Chapter three

I sat across Rufus at the restaurant feeling uncomfortable. Daddy pestered me for the whole day and he even got sloan to beg me before I finally agreed to go out with him and now that I'm here, I'm not saying anything. I'm not the shy type, it's just that it feels weird being here with him.

"So, uh what do you do?." I tried to make small talks to get rid of the uncomfortable silence we shared.

"Well, I'm a deputy at the sheriff's department." He answered confidently.

"Oh, so you're a cop?."

"Yes."

"I don't like cops."

"Ohh.." The smile on his face vanished and we didn't say anything else for a while.

"So, what about you, what do you do?"

"Um--" I started but was interrupted.

"It doesn't even matter because when we're married, you won't work again. I'll provide for both of us." He smiled like what he said was funny, but it only annoyed me.

"Why won't I work?, besides I never said I was going to marry you."

"Oh, uh I thought your dad already --"

"Already what?, is it my dad you want to marry?."

He looked down at his hands, feeling embarrassed. "I want us to get married and have kids together."

"Just like that?, do you realize how stupid you sound?." I didn't know why I was getting upset, I guess I just didn't like him at all. "When other guys want to propose, they do it in a romantic way, with a ring and other stuff instead of just asking like some old ma--"

"Enough!" He snapped. "You're lucky we're in a public place!."

"Or what?, you would've hit me?" He didn't answer, he just walked out. The nerves of that idiot, I never even wanted to be his friend. This was daddy's fault, if he hadn't forced me to go out with him this wouldn't have happened.

When I got home, I told daddy what happened half expecting him to get mad and told me how I sound rude but instead he was mad at Rufus. He said what kind of man would raise his voice at a woman?.

I was happy dad didn't blame me for what happened but I knew that he really wanted things to work out between us. I told him that Sloan and I were together and he apologized. He said that he wouldn't have asked me to go out with Rufus if he knew. 

The next day after dad had gone to the bakery, Sloan wanted a tour of the town and I volunteered to help with it. We decided to visit the best part around town, starting from the famous little blue river to the community rose garden. Everything was beautiful and it was amazing how little things had changed, the town was more beautiful and clean but other than that everything else was the same.

After walking around till the evening, I decided to pay my mom a visit. I got on my knees and placed the bouquet of rose I had gotten earlier on her headstone. "Hey Mom, how're you doing?, hmm I hope you're resting well. Mom I bought someone I want you to meet, his name is Sloan." 

"Hazel, are you okay?" His put his hand on my shoulder and I held it.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I don't know why I'm crying, I mean it's not like she just died or anything. Sometimes I just really miss her."

"It's ok I get it." He pulled me up and I leaned on him for a while before I heard someone call my name.

"Hey Piper!." I waved as she smiled and walked towards me. She hugged me and almost squeezed the life out of me as she got to me. 

"When did you arrive?, And why didn't you tell me?" She pouted and crossed her hands, frowning.

"I just got back a couple days ago and I'm sorry I didn't tell you." I smiled and she did too, showing all her teeth.

"Fine, I forgive you. So are you going to introduce me to this handsome fella or am I going to have to do it myself?"

"Right, this is Sloan. Sloan, Piper."

"Just Sloan?" She raised her brow curiously as she playfully nudged me with her shoulder.

"Fine he's my boyfriend."

"I knew it. Nice meeting you Sloan."

"Same here."

"Well, I'll see you around. Gotta go, bye."

"Bye."

~~~~~~~^~~~~~~~

Later that night when dad got home, he said he had a gift for me but he wasn't going to give it to me till we were leaving. I wondered what the gift could be, I was curious but I knew better than to ask him what it was. I don't know how he does it, but dad is an expert when it comes to keeping secrets. You'd never guess that a man who looked as innocent as my dad could keep secrets.

He loved doing things like this because he knows how curious I get. The last time something like this happened was a few years ago on my birthday. He told me he had a gift for me but he wasn't going to give me until everyone we invited for the party had gone.

It made me feel really anxious, I wanted to know what it was so much that I felt like chasing everyone out.

After everyone had left, daddy called me and started talking about how much he loves me and wants the best for me. He talked about how he had been taking care of me since mom died, how he didn't remarry for my sake. How he worked hard day and night to send me to school. At a point, I kinda got bored but then he finished he fatherly speech with something I never expected him to say.

"Honey, what I'm trying to say is, I trust you and I know you won't disappoint me. I know you also want what's best for me, that's why you've been working hard. So, I've decided to reward you in the little way that I can. I'm releasing you to go and complete your education in las Vegas."

My mind went blank for a second before I was finally able to speak. "Daddy, are you serious?".

"Yes. I trust you--"

"Oh thank you daddy!.". I trapped him in a bear hug as I screamed on the inside. I was very happy that night because I was finally getting what I wanted.

~~~~~~~~^~~~~~~~~

Days passed by really slowly and the only thing on my mind was the gift dad had for me. Many times I tried to convince him to at least give me a hint about what it was but he didn't say anything.

Finally, after what seemed like weeks of waiting, it was finally time. I got up early, took a quick shower and hurriedly got dressed. I went out to meet him in the living room and sat beside him.

"Hazel, do you remember much about your mother?" He started and I just sat there staring at him until I realized he was waiting for an answer.

"No, not really. Why do you ask?"

"Hmm. She used to love going to the little blue river. She'd stay there telling stories to the little children around." He stopped and dabbed at his eyes before he continued. Do you know what her most priced possession was?"

"Now that you mentioned it, she used to carry around a necklace."

"Yes. It was the necklace her grandmother gave her. She always wore it wherever she was going."

"Yeah, I always wondered what happened to it."

He held up a silver necklace with a ruby pendant. "Whoa, is that the necklace?"

"Yes. Before she died, she asked me to give it to you."

"She did?, But you never mentioned it."

"I know. I had always wanted to give it to you but I couldn't let it go. I felt like it was the only thing that reminded me of her but now I realized that I don't need this necklace for that. Everything around me reminds me of her, this house, the bakery, you and even this whole town."

"I understand how you felt."

"Here. I should have given it to you a long time ago." He held out the necklace and I collected it from him. "Thanks dad, I promise to treasure it forever." I smiled and hugged him.