Another long day on the job was finally over. Things had been pretty quiet around here which was amazing but there was so much paperwork to do. I had no idea the sheriff had to deal with so much bullshit and stress.
It had been a few days since my encounter with Dagger Taylor and it must've worked because the war with the Mexicans hadn't materialized. I felt pretty proud of myself. The town thought a woman couldn't get things done around here and I'd already prevented a major catastrophe. A image of the mayor awarding me a medal in front of the entire town invaded my mind. “It was no problem at all, Mr. Mayor,” I imagined myself saying.
My old 95' Honda Accord heaved into the parking structure of my apartment complex, sputtering and letting out steam. She wouldn't be able to make it much longer. Luckily a sheriff's salary could afford me a brand new car. What should I get? I always dreamed of getting a convertible but that was when I lived in a beach city. A SUV would be better suited for this landscape. Something that could survive the desert sand.
I locked the car but knew it wasn't needed. Nobody would try to steal this old piece of shit. I entered my empty apartment and cursed to myself. I still needed to buy some furniture but I'd been so busy recently. Sharp meows echoed through the living room and Belle wrapped around my legs, purring and rubbing against me.
Belle was a red tabby cat that I rescued from a shelter a few years ago. I needed someone to keep me company—now more than ever since I left my friends and family back in LA. Belle was very loving as long as I fed her at her normal times. If not, she'd hiss and try to bat me with her claws until she heard her dry food hitting the porcelain bowl.
I stumbled over the cat until I reached the kitchen and set my purse down. I got really lucky with this apartment. It was pretty close to the police station with great square footage. I thought about buying a house since I was finally making good money but decided against it when I realized how much work it would take. Apartments were nice and easy, not a lot of cleaning or maintenance.
I pulled out a bottle of red wine from the fridge that I opened from the night before. I didn't even bother with a glass and just drank straight from the bottle. So classy. A couple of officers invited me out to drinks tonight but I knew it was an empty invitation. They wanted to blow off steam and they couldn't do that in front of a superior.
“Just you and me tonight, Belle.” She whipped her tail back and forth as I opened up her bag of food and scooped some into her bowl. I took another swig of wine and watched her eat. My stomach rumbled and I forgot that I hadn't eaten anything all day. I opened the fridge back up and it was completely empty save for a carton of milk. What was I thinking when I went to the grocery store? I don't even drink milk.
I grabbed my phone and searched for takeout Chinese. After waiting an hour, there was finally a knock at the door and the food was delivered. The aroma of cheap Asian cuisine filled the apartment. Belle sat on the counter and watched me unload the little Chinese boxes from the plastic bag. “Don't judge me, cat. I can save the rest for leftovers.”
My phone started to ring “Can't Buy Me Love” by The Beatles. I checked the caller ID and it was my mom. I wasn't sure I wanted to talk with her yet. My parents got divorced the day after I graduated high school, confirming the fact that they only stayed together for me. My dad barely gave me attention anymore after he got remarried.
My mom on the other hand, focused on me like a hawk. At college she called me multiple times a day to talk about all sorts of boring stuff. At first, I loved all the attention but after awhile I couldn't handle the smothering. I hadn't talked to her since I moved here and her voicemails were getting angry. I stared at the ringing phone and pressed the talk button.
“Melissa where have you been? I've been calling you the past couple days and I was starting to get worried.”
“Sorry Mom, I've been super busy at the station.” That part was true but I still could've called her when I got home.
“Yeah I called the station to see if you were okay and the secretary said you were out on a call. So tell me all about it. How's being sheriff?”
I didn't want my mom to know that this town was a lot like LA. “It's been really great so far. Everyone's been really welcoming and the town is so beautiful. I could see myself staying here for very long time.”
“Oh that's great, honey. You know I'm so proud of you. I've been bragging to all my friends at brunch. My daughter's a big shot sheriff now.”
I imagined my mom at Sunday brunch with all her friends wearing their ridiculous hats. She dragged me to it once and I vowed never to go back. Too much prissy behavior for me. “Mom, it really isn't that big of a deal. It's such a small town.”
“Nonsense, Melissa. You've done good for yourself. Now all you need is a man to take care of you.” Here we go. The conversation always turned to this eventually. “When I was talking with Janette at brunch, she told me about her son who's a lawyer. I'll send you the picture because he's beyond handsome.”
I tuned out my mom and grunted every once and awhile to let her know I was still on the line. Why was she so obsessed with me dating? The last blind date she set me up with turned out to be unemployed and still living with his parents. It's been years since her divorce and she hadn't been on one date. Why was I such a priority?
“I think I've taken up enough of your time, darling. Please call me tomorrow.”
“Will do, Mom. Goodnight.” I sighed and set down the phone. Belle yawned and I agreed with her.
I had talked with my mom for so long that the Chinese food had gotten cold. I put some chow mein on a plate along with spicy pork and popped it in the microwave. I crumpled up the coupons that came with the food and threw them across the room. Belle wiggled her butt and bolted towards the front door, batting the paper ball across the carpet. That cat loved the most basic toys.
The microwave dinged and I sat down on the carpet with my food in the middle of the living room. I had no couch, coffee table, or chairs yet. But I had a TV. An old Sony box that didn't work with the remote anymore so you had to get up any time you wanted to change the channel or the volume.
I flicked on the tube and scanned the limited amount of channels I got. My favorite show was on—Friends. I'd seen this episode a hundred times and it never failed to make me laugh. Joey was auditioning for a game show host and Ross and Chandler were playing the fake contestants. The game had the most ridiculous rules but by the end of the episode, they were addicted. Chandler screamed out, “This is the best game...ever!”
Belle lay next to my legs, purring and rubbing her face against my knee. I ate my spicy pork in my empty apartment, giggling at the TV. My mom was wrong, I didn't need a man to enjoy life. I had my dream job and everyone be damned for thinking a woman can't do it.