Page 35 of Blue Norther
“Please stop calling me ma’am. I’m Violet.” I held out my hand. He reached through the window and took my hand, giving it a firm shake.
“Deputy Johnathan Boone. But please, feel free to call me John.”
“Well, John, it’s very nice to meet you. Do you need anything? Coffee? Breakfast? You’re more than welcome to come inside if you need to use the restroom…”
John smiled. “I’m all set here, ma—sorry,Violet. Thank you. If you need anything…”
“I’ll get your attention. Promise.”
He nodded, his smile never wavering, even if his eyes did look tired. “Alright. Have a good morning.”
“Oh, I will.”
And I would, because as soon as I was back in the house, I marched straight upstairs. Colt had filled my bag with the most ridiculous mismatch of random clothes possible, so it was going to be a black legging and sweatshirt kind of day. Lucky for me, my ex-husband still had his extensive collection of sweatshirts, so it was the dealer's choice. My eyes skimmed over the folded fabric until it landed on a gray sweatshirt that looked well loved.
Unfolding it, my breath caught in my throat. Embroidered across the chest wasChesapeake Bayand my mind was instantly back on the shore, eating so much seafood that Colt joked he was going to have to roll me back to the little bed and breakfast we were staying at for our honeymoon. I’d bought a canvas bag to carry my laptop in when we were shopping the day before we left, and I had insisted he get something to take home with him.
“I already have exactly what I want going home with me, Vi. My wife.”
Smiling at the memory, I slipped the sweatshirt over my head and made my way back downstairs. Before I slipped my shoes back on, I grabbed my laptop and slid it into my bag. I marched over to the counter and removed my injection from the big box before slipping that into my bag, too.
Colt wanted me to be safe? He wanted to help with my medication? Perfect. I’d make it possible for all that to happen. But no way, no how, was a deputy wasting his time sitting outside this house all day long.
Slinging my bag over my shoulder, I opened the door, flipped the lock, and shut it behind me as I stepped onto the porch once more. I smiled as I walked in front of the vehicle. Of course, my car was still at my parents’ place, so Deputy Boone was going to get the honors of driving me into town, all the way to the Sheriff’s Department.
“Violet?” John’s voice questioned me as I pulled open the passenger side door. “Are you okay?” His eyes dropped to my belly.
“Fine,” I huffed, startlingly out of breath. “I just need you to drive me into town.”
John nodded, his hand reaching to turn the key. The engine rumbled to life and I closed my door, slipping my hand around the seat belt and yanking it over my body towards the receiver.
“I would never normally ask this of you,” I start, “but since Colt drove me here last night and left my car at my parents, this will have to do.”
“I don’t mind one bit. But could you let me know where you need to go so that I can let him know we’ve left, and I can get you there safely?”
I laughed. “Oh, you don’t need to tell him where we’re going. He’ll see once we get there.”
A smile pulled across John’s face. “Ah. We’re heading to the Sheriff’s Department?”
“You would be one-hundred percent correct.”
“To come home from our honeymoon and hear we were having twins a few weeks later was the shock of a lifetime,” John laughed. I smiled as he finished telling me about his wife, Abby, their daughter Katy, and their twin boys.
“You certainly have your hands full.”
“I do. But it’s the best. You must be looking forward to the chaos.”
“More than you could ever know.”
John nodded as he flipped on the blinker and pulled into the station.
“Wait right there, I’ll help you down,” he instructed.
“I managed just fine on the way in.”
“Yeah, I’m all for a woman standing in her independence and all, but I really would like to keep my job. Colt will suspend me with his temporary powers—no question asked—if he hears I didn’t help you down.”
I nodded. “Well, I can’t be responsible for that.”
