It’s been a few days since I’ve had any run-ins with Delaney and I’m sensing since her friend from Los Angeles is here, she’s stopped talking about me, as my locker hasn’t been decorated nor has Dominic sang to me. Honestly, I miss the teasing. Not because I enjoy being harassed by Dom, but because until Delaney’s return, my friend has walked on eggshells where I’ve been concerned and it’s nice to see him getting back to his old self. I suppose I have Delaney to thank for that.

Dominic storms into the locker room, fully dressed and ready to go for the day. He sets his foot on the bench, resting his forearm on his thigh. “What’re you doing after work?”

“Eating, sleeping, sanding my floors, homework. The list is endless when I get home. Why, what’s up?”

“D scored some tickets to the Bruins game tonight. Wanna go? Eileen can watch Holly.”

I do want to go. It’s been entirely too long since I’ve been out with the guys. When Heather became ill, our lives changed. They had to. Friends are there, but relationships take a backseat. Unfortunately, hockey tickets are expensive and there’s no way I can afford them. I start to shake my head, but his hand goes up.

“I wasn’t clear,” he says as he pulls out his phone. He clicks a few times before he hands it to me. On the screen are his messages with his sister.

Delaney: I have four tickets to the Bruins tonight.

Dominic: For me?

Delaney: For you, Calvin, Dad and Fish.

Dominic: Does Fisher know?

Delaney: Nope. Figured you can tell him or I can ☺

I hand Dominic his phone back without saying anything. I don’t want the handout, but it’s nice she’s thinking about me.

“As you can see, it’s non-negotiable. I mean, I could call my sister and have her talk to you.”

“No need,” I tell him as I shut my locker. “I’ll have to see if my mom can take Holly.” Thing is, I already know she can. It’s Friday night and Holly often spends the night there so I can pretend to do something around the house, when really all I do is look through our photo albums because I fear I’m going to forget the smallest of details about Heather.

“Like I said, Eileen will watch her or I’m sure D wouldn’t mind.”

“I’m not pawning my daughter off on your sister. Besides, if they were to leave and have another incident at the mall, I don’t think I’d be able to forgive myself.”

“My sister would protect Holly, Fisher. You have to know that.”

I nod. “And who would protect your sister?”

Dominic drops his foot from the bench and stands tall. “You’re right.” He pats me on the back and leaves his hand there until we’re at the door. “Calvin is going to drive. Delaney says we can take her rental.”

“Her car? No way can the four of us fit in there.”

Dom laughs. “Calvin rented an SUV when he arrived. It’s completely decked out. We’ll be riding in luxury.” Dominic heads into the station without realizing the weight of his words. Luxury… something I don’t have and can only experience when others take pity on me. It’s not that I think Delaney is taking pity, but it feels like it.

Living in a small town has its benefits along with its drawbacks. One of the perks is I don’t have to have a partner when I’m on patrol. I suppose being alone all day could make my day seem boring, but it’s not. I like the flexibility of eating when I want, stopping when I need to or hanging out at the station when the chief is in a good mood. The drawback is everyone knows your business.

By the time I park my car and get out, people are telling me how jealous they are that I’m going to watch the Bruins tonight. I swear it hasn’t been ten minutes since Dominic asked me, and yet people already know. And when I step into the diner, after the bells have stop chiming, three others make comments.

“News travels fast, sweetheart,” Wanda says as I take a seat at the counter. She pours me a cup of coffee. On weekdays, I can come for breakfast and eat for under five dollars. This diner has been around since the early nineteen hundreds and has been in the same family the entire time. A fire once threatened it, but the town folks came out in droves to help the local volunteer firefighters extinguish the flames before they did too much damage.

“How come when someone commits a crime, people don’t know who did it before we do?”

“Dunno, sugar. Maybe we only like to chatter about the good stuff.”

That has to be it because we all know mums the word when we’re trying to find who stole a bike, smashed a mailbox or stole an inflatable snowman out of the Smiths’ yard. Wanda sets my breakfast down, but doesn’t leave a bill. “Where’s the check?” I ask. She points toward the other side of the restaurant, where Delaney is sitting, watching me. Delaney motions for me to join her. I hesitate for a moment before picking up my plate and cup of coffee.

The tables I pass say hello, and one even makes a comment about me joining Delaney for breakfast.

“You picked up my tab,” I say as I sit down.

“I saw you sitting there and thought, why not.”

“Because I’m capable of taking care of my own checks,” I tell her. Immediately, I realize how harsh my words are and shake my head. “I didn’t mean it like that. It just, first lunch the other day, the hockey ticket this morning and now this.”

“I didn’t mean anything—”

I hold up my hand in a silent plea for her to stop. I don’t want her apologies, not when I owe her one. “I’m sorry for what I said, Laney. I’m not used to people looking out for me. Not since Heather died.”

“That’s how it works, right? When people get sick or die, others come out and help. They make food for weeks, they stop by and make sure everything is okay, and then it all stops. Everything you became dependent on disappears rather quickly.”

I look at her for a moment, wondering how she knows this. Everyone in her family is still alive and as far as I can remember, she’s never dealt with a loss of any magnitude. “Did you play a widow in a movie?”

“No, Mindy’s father died when we were in high school. I was there. I remember her mother saying something one time. I imagine it’s the same, right?”

“Why are we talking about this?” I ask.

Delaney leans back against the booth and shakes her head. “I don’t know. We can change the subject. I met your daughter yesterday.”

“You did? Where?”

“At school. I’m helping Mrs. Winters with the festival play, just like you suggested.”

I can feel my cheeks getting higher and higher as my smile becomes wider. “That’s great. I’m sure the students will love having you on board, especially Holly, although I’m surprised she didn’t say anything to me about meeting you.”

“Maybe she’s not as big of a fan as you thought.”

“No, that’s definitely not the case.” I use this opportunity to finally take a bite of my breakfast. Wanda comes by to refill our coffee and drop off Laney’s order of pancakes, no syrup but with whipped cream. Wanda doesn’t stay to chat or ask if we need anything else before she’s barking orders.

“Still putting whipped cream on your pancakes?”

Delaney nods as she sticks a fork full into her mouth. Her eyes close as her lips wrap around the fork. “So good,” she mumbles with her mouthful. After she swallows, she points her fork at me. “You know, I like being home in Ramona Falls.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because no one cares that I’m here. I mean look around, this place is packed and yet not a single person… oh wait that guy is staring, but still.”

I turn and look at the man she’s referring to. I haven’t seen him around before, which does seem odd since I know everyone in town. It’s clear he’s not from around here and by the looks of it, he’s alone. “People care, Laney. They respect your privacy.” Even as I say it, I’m not sure they do. “Where’s your bodyguard?”

“Calvin?”

I nod, wanting to know why she’s alone. Not that I can’t protect her, but she does pay someone to do it.

“He’s running.”

“In the snow?”

Delaney laughs. “I know, I couldn’t believe it when he said he was going, but he laced up and took to the streets. I have a feeling he’s going to fall and hurt himself.”

“Well, I hope not because Dom said he’s driving us to Boston in your fancy new rental. You know, if you had that to begin with you probably wouldn’t have been pulled over for speeding.” I wink at her. She covers her face with her hands, but not before I witness her cheeks turning pink.

“You should’ve never pulled her over to begin with. Honestly, Aiden, what were you thinking?” Wanda asks, shaking her head. She sets her empty glass coffee pot down on the table and places her hands on her hips. I half expect her to waggle her finger at me as if she’s scolding me. Still, I do the only thing I can think of and point to Delaney.

“She was speeding and talking on her cell phone, Wanda. If it had been anyone else, the town would be in an uproar. You know it and so does everyone else. I can’t choose who I pull over based on their career.”

“He has a point, Wanda. I was breaking the law,” Delaney says in my defense.

“Thank you,” I say.

“Oh, that doesn’t mean I forgive you because I don’t.”

I throw my hands up in the air. Both Delaney and Wanda start to laugh. “Women,” I mutter, only to hear a “here, here,” coming from another booth. I give a thumb up to whoever is supporting me right now.

Wanda goes over to Delaney and puts her arm around her shoulder. “It’s just because we haven’t had her home in such a long time, and you had to give her a rude welcoming.”

Laney crosses her arms over her chest and gives me a smirk. I toss my napkin down on the table. “What can I do to make it up to the both of you?” I ask, pleading for some mercy.

Both women look at each other for a moment before Wanda opens her mouth. “I think you need to take Delaney here out to dinner.”

“Um…”

“Don’t um me, mister. What’s said is done, now make the plans before I make them for you.” Wanda takes her pot and starts hollering something to one of the cooks. Delaney and I look at each other, neither of us saying anything. The problem is, everyone else in the restaurant is looking at us as well.

I clear my throat, wondering how I’m going to get out of this. It’s not that I don’t want to take her out. It’s more along the lines that I can’t give her what she’s used to. “I know you’re used to fancy—” I’m interrupted by the screeching sound of my radio. “This is 8 2 4.”

“We have a situation over at the clinic and your assistance is needed,” Eileen says.

“Roger that, I’ll be there in five.” I toss some money down on the table, not caring that Delaney has already paid for my breakfast. “I’ll talk to you later, Laney,” I say as I hustle out of the diner. The call couldn’t have come any sooner. I’m so far out of Delaney Du Luca’s league, it saved me from making a fool out of myself.