Book'em Sadie (Iron Badges #1)

by Danielle Norman

  “Yes, I promise. Why would you ask that?”

  “Grammy told me that I needed to tell you that I wanted to live with Aunt Sonya. That Aunt Sonya could take care of me. That her husband worked, but she could be a stay-at-home mom.”

  What the fuck was I listening to? They were trying to tell my daughter that I needed to give her up? “Well, that is never going to happen. Do they tell you that kind of stuff a lot?”

  “Sometimes, but they told me to tell you that today.” I pulled into my garage and we both got out.

  “Callie, have a seat at the table, will you?” She nodded. “Did you eat?”

  “Yes, Grammy ordered pizza. Daddy, something was wrong with Sadie today.”

  “You saw her?”

  “Yes, at school. She was on her motorcycle watching cars go by. She met Grammy and Aunt Sonya. They didn’t like her. Did you know that Grammy pays for Sadie to have a job?” I groaned. God, I hated this. Why did people act like this? “Did Grammy tell Sadie that?” Callie nodded. I turned to see my mother standing in the doorway laughing. “Don’t, Mom.”

  “Don’t what? This is Louise Hazelton we’re talking about. She’s the queen of entitlement.” I held up one hand to stop her.

  “Daddy, I need to talk with Sadie. I was going to ask her something today but couldn’t. Please, Daddy, please.” Callie’s eyes brimmed with tears. I’d never seen her have such a reaction before.

  “Okay. How about this, since you don’t have school tomorrow for a teacher in-service day and I’m off work, why don’t we see what we can do?”

  “You could always take Callie up to the station tomorrow, I’m sure someone there will be able to help you find Sadie.”

  “Please, Daddy, please. Can we do that? I need to apologize to Sadie.”

  I pursed my lips, trying for a sardonic look that held absolutely no weight with my mother, but really, this type of input was not needed.

  Callie stared down, not meeting my eyes. “I want to talk with you about something else.” Her words were muffled.

  “What’s that?”

  “Grammy said something about Sadie having a girlfriend.”

  “Did you meet her today?”

  “No. No one was there, just Sadie.” I racked my brain, maybe Sadie said something, oh well, that was irrelevant.

  “You know Mrs. Polly at the hospital and how much you love her, right?” Callie nodded. “Mrs. Polly is a nurse, and she has a girlfriend.” Okay, she had a wife, but I had a point to prove here. Only, I didn’t know what else to say, so I looked to my mom, silently pleading.

  “You know a lot of people have friends that are girls, your other grammy could have meant that as well.”

  Good point, I mouthed. “What I’m trying to say is that Grammy doesn’t know and shouldn’t be talking about those things. But when you grow up, you can love whoever you want as long as you still love me.”

  “Okay.” Callie giggled.

  “And me,” my mom added in.

  “Can I tell Grammy that she was wrong?”

  “Let’s just leave it be, okay?” I asked, and Callie nodded.

  I rubbed my palms on the sides of my jeans as Callie and I walked up the stairs to the Orange County Sheriff’s station. Something about this whole scenario was very teenager-asking-a-girl-out-for-the-first-time kind of vibe, and I was nervous as hell.

  I wasn’t sure what I was expecting . . . maybe the setting from NYPD Blue, but this wasn’t that. This was more of a medical plaza that was several stories high, with an atrium in the middle. A woman with red hair behind a glass window stood as Callie and I walked over.

  “May I help you?”

  “Yes, I’m not exactly sure how to do this, but we are trying to get in contact with Deputy Sadie Lazar.”

  “She saved me,” Callie added and beamed up at the woman.

  “She did, did she? Well, that was nice of Sadie, wasn’t it?” Callie nodded. “Sadie isn’t in the station right now, but if you give me a second, I’ll find out exactly where she is, would you like that?”

  “Yes, please.” I smiled at Callie, who was on her best behavior and using her best manners.

  The woman picked up a radio and spoke into it. Though, she might as well have been speaking a foreign language, for all I understood of it.

  “Orange County, thirteen twenty-two, what’s your twenty?”

  “Thirteen twenty-two, Kaley and I4.”

  “You available to fifty-six a visitor at the station?”

  “I can be there in ten minutes, meet in lobby.”

  “Orange County copies, ten o-seven.”

  When the woman put down the radio, she had a large smile on her face. “Sadie will be here in ten minutes.”

  “Yay.” Callie clapped.

  “Thank you.”

  “I’m Bridget, by the way. Sadie is a good friend of mine.”

  Callie was practically vibrating with excitement when she asked, “She is?”

  “Yep, and I know all about you. I have something that I think you will like.” Bridget came through a door and had a plastic badge in her hand. “We only give this to certain people, and Sadie said that you were tough, so I figured that you probably deserved a star badge like hers. Can I clip it on you?” Callie nodded, and Bridget bent to her level. She looked up at me and seemed to be battling with something that she wanted to say. “Are you by chance a doctor?”

  I was taken aback by her question, since I thought that she was just giving Callie a spiel that they gave all kids. “Umm, yes, I’m Doctor Ryan Montgomery, and this is Callie.” Bridget still had a wide smile on her face as she walked back behind the door.

  “Well, she’ll be here in just a few, you can have a seat right over there.” Bridget pointed to a row of chairs.

  “Thanks.” While we waited for Sadie, I kept glancing over to Bridget, who spent the rest of the time on her cell phone.

  “Sadie.” Callie got up and went to her.

  “Hey, what are you doing here? Hello, Doctor Montgomery.”

  “Call me Ryan. Callie has a few things that she wants to say. Don’t you, Callie?”

  “I’m sorry for running away, but thank you for finding me.”

  “You are very welcome.”

  “I also wanted to ask if you would come to my school. It’s my turn to invite someone for career day, and I want you to come.”

  I heard a laugh and turned to see Bridget and another woman watching us. They both had big smiles on their faces.

  “Is it wrong for her to ask you?” I asked Sadie.

  “No. They’re”—she threw her right thumb over her shoulder—“just idiots.” Sadie turned her focus back to Callie. “When is career day?”

  “A week from Friday,” I answered when Callie looked up at me, waiting for me to speak.

  “I’m off that day, so time won’t be a problem, but I still need to clear it with my lieutenant.”

  “Okay, can you do that now?” Callie was not going to give the woman any chance to change her mind, and a part of me was happy for that.

  “Let me see if he’s in his office.”

  “He is,” Bridget answered for Sadie, and it was my turn to chuckle. Okay, obviously the two really were good friends, and she had been eavesdropping.

  “I’ll be right back.” I smiled as Sadie and Bridget carried on some silent conversation.

  “What if she can’t come, Daddy? What will I do?”

  “I’ll come.”

  “But I want all my friends to see how cool she is.”

  “Whoa, I’m cool, aren’t I?” Callie shook her head. “I’m a doctor, thank you very much. I save lives.”

  “Noooo, you’re a daddy, that isn’t cool.”

  We waited for about five minutes, and when Sadie came back, Callie’s face brightened and Bridget and the other woman with her turned their full attention on us without an ounce of shame. “I guess I’m coming to career day.”

  10

  Sadie

  Wha
t was I doing? Sure, I liked kids, but I was afraid that Callie wasn’t looking for a ‘mom for the moment’ like we did at Kids Klub, no, she was looking for the whole enchilada, the full package: lock, stock, and barrel. In other words, Callie was looking for a full-time mom, and I wasn’t mom material. Hell, I could barely take care of Wasabi.

  My thoughts were interrupted and quickly replaced by my doorbell ringing, followed by a bark, then another ring of my doorbell, followed by louder barks, followed by rapid bell rings. It didn’t take a fucking Einstein to figure out who was at my door. “I’m going to kill you, Harley,” I shouted as I made my way over and unlocked it to let her in.

  “Hello, sunshine.” Harley swept past me placing a quick kiss on my head. Bridget, Piper, and Kat followed her, each repeating the kiss. “We’re here to brighten your day.” I glanced toward my sliding glass door to show her that it was clearly not daytime. “Whatever, night, you don’t have to be so picky. Okay fine, we’re here to get the fucking details.”

  “What details?”

  “Oh, don’t you dare.” Harley stuck one finger into my chest. “Are you going to stand there and tell us that hot doctor came by the station for no reason?”

  “No, it was for his daughter. She just asked me if I would come to her school for career day.”

  “And you said?” Harley folded her arms and tapped one foot waiting for my answer.

  “Yes, I said yes.”

  “That’s wonderful, get on the good side of the dad,” Kat added.

  “No, I’m not trying to do anything of the sort. It’s community service, that’s all. I’m speaking to the class.”

  “Oh come on, don’t tell me that you aren’t interested in that dad, he is fine,” Harley teased. “He’s adorable in that, ‘I got an A in anatomy and it will come in handy when I fuck you’ kind of way.”

  “Shut up.” I threw one hand over Harley’s mouth. “Ryan is hot and all, but he has a daughter, one that is looking for a mom, I can’t be a mom. Do I look like a mom? No, I do not. I’m not ready to be a mom, especially to an elementary school kid. Besides, he’s a widower.”

  “Soooo?” Harley asked. “What’s being a widower have to do with anything?”

  “Do you understand that there is no competing with a dead wife? You’ll never be first. You’ll always know that you’re not his first choice.”

  “Do you think your stepmom, Margaret, feels this way?” Kat asked.

  “I don’t know, I’ve never asked. Regardless though, I’m not ready to be a mom.”

  “Did he ask you to marry him?” Piper stared at me as if I were crazy.

  “No, of course not. But to date him wouldn’t be fair, it would just get Callie’s hope up.”

  “You mean it would get your hope up?” Piper gave me a quizzical look.

  “What hope? Are you listening to me? I said that I’m not ready to be a mom.”

  “I know what you’re saying, but for you to be thinking it when he hasn’t even asked you to marry him, hell you two haven’t even gone out, have you?” Piper waited for me to answer. I shook my head. “I think you might be the one who has mommy on the brain.”

  “And with that, oh wise one, let’s add some fucking cheer to the night. I think we need some shopping therapy.” Harley gave Wasabi a kiss on his nose then put him down. “Let’s go.”

  “Where are we going?” I asked.

  “Shopping of course, now go get some fucking shoes on. Move it.” Harley clapped her hands like a drill sergeant.

  “I don’t feel like it.” Okay, I totally sounded like Wendy Whiner from the old Saturday Night Live episodes.

  “Did I ask you whether or not you felt like putting on shoes? Don’t make me tell you again.”

  I stared at her, shocked by her motherly attitude.

  “See what you did? You made Harley go all mother on you,” Piper said.

  “Mother, yeah that’s half the word,” I grumbled as I headed off to grab my shoes. Everyone laughed at my comment. “I think Sadie just called you a motherfucker,” Piper said as she fought to hold back her grin.

  “Like that’s anything new,” Harley retorted.

  Heading back out to my living room, where Wasabi was spastic trying to jump up and get attention and Harley was aggravating him, I paused and took in the sight. I had the best friends, even if they were nosy. “Okay, I’m ready. Where are we going to shop?”

  “Walmart.” Kat held out her arm as if in a battle charge.

  I quickly glanced down at my clothes to make sure that I had nothing on to tie me to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Our trips to Walmart were legendary, and not in the right way. If I didn’t find myself so funny, I’d probably arrest myself for being a dick.

  We filed out of my house, and I locked up. Wasabi was none too pleased. Harley grabbed my hand and tugged. Piling into Piper’s Jeep, we all got situated and secured so Piper could be off.

  “Am I worrying too much about this?” I asked from the back seat.

  “Yes,” all four said in unison.

  “Now chill the fuck out and let’s have some fun,” Harley ordered.

  Fifteen minutes later we were pulling into the Super Walmart parking lot. “Ooo, there’s a spot, Harley, go block it for me.” Piper slammed on her brakes even though we were one row over.

  “On it, come on Sadie.” Having done this once or twice, I knew what to do. We weaved through cars to get to the other lane and hold the spot until Piper made her way around. While I stood and waved cars on, Harley knelt on her hands and knees pretending to search for something minuscule. Usually, it was a contact lens, which only made me laugh harder, since who in their right mind would put a contact in their eye after having it land on the ground at Walmart?

  Cars pulled up and honked, “Go on, she’s dropped something and is looking for it. She has to find it,” I shouted as I pointed over to Harley. A few cars revved their motors as if they were going to challenge me but decided against it and moved on. “Piper’s here, you can move.”

  “Found it,” Harley jumped up waving a non-existent item in the air.

  “We’re so going to hell; you know that right?” I wrapped one arm around Harley’s shoulders.

  “Girl, this didn’t earn us a place in hell, all the other shit we’ve done secured our seat on that bus.”

  “What are the rules this time?” I asked.

  “Twenty dollars, twenty minutes, and the first person to crack the cashier,” Bridget announced.

  We all raced inside and grabbed a basket then divided. Kat and I both ran to the grocery section while Harley headed over to office supplies. I glanced down at my watch as I moved down each aisle and added the things to my basket before heading over to the pharmacy for my final item. Rushing back toward the row of cashiers, I smiled when I saw Harley already waiting.

  “You got done fast.” I tried to take a peek, but Harley pulled her basket away.

  “Nope, just wait, I have to maintain my throne. I’m not letting any of you win.”

  “I’m here,” Kat waved as she came up from behind us.

  “Me too,” said Piper.

  The four of us looked for Bridget. I glanced down at my watch; the girl had less than a minute. “She’s going to run out of time. She never cuts it this close; she must be having trouble coming up with an idea.”

  “I’m here, I’m here.” Bridget raced up looking frantic, her red hair in disarray.

  “What took you so long?” I asked.

  “Moral compass, I stood and debated my decision.” Bridget held her basket out for us all to see.

  I looked in, “Oh shit, that’s horrid.” I covered my mouth.

  “I know right? My ma would kill me.” Bridget bit her lower lip.

  “Since I’m the reigning winner, I go last,” Harley declared.

  “Oh, you think you’re going to win, do you?” Piper asked. “Don’t be so sure.”

  “Fine, I’ll go first.” Kat volunteered as tribute. Marching up to
the cashier whose name tag read Debbie, Kat slowly unloaded her basket, giving the woman ample time to scan each item. First was a jar of Vaseline, followed by a cucumber, and last but not least, a poster. I moved to the side to watch the show as Kat slowly unrolled the large teen-girl-heartthrob image of Zac Efron. She peppered his torso with kisses before handing it over to the cashier. “Be careful with that.” Kat held out one hand, as if to steady the cashier just in case she might drop it. But to our dismay, the cashier didn't say a word, she just rolled it up and bagged the items. “Don’t worry Zac-y, I’ll get you out of that dark bag in a minute.” Kat moved out of the way.

  “I’ve got to get this over with, my conscience is killing me. I keep looking around to see if I recognize anyone.” Bridget dropped one pregnancy test, one box of Hefty garbage bags, and one pack of wire clothes hangers onto the belt for Debbie to scan.

  “Ooo, she’s good,” I whispered when the cashier still didn’t say anything, she only raised a single brow as she bagged up Bridget’s horror story and then sent her on her way.

  “I guess I’m next.” Piper placed her basket on the belt. The cashier pulled out the bottle of prenatal vitamins, and a box of wine. “I also need a pack of Marlboro, unfiltered please.”

  I grabbed onto Harley; we were both doubled over laughing.

  “I see you have reason to celebrate,” Debbie stated, keeping a totally straight face as she shook the bottle of prenatal vitamins.

  “Yeah, just found out,” Piper said, patting her stomach, and I about died.

  “Hmmm,” was all the cashier said in return. “You’ll need to go to lanes one or twenty-four to purchase your cigarettes. I’m sorry, I don’t have access to them.”

  “No problem.” Piper picked up her bag and moved to stand with Kat and Bridget.

  “Are you sure that you don’t want to go?” I asked Harley.

  “I’m positive. I’ve got to maintain my title. Now go bitch,” Harley said with a big smile on her face.

  I walked up to Debbie and set down my basket. Slowly I unpacked the pie crust, the chocolate pie filling, followed by whipped cream, and finally, a large box of chocolate Ex-Lax.