“Hi.” Phoebe’s voice was sweet and soft.
“Hi,” Hank repeated lowly. There were so many memories that flew through his head in that second. How, at one time, he couldn’t wait to hear her voice, to see her, all the late nights sitting on his porch. They were good memories, but just that, memories.
“Hank—”
Hank wasn’t sure what she intended to say, but to stop any possible pain he cut her off. “Phoebe, I just wanna know you’re okay.”
He heard the soft sigh of disappointment before she replied, “I’m okay, Hank.” She paused, took a deep audible breath and carried on. “I’m not going to lie, it hurts but I was in the wrong back then.” Again, she paused and her voice was much lower this time as if she was talking more to herself than to Hank. “I should have been brave enough to do what Arissa is doing.”
Hank wasn’t going to sugarcoat anything; they were adults. “I am in love with her.”
“I know. You used to look at me with love, but, Hank, the way you look at her is like she is your source of air.”
“She is,” Hank admitted.
“Again.” Phoebe took a breath. “I know. Go, go be happy, Hank, you deserve it.”
Hank leaned against the brick wall and told her. “So do you.”
“I’ll find mine, in time I will.”
Hank knew it was time to end a chapter in his life and he did that when he said, “Take care of yourself, Phoebe.” And before she could even reply, he ended the call. But he didn’t move, he gave himself a second to take a deep cleansing breath of putting closure to something that was long overdue.
Jo’s eyes lifted to the door when it opened. Her eyes hit Hank’s and with an even voice she told him. “Your dad’s in your office.”
Hank’s eyes drifted past the desk, through the bullpen to his office. Through the window, he could see his dad looking at the pictures on the bookshelf. “Thanks,” Hank muttered and made his way to his office.
No one said anything to Hank as he walked through the room. Henry Weathers very rarely left his spot at Moe’s. Furthermore, Henry never bothered his son at work, no matter the situation. So it wasn’t only Hank that felt the tightness in the air.
“Hey, Dad,” Hank said when he walked over the threshold.
Henry didn’t turn around and face his son when he spoke. “Wanna tell me why me and your mom haven’t seen you in four days?” His voice was distant, even though he was only a few feet away.
Hank moved to stand behind his desk, and placed down the bag that held the sandwich he had just picked up from Dehlia’s. He had planned on having lunch with Arissa that day but she, much like Hank, sunk herself into her work since trying to get all the crazies of Summerville together in one place hadn’t been an easy task. With the Blazing Days of Summer fair starting this weekend they were all busy. Their plan was to meet at Hank’s on the second day of the fair. Opening day, the tribe had their prospective duties but all arranged for volunteers to handle the second day of activities.
“Been busy,” Hank said while he opened the cap on his coke and took a swig.
Henry turned then, it was slow and his hard eyes hit Hank. “Been living here for thirty-six years, Son, nothing happens in Summerville. Especially anything to keep the sheriff from visiting his parents.”
Hank drew in a deep breath through his nose. His parents hadn’t only spoiled him; he’d spoiled them as well. Seeing them almost everyday whether it be on Main Street, just stopping by their house, or having his ass at his parents’ dinner table.
Hank didn’t say anything, so his dad did. “Your mom blames the girl.”
“The girl’s name is Arissa.” Hank bit out.
Henry looked down at his feet. He didn’t want to have this meeting with his son but his wife insisted. Saying that maybe he could shake some sense into the boy’s head. “Hank, I know—”
“No,” Hank shot out, cutting his dad off. “You don’t know, Dad.” Henry’s brows drew down, his lips growing tight because he had never heard his son talk to him with such a firm tone. “I’m in love and trying to build a fucking life with her. And, yeah, my bad I haven’t come to see you and Mom. But you know what, I’m no longer one person, I’m two, and considering that second half of me got reamed by you and Mom, I was thinking it’d be a good idea if I stayed away.”
Henry’s face changed then, softened a bit before he looked past Hank and took a deep breath. His eyes came back to him and when they did, he took in his son in his uniform. Jesus, he couldn’t be more proud of him. The man he had turned into was a better man than he. “Okay,” Henry said lightly. “I’ll talk with your mom.”
“Yeah,” Hank muttered and pulled the sandwich from the bag. “That’d be great, you do that.”
His dad looked to the pastrami on rye from Dehlia’s and said, “Enjoy your lunch.” Then walked out of his son’s office. It wasn’t until he was on the sidewalk and did surveillance to make sure no one was within earshot that he pulled his phone from his pocket. His wife greeted him with a hello, his greeting back, “Something’s up.”
16
Arissa had never been a fan of funhouses, but Hank changed her opinion of them when he pressed her up against the mirrored wall and kissed her breathless. It was the first day of the Blazing Days of Summer fair. Hank, as sheriff, had officiated the opening by cutting the ribbon earlier. After he said a few words and kicked off the
