I winced. I had no doubt Chase heard the tiny threat.
“Right,” Chase said. “Who indeed.”
I glanced sharply at him. Was he really going to allow my parents to park out here and sleep for four or five days?
“How about this?” Chase said. “Since you can’t really stay with us because of the house arrest, how about if you need a place to shower or…whatever…I’ll give you my Pop’s address. He used to be the sheriff around here, so you can rest assured it’s safe to go there.”
Dad snorted. “Another fed?”
“He wasn’t a fed,” Chase said calmly. “He was the sheriff.”
Before Dad could say anything more, Mom placed a hand on Chase’s arm. “Thank you, Chase. It’s kind of you to offer. We’ll accept the address.”
I blinked in surprise. Never in my twenty-five years when we’d slept on the road had we ever needed a place to shower or go to the bathroom. We were prepared for those needs.
“Your friend Mimi said tomorrow your community service was gardening at the senior center,” Mom said. “Do you think your dad and I could come help?”
I turned to Chase excitedly. “My mom and dad grow some of the best vegetables and herbs you’ll ever taste.”
Chase snorted. “I can only image. Do I want to know what kind of herbs?”
Dad laughed and slapped Chase on the back. “Oregano.”
Chapter 14
“Not bad.” Chase pushed his plate back from the edge of the table. “What was it all again?”
I laughed. “The green things were poblano peppers stuffed with spinach and ricotta cheese. The side dish was a quinoa salad made up of quinoa, spinach, corn, black beans, green onions, with a lime juice and oil dressing.”
“Not bad, Martin.”
I giggled. “Why do you sometimes call me by my last name?”
He shrugged. “Sounds like a man. Lance gets to call you Alex, so why can’t I call you by your last name of Martin?”
“You’re too funny.”
“So now what?” Chase asked. “Netflix after I put the dishes in the dishwasher?”
“Sure. But it’s your turn to pick the movie.”
“Good.” Chase stood. “Because I’m leaning more toward a series and not a movie.”
Twenty minutes later, we were both snuggled into the couch, Chase with a beer, me with hot tea.
“Can I ask you something while you pull up this secret series?” I asked.
“Shoot.”
“Why law enforcement? I mean, was it always your dream job even when you were in the military?”
Chase put down the remote and turned to me. “I’m not sure if dream job is the right wording. I just knew it was what I wanted to do. Like I said the other day, Pops was this county’s sheriff pretty much my whole life. In fact, the year I was discharged from the military was the year Pops retired. There was a lot of pressure not only from Pops but from the community at large for me to run for office, take up his mantle, step into his shoes, and become the sheriff.”
“Why didn’t you?”
Chase shrugged. “I guess I wanted to carve my own path. I love Trinity Falls and being a city cop is a good fit for me.” He hesitated before adding. “Although, maybe one day running for sheriff may appeal to me.”
“I think that’s great,” I said. “Not only are you following in your family’s footsteps, but you also get to help the community.”
