It’s been too long since I’ve been home.
“Clint?” a voice calls behind me.
I turn to see Harris Tuft, the new sheriff. He, like me, is a later arrival in town, more or less. He moved here permanently a little over a year ago but he spent every summer here through high school and college visiting his grandparents. I know him because I worked every summer at his grandparent’s general store during college and he and I became close friends.
“Harris!” I call. “Come and sit with me.”
We order lunch and Harris says, “So what brings you back to Hopewell Springs?”
“I’m moving here,” I say. The business can run itself now and I want to live somewhere that isn’t choking in traffic.”
“I know what you mean,” he says. “I left Boston for pretty much the same reason.”
“You were Boston PD?” I ask. “No way!”
We trade stories over lunch and when we’re finished, Harris asks, “So are you seeing anyone?”
“Why, are you available?” I tease.
He rolls his eyes. “Same crappy sense of humor, I see.”
“Your grandfather liked it,” I retort.
“Yes, I remember,” he says. “My poor grandmother used to vent at length about how crazy the two of you drove her.”
“That woman loved me like I was her own and you know it,” I say.
“Too bad for her. Anyway, the reason I ask is Karrie and I are having a get-together tomorrow night at our place. You remember Karrie.”
I nod and he continues. “Well, we’re inviting a lot of Daddies and little girls to our house and at least two of those girls are Daddyless.”
“Ah,” I say. “You’re trying to set me up.”
“Not at all,” he says. “Just inviting you to a get-together and if you like Joanna and Sybil, then we can see where things lead.”
“Both of them?” I ask.
He rolls his eyes. “If you like Joanna or Sybil, we can see where things lead. Word of advice, save the bad jokes for the third date.”
I chuckle and say, “All right, Harry Berry. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He rolls his eyes again. “What have I gotten those poor girls into?”