trying to fix me up with men,” Callie said loud enough for her aunt to hear on the other end of the phone. “I’d appreciate it if you’d all stay out of my business from now on.” It sounded harsh, but that was the only way to get through to these three. A dating service. Of all the harebrained schemes, this one took the cake. She thought she’d seen it all with those three, but this one topped everything.
***
After the interviews, Callie made her decision. She liked all the men. They all had valid reasons for wanting to work in Smytheville. Too bad she couldn’t hire all three. Initially, she wanted Sam, but after talking to them, she changed her mind and chose Milt Foley. Besides the fact he was experienced, she liked his family values. With ties here in town, she wouldn’t have to worry about him looking for greener pastures in a big city. That was her main concern with Sam Vansworth. Something he said about a stepping stone to Columbus, Dayton or Cleveland. She didn’t need to go through this process again in a few years. Josh Wilton caused the same concern. She did suggest they apply over in Northton to replace Milt.
She called Milt. “When can you start?”
“I’d like to give two weeks’ notice plus my wife and I need time to find a place.”
“Sounds fair. Two weeks it is.”
Now that was settled, she decided to run out for a bite to eat. Never was one who liked to cook for just herself. Besides, after being cooped up at her aunt’s, she needed to see people.”
It didn’t take long for the rumors to start. Already people were talking about Gram and Jim having lunch together.
“I noticed Jim Landry’s car at your grandmother’s this evening on my way into work,” Jill, my waitress said.
Hmm first lunch, now he was at her house. “Is that right?”
“Yeah, and I heard they were pretty cozy at lunch this afternoon. Is something going on with them?”
You had to love small towns. Nothing better to talk about. At least this time it wasn’t something bad. “If there is, it’s their business, they’re both adults.” Hopefully, that would squelch some of the comments. At least from Jill.
“I…I didn’t mean nothing by it. Gees, Callie, what’s with you lately? Ever since you become chief you act like you’re better than anyone else.”
The menu slipped from her hand. Had she become better than thou? She didn’t think she had. But that was her grandmother being gossiped about. No one liked hearing about their family as the topic of gossip.
“I hope I’ve not come off like that. I certainly didn’t intend to.”
“Well you have. And I’m not the only one who’s noticed.” Jill shifted from one foot to the other. “Just ask anyone in here. You gonna order or what?”
Everyone thought she’d become a snob? She had a hard time believing that. She hadn’t hardly talked to anyone since she’d been back. Including Jill. “Okay, tell me exactly what I’ve done that makes you think that?”
“Just the way you act.”
“You’ll have to explain that further. This is the first time I’ve seen you since I’ve been back. I’m sorry if my answer about my grandmother upset you, but it is true.”
“I saw you at the bank twice, and you ignored me both times.” Jill tapped her pencil against her order pad.
“If you saw me at the bank, why didn’t you say something to me? Clearly, I didn’t see you, or I definitely would have said hello.”
“Well, I don’t know how you could have missed me. I almost bumped into you.”
“Did you speak to me?” Jill was starting to irritate her. Wasn’t like she had nothing else to do or stuff on her mind. Whenever Callie saw someone she knew, she spoke to them.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Cause you didn’t.”
“Uh huh. And because I didn’t speak first, you decided I was a snob?”
Jill shifted her weight to her other foot and let her hand fall to her side. “I’m sorry, Callie. I guess I’m the one being
***
After the interviews, Callie made her decision. She liked all the men. They all had valid reasons for wanting to work in Smytheville. Too bad she couldn’t hire all three. Initially, she wanted Sam, but after talking to them, she changed her mind and chose Milt Foley. Besides the fact he was experienced, she liked his family values. With ties here in town, she wouldn’t have to worry about him looking for greener pastures in a big city. That was her main concern with Sam Vansworth. Something he said about a stepping stone to Columbus, Dayton or Cleveland. She didn’t need to go through this process again in a few years. Josh Wilton caused the same concern. She did suggest they apply over in Northton to replace Milt.
She called Milt. “When can you start?”
“I’d like to give two weeks’ notice plus my wife and I need time to find a place.”
“Sounds fair. Two weeks it is.”
Now that was settled, she decided to run out for a bite to eat. Never was one who liked to cook for just herself. Besides, after being cooped up at her aunt’s, she needed to see people.”
It didn’t take long for the rumors to start. Already people were talking about Gram and Jim having lunch together.
“I noticed Jim Landry’s car at your grandmother’s this evening on my way into work,” Jill, my waitress said.
Hmm first lunch, now he was at her house. “Is that right?”
“Yeah, and I heard they were pretty cozy at lunch this afternoon. Is something going on with them?”
You had to love small towns. Nothing better to talk about. At least this time it wasn’t something bad. “If there is, it’s their business, they’re both adults.” Hopefully, that would squelch some of the comments. At least from Jill.
“I…I didn’t mean nothing by it. Gees, Callie, what’s with you lately? Ever since you become chief you act like you’re better than anyone else.”
The menu slipped from her hand. Had she become better than thou? She didn’t think she had. But that was her grandmother being gossiped about. No one liked hearing about their family as the topic of gossip.
“I hope I’ve not come off like that. I certainly didn’t intend to.”
“Well you have. And I’m not the only one who’s noticed.” Jill shifted from one foot to the other. “Just ask anyone in here. You gonna order or what?”
Everyone thought she’d become a snob? She had a hard time believing that. She hadn’t hardly talked to anyone since she’d been back. Including Jill. “Okay, tell me exactly what I’ve done that makes you think that?”
“Just the way you act.”
“You’ll have to explain that further. This is the first time I’ve seen you since I’ve been back. I’m sorry if my answer about my grandmother upset you, but it is true.”
“I saw you at the bank twice, and you ignored me both times.” Jill tapped her pencil against her order pad.
“If you saw me at the bank, why didn’t you say something to me? Clearly, I didn’t see you, or I definitely would have said hello.”
“Well, I don’t know how you could have missed me. I almost bumped into you.”
“Did you speak to me?” Jill was starting to irritate her. Wasn’t like she had nothing else to do or stuff on her mind. Whenever Callie saw someone she knew, she spoke to them.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Cause you didn’t.”
“Uh huh. And because I didn’t speak first, you decided I was a snob?”
Jill shifted her weight to her other foot and let her hand fall to her side. “I’m sorry, Callie. I guess I’m the one being
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