Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Paul strode into the sheriff’s office, his brown hair still damp from an early morning workout and his mind focused on the task at hand. Normally, he’d be scanning the room for the next flirting opportunity, but today was different.
“Morning, Emily,” he greeted the dispatcher, his brown eyes meeting her green ones with genuine warmth. He noticed how her willowy frame seemed to tense up as he approached.
“Good morning, Paul,” she replied hesitantly, her fingers tapping nervously on the dispatch console.
Paul took a deep breath and decided to take it slow. In the past, he had been known for his non-committal ways, but something about Emily intrigued him. She was nice and easygoing, yet he could sense that she kept herself guarded. He wanted to break down that wall, even if it meant changing his own ways.
“Hey, I heard you’re into hiking,” he began, leaning against the console and trying to strike up a conversation. “I love it too. Have you checked out any trails around here?”
Emily’s eyes flickered with interest, but she remained cautious. “Yeah, I like the one near Diamond Lake. It’s peaceful.”
“Diamond Lake, huh? I’ll have to check it out,” he said, his determination to prove himself reflected in his voice. “Mind if I join you sometime?”
“Maybe,” she replied, a slight smile playing at the corners of her lips. “We’ll see.”
Paul grinned, pleased with her response. He knew he had a long way to go, but it was a start.
Over the next few days, he made a point to engage Emily in small talk—asking about her favorite books, movies, and thoughts on their shared faith. He noticed her guard lowering ever so slightly.
In the midst of their conversations, it struck Paul how much he was enjoying getting to know Emily. It wasn’t just flirtation; he truly cared about her thoughts and opinions. The realization both surprised and scared him.
“Emily,” he said late one afternoon, as they shared a quiet moment in between calls, “I want you to know that I’m genuinely interested in getting to know you better. Not just because you’re pretty, but because I think we have a lot in common.”
Her green eyes widened with surprise, and for a fleeting moment, Paul thought he saw a hint of vulnerability. But just as quickly, her guard went back up, and she hesitated before responding.
“Thank you, Paul. That means a lot,” she said softly, her fingers once again tapping nervously on the console.
As Emily leaned back in her chair, Paul couldn’t help but admire the way it highlighted the delicate curve of her cheek and the kindness in her eyes.
“Emily, I’ve been meaning to ask you,” Paul began, his voice careful as he perched on the edge of her desk. “Would you like to grab dinner with me sometime?”
Her green eyes flicked up to meet his, uncertainty flickering in their depths. She bit her lip, hesitating, before finally shaking her head.
“Paul, I...I can’t,” she said softly, avoiding his gaze. “I don’t date guys with badges.”
He blinked, taken aback by her response. “Why not?” he asked, trying to keep the hurt from his voice.
Emily sighed, her fingers nervously twisting the pen she held. “It’s nothing personal, really. I just...I made that mistake once, dating a coworker with a badge. It ended badly, and I won’t make the same mistake twice.”
As she spoke, Paul could see the pain behind her words and the way she seemed to withdraw into herself. He longed to reach out, to comfort her, but he knew he needed to respect her boundaries. Instead, he gave her a small nod, trying to hide his disappointment.
“All right, I understand,” he said, forcing a smile.
“Let’s just take things one step at a time, okay?”
“Okay,” he agreed, his heart swelling with determination. “So, friends, it is, then?”
“Friends,” she agreed, offering a small, tentative smile in return as he headed to his patrol car with Maddox by his side.
Internally, Paul vowed to be the best friend she’d ever had, hoping that somehow, someday, she might change her mind about him. But for now, he would simply cherish the growing bond between them and the warmth of Emily’s friendship.
He knew that proving himself to Emily wouldn’t be easy, but he would give it everything he had. And for the first time in his life, Paul felt obligated to something—or rather, someone—beyond his career and his dog. And perhaps, with time and trust, they could find something even more special together.
The sound of his radio crackling drew Paul from his thoughts, the voice of Emily on the other end pulling him back into the present. “Unit 7, we’ve got a report of a missing elderly woman last seen near Main Street. Can you respond?”
“Copy that, on my way,” Paul replied, his heart racing as he prepared for another search and rescue mission. He turned to his K-9 partner beside him and said, "Looks like duty calls."
Upon arriving at Main Street, Paul spotted a small crowd gathered outside the local grocery store. A worried-looking man approached him, wringing his hands nervously. “Officer, thank goodness you’re here. It’s my mother—she wandered off while we were shopping. She has dementia, and I’m afraid she might be lost or scared.”
“Don’t worry, sir. We’ll find her,” Paul assured him, the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders. He motioned to Maddox. “This is my partner. He’s trained in search and rescue. We’ll do our best to locate your mother quickly and safely.”
“Thank you,” the man said, relief evident in his eyes.
“Do you have anything for Maddox to imprint on?”
The man nodded. “This is my mother’s sweater. She had it in her shopping cart.”
“Maddox, search,” Paul commanded after letting him take a strong whiff of the garment. The canine eagerly began sniffing the area.
As they entered the busy grocery store, they were met with a barrage of sights and smells. The aisles were filled with brightly colored packages, the air heavy with the scent of fresh produce and baked goods.
The store was bustling with activity, people chatting and laughing as they filled their carts with groceries. Paul scanned the faces of shoppers as he led Maddox down each aisle. He didn’t see anyone who matched the description of the missing woman, but he kept his eyes open nonetheless.
Maddox’s nose twitched rapidly as he excitedly picked up various scents, his tail swishing back and forth in anticipation. Paul could feel the energy radiating from his partner, the intense drive to find the missing woman. The air was thick with a mixture of scents—freshly baked bread, vegetables, and the faint trace of something unknown that only the German shepherd seemed to pick up on. Maddox eagerly followed the trail, his sense of smell heightened by years of training.
It wasn’t long before Max’s ears perked up as he zeroed in on their target. Following his lead, Paul found the elderly woman standing in the back of the store, hiding behind some boxes, looking lost and frightened.
“Ma’am?” he asked gently as he approached her. “I’m Deputy Evans with the Sweet Bloom Sheriff’s Department, and this is my K-9 partner, Maddox. We’re here to help you.”
Her eyes lit up at the sight of the canine, a small smile playing on her lips. “Oh, what a lovely dog. I like him very much,” she said, reaching out a shaky hand to pet the German shepherd.
“Thank you, ma’am. He likes you too,” Paul responded, relief washing over him as he saw the reassuring effect Maddox had on her. “Your son is worried about you. How about we take you back to him?”
“My son?” she asked as she glanced around in confusion.
Realizing she must not remember him, Paul added, “I can take you home if that works better.”
“Home...yes, that sounds nice,” she murmured, allowing Paul to guide her from the back.
As they exited the grocery store, the woman’s son rushed forward, tears of gratitude streaming down his face. “Mom,” her son cried, enveloping her in a tight embrace.
This time, she seemed to recognize her son. “Harold, what are you doing here?”
“We came to get groceries, remember?” he asked in a tone that made it clear he hoped she did.
When her lip quivered and her eyes filled with tears, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders to comfort her. “It’s all right, Mom. Why don’t I take you home?”
She nodded. “Yes, let’s do that. I want to see Rufus. He must be home from work by now.”
Paul was fairly certain that, based on her age, her husband wasn’t around anymore. As they were leaving, Harold said over his shoulder, “Thank you so much, Deputy Evans. I can’t express how grateful I am for your help.”
“Of course,” Paul replied, his heart swelling with pride. “It’s all in a day’s work. I’m just glad we could help.”
Paul and Maddox returned to their patrol car. Another successful search and rescue mission tucked under their belts. As he began the drive back, Paul couldn’t help but think of Emily again, wondering if perhaps showing her the compassionate side of himself might make a difference. Only time will tell.
Paul strode into the office, Maddox trotting at his side, feeling the warmth of accomplishment radiating through him. The chatter of fellow deputies filled the air as he hung up his jacket and made his way to his office.
“Hey, Evans. Heard you found Mrs. Thompson. Good job, man,” Deputy Horton called out, giving Paul a thumbs-up.
“Thanks, Horton. Just glad we could help,” Paul replied, pausing at his door. He glanced over at Emily, whose eyes were fixed on her computer screen, her fingers tapping away at the keyboard.
“Seriously though, Evans,” Deputy Phillips chimed in, “the way you handled Mrs. Thompson was something else. That’s a real gift, you know.”
“Appreciate it, Phillips. Maddox deserves the most credit, though,” Paul said with a smile, patting his K-9 partner’s head.
Emily looked up from her work, her hazel eyes meeting his for a moment. “I heard about how kind you were with Mrs. Thompson, Paul. That’s really nice. It’s good to hear about that side of you.”
“Thank you, Emily. I appreciate that,” Paul responded, trying to sound casual while his heart raced in his chest. Was it possible that she was starting to see him differently? He could only hope.
“Maddox definitely helped, right?” Emily asked, a small grin playing on her lips since she already knew the answer.
“Absolutely. He’s my secret weapon,” Paul quipped, earning a chuckle from Emily.
“Looks like your partner is stealing hearts left and right,” she teased, her voice light and playful.
“Can’t blame him. We all need someone, after all,” Paul mused, his gaze lingering on Emily for a second longer than necessary before he turned back to his office. He couldn’t help but hope that maybe, just maybe, she was believing there was more to him than what she first assumed.
Later that afternoon, Sheriff Hart approached Paul at his desk. “Evans, I heard you did an outstanding job today.”
“I’m just glad we could help, Sheriff,” Paul replied, offering his boss a brief smile.
Sheriff Hart gave another curt nod before turning around to leave. He paused at the door, saying, “Keep up the good work.”
As the day shifted toward evening and the pace slowed down slightly at the office, Paul’s thoughts drifted back to Emily. He wondered how she kept her composure so well, handling calls with such professionalism despite the chaos that could unfold on the other end of the line. It was a skill he admired, one that seemed to draw him in deeper every time he interacted with her.
Deciding not to let the opportunity slip by, Paul approached Emily’s desk once more to talk to her before taking off. She was finishing a call, her expression focused and calm. As she hung up, she looked up and greeted Paul with a warm smile.
“Hey, busy day?” Paul ventured, leaning casually against the edge of her desk.
“Isn’t it always?” Emily replied, her eyes twinkling with a hint of humor. “But it’s good. Keeps me on my toes.”
Paul nodded, watching as she organized her papers. “I was thinking,” he began, hesitating slightly. “Maybe when things calm down, we could grab some coffee? I mean, just as friends.”
Emily paused, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then she smiled softly. “That sounds nice, Paul.”
“Great.” Paul couldn’t help the enthusiastic relief that washed over him. “It’s a date then—but not a date,” he added quickly, with a nervous chuckle. “You know what I mean.”
Emily laughed, her hazel eyes lighting up in amusement. “I’ll hold you to that—just coffee,” she affirmed.
As Paul walked to his car with Maddox by his side, he felt lighter than he had all day. The connection with Emily seemed promising, even if just on a friendly level for now.
Maybe Sweet Bloom had more in store for him than just professional satisfaction; maybe it offered a chance at something deeper and more personal, too. With Maddox panting contently by his side and thoughts of friendly coffee dates in mind, Paul felt hopeful for what was yet to come.