The Best Man (Blue Heron #1)(117)

“Do better with them,” Levi growled, giving his father a shake. “If you walk out on them the way you walked out on me, you’d better pray to God I don’t find you.”

He released Rob Cooper, who staggered a few steps back and turned and went to his other sons. Fast.

Levi looked at Heather. “If you ever need anything, let me know,” he said. “I’m the police chief in Manningsport.”

It had never felt better to say those words.

She gave a wobbly smile. “Levi...for whatever it’s worth, you’ll always be welcome in my home. I’d be proud for the boys to know you.”

The words went straight to his heart. He looked at her another minute, gave her a nod, not quite trusting himself to speak, then got in the cruiser and carefully drove away from the scene.

When he was a few miles off, he pulled over, and before he was aware of what he was doing, his sister’s voice was on the line. “Calling to be a prick again?” she said, her voice slightly sullen.

“You can come home whenever you want,” he said. “Tonight, tomorrow, Saturday, any time you need to, day or night.”

There was a pause. “Who is this?” his sister asked, and Levi smiled.

“Look,” he said. “I just want to help you get through this time, get you on your feet, whatever. If that means coming home twice a week, that’s fine, Sarah. You’re gonna turn out great no matter what.”

There was silence on the other end, then a snuffle. “Thanks,” she whispered.

“I love you, you know.”

“I do know. I love you, too.”

When he got back to the station, Everett was still there, playing Angry Birds. “Hey, Chief!” he said, bolting upright and falling out of the chair in the process.

“Is your mother home?” he asked.

“Um, I think so. Why?”

Levi punched in the mayor’s phone number. “Marian, it’s Levi. Listen. I need an actual cop to help me out here. Your son can go to the police academy, but I’m hiring someone else, too. Probably Emmaline. You have a week to find the money, or I quit. Have a great night. Oh, I’m gonna be taking some vacation time. Starting now.” With that, he hung up. “Good night, Ev,” he said.

“Roger that, Chief,” Everett said.

* * *

O’ROURKE’S WAS MUCH the same as he’d left it. Colleen hissed at him once more, Jeremy was feeling Carol Robinson’s glands. Those two should get a room.

Prudence Vanderbeek sat alone at a booth, clicking away at her phone. “Hey, Chief,” she said amicably. “I’m sexting my husband. Give me a minute.” She muttered as she typed. “‘I refuse to sign your contract, Mr. Grey, and furthermore, I’ve never even heard of that Japanese thingamajig you mentioned in your last email. And yes, I remain untouched, I have never even kissed a man before, yadda yadda.’” She looked at Levi. “I’m forty-seven years old, Levi, and the mother of Carl’s children. Why I have to pretend to be an insipid virginal college student is beyond me.”

“Because you enjoy it?” he suggested.

“Probably.” She put her phone away. “So. How you doing?”

He sat down.

The thing was, he had no idea what to ask.

Prudence shoveled some popcorn into her mouth. “Let me guess. This is about Faith,” she suggested.

“Yes.”

“Go for it.”

“I kissed her once. A long time ago.”

“How thrilling.”

“I wondered if she ever talked to you about it.” This was...unexpected. He hoped like hell that no one could overhear them.

“Honor!” Pru bellowed. “Levi wants to talk about Faith!”

So that hope was dashed.

Honor Holland came over, a glass of wine in her hand. “Really?” she asked, almost kindly, making him a little wary.

“Yeah,” Pru said. “He says he kissed her one time and wants to know if she got all swoony and some such shit.”

Levi made a note never again to ask for help from evil sisters. “Thanks, ladies,” he said, standing.

“Oh, man up,” Prudence said.

“Sit down,” Honor said at the same time.

Levi sighed and obeyed. “Okay, so, I screwed up.”

“Of course you did. You’re a guy,” Prudence said. Her pocket buzzed, and she jumped. “God, that felt good,” she said, almost to herself, taking her phone out to read the text. Laughed and began typing her response.

“I thought you dumped my sister,” Honor said.

“I did.”

“And what makes you think you deserve her?”

“I don’t.”

“That, Chief Cooper, is the correct answer.” Honor smiled. She didn’t say anything else. Pru was busy sexting Carl. Honor still said nothing, just looked at her nails.

Right. He waved to Colleen, who flipped him off. “Another round for these two on my tab,” he said, standing up.

“Order me something expensive,” Pru instructed her sister, not looking up from her phone.

He was halfway across the green when Honor called his name. She didn’t have her coat on, and he shrugged out of his and handed it to her.

“Thanks,” Honor said, putting it on. “Great jacket. I’m keeping it, by the way. She called me when I was a senior at Cornell. So Faith would’ve been a senior in high school. Would the timing be right for your little dilemma?”