His honest amusement baffled her.
“See ya, Cassandra.” He jogged back to his car and drove away.
“Asshole.” She fumed, finally slammed the front door, and went to shower.
The night was horrible. Mrs. Cleary called about her granddaughter, now dating some “loser” named Kenny who had a warrant out for his arrest. Oh, and he’d battered her granddaughter, giving the girl two black eyes and a busted lip, though Mandy refused to press charges.
After arresting the guy and dropping him off to be processed, Cass said little to Jed, who kept glancing at her as he drove. “It sucks, but I’m not surprised. Mandy had a run of great luck. Her luck ran out.”
Cass sighed. “I know. I was just hoping never to see that happen to her. At least she’s breaking up with the guy.”
Jed nodded. Then a slow smile crept over his face. “But Lame Dick isn’t so lame after all. Mandy’s ex showed up as we pulled away. Did you see that?”
“Yeah.” Cass chuckled. “Owen Dickerson to the rescue. With any luck, Mandy will start listening to her grandmother. Maybe Limp Dick will stick around and be the good guy Mandy needs.”
“One can hope.”
They drove around, patrolling. The night passed, and Cass wanted nothing but to go home and figure out just what had happened between her and Mack. But Jed kept her occupied, probably sensing her bad mood, with a lot of funny stories about Shannon and the kids. After they finished for the night and made their way to their cars, she learned that the twins had an even better story than permanent marker-face, one that included Samantha, a priest, and church last Sunday that Jed had forgotten to mention.
“Yep,” Jed growled. “Nothing says funny like Sam asking the priest, ‘What do a Christmas tree and a priest have in common? Their balls are just for decoration.’” He slapped a hand over his face.
She laughed her way to her car. “Thanks, Jed. You always know what to say to make me feel better.” She laughed harder.That’s a really funny joke. I’ll have to remember that.
“I swear, I didn’t know she was standing there when I told that joke to Shannon’s dad over the phone. Then, of course, the kid breaks it out right after service. We hit ten-o’clock mass, the busiest of the day. Shannon’s only grudgingly talking to me.”
Cass stifled her laughter, and it wasn’t easy. “Aw, she’ll forgive you. Eventually. It can’t be that bad. Who heard Sam, anyway? Couldn’t be that many people.”
“Everyone. The priest was shaking hands after the service, surrounded by happy parishioners, when Sam stopped to tell him the joke.” Jed groaned. “He laughed, actually. He’s a good guy. But Shannon… I thought her head was going to explode.”
“Well, have a good time at church in a few hours,” Cass said, chipper. “Give Shannon an amen from me, would you?”
He flipped her off and left.
She got into her car, still chuckling, and made her way home. The streets were usually empty so early in the morning, a few early birds rising. The die-hard joggers out with cleats on their sneakers to battle any icy sidewalks, homeless people curled up, just trying to stay warm.
One particular face caught her eye, and she headed over, popped out, and stuck five dollars in the old lady’s cup. The woman grunted a thanks, and Cass continued on her way home. Despite trying to get the older woman into a shelter or, better yet, back with her daughter, who’d been happy enough to take her in, Cass had been unsuccessful. The woman wanted her independence on the street with her friends.
Cass didn’t understand it, but then, she’d grown up with warmth and love. Any hint of mental or emotional distress and her father would immediately drop everything to help her get better. And with her mother so concerned about Cass’s physical well-being, having lost one daughter to sickness, Cass had striven to exceed in the physical so her mom wouldn’t worry.
She’d been tremendously fortunate growing up to know herself and her capabilities.
So why the heck had she acted so contrary to her nature to let Mack win when even according to him it hadn’t mattered all that much?
Instead of whining to Jed yet again, she’d tried to figure herself out. Even after showering and getting some sleep, she woke feeling unrested, disturbed.
So she called in the big guns. “Dad? Do you have time to meet me for lunch today? I have a problem.”
“You bet. I have the day off, as a matter of fact,” he teased. “How about I make us some subs?”
She grinned. “You mean you’re going to buy some amazing sandwiches from a certain sub shop off Rainier?”
“Maybe.”
“Thanks, Dad. I’ll see you at one if that’s okay.”
“Perfect. It’ll give me time for a nice walk with your mother. She’s got a surgery scheduled later today, so we’re spending the rest of the late morning together.”
“Oh, okay. Tell her I said hi and I’ll try to get over to see both of you next week if I can. And, Dad, I need to know what to get you guys for Christmas.” Every year, it was the same thing. They had everything they needed, but just maybe she could find some obscure item she’d have to get in person downtown, amid the crowds of shoppers.
