Sunshine Valley

Nice recovery 

     Dillon felt like he was in a daze. A bad dream. People around him were talking as he changed his clothes. The hum of life. The present. He was stuck in the past. 

     Someone was standing in front of him. “Sheriff?” At first it was a playful voice. But soon it was full of concern, “sheriff?”  He finally was able to focus on Bradley’s face. “Sheriff, you look a little green. Are you okay?”

     No. He thought. He wasn’t okay. Might not ever be okay. The information packet Sheriff Milo had send him was disgusting, disturbing. And he’d only read one report. Finally after what felt like hours he choaked, “yeah.”

     He needed to know why. Why would anyone do this to another person? Why? What made you feel like you had the right to treat another human this way? The Evie he knew from his childhood was warm, kind, caring, fun, fierce if the situation called for it. Stubborn from time to time. What had all this done to her? The Evie that fell apart in his arms was different. Understandably different. THIS was still his Evie. Right?

     The buzz of his cellphone caused him to jump out of his skin. It was Evie. “Hi.” His voice was dry and tired. 

     “Rough day?”

     “I just…” Where was he going with that? Should he tell her that he’d been reading about her? What would it change? 

     She killed the silence with, “if you are interested, I’m gonna fix burgers?”

     “Wanna load up and eat at my house?”

     “Tired of sittin’ in the floor?” 

     Her voice was playful but it dawned on him how that sounded. “No,” he stammered. “Not at all. I just..” Recover this big boy. “I just thought it might be a nice change of scenery for you.”

     She giggled, “pick me up.”

     “I’m leavin’ the station.”

     Dillon drug the grill to the front of the house so he could watch Evie play with Teka as he grilled the burgers. They both looked happy. He smiled. This was nice. His 2 girls playing and happy. He stopped, watching the flames lick the meat. His 2 girls. Everything was wrong with that statement. Teka wasn’t his. She just lived here. And Evie? In that moment, he knew something he needed to do. 

Sunshine Valley