“What?”
“Ma’am?” the officer said, leaning down to look at the bitter bitch.
“He’s lying! I didn’t call you.”
The officer looked back and forth between the two of us.
“Tell him how you know me,” I said.
“Why?”
“Tell him.”
“This boy has been bothering my granddaughter.”
“We’re engaged to be married,” I told him. “This woman doesn’t like me. Earlier this week, she ordered a pizza from the place I work – as an excuse to drag me to her house – and then tried to claim she didn’t order the pie – just like she’s claiming she didn’t call you.”
“I didn’t.”
“Earlier, you said you needed to talk to Kasey. You just drove by when I was telling her good-bye. If you need to talk to her so badly, why aren’t you there – instead of prowling past this completely random traffic-stop – to see if the tip you called in would get me into trouble.”
“It wasn’t me!”
The officer stepped forward and motioned for me to scoot back.
I walked over to my car and leaned against it once more.
“Ma’am. Dispatch gave me your address. Do you have an excuse for why you’re here? You don’t live anywhere near this location.”
“I was going to see my granddaughter.”
“To talk to her?”
“Yes.”
“Is she home right now?”
“I don’t ..”
She looked over at me.
“I don’t know.”
“I am going to suggest, Mrs. Williams, that you find someplace else to be,” he told her. “.. and that you stay away from this young man. If your granddaughter has concerns, she can call the office anytime.”
“.. but”
“Ma’am. This is the last time I’m going to make a suggestion. After that .. well .. things will happen that will require paperwork .. and .. uh .. ma’am?”
“Yes?”
“I hate paperwork.”
“Yes. Yes. Okay. I’m going home. Have a nice day.”
“You too, ma’am.”
He closed the door.
She pulled away.
“I’m really sorry you got tied up in this,” I told him.
He started laughing.
“What?”
“That was gonna be my line.”
“I’m marrying into this family. I chose this fight. You were just trying to get through your shift.”
“Ain’t that the truth ..” he sighed.
He pulled out a business card and handed it to me.
“I’m going to scribble some notes into a report. I certainly hope that I never have to hear from you again but – if you need anything – please call.”
I nodded.
“If you need, say, a coroner ..” he said, smiling slyly. “.. under no circumstances should you call me.”
“If,” I promised him, “I’m around when the old biddy keels over, I will have multiple witnesses to testify that I was in no way involved.”
He laughed again.
“What?” I asked, chuckling in spite of myself.
“That just means there’s more than one person to be investigated.”
I held out my hand, “Thanks. Sorry.”
He took it, and said, “Good luck, kid. She seems like a handful.”
“As you can see, I’m not scared to call her bluff. She may have my future wife and my mother-in-law shaking in their boots but I’ve only known her for a couple weeks and I guarantee you I’m not putting up with her shit. I’ll pack them up and move them out of state.”
“That might be a plan worth looking into, son.”
“The wedding’s in three weeks, surely, we can make it that long ..”
“She gonna be there?”
“She’s kind of invited – her husband’s giving their granddaughter away.”
“Call me. I’ll stop by.”
“You don’t have to ..”
“It’ll probably save a 9-1-1 call. Just text me the location and the time – and your name.”
“Alright, thanks.”
“No problem. Stay safe, kid.”
“Thank you, sir.”
He got into his car and pulled away.
I got into mine, put my Bluetooth earpiece in, and called Kasey – telling her the whole story as I headed home.
~~~ Wedding Planning ~~~
Pastor John caught me after the service to let me know that we’d be meeting in his office Saturday at 10 o’clock – the next two weeks – and that he’d penciled us in the church calendar for a 7 o’clock Friday rehearsal and a 2 o’clock wedding on Saturday, the week after that.
I texted Kasey and told her. She said she hadn’t thought about the rehearsal either.
Once I was home, I decided it was time to call dad.
“Hey, Dad.”
“Hey, Squirt.”
“Did mom tell you I’m getting married?”
He laughed, “Yeah.”
“Sorry. I should’ve called you sooner.”
“Sounds like you’ve been busy. You’ve been dating what, like two weeks?”
“It seems like longer but, yeah, I guess.”
“Mom said you seem to mesh well. That’s good. Find a girl who makes you a better person.”
I thought about that for a second.
“Kasey’s smart – and goal-oriented – she’ll probably have me working my ass off.”
“That’s good. I’ll try to make it to the wedding. I need to talk to my dispatcher and see if I can get that weekend free. Call Grandma Mitchell. She’ll want to be there.”
“Alright. You doing okay?”
“Horns and brake lights – like always. Heading into construction. Gotta go. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
I decided I might as well get this done before I got busy and forgot.
“Hey, gma.”
“Reggie! What’s my favorite grandson up to? You coming to play Uno soon?”
“I’m getting married, grandma – two weeks from Saturday.”
“Married?! Gosh almighty. Are you even 18 yet?”
“You sent me a birthday card with $18 in it, grandma.”
“I know. I know. So young! Is she pretty?”
“Yes.”
“Is she smart?”
“Yes, grandma.”
“Is she a good kisser?”
“Grandma!”
“Can you bring her for a visit? I’ll make cookies and we can play Uno.”
“I’ll ask her, grandma. Hang on.”
I texted Kasey, “Dad’s mom wants us to come over. When’s good?”
She replied, “Today works.”
“How about this afternoon?” I asked my grandmother.