good point. I haven’t heard a thing from the sheriff. I wonder if this has to do with the woman. Maybe she’s an international criminal,” Deputy Dinky said as he took a sip of iced tea.
“Or maybe it’s as simple as a girlfriend,” Noodle, Dinky’s partner, said.
“I like Dinky’s idea. I have twenty on international criminal,” Miss Daisy said as she pulled out her ever-present notebook and marked the newest bet.
“I’ll put ten on her being a spy from another country that he’s turned,” Pam said.
“Oh, that’s a good one,” Miss Daisy murmured as she took the bet.
Cy pulled the truck to a stop a block away from the café. The street was lined with cars. It was lunchtime, and since this was the only place to eat in the town, he knew it was going to be packed. “It’s right down there,” he told Gemma, pointing to the umbrellas providing shade to the bistro tables on the sidewalk.
“It’s a cute town. This is nothing like L.A.,” Gemma said as she took in the old façades of Main Street painted in the historic colors of tan, white, dark red, and grayish-blue. Flowers were blooming in the baskets hanging from the old-style lampposts where American flags fluttered in the warm breeze.
“It is. I remember being a teenager and thinking it was horrible. Everyone knew all my business. I couldn’t get into too much trouble because someone would tell my mom. And then, of course, everyone had an opinion about who I was dating, what sports I should be playing, or what I should do with my life.
“I left and never thought I’d want to come back. Funny thing happened. About one year after leaving, I started missing the place. By three years out, I missed the place so much I started buying up property just to keep my connection to the town. I knew then my goal was to work hard enough to make it back here,” Cy told her as he pushed open the door to the café. He had never told anyone so much about this town. It was part of his secret life he hadn’t been able to talk to anyone about and it felt good to tell her about his life, goals, and desires.
Cy walked into the café and stood grinning like a fool. The place had gone silent in a heartbeat. Everyone turned and stared at them with guilty looks all over their faces. Strange how he had actually grown to miss this.
“Were you all talking about us?” He laughed.
“Cy, welcome home, sweetheart.” Miss Lily wrapped him up in a tight hug as her sisters hurried over. He gave each Rose sister a kiss on the cheek and shook hands with everyone else from the town. His good friend, Coach Parks, gave him a tight hug as everyone peppered Cy with questions.
Gemma stood slightly behind Cy and watched the scene unfold around her. They had already known he was back in town and needed help. They had already known she was there and, one after another, shook her hand, gave Fred a pat, and introduced themselves to her.
“Cy,” she whispered, getting his attention, “how did these people know we were here?”
“I told you they had an information system better than the government’s,” Cy said with a grin. “Miss Lily, we need a place to stay. Mom’s turned my room into a baby’s room and Paige rented her apartment out to Bridget.”
“Oh, I know, dear. Are you adding to that?” she asked with a quick look to Gemma’s belly. Gemma blushed and then for a second time got self-conscious. Why was everyone thinking she was pregnant? Did she look fat or something?
“Nope, sorry,” Cy said easily.
“Dang,” Miss Lily said under her breath. “Why don’t you introduce us to your friend?”
“As many of you have met her already, I’ll keep it short. This is Gemma Perry. The same people behind Pierce and Tammy’s attempted murder and the dog-fighting ring murdered her sister. We need to keep her safe until we can capture them.” Cy paused as he saw the people nod their heads and whisper to each other. "Unfortunately, they’re after me,
“Or maybe it’s as simple as a girlfriend,” Noodle, Dinky’s partner, said.
“I like Dinky’s idea. I have twenty on international criminal,” Miss Daisy said as she pulled out her ever-present notebook and marked the newest bet.
“I’ll put ten on her being a spy from another country that he’s turned,” Pam said.
“Oh, that’s a good one,” Miss Daisy murmured as she took the bet.
Cy pulled the truck to a stop a block away from the café. The street was lined with cars. It was lunchtime, and since this was the only place to eat in the town, he knew it was going to be packed. “It’s right down there,” he told Gemma, pointing to the umbrellas providing shade to the bistro tables on the sidewalk.
“It’s a cute town. This is nothing like L.A.,” Gemma said as she took in the old façades of Main Street painted in the historic colors of tan, white, dark red, and grayish-blue. Flowers were blooming in the baskets hanging from the old-style lampposts where American flags fluttered in the warm breeze.
“It is. I remember being a teenager and thinking it was horrible. Everyone knew all my business. I couldn’t get into too much trouble because someone would tell my mom. And then, of course, everyone had an opinion about who I was dating, what sports I should be playing, or what I should do with my life.
“I left and never thought I’d want to come back. Funny thing happened. About one year after leaving, I started missing the place. By three years out, I missed the place so much I started buying up property just to keep my connection to the town. I knew then my goal was to work hard enough to make it back here,” Cy told her as he pushed open the door to the café. He had never told anyone so much about this town. It was part of his secret life he hadn’t been able to talk to anyone about and it felt good to tell her about his life, goals, and desires.
Cy walked into the café and stood grinning like a fool. The place had gone silent in a heartbeat. Everyone turned and stared at them with guilty looks all over their faces. Strange how he had actually grown to miss this.
“Were you all talking about us?” He laughed.
“Cy, welcome home, sweetheart.” Miss Lily wrapped him up in a tight hug as her sisters hurried over. He gave each Rose sister a kiss on the cheek and shook hands with everyone else from the town. His good friend, Coach Parks, gave him a tight hug as everyone peppered Cy with questions.
Gemma stood slightly behind Cy and watched the scene unfold around her. They had already known he was back in town and needed help. They had already known she was there and, one after another, shook her hand, gave Fred a pat, and introduced themselves to her.
“Cy,” she whispered, getting his attention, “how did these people know we were here?”
“I told you they had an information system better than the government’s,” Cy said with a grin. “Miss Lily, we need a place to stay. Mom’s turned my room into a baby’s room and Paige rented her apartment out to Bridget.”
“Oh, I know, dear. Are you adding to that?” she asked with a quick look to Gemma’s belly. Gemma blushed and then for a second time got self-conscious. Why was everyone thinking she was pregnant? Did she look fat or something?
“Nope, sorry,” Cy said easily.
“Dang,” Miss Lily said under her breath. “Why don’t you introduce us to your friend?”
“As many of you have met her already, I’ll keep it short. This is Gemma Perry. The same people behind Pierce and Tammy’s attempted murder and the dog-fighting ring murdered her sister. We need to keep her safe until we can capture them.” Cy paused as he saw the people nod their heads and whisper to each other. "Unfortunately, they’re after me,
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