Sunshine Valley

Unpacking

   Simon shut the trunk lid. “VW.”

    Rebecca shut the drivers side rear passenger door with a trash bag in her hand. “Volkswagen.” She answered.

    “Well,” Simon stretched. “I’ve never been up-close and personal with a Volkswagen.”

    Rebecca and Simon put the last of the bags on the porch. They could hear voices inside the house.

    “So you said the whole town got together and did this?”

    “Several of them. Jack has many friends.”

    Rebecca noticed Sheriff Pace’s voice wasn’t so mean. She was shocked. Did he have the ability to be nice under that cold exterior? She elbowed her husband whispering, “I told you this house was for a woman.”

    “What part did you play?” The

conversation continued inside the house.

    “The roof.”

    “That doesn’t surprise me.”

    “What’s that suppose to mean?” His voice was almost playful.

    “You always did things that other people didn’t want to do.”

    “I see.”

    “What did you think I meant?”

    Simon pulled Rebecca into the house. “Hello,” he called. Rebecca gave him a stern look. She was happy on the porch ear hustling.

    “Coming.” The lady soon stood in the doorway of the little hall. Sheriff Pace loomed behind her. His head touched the top of the doorframe.

    “All finished.” Simon reported.

    “Thank you both,” she smiled.

    “Are you sure you don’t want us to help you unpack?” Rebecca asked.

    “No,” she continued smiling. “It will give me something to do later.”

    “Well now if you need us, we’re just across the road.”

    The lady peered out one of the living room windows. Rebecca wasn’t sure if she saw anything when she looked out or not. Sheriff Pace touched her arm. She took a deep breath before turning around.

    “Thank you,” she put on her bravest smile.

Sheriff Pace watched them walk away, as the little lady returned back to her empty thoughts.

    Once they were in there own house Rebecca couldn’t stand it any more. “What do you make of that?”

    “My big question would be why would you need three sheriffs officers to help you?”

    “Maybe they’re just friends?” She offered.

    “Right.” Simon rolled his eyes mocking her.

    “Well you work for the man sometimes.”

    Simon laughed, “you think Mr. Rice is private. Try getting more than two words at a time out of Pace.”

    “Speaking of working for him, why didn’t you ever tell me he was the sheriff.” Rebecca glared at her husband.

    “Because I didn’t know.”

    “How can you work for someone and not know what they do for a living?”

    “I go to the house, there is an envelope on the door with instructions. I do my job and leave.”

“But you get paid.”

“Direct deposit.”

She just huffed, “you have an answer for everything.”

He laughed, playfully tapping her butt with his hand.

Sunshine Valley