Rick gives me a knowing nod. “Explains why you left the way you did.”
“I hung up on him before I could hear anything he had to say. Then my grandmother called me earlier and told me he’s on hospice with kidney cancer. She’s wanting the family to come and say their goodbyes next weekend, but I don’t want to go. Now, with this going on, I’m not leaving when the town needs me.”
“Do you think you’re the only cop in Covewood that can handle things?” Lucy adds, shaking her head in disbelief.
“No, I just don’t feel comfortable leaving you all during a time when we’re on high alert,” I say, not caring for all thedisapproving looks I’m receiving from everyone right now. I exhale in frustration as I rub a hand down my face.
Rick clears his throat, demanding the attention of the room. “You’re only gone for a weekend, right?”
“Yeah, but it’s too short notice to leave?—”
“No, it’s not. You’ve taken Christmas off every year. What if you trade weekends with Kyle? He can cover for you next weekend, and you can finally work a Christmas shift.”
This doesn’t seem fair. I’vetriedto work a Christmas shift every year that I’ve been on the force, but my mother somehow gets Rick to make sure I’m off that weekend so we can head up to Indiana to visit family. She has a way of getting what she wants.
“Beckett, I think you should go and say your goodbyes. While you’re there, maybe you can ask your old man about Matt Bishop and his friends, see if there’s anything we could use as leverage or be prepared for.”
I shake my head, knowing there’s no way my father would hand over information, especially to me.
“You never know, he might have a change of heart being on his deathbed and all,” Elliott adds with a shrug.
Lucy rolls her eyes, blowing a loose strand of blonde hair off her face. Elliott shrugs, giving me the typical "I don't know what to tell ya" look he gives me every time I try to get out of parking duty. It feels as if everyone is against me and forcing me to do something I absolutely don’t want to do. Or maybe it’s God nudging me, telling me to face my father one last time. Either way, I don’t like it.
Covewood is nestled in the outskirts of the Appalachian Trail, surrounded by a large lake and rolling green hills. Duringthe warmer months, Covewood comes alive with hikers and tourists. All the Airbnbs are full, boats fill the lake, and the local small businesses and restaurants stay open later. Covewood thrives in the months when the sun is shining longer. However, the winter is much slower, and it’s why I love this time of year.
I’m deeper into the woods before steering my car down a small road that eventually turns into gravel. It’s one of those roads that out-of-towners would probably miss. Rocks kick up behind my tires as I drive through the twist of trees, making my way toward the Wiley Farm.
I peek over to the right to see that the cabin for Raine’s Papaw is almost finished. His green truck is sitting in the gravel driveway, and the lights are on throughout the inside. He must be there working on some things. It brings me joy, knowing that Raine is taking over the family farm and that Earl will be living close by.
What doesn’t bring me joy is seeing all the vehicles sitting in Raine’s driveway.
It’s been a few days since I left Olivia’s house to go into the station, and I’ve done my best to avoid her, which is extremely hard to do when she makes sure to drive me bonkers if I don’t check in with her. That’s one of the downfalls of living in a small town: there’s nowhere you can hide.
She didn’t do anything to earn my cold shoulder. A wave of guilt hits me the moment I see her bright-yellow car sitting next to Ryland’s old orange truck. I haven’t wanted to discuss the weekend trip to my grandmother’s or the fact that Olivia wants to tag along. Part of me would love for her to be there with me if I planned on going—which I don’t.
After putting my car into park, I march up the porch steps, admiring Ryland’s craftsmanship that he’s put into the farmhouse. This past spring, Ryland and his construction crew worked on renovating the farmhouse for Raine’s grandparents. He finished the job, even after Raine’s Mamaw passed away, and Raine returned home to oversee the renovations. Thehome now looks like it belongs on one of those renovation shows.
As soon as I open the door, the sound of Olivia’s laughter fills the space, and it instantly lowers my blood pressure. I hang up my coat on the rack by the hallway before entering the kitchen, stopping midstep as I notice everyone in the room is covered in bright, glittery makeup.
“Uh…” I mumble, lost for words.
Ryland turns toward me, a grumpy expression on his face, and says, “You planned this, didn’t you?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I lift my arms in defense, although I very much had hoped for this.
“Uncle Luke! I’ve been practicing with that new makeup kit you got me,” Annabelle shouts as she rushes down the stairs to jump into my arms.
“I can see that,” I announce, attempting to hold in my laughter.
Ryland has on bright-blue eyeshadow and glitter in his beard. Raine’s wearing pink mascara and what I think is a rainbow on her cheek. Zane, who’s wearing the most makeup out of everyone, has on purple…everything. And then there’s Olivia, wearing green eyeshadow that complements her eyes and pink mascara like Raine’s.
I unintentionally linger on Olivia a second too long before I blink and hold up a hand for Annabelle to high five. Ryland practically snarls at me. That’s when I let my laugh escape, and it feels like the release I desperately needed after the rough week I had.
“You’re banned from buying Annabelle anything.” Ryland points his finger at me with a warning glare, but it’s hard to take him seriously with how his beard shimmers in the light.
“It’s okay. I’ll just keep my house stocked with things for you,” I whisper into Annabelle’s ear, kissing her cheek and placing her on Raine’s lap.
“Sorry I’m late,” I say before walking over to the counter tobegin making my plate of food. I hum in approval at the pulled pork and wide variety of side dishes. I pile my plate as full as I can before taking a seat in between Raine and Olivia, who’s in the middle of a heated debate with Ryland.
