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“So, how do we get home? That’s a long walk and none of us are fit to drive.”
“No worries. I prearranged our ride home.” Andrew says, pulling out his phone. “Give me just a second.”
Less than five minutes later, Andrew checks his phone again and says, “Alright ladies, our ride has arrived. Let’s get going.” He leads us out of the smoky bar and into the gravel parking lot, right towards a Fawn Creek Police cruiser.
The officer unlocks his doors with a smile. Avery makes her way around to the passenger seat while Andrew motions for me to climb into the backseat. As soon as I’m settled into my seat, I recognize Derek, the officer from the night of the concert.
Quickly, I turn to give Andrew a puzzled expression, but he ignores me and addresses Derek. “Thanks for coming.” Andrew says, as Derek puts the car in drive.
“Anytime.” Derek replies, pulling onto the main road to take us back towards town.
“Is this really a thing? Like do people do this often?” I ask from the back of the police car.
Avery shrugs. “People with the right friends, I guess.”
Derek laughs. “Listen, I’d rather give someone a ride home from the bar than have to tell their family that they were drinking and driving and didn’t make it home. I figure I’m driving around town, anyway. I might as well make myself useful.”
I nod in the silence. These are the things that make Fawn Creek what it is, and maybe that’s just the way it is in small towns. While we may not have department stores and cabs and food delivery services, we have what matters. We have regular folks who love their community and will do whatever it takes to help others. There really is no place like a small town.
Chapter 26
My screaming phone breaks through the silence at ten o’clock on Sunday morning. I leap to grab it from the nightstand, hoping to avoid waking Andrew, but as soon as I hit the silence button, I see his eyes slowly open and peer at me. The word Mom flashes across the screen and I feel a panic rising in my chest. Immediately, I assume the worst. What if it’s about Dad? He’s been doing okay for a while now, but the fear is still there in the back of my mind. “Sorry.” I mouth to him as I hit the answer button.
“Hello?” I answer quickly, bringing the phone to my ear.
“Tyler? Are you okay?” My mom asks, like she didn’t just give me a heart attack.
“I’m fine. I just slept in today.” I say, laying back down on my pillow. My head is pounding from those stupid shots last night. “What’s up?”
“Well, I’m glad you’re okay.” She huffs. “Mary Sue cornered me at Bible Study this morning and said something strange. She said that she saw you riding in the back of a Police Car last night.”
Dammit, Mary Sue.
“Tyler, are you there?”
“Yes Mom. I’m here.” I sigh. “It’s not what you’re thinking. I wasn’t in trouble.”
“Well, it certainly sounds like you were.” She huffs again into the phone. “Why else would you have been in a police car at two in the morning?”
“I went to Short Creek last night with some friends and we had a few drinks. We decided we were better off not driving, so Andrew called a friend to give us a ride. His friend just happened to be an on-duty police officer.”
Mom pauses. “And I’m supposed to believe that?”
Andrew covers his face with a pillow, attempting to stifle a laugh before climbing out of bed and moving towards the bathroom.
“Well, that choice is yours, I guess. I’m not sure what else to tell you.” I say. “It’s the truth. If I was in jail, I wouldn’t be able to answer my phone. I’d be sitting in a cell until Monday morning when the judge gets to work.”
“Why didn’t you think about how it would look if other people were to see you?” She mutters.
“You’re kidding right?” I say, rubbing my temples. It’s too early for this shit. “Don’t you think it would have looked worse if I had gotten arrested for drunk driving? Or if I had gotten into a wreck and hurt someone?”
“Maybe you shouldn’t be drinking.” She argues.
“Maybe you’re right.” I say, rubbing my temples. Mom has definitely gotten back to her old self since Dad’s heart attack.
She sighs. “Well, I’m glad to hear that you’re okay. I have to get to service. How about you come over for dinner tonight?”
I grimace and play with the fringe on my blanket. “Okay, I can do that.” As much as I’d rather not, I haven’t spent much time with them lately and that was the entire reason I stayed here. I need to do a better job of that.
