“It’s fine. She won’t mind as long as she knows you’re not trying to break in. Everything okay?” He flicked his flashlight off and tucked it into his belt as I turned on the overhead light.
“Yeah. I mean, going through some personal stuff, but yeah, mostly fine.”
Beau leaned against the window rail, all professionalism relaxing out of him, allowing me to relax as well.
“Wanna talk about it?”
“You? Talk about feelings?” I grinned at him. “Having kids has changed you, Sheriff.”
“Mmm,” he nodded his head, rubbing his chin, “having a good woman did that, I think.”
“Carolina and I started dating a few weeks ago. We’d been dancing around it for a while. She didn’t want to do anything since I was the boss and younger, but we connected, and it felt instantaneous.”
“I know that.” A loving expression filled his eyes as he thought about Rose. “Funny how fast you can fall in love.”
“Yeah, and I didn’t even mind that she was pregnant with someone else’s kids. I’ve always wanted to be a dad, so it felt like an opportunity to finally get that family I wanted. But it turns out the kids are … mine.”
Beau frowned, no doubt confused. “That’s a problem?”
“No—no. Not at all. It’s just that she’s known all this time we’ve been together that they’re mine, and she didn’t tell me. She kept it from me for some reason and only told me because she saw her ex with his new girl.”
“Hm,” Beau straightened, patting the door as he did. “Did you ask her why she didn’t tell you?”
“We didn’t really get the chance to talk about it. I was too upset, so I left and went for a drive.”
Beau tilted his head thoughtfully and then smiled at me. “Well, son, I think maybe you ought to speak to her first. If I know anything about pregnant women, and I’ve endured Rose’s two pregnancies now,” he chuckled lovingly, “it’s that sometimes they’re not thinking rationally. They’re so connected to their feelings—including fear—that they don’t even know what they’re doing.”
“I just don’t understand why she would be afraid of me. I love her. I adore her. She’s my sun and moon and the whole damn universe.”
Beau smiled, ruffling my hair like I was still that snot-nosed kid he used to babysit for spare change on Friday nights. “Maybe you’re that for her too, and she was afraid to lose it. Last man she was with up and left when she thought everything was fine. Can’t fault her for having broken trust after that.”
He was right, and we both knew it. Before I even said anything, Beau tapped the windowsill again and turned to head back to his squad car.
“Thanks, Beau.” He turned back to look at me. “For introducing me to the love of my life. I owe you.”
“Just go and get your woman. That’s good enough for me.”
I laughed, shaking my head, “Rose has turned you into a sap.”
“Damn straight she has.”