“Why do people insist on using logic against me. It’s quite rude.”
She chuckles and tugs me along the corridor before nudging me into one of the chairs. “Sit, take a few minutes to relax, and I’ll be right back.”
“Alright. And seriously, thank you.”
She winks at me and heads off to grab me some glorious sugar. I lean my head back against the wall and let my eyes slip closed, replaying all the events that have taken place over the last couple of months. I have so much to fill Stephenson in on, but I don’t want to overwhelm him. However, I’m not sure where to start other than at the beginning.
After the shooting at the precinct, Tempest did what it does best in times of crisis: it rallied. We closed ranks around everyone, keeping as much of the national media away as we could to protect our own.
Price Security had all its members temporarily deputized, thanks to Wade. They even provided an office space out the back of their business for him to work from while the police station was out of commission.
It was back up and running now, thankfully, and as predicted, Wade had become chief. He still wasn’t sure how he felt about that. I know he missed being out in the thick of things. But either way, the town of Tempest took a collective sigh of relief, knowing it was safe in Wade’s hands.
New staff had been brought in. Though it was exactly what we needed, none of us were happy with how it happened, which cast a pall over everything. Detective Smith was one of the cops killed, along with Officer Mallet, who was due to retire in a month. Chris, who was the third officer hurt that day, took a bullet to the shoulder. Thankfully, he was on the mend and already back at the station, albeit on desk duty.
Price Security had also been interviewing new candidates. They were busy before they stepped up to help Wade, but things were reaching a point where they were turning too many people away, which annoyed Blake to no end. I hadn’t met the potential candidates yet, but I figured there had to be a few good ones in the mix.
Everything had been done quietly as the town turned out for the funerals of the fallen officers. But life went on, and things had slowly started to return to normal as people came to terms with everything that had happened.
Another change to come would be the mayor stepping down. He would finish out his term, as there were only two months left of it, but he would not be running in the next election. I didn’t dabble much in politics, so I didn’t know who would be stepping up to take over, but I hoped it meant good things for Tempest. I guess only time would tell. At least the new mayor wouldn’t have to worry about the Bannerman’s, other than Jake and Katy, obviously.
Price Security had done some digging. John and Leanne had relocated to Maine, where Leanne was in a treatment program at some swanky facility to help her deal with her grief. I think whatever her issues are went far beyond grief. If it weren’t for Banner, I’d say she was a “boy mom” to the extreme, but her obsession only went as far as Alec. I still can’t figure out to this day what made him so special.
All contact was cut between Katy, Jake, and their parents, both of whom were still raw from the revelations involving Denny. None of their issues were because their dad’s affair partner was a man, though it came as a shock to both of them. The age gap, however, was something that didn’t sit right. Denny was a year younger than Banner and clearly impressionable. John might have committed no crimes sleeping with him, but morally, he preyed on someone far younger than himself.Someone malleable and, whether he knew it or not, unstable. As far as Katy and Banner go, if their father hadn’t messed around with Denny, he wouldn’t have blamed me for what came about and come after me. That is something neither of them can forgive John for.
I keep my mouth shut on the subject. It’s not up to me to tell them how to deal with what they see as a family betrayal, even if I was involved. Instead, I let them work through their feelings while I focus my energy elsewhere.
One of those things being what to do with my old house. After much deliberation, Banner and I decided to knock down the existing structure and use the space to extend the building we are currently living in, thereby doubling our garden area. We spent a lot of time out back and thought, why not add a pool, outdoor kitchen, and dining area, as well as a place where people can sprawl out and lounge? Work would begin in five weeks, once Katy shipped out to Fort Jackson to do her basic training. Yep, that’s right. Katy enlisted a week after her eighteenth birthday, and we stood outside the recruitment office silently cheering her on. It was hard for Banner. I could tell he wanted to wrap her up in cotton balls and drag her home. But he sucked it up, and when she came out with a big smile on her face, he hugged her, told her how proud he was of her, and then took us both out for dinner to celebrate.
“Penny for your thoughts.”
I squeal, covering my heart with my hands as Jeanette laughs. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to make you jump.”
“No, it’s fine, I was in a world of my own.”
I take the Coke and the Snickers she holds out to me and thank her before tearing open the bar of chocolate and biting off a chunk with a groan. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until right now.
“So good. Thank you.”
“No worries, but I mean what I said about looking after yourself.”
“I know, I’ll do better.”
“We both will.”
I turn at the sound of Banner’s voice and smile at him. “Hey, baby.”
“Hey, yourself.” He sits down beside me and kisses me lightly before looking up at Jeanette. “Thanks for looking out for her. Things have been crazy for both of us, but that’s no excuse. I’ll make sure she’s taken care of from here on out.”
“Hey, no, this is my fault, not yours, I’m a big girl.”
“You’re my girl, and it’s my job to take care of you. I’ve not been doing a very good job of it lately.”
“Okay, that’s my cue to leave. Good to see you, Banner,” Jeanette says before giving me a wave.
I finish my Snickers as she leaves, before I find myself in Banner’s lap. He buries his face in my hair and breathes me in.
“Missed you.”
