Page 28 of Search for the Truth
Liam would later wonder if his answer would have been the same had someone else been asking. In the moment, however, his response was quick.
“I happen to be a chicken nugget fan myself. You lead the way and I’ll follow.”
Chapter Seven
The change of location had been a simple request, but Blake had found herself oddly nervous about it. No doubt Lola’s parting speech hadn’t helped.
“The fact that he already agreed to eat with you is a good sign that he won’t mind Clem being there or y’all going to the diner,” she had said over her mop and bucket. “I’m still surprised he said yes in the first place. Since he moved to town, that man hasn’t been very social. Some think that’s why he got his divorce, and some think he’s closed offbecauseof his divorce. Either way, he doesn’t seem like the kind of man to get snobby about a kid or a change in plans.”
Lola had shrugged.
“And if he makes a fuss, then fuss right on back,” she’d added. “If that doesn’t work, give me a call and Bruce and I will show up and fuss too. That’ll teach him to get into a snit over nothing.”
Blake had waved off the offer of the fussing backup, though she’d been touched. Not just anyone would go to bat against a sheriff for her.
Lola’s words, as supportive as they were, however, had Blake antsier than she had anticipated when driving up to the restaurant.
She wanted to talk to Liam.
She wanted him towantto talk to her.
Maybe it was because he had helped her with Ryan. Maybe it was because they both understood what it meant to be a sheriff. Maybe it was because, other than Lola, he was the first adult in town not to ask the hard questions.
Talking to Liam had so far been an easy thing to do.
So when he was quick to assure her that their change of plans wouldn’t make him leave, Blake couldn’t help but feel some relief.
In fact, there was some excitement too.
“We’re going to eat with an actual adult, Clem,” she called over her shoulder once she was back in her car. “Someone whodoesn’tlive in our house. That means we need to be on our best behavior. No yelling from me, no throwing food for you. We don’t want to scare the sheriff off.”
Clem was in a jumper covered in cartoon ducks. Her hair was braided and, in the right light, looked identical to Blake’s. It was a point of pride for Blake that she was the only one Clem would let play with her hair. And play it had become since Blake learned quickly that doing her own hair in braids was one thing. Doing a toddler’s hair in braids was another.
“You ready to go?” Blake asked the girl, reversing into position in front of Liam’s truck. Surely he knew how to get to the diner, yet he was waiting for them. It was sweet.
Clem apparently agreed.
“He’s gonna eat chicken nuggs too,” she squealed in delight. Blake saw her wave in the truck’s direction. She couldn’t see if Liam waved back. “Chicken nuggs with ranch,” Clem added once they were going forward again. “Ranch, ranch, ranch.”
Blake laughed at that.
“You and your ranch. You know I told your grandma that it might not be a bad idea to throw you a ranch-themed party for your next birthday.”
Clem broke out into giggles.
“With chicken nuggs?” she asked between them.
Blake nodded.
“With chicken nuggs.”
Clem started to talk about food some more, and Blake navigated the stretch between the restaurant’s parking lot right out to the town’s biggest collective grievance—the new intersection. One that Blake had only experienced a handful of times since coming back.
“It’s like whoever added in that intersection was paid to make it as much as a pain in the tuchus as possible,” Lola had once complained about the spot. “I went the wrong way twice there, and I don’t even feel bad about it. None of it makes sense!”
Blake had done enough driving in enough less-than-ideal areas that the intersection didn’t bother her as much. That didn’t mean she let her guard down though. She was hyperaware of the cars around them as she rolled to a stop. It’s why she noticed that the vehicle behind her was not, in fact, the sheriff’s truck.
“I guess Liam is one of those Sunday drivers,” Blake mused aloud. “He probably let me lead because he likes taking his time behind the wheel.”
