Free Dark Realms by Kristen Middleton Page B

what it’s been like for them.”
    He nodded, looking very somber. “Just like
us, they’ve been frantically searching for her all over this town
and the next ones over. Well,” he sighed, “at least they have some
closure now.”
    “How tragic; I can’t possibly imagine how
I’d cope in their situation,” she said.
    He nodded. “I agree.”
    “Sherriff, are you sure you wouldn’t like a
cup of coffee? It’ll just take a minute to brew.”
    “No, Anne, but thanks again for the offer.”
He straightened up and patted his pockets, as if searching for his
keys. “I’d better get going; my daughter’s expecting me home
soon.”
    “You have children?” she asked.
    He smiled proudly. “A daughter, Celeste. She
just graduated.”
    “Oh, you’re a single parent?” she asked,
smiling as if she’d just won big on a lottery scratch-off.
    Ugh, could she look any more thrilled?
    He nodded. “Yes, been single for quite a few
years now, in fact.”
    “Being a single parent is difficult with
normal hours,” she replied quickly. “I could only imagine what
you’re going through, with such crazy ones.”
    “It’s not too bad. It’s
just Celeste, and she’s… fairly manageable. You… you have twins. That
must be quite a handful.”
    “Not really. They’re pretty good kids.”
    He smiled. “Good, then they won’t have to
see much of me.”
    Mom burst out laughing as
if he’d said the funniest thing she’d ever heard.
    “Oh, hell, I’m just kidding. Most of the
other kids around here are pretty well-behaved, as well.”
    “Good, then I can relax when these two start
meeting other kids in town and go out at night.”
    He tilted his head and
leaned forward. “I wouldn’t go that far. They are still teenagers”.
    “So very true,” she sighed. “Well, thanks
for making it out here so quickly. We were all pretty shaken
up.”
    His lips thinned. “I’m sure. What a horrible
experience for your first night in Shore Lake, too. I’m sorry you
had to go through this.”
    “So are we,” she said, frowning. “It was
certainly an eventful evening. Crazy, huh?”
    “I’d say.” He put his hat on. “I’d better
get going. I hope the next time we meet it’s under much better
circumstances.”
    My mom followed him to the door. “Me, too.
Goodnight, Sheriff.”
    “Caleb,” he said softly, looking down at
her.
    Her cheeks turned pink. “Goodnight,
Caleb.”
    It was actually early morning but mom and
Caleb didn’t seem to notice. They were too busy staring at each
other with their lonely middle-aged hormones.
    “Goodbye, Sheriff,” called Nathan from the
couch with a shit-eating grin. Like me, he’d been studying them
quietly, and from the look on his face, he also knew they were into
each other.
    “Yeah, see you,” I added
with a wave, hoping he’d just leave, already.
    Caleb smiled once more
with his gleaming white teeth and then finally walked out the front
door.
    “He’s such a nice man,” said mom, looking
into space with a stupid grin. “It’s so refreshing to know this
town has a great guy like him patrolling the streets.”
    “Oh, you hardly know him,” I snapped,
getting off of the sofa. “He might not really be that nice. It
could be an act.”
    Both my mom and brother stared at me in
surprise.
    I raised my chin. “Sorry, but it’s
true.”
    She shook her head. “Oh for Heaven’s sake,
Nikki, don’t be so quick to judge other people.”
    I started walking up the steps to my
bedroom, ready to fall into that soft pillow-top. “Whatever, I’m
going to bed.”
    “She’s just being a crab-ass,” said
Nathan.
    “I heard that!” I hollered.
    I knew it was true, though. It had been a
long day and I was ready to sleep for the next two.

Chapter Four
     
    I slept until almost eleven the next
morning. Mom was already up, drinking coffee and working on her
computer, when I padded downstairs in my bare feet.
    “Morning,” I said, pouring some coffee for
myself. Normally, I