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“He’s in the yard and…” Mom sniffed, and I could hear the tears in her voice. “I tried, Neil. I’m so sorry.”
“I’ll be there in five,” I confirmed, then drove to them through the rain, reaching my parents’ place in less than five minutes.
The rain fell in sheets, and thunder rolled in the distance as I parked and then vaulted the small fence surrounding the property and went into the backyard. Dad was easy to spot in nothing more than pajamas, soaked to the bone, talking to the empty air. My heart sank as I slowed and sauntered over to him as if this were nothing out of the ordinary, taking off my coat and covering him up, the cold rain soaking my uniform instantly.
“Dad?” I shouted, trying to be heard over the storm.
He didn’t notice me or the coat over his shoulders, continuing to ramble.
“It was thundering, and I didn’t know what to do,” he said, trembling. “The lights went out, and everything was so dark. I couldn’t see… I couldn’t see anything.”
I placed a hand on his shoulder. “Dad, it’s okay. Let’s get you inside.”
He looked at me, confused, as if seeing me for the first time. “Neil? Why are you here? Why are you all wet? Where is your coat? Idiot boy!”
“We need to get inside,” I said, gently.
He resisted for a moment, his eyes searching the stormy sky. “But the lights … the lights went out.”
“We’ll take care of the lights once we get inside, okay? Come on, let’s go in,” I said, leading him back towards the house.
Mom met us at the door, her expression a mix of worry and relief. Together, we managed to get Dad into dry clothes and settled in front of the TV. He blinked at the screen, the confusion leaving his eyes as an old rerun ofM*A*S*Hplayed.
I sat next to him, trying to steady my racing heart. “Is this the one where Hawkeye and Trapper sneak a jeep into the camp?” I asked, hoping to anchor him with a familiar memory.
He stared at the screen, then back at me, his eyes clouded with uncertainty. “I don’t remember,” he said quietly, his voice tinged with sadness.
My chest tightened, but I forced a smile. “That’s okay, Dad. It’s a good one, though.”
“Why are you wet, Neil?” he asked again, glancing at me with genuine bewilderment.
“Got caught in the rain, Dad. It’s all good now,” I replied, squeezing his shoulder. I headed upstairs, swapped out the wet uniform for a spare one I’d left at their house in my old room, bundled up the wet one for laundering back at mine, and then headed downstairs.
Mom and I exchanged a glance, locking the doors to prevent any more nighttime wanderings. “I meant to lock the back door,” she said.
“I know, Mom.”
“Thank you, Neil,” she whispered, her eyes reflecting her gratitude and exhaustion.
I nodded, giving her a quick hug. “Call me if you need anything.”
As I drove back to the office, my mind was split between the storm outside, the chaos at home, the unknown waiting for me at work, and Connor. I still couldn’t forget Connor.
It was going to be another long night.
As I walked into the sheriff’s office, Solomon was waiting with a pinched expression, and I was getting a headache. Solomon Wild had been with the department longer than I’d been alive, even working with my dad when he was sheriff. He was a good, honest, hardworking guy, but he was also Abraham’s brother, which complicated all the family dynamics.
If only Connor had left things alone.
I was dealing with it all and had the situation under control. I’d spoken to Abraham’s wife. I was working with the family, putting things in place to help Abraham look for work and getting him to see a counselor, and then Connor had to get involved.
Connor was protecting Lucy Wild, stepping up for her against a husband shouting at her. Drunk. Dangerous.
Connor was trying to be a hero.
“Evening, sheriff,” Solomon greeted, his voice heavy with concern.
“Evening, Solomon,” I replied. “Reports on the storm?”
