The past few weeks have been a whirlwind since Nicole got out of the hospital, and I officially moved in with her and Darren.We're building a new life together, and I'm loving it more than I realized I would.
Gerald's sitting in a cell awaiting trial, the restraining order violation stacked on top of the assault charges and enough evidence from my apartment to keep him there a good long while, according to the DA's office.It's strange how quickly life settles once the threat's actually gone, how normal things start feeling again, grocery runs and laundry and Nicole's bedtime routine turning into something that just feels like it’s the life I should’ve been living my whole life.
"You wanna go surprise Daddy for lunch?"I ask Nicole, buckling her into her booster seat in the back of my car.
"Yes!"She claps her hands together, always thrilled by the idea of catching her father off guard, especially when it means getting to order whatever she wants off the kids menu at The Cafe.
Darren mentioned this morning over coffee that he and Van were planning to grab lunch there between patrols, some kind of standing routine they've fallen into over the last month, and the second he left for his shift I decided Nicole and I needed to make an appearance.Today’s my day off, so there's nothing stopping us from crashing his lunch break.
The Cafe's got its usual midday crowd when we walk in, a mix of regulars and a few tourists passing through, and I spot Darren and Van tucked into a booth near the back before Nicole does, both of them in uniform, deep in conversation over plates of food.
"There's Daddy!"Nicole takes off the second she sees him, weaving between tables faster than I can catch up, and Darren looks up just in time to catch her flying at his legs.
"Hey, munchkin."He scoops her up, surprise written all over his face as he glances toward me approaching behind her."What are you two doing here?"
"We missed you."I lean down to kiss him quick before sliding into the booth beside Van."Figured since I’m off today, we'd come bother you on your lunch break."
"Best kind of bother there is."Darren settles Nicole onto his lap, and she immediately starts eyeing his plate like she's got every intention of stealing his fries."Van, you remember Macie."
"Course I do."Van grins, sliding over to make room."Nice to see you again.And you too, little miss."
"Hi Van."Nicole waves, already reaching for one of Darren's fries without asking permission, and he just laughs, letting her have it.
"How's the rookie treating you these days?"I ask Darren, nodding toward Van.
"He's coming along good.Handled a domestic call solo last week.A married couple was hunting and got into an argument.It was the first time I let him take lead on something serious."Darren tips his chin at Van, pride evident in his voice."Did great."
"Wouldn't have done half as good without watching you handle things first," Van says, a little sheepish, though I can tell the praise means something to him.
The waitress comes by, and Nicole insists on ordering her own food, proudly telling the woman she wants chicken tenders and apple juice, no ice, the same order she's had memorized for weeks now.I order myself a sandwich, and we settle into an easy conversation, Van telling us about a call from earlier in the week where somebody's goat got loose and ended up wandering three blocks down Main Street before anyone managed to corral it.
"You should've seen Darren chasing that thing," Van says, laughing so hard he nearly chokes on his water."Goat outran him for a solid two blocks before it finally gave up."
"I was not outrun by a goat."Darren shoots him a look, though there's no real irritation behind it."I was strategically letting it tire itself out."
"Sure you were."I bite back a laugh, picturing my six-foot-something boyfriend chasing a goat down Main Street in full uniform."This is a story I need more details on later."
"There's a video," Van offers helpfully."Somebody posted it to the town Facebook group."
"Van."Darren's voice carries a warning, though it's clearly too late, because I'm already pulling my phone out, determined to find that video the second we get home.
Nicole giggles at the whole exchange, not fully understanding the goat story but clearly enjoying watching her dad get teased, kicking her feet happily while she works through her chicken tenders one at a time, always saving the biggest piece for last the way she does with everything.
"This is nice," Darren says quietly while Van gets pulled into a conversation with the waitress refilling drinks."Having you two just show up like this."
"Yeah?"I reach across the table, lacing my fingers through his free hand.
"Yeah."His thumb brushes against my knuckles, something soft settling behind his eyes."Feels like exactly what I didn't know I was missing all those years before you came around."
"Well, get used to it, because I plan on making a habit of crashing your lunch breaks."I squeeze his hand, warmth spreading through my chest at the easy domesticity of all of it, sitting here in a booth with his partner and our daughter like this is just what our life looks like now.
We finish our lunch with more stories from Van, and by the time Darren's radio crackles with a call needing their attention, Nicole's practically asleep against his shoulder from the food coma settling in.
"Duty calls."He presses a kiss to Nicole's head, then leans over to kiss me properly before sliding out of the booth."I'll see you both tonight."
"We'll be there."I take Nicole from him, hoisting her onto my hip as she blinks sleepily against my shoulder."Be safe out there, eight pack."
"Always am."He winks before heading out with Van close behind, both of them tossing a few bills onto the table for their half of the check, and I watch through the window as they climb into the cruiser and pull away, already missing him even though I'll see him again in a matter of hours.
