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“You okay there?” She tips her head to look under the table where I’

“Yeah Pulled so”

She slides thite plates in front of ht and scent of the wonderous food “Getting old, Sheriff?” She cocks her hip and settles her fist at her waist

“Every day” I sit up and ade and extra well-done hash browns on my plate Food is my one sin and I enjoy it in a way that is almost dirty

“Well, if thirty-two is old, I’ e because my parents threw o I hate surprises “And don’t even think I’nature rose-red lipstick is perfect, day and night She wears her auburn hair up most days in a controlled twist, and her whole style could have dropped straight out of a 1950’s classic diner

“And a gentleht me well”

“I’ht before last as usual for Wednesday senior special”

I nod with a half-srew up My father was the sheriff before o She made him retire after forty-six years on the force and one heart attack They’ve been driving each other nuts ever since

She also taught h I just don’t really enjoy cooking for one, so I end up here most times or at the Rusty Nail Bar & Grill on the other side of town

They’re great parents, always supportive and proud I graduated froree, then went right to the acadeain the respect of the other deputies, and when it was time for my dad to step down, I had the support of the community, as well as my fellow officers, to fill his boots

Or try to, at least

I’ve worked my ass off to not let anyone down, even when the choices were difficult One ofisn’t always easy and the easy thing isn’t always right

The bells tied on the top hinge of the front door jingle as it opens, and Margaret turns toward the sound Stepping inside the srins at us both