by Robbi McCoy
“Stef?”
“If your mother has done her job well, there won’t be a single citizen who won’t be rallying for Officer Byers to fill that vacancy. And you already know that Hartley is down with it.”
Startled, Jackie shook her head, well aware that if her mother set her mind to something, she was a force to be reckoned with. “But Stef doesn’t know anything about all this. And even if she did, I’m not sure it would do any good. I don’t think she wants to be a cop anymore.”
“Don’t be too sure. Too bad you didn’t see her in here Sunday night. That woman was born to that job like a fish is born to water.”
Jackie sighed dejectedly. “It’s nice that you and Mom are trying to help, but it’s not going to do any good. Nobody knows where she is and I haven’t heard a word from her.”
Ida came out of the back pushing a hand truck loaded with six-packs of beer. “You talking about Officer Stef?”
“Yes.” Jackie opened the door of the refrigerator case.
“We’ll find her, you’ll see,” Ida said, loading the beer on wire racks. “I’m going to ask Hartley to put out an APB. We’ll have Fish and Game officers combing every river and slough from here to San Francisco until they find her and drag her butt back here.”
“Is that so?” Jackie asked sarcastically. “And once you get her back here, are you also going to tie her up and hold a shotgun to her head until she agrees to marry me?”
“If that’s what it takes to make my little girl happy,” Ida said, dropping in the last carton of beer.
Jackie heard her father gasp. She spun around to see a tall woman silhouetted in the doorway by the bright afternoon sun. Stef! Her heart leapt. Deuce stood behind her, his golden coat all aglow.
“That won’t be necessary,” Stef said evenly.
“Stef!” Jackie cried, overjoyed to see her. “You came back!”
Stef stepped inside and smiled affectionately at Jackie. “Yeah. I’ve got a bone to pick with your father.” She winked at Jackie, then turned to Rudy, who looked immediately antagonistic. She held up a plastic card. “I want to complain about this fishing license you sold me.”
“What’s the matter with it? It’s legal. Did some warden tell you something was wrong with it? He’s full of baloney.” Rudy slid off his stool and came around the counter. “Let me see the ticket. I’m gonna call Fish and Game and complain.”
“No, I didn’t get a ticket,” Stef said. “It just doesn’t work.”
“What do you mean?” Rudy frowned and put his hands on his hips.
“I mean it doesn’t work. I had my pole in the water for two hours and nothing happened. Not a single bite. I’m going to starve out there.”
Rudy threw up his hands. “And you’re gonna blame me for that?”
Stef grinned at Jackie, who was beside herself with happiness.
“Dad, she’s just kidding.”
“Oh,” he said, looking uncertain.
“Is there somebody around here who knows how to fish?” Stef asked. “Maybe I could use a lesson. I might have to stick around a while until I figure it out. It might take a really long time, even. I’m a slow learner. I might have to take up permanent residence, get a job, register to vote and all that stuff until I learn how to fend for myself out there.”
“Well,” said Rudy thoughtfully, his hand on his chin, “I know a guy...”
“You dope!” Ida jeered, jerking her head toward Jackie.
Jackie ran to Stef and flung her arms around her, then kissed her for a good minute while her parents stood by, neither of them making a sound.
“Permanent residence?” Jackie asked when the kiss finally ended. “Are you serious?”
Stef nodded. “It seems like this town kinda needs me. Besides, I don’t think I’m cut out to be a river rat. But Mudbug might be a lot of fun on weekends. How would you like to explore the Delta with me?”
Tears welled up in Jackie’s eyes. She thought she could see something in Stef’s eyes too. Not tears, but a depth of feeling she’d never seen before, an open, questing look full of love and trust. No more barriers.
“Mom,” she said without taking her eyes off Stef, “how about getting us some sardines? I’ve gotta teach this woman how to catch a fish.”
“If anybody can, Jackie,” Ida declared, “it’s you.”
Stef nodded her agreement and held Jackie’s face tenderly in her hands. “She’s right. If anybody can teach me, it’s you.”
Stef kissed her mouth gently, then held her close, filling Jackie’s heart with hope and happiness.
It’ll be okay, Jackie thought. You’ll see. We’ll be okay…together.
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