“That never stopped a man in love before. If you’ve got what’s best for her, you show her.”
We pull up at the fair, and I shake my head. Things sound so simple coming from my father, but he has no idea how complicated this whole mess is.
"Son, one thing I've learned is that the truth will prevail. It doesn't matter how deep you try to bury it. It will resurface, and when it does, you best be ready for it."
I wish that I had his optimism that things will work out, but I don’t.
"I spent most of my life lying and cheating, doing your mother and you boys wrong. I was a selfish asshole, and it took losing your mother to another man, then your brother, to set me on the right path. I figured my sins would die with me. They didn't. What I mean is that if this girl is innocent, you have nothing to worry about."
My dad and I worked things out over the years, mainly because my mother insisted that I do. I’m thankful that she is a kind and compassionate human and raised me to be the same. She still talks to my dad and even brings him soup when he’s ill.
“Thanks, Dad.”
"Anytime. Now, how about we go get us some food. This old man is starving."
The town fair is the highlight of the year, and I haven't been to one in a while. I grew out of it, preferring to stay at home when the rest of the world was out. The lights from the rides, the good food, and music, everything here makes it the perfect place for a good time. Dad and I grab some beers and walk around, trying to decide what we're going to pig out on first. A little girl runs up and bumps against me, her fried ice cream and my pants clash in the process.
"Oops." She grins up at me, and I can't help but smile.
"Tell you what. Since I got in your way, how about I replace that cone?" She beams, and my heart melts. Kids are cute as hell. I reach into my pocket for a dollar and hand it to her.
"Thanks, mister." She says, running off in the direction she came from.
I don't see her parents in sight, so I call after her. "Hey kid, where’s your parents?"
She points to a woman walking toward her. She'd be hard to miss. Long auburn hair tumbles down her back in locks. She wears black cowboy boots, a floral dress, and a black leather jacket.
“Gracie. Where were you?” Worried eyes land on her daughter.
She points to me, and Sin's face breaks into a smile. "Now that right, there is a looker," my father whispers. I shake my head, but he's right. That she is. The whole fucking package and she's about to go down for murder. What are the chances?
“Creed, hi,” Her eyes crinkle at the sides when she smiles.
"Hi, Sin. So this is your Gracie, then?" I smirk down at the little girl that is as pretty as her mother. "Sinclair, this is my father, Hank. Dad, this is Sinclair. Her folks are from around here."
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, missy.” Dad extends a hand and shakes Sin’s hands vigorously.
“Likewise, sir.”
"Oh, I'll have none of that ‘sir’ nonsense. Hank will do."
An older version of Sin appears behind her with a sullen teen, I guess must be Willow. "Mom, Willow, this is Detective Jameson. His dad lives around the area."
“He that one investigating you?”Willow asks.
Sin bites her lip. “He’s doing his job.” She tells her daughter.
Willow snaps. “Then he can do it away from us.” She turns to leave, her grandmother grabbing Gracie’s hand and following.
“She’s protective,” Sin tells me. My father decides to make himself scarce.
"As she should be." I say honestly. "She's straight forward. Kinda like you are."
"She's much stronger, though, and far less naive."
I want to tell her that trusting people who are assholes doesn't make her naive. Or that it isn't her fault her husband turned out to be a piece of shit. Instead, I smile politely. "I should get my dad some food to eat. See you tomorrow?"
"Six o'clock." She smiles. "Enjoy the fair. The corn dogs are great." She walks back into the crowd, turns, and walks off in the direction her family went in. I stare after her for a while. I'm starting to look forward to those morning runs a bit too much.
