Page 115 of Hidden Fears
I roll my eyes at the little thing—I’ve been trying to teach him good words, but Bird refuses and always goes back to his dirty sailor ways. It’s embarrassing really. I have to lock all the windows when we have people over because the bird starts talking.
One time, Kenneth’s parents were here, and I let the parrot inside when he knocked because I thought it would be cute to have a pet in the house. It was not. The little jerk flew around the house, yelling, “Good girl. Hard. Good girl. Take it.” I thought I was going to die from mortification. His mother was sitting there with red cheeks, and his father could barely breathe from laughing so hard. I learned my lesson, and now the parrot is our dirty little secret.
I place the fruit in front of him, ignoring the little thing’s chattering when my phone rings.
“Hey, Jennica!” I say cheerfully when I pick up.
“Oh God. Josie, you must do something. I beg you.”
“We beg you,” another female voice calls out, and I suspect it’s Lily.
“Yes, we beg you. Do something or we will poison your boyfriend. He’s been a menace for the past week, and today he’s driving us all up the wall.”
“I’ve noticed it too. Do you know what might be going on?”
The two-second pause says that Jennica might be onto something, but she’s forever loyal to Kenneth and will not tell me a thing if he doesn’t want her to. But she’s worried. And pissed if I suspect correctly. I can keep him in the doghouse longer, but if I’m honest, it’ll lead to me suffering even worse than him. His unhappiness doesn’t bring me pleasure, so I decide why not.
“I’ll be there in a few. I have something to mail out, so I’ll stop by right after.”
A loud exhale of relief nearly knocks me down through the phone. I can almost feel it here.“Thank you. Dinner’s on me.”
“I’ll take you up on that,” I promise before the call goes dead. I like Jennica. She’s hilarious and has always been on my side. And I always remember loyalty, especially if it’s given even before it’s been deserved.
I grab the checks I need to mail out to the new suppliers I’ve established since Archie’s house has become a well-known success, and my business is booming. We’ve established a good working relationship with Jericho Landell and his crew and look forward to our bright future together.
I’ve got a few of my old clients seeking help with projects that Randy’s designers failed. I wasn’t petty about not taking them because I need jobs, and it’s just a business after all. Slowly and steadily, I’ll build a name for myself, I don’t have any doubts about that. Especially when I have a support group of amazing people who can lift me up when I’m down and celebrate my victories when I’m up.
My sister called me for the first time in years. When I picked up the phone, I didn’t know what to say or how to behave, but she made it easy by quietly thanking me for paying for her schooling. I could barely push ‘you’re welcome’ through my spasming throat. After that, the call was silent for a minute until I remembered Kenneth’s words and asked her if she ever wanted to visit. She was so happy with my invitation that the conversation just flowed until I heard a loud ring. Then she said she needed to go to her class, but she’d call someday again.
I was expecting to have to wait months, but she called me only a week later. Ken said she needed time to process that I was in her life—something she didn’t know she had before. So I gave her time. After that second call, we’ve been talking twice a week. With every call, my soul becomes lighter. It’s like I’m rediscovering my family again. Or what’s available of it, so to speak. I’m still not talking to my parents or brothers, but I hope maybe I’ll visit them one day. With Kenneth by my side, of course. Because no one would want to talk smack when a very intimidating man like Sheriff Benson is backing me up.
Life is good. And I miss Sheriff’s body and his giant dick, if I’m completely honest. So I need to figure out what’s going on and fix this.
After I mail out the letters, I drive to the station. Brad the Dread, as Jennica and I call him since he became so scared of Kenneth’s wrath that his face turns pale when he messes up at work, is nowhere to be seen. The cute, perky receptionist, Lily, is vigorously typing something on her computer. She’s completely hidden by the pile of papers and so immersed in her work, she doesn’t even notice me come in.
I walk past her, trying not to disrupt her workflow, and move toward Ken’s office. His door is closed. When Jennica sees me approaching, she throws her arms in the air in a victorious gesture.
“Is he in there?” I nod at his office.
“Yep. Cooped up since morning. Already bit Brad’s head off and nearly chewed mine.”
“I was wondering where Brad is.” I chuckle.
“Licking his wounds.” She throws her thumb behind her back, pointing at the window. “Or a severed head,” she adds, wincing.
“Please keep people out, would you?” I ask her with a suggestive brow.
She places an open palm on her chest. “Anything for you, my queen,” she replies with a not-so-subtle wink, making me snicker, and grabs the remote from her desk, increasing the volume on the mounted TV.
I square my shoulders and walk inside the room, locking the door behind me. The atmosphere is grim. Heavy. Kenneth’s sitting at his desk, writing something in a journal they keep here for records as old-school folks do. A thundercloud is over his head, mirrored in his hazel eyes. His brows are drawn together. And I’m actually getting a bit nervous because I don’t know what’s been happening with him.
When he notices me, he lifts a brow for a second and goes back to writing, totally dismissing me.
Hmm.All right, Sheriff, the game’s on.
I slowly walk to the window separating his office from the rest of the station and flip the blinds closed. Then I walk to the other one, doing the same. The sound of my heels clicking on the floor finally draws his attention. He hasn’t dropped the pen, but his eyes are on me.
“What are you doing here, Josie?”
