It looked like a family trying.
And that was better.
Jane came to stand beside me, her cheeks pink from the cold, hair slipping loose despite her best efforts. “It’s good.”
“It is,” I agreed.
Kitty bounced in place. “It’s great. It’s going to be the best float in the parade.”
Meri snorted. “That’s not a high bar in Maple Ridge.”
Kitty gasped.“Meri.”
“It’s true,” Meri replied, calm as ever. “Half the floats will be pickup trucks with hay bales and one sad string of lights.”
Kitty brightened. “Then we will destroy them.”
Lucy sipped her coffee. “Politely.”
I laughed, the sound unexpected and full, and felt something unclench in my chest.
For the first time since I had decided I was going to do this float, I didn’t feel like I was holding my breath.
I was still nervous. Still responsible. Still aware of Collin waiting like a problem that wouldn’t solve itself, but as I watched my sisters fuss over garland and zip ties and lights, I realized something simple.
I wasn’t doing this alone anymore.
And maybe I hadn’t been for a while.
Chapter Twelve: New Assignments
Ephram
I arrived at the station early, greeting Gail who gave me her customary coffee mug salute.
I changed into my uniform before heading to my desk. Setting my jacket on the back of my chair, I poured myself a cup of coffee that was more bitter than I preferred, and started working through the paperwork waiting on my desk. It was mostly routine follow-ups and sign-offs. The kind of slow, steady work that kept things running even when no one noticed.
I was halfway through a report when my boss leaned into the doorway of my office.
“Do you have a minute, Sergeant?”
“Of course,” I said, getting up immediately to follow him to his office.
He stepped inside and shut the door behind him with casual finality, gesturing to me to have a seat. He leaned against the filing cabinet, arms crossed, expression thoughtful in a way that rarely meant good news.
“There is a new animal shelter in town,” he mentioned.
“I heard,” I replied.
“Good. I want the department involved.”
I nodded. “In what capacity?”
“Visibility,” he said. That word carried more weight than it should have and I wondered where this conversation was going. “People like police officers, and people like cats.”
I blinked.“Cats?”
“Dogs too,” he added, waving a hand. “But cats do better online.”
