Chapter 5 #2
"I can take pictures of my whereabouts and send them to you if you're concerned that I might be involved in this spree of vandalism. Although if it started before I moved to town on Friday, then you can cross me off your list of suspects."
"We're not suspecting you of anything," Gordon said, looking at Hannah like she'd lost her mind.
"You're a doctor. You're not going to go around spray-painting profanity on town property.
" He huffed out a breath. "Plus, we've got surveillance video, and it looks like a teenage boy.
No one thinks it's you." He repeated, just in case Hannah had any lingering doubts.
So Ben had surveillance video. Did he know that when he was accusing her earlier that day? Was he just giving her a hard time, or was he seriously just naturally suspicious of everyone? Surely he didn't go around accusing the townspeople of vandalizing their town without just cause?
Ben's eyes met hers for a second, and then his gaze slid away, as though he were guilty.
That's exactly what she thought. He'd just been giving her a hard time.
But why?
She didn't have an answer to that question, and she probably wasn't going to get one, so she snipped off the last suture, murmured a few words, then turned and walked out, leaving the door cracked just a little, as she walked to the computer and started typing some information in.
She didn't mean to eavesdrop, but the deputy's voice came from the open door.
"Do you think it was Mason?" he asked, as Hannah tried to figure out who in the world Mason was.
"I hope not."
The reply was short, but it had emotion in it that tugged at Hannah's heart, even though she didn't want it to. Obviously, whoever Mason was, Ben loved him.
"I hope not too," Gordon said, although his words seemed fatalistic, like he'd already reached the conclusion that it was Mason.
A police officer, along with the rest of America, was supposed to hold people innocent until they were proven guilty. But sometimes crimes were so obvious that it was hard not to come to that conclusion. It felt like common sense.
Who was Mason?
"I don't know what I'm going to do with that boy," Ben muttered. "The divorce did not help."
Could Mason be Ben's son?
"I know we always feel guilty about the things that happen to us and how they affect our children.
But you can't help what your ex did. If she had been faithful, if she had kept her vows, if she had done what she was supposed to do, Mason probably would be the straight-A student he was before everything happened. "
"I know. I just wish there was something I could do to get my son back."
So it was his son.
Hannah's eyes opened wide, and her fingers stilled on the keyboard. Ben's son was having issues?
It made her feel a lot more sympathetic to Ben's situation. How terrible would it be to be a sheriff in charge of keeping law and order in your jurisdiction and to have your own son be the top suspect in a vandalism crime? She couldn't even imagine how devastating it must be.
"I think I have everything entered," she spoke to Cassie as she finished up the information. "Would you mind taking a look at this?" It wasn't the first one that she'd done by herself, but it was still her first day, and she wanted to make sure she was doing everything correctly.
Cassie smiled, not seeming to be put out at all, as she pushed back away from her chair.
"Of course," she said, looking as cheerful and sunny as the bouquet of flowers on her desk.
It made Hannah wonder if Cassie had a boyfriend who sent her flowers or if she just decorated her own desk. She seemed like the kind of person who made things better and brighter wherever she went.
"It all looks good to me," Cassie said after checking the information on the screen.
She straightened and added, "I know that you have patients waiting, but I just wanted to remind you of the town meeting for the annual Mistletoe Meadows community festival.
I didn't know if you were going and wondered if you wanted to go with me? "
"I... I'd love to," Hannah said, caught a little off guard. She did want to get involved in the town and be a part of everything, like she’d mentioned to Terry. And she appreciated being invited, not once, but twice.
"Sweet. It's tonight at seven. Would you like to meet somewhere? Or I could pick you up?"
"If you don't mind, I could pick you up. I have to drive into town from my grandma's farmhouse anyway."
"Oh, that'll work. I just live right down the street, over top of the candle shop. I can be down on the sidewalk at five till?"
"Sure. Do we have to get there early to make sure we get a seat?"
"There's plenty of seating. Unless you wanted to sit in the front. Those seats usually go quickly. But you're also more likely to get volunteered for stuff." She laughed a little. "I like to volunteer, but I like to select my projects myself."
"I'm with you. I want to have a little say in what I do."
"In the back it is, then," Cassie said.
She walked back to her seat with a little spring in her step.
Hannah's lips curved up in a smile. It was nice to be welcomed into town and invited places. Maybe on some level she'd rather stay home and eat ice cream and read a book, but this was truly what she wanted: to be involved in the town.
It made her feel warm and happy. Even though she had to go face Ben again, she didn't mind.
After all, he was fighting his own battles.
And even though they would probably never get along, she could give him grace, if only in her mind.
She would not envy his position as parent and sheriff with a troubled teen, and that alone made it a lot easier to be kind to him as she finished up the paperwork and sent the sheriff and his deputy on their way.