Iglanced at my watch. Almost five. I’d declared that hour quitting time two weeks ago when Caitlin and I had returned to Poplar Springs together. That day I’d had to go ask the interim mayor for my job back. Amy had laughed at me and pulled my resignation out of a drawer with an “I-hoped-you-weren’t-serious” look.
Since then, I’d been serious about two things. Making sure my deputies could manage without my constant supervision and assuring that I spent as much time with Caitlin as I could.
I left my office, putting my hat on as I moved toward the station door. Sofia was on the phone, and she held up a finger for me to stop.
“What is it?” I asked when she hung up, knowing that something must be going on.
“The two Bobs are at it again,” Sofia said. “McCall has blocked Jackson in his parking space. They’re apparently fighting about something that happened during a meeting. Mack’s already there, but they’re insisting you come personally. Sorry.”
“Not happening,” I declared without hesitation. “I’m not going. You can de-escalate that situation as easily as I can. Take Nelson with you so he sees how it’s done. Parsons can stay here, in case something comes up while you’re gone.” Nelson was a new part-time deputy I’d hired to fill in for some of the hours that I was no longer working.
“Ready to roll,” Nelson said, getting up from behind his desk. I liked the young deputy’s attitude. He was always ready to jump in as needed, but he also had common sense and good judgment.
“Do you want me to call you later with the outcome?” Sofia asked, shooting me a questioning look.
“Nope, I’ve got a date,” I said and walked out the door, feeling confident that I’d made the right call. Sofia could handle the situation and a whole lot more.
I was whistling when I turned down Main Street, headed for the storefront that would soon be Caitlin and Melody’s tattoo parlor. They’d gotten the keys the day before and were jumping right into readying the space. I’d put the brakes on that a bit. I didn’t want Caitlin overdoing it. She’d argued that she was fine, capable of handling the labor, but I hadn’t budged on that issue. To ensure she didn’t lug, tug, or climb ladders, I’d gotten Jake and Cal to help out for a few days to do the heavy lifting.
I could see my plan was working when I opened the door and stepped in. Cal was carrying a box toward the dumpster in the back of the store, and Jake was up on a ladder storing some items on high shelves. I caught my twin’s eye and nodded.
“Thanks for being here,” I said. I could always call on family to help me, and I was hoping Caitlin felt that she had the same family support herself now.
“Just making sure my new niece or nephew stays safe,” Jake said as he came down from the ladder.
“Uncle Brian!” Henry ran into the room and skidded to a stop in front of me. “I’ve been helping.” My nephew wore patched jeans and a T-shirt that proclaimed him a “Ranch Kid.” He was dusty and had grime streaked across his cheek, but he also had a huge smile on his face.
“Cal brought him along,” Jake said, rubbing his hand over Henry’s head. “And he’s been darn useful.”
“I carried a ginormous box.” Henry gestured with his arms showing the size. “And I killed a really big spider,” Henry lowered his voice, “but Uncle Jake said that we shouldn’t mention that to the women.”
“Good call,” I said, making a mental note to contact an exterminator. Since the building had sat empty for more than a year, that spider probably had friends. The front door opened, and Amy came in. This was getting to be a true family affair.
“Mom, can I ask him?” Henry rushed over to his mother. “Please.”
“Yes, you can.” Amy caught my eye and flashed me a smile. “Henry has questions for you. He’s been waiting for a good time to ask.”
“Uncle Brian, when the baby gets here, it’ll be really little, right?” Henry asked.
“I expect so,” I responded. I was plenty anxious for the baby to arrive, too, but I wondered where this line of questioning was going.
Henry hooked his thumbs in his belt loops and rocked back on his heels in the same fashion as Jake often stood. “What I want to know is how long do I have to wait until he can ride a pony?” The kid was obviously looking for a playmate.
“Or she,” Jake corrected. “Could be a girl.”
“That’s okay. Girls can ride, too,” Henry said.
“I’m no expert on the subject. We’ll have to wait and see, but I think you started riding when you were two. Is that right, Amy?” I looked to her for confirmation.
“That’s what I told him,” Amy said, eyeing her son, “but he wanted to hear it from you. Satisfied?” She addressed the question to Henry.
“Yep, but it’s a long time to wait,” Henry said, though he seemed to accept it.
“I thought I heard your voice.” Caitlin came down the hall, followed by Melody. Caitlin wore a kerchief over her hair, and her clothes were dusty, but she had a smile just for me.
I went to her immediately and pulled her in for a kiss. “What have you been doing?” I wanted to make sure she hadn’t overexerted herself.
“Stripping wallpaper in what’ll be our tattoo rooms,” she said. “There was hideous textured purple paper in one room, and bright shiny yellow in the other. Mel did the high parts and I did the low. We got a lot done. And before you ask, we were using a steamer to get the glue off. Nothing toxic.” She seemed satisfied with her work for the day. “Tomorrow, we’ll take a trip to Martin’s Ranch Supply. Jake said they’ve got a bunch of paint in that’s safe around animals, so it should be great to use in here.With the way everything is going, we’ll be open before you know it.”
