.
It was fun catching up with friends and meeting new people. Katie usually preferred simple gatherings with just a few guests, but tonight she enjoyed the company of a diverse group of friendly faces. Even so, she found herself having to step outside for a moment to decompress and get some fresh air.
The evening was cool and the temperature relieved the stinging pain from her injuries. The yard was lusher than she had ever seen it before. The ground cover and vines seemed to contain every green on the color wheel, while small white blooms reflected the moonlight, giving the appearance of an enchanted garden.
She closed her eyes and let the gentle breeze caress her face, followed by the wafting scent of jasmine. She heard laughing voices and multiple conversations in the house behind her. The simple act of breathing deeply automatically released relaxation endorphins, making her calm and focused. It was a technique she used quite often when she had down time after a stressful day in the field.
When she opened her eyes again, she saw Chad standing a few feet away from her, gazing out at the garden area. She didn’t startle at the sight of him, though she was surprised he had got out there without making any sound. It was as though he had materialized supernaturally.
“So is there a specialized stealth course at the firemen’s academy?” she asked with mild sarcasm.
He turned to face her, his gaze admiring. “That’s supposed to be a guarded secret.”
“Oh.” She nodded and turned her attention back to the garden. “I forgot how much I love it here.”
“Me too.”
“So Uncle Wayne roped you into this celebration?”
“Maybe. But I wanted to see you again anyway,” he said.
“To watch over me?”
“Never thought about it that way.”
“I know my uncle is a little worried about me making a smooth transition back into civilian life.”
Chad took a couple of steps closer to her. “What do you think?”
“I think…”
He waited patiently.
“I think I need a few more days of sleep.”
He laughed and took a drink of his beer. “Ah yes, sleep, wonderful sleep. And how has work been?”
“Just ask what you want to ask,” Katie said.
