Running Home by T.A. Hardenbrook

the ring when I was grabbing your bow from the hall closet a couple days ago. Put that, and you asking for Saturday and Sunday off, I figured you were finally going to make an honest woman of that girl.” He chuckled as he un-wrapped a candy bar he had stashed in his front pocket. I guess I didn’t give my best friend much credit; he was studying to move up to detective in our bureau, since Willis was retiring at the end of next year. Maybe the man was smarter then he looked.
    “Keep it quiet ; you know how people talk in this town. I want it to be a surprise.” I hushed as my eyes glared at Derek sitting across from me.
    “Don’t worry, my lips are sealed,” he smiled and let out a small chuckle.
    “Yeah, that’s what I’m scared of; seriously don’t fuck this up for me.”
    “Oooh, Mason used the word ‘fuck’ ; you must be serious then.”
    “I will kill you and bu ry the body where no one would find it.” I threatened.
    “Good ol ’ Waylon would find me, won’t you Bud?” He called over to the dog as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a beef stick, tossing it at the waiting chocolate lab.
    “Great,” I muttered to myself. My human and anim al best friend working together; I might just be screwed.
     
     
    I hurried over to my a unt’s B&B after work to pick up some of the white Christmas lights that didn’t get used this year on the house. Pulling up in front of the old large Victorian, I couldn’t help but laugh, as the house was the darkest on the block, with a single strand of lights strung over the entrance, and a large wreath hanging on the door.
    “Aunt Patty! Where are you at?” I shouted , as I walked into the entry way and wiped my boots off on the mat.
    “Good golly , Walker, you don’t need to holler; I’m right here.” Aunt Patty remarked as she walked into the room, wiping her hands off on a dish towel.
    “Sorry , I’m kind of nervous,” I muttered sheepishly.
    “Really , you? I couldn’t tell.” She laughed as she beckoned me to follow her into the kitchen. Laid on the table was a picnic basket that had been painted white and bits of holly were tucked into the woven slats. My lips instantly curled up into a smile the size of Texas when my eyes fell upon the basket Aunt Patty decorated for me.
    “Now , here’s the basket. Make sure you stop by here around noon so I can fill the thermoses and give you some of the sugar cookies I’ve got to decorate in the morning,” she said with a wink. “Ooh, I almost forgot the blanket!” Aunt Patty scurried into a different room, then swiftly emerged with a white plush quilt with silver lining the edges.
    “Now , Walker, don’t you mess this up you hear?”
    I couldn’t even speak; the basket, lunch, and even the blanket were perfect. Now, all I had to do was get everything set up and ready to go for tomorrow.
    “How late is M om keeping her at the cafe?” I asked.
    “Late enough ; until you get things finished. Trust me, with all the holiday goodies your mother is having her help bake she won’t even have time to give you a jingle till way later,” Aunt Patty said with a smirk.
    “Thanks again , Aunt Patty; I couldn’t have done this without your help,” I gushed, as I grabbed and pulled her into a tight hug.
    “Yes you could have , boy; it just wouldn’t have been this fantastic without our help.” She laughed as I released her from my grasp. I placed a quick kiss to her cheek, and headed back out to the Bronco.
    “Walker, you forgetting something ?”
    I quickly did a mental inventory o f things I still needed to get what could I possibly be forgetting?
    “The lights? Don’t tell me you changed your mind? I might beat you senseless if I kept all those twinkling lights off my house this year just so you could not use them,” Aunt Patty threatened.
    “Garage?” I ask meekly.
    “It’s a good thing you are cute, and I like that Sadie girl so much,” she scolded, while walking back into her kitchen.
    I