Chapter 4
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Waverly knew what he meant by want. Maybe this is what she needed to be intimate with her partner in order to get away from all thoughts that had to do with Nicole. After all it was Jon who she loved.
The next day Waverly felt disappointed in herself. Last night had been a mess. First she had let her previous relationship distract her from her date night. Then she had intimate relationships with her fiance fueled by the thoughts of her ex. This would be the last time this would happen she tried to promise herself internally. Life is made up of actions that all lead to consequences so now she must live with her consequences. She had decided that avoiding Nicole would be the best thing to do. At least until she regulated her emotions on the topic.
As she got to work she was met with a stack of papers she had to go through. Perfect. She thought at least she would have work as a distraction. After about two hours of working on paperwork Ben, one of her interns knocked on her office door.
"Hey Waverly, we have an urgent case." Ben said, concern in his voice.
"What is it Tony?" she asked, mirroring his concern.
"Billy Clanton. He was caught shoplifting again. Thankfully the deputy who caught him knew he was one of our kids. So he thinks if one of the leads goes down and talks to the sheriff they can let him down with a second warning, but we have to hurry. Mrs. Clanton is not answering so they might be forced to process him if no one can go vouch for him." Ben quickly said.
"Oh geez not Billy he was doing so well." Waverly said. Her initial reaction concern for the boy. Then it hit her that she had to go down to the sheriff station, the place she was supposed to be avoiding.
"Is Emily around? She is usually good at these cases?" Waverly asked, trying to find a quick out. Emily was her co-lead; they both were basically the heads of the organization.
"No she's in the big city talking to the Larson investors, remember." Ben answered.
"Oh man you're right." Waverly said, rubbing her temple realizing she had no other choice. She loved her job and she wouldn't let her feelings be the reason one of her kids ends up with another strike on his record.
"My car is still not working so can you please pull up one of the company cars from the garage while I get his file? The faster I show up the better." Waverly said, already putting together Billy's case file.
"Yes ma'am. I'll meet you out front." Ben said, as he ran out the door.
Waverly gathered herself looking herself up and down in the mirror behind her door. She had to make sure she looked professional, but if you knew Waverly Earp you would guess she wanted to look good for her little trip. She fixed her shirt and speed walked all the way to the car. Giving Ben a quick thank you. In a few minutes she found herself getting out of the car smoothing out her skirt as she made her way up the steps of the building. Right before she walked in she took the biggest breath possible to prepare herself for the reunion that was about to happen. She walked in and was met with Lonnie, the deputy who had caught Billy and Billy sitting in a chair in the corner of the station.
"Hey Lonnie thanks for grabbing him for us." Waverly said sincerely.
"No problem Waverly. The sheriff asked me to send in his guardian as soon as one showed up. You're the closest thing he's got right now so you're up." Lonnie said, gesturing to Nedley's former office.
Waverly sighed as she looked towards Billy, hoping seeing his face gave her the extra reminder of why she did what she did.
"I am sorry Ms. Waves I can explain." Billy said. Waverly could tell he meant his apology. That was enough to give her strength to put on her professional face.
"We can talk about this later ok." she said reassuringly, as she walked to the office giving it three firm knocks.
"Come in!" she heard from the other side of the door. The voice instantly gave her goosebumps.
Waverly opened the door and was met with the tall woman's back, her long red hair under that dam stetson that would do things to her like no one understood when she was younger. Nicole was reaching for a box in her file cabinet so she had yet to see who entered.
"Sorry I just came in from outside and needed to grab this, please have a…" Nicole felt her heart drop as she turned to see her ex-girlfriend standing there. Waverly also stood there in awe. Nicole seemed to be glowing, the years had only made her even more beautiful if that was possible. Wine, Waverly thought. Nicole aged like wine. So much for getting things done professionally. Waverly thought to herself.
"Hey what happened to your hand." Nicole asked, breaking the staring contest dropping the box. She unconsciously made her way over to the shorter woman grabbing the wrapped hand gently. Waverly was shocked at the sudden action, but did not fight it. It took Nicole a few seconds to realize what she was doing.
"Waverly, I am so sorry." she said, almost embarrassed by her actions dropping her hand. Nicole took this moment to back up and remove her stetson hanging it on a hook. Waverly swore that whole action happened in slow motion. She found herself mesmerized.
"It's fine Nicole. Old habits die hard right?" Waverly said, in a shy tone. Referring to how the redhead always noticed any little injury instantly and then turned into nurse Nicole.
"Ha yea I know right." Nicole chuckled. "Anyways please have a seat. How have you been? It's been what? Five years since I last saw you?" Nicole added acting like she couldn't remember exactly how long it's been.
"I've been ok. How have you been?" Waverly answered, not entirely sure what to say.
"I am doing great. Getting used to being back in town, but it's barely been like two days so I hope everything settles in soon." Nicole answered.
"Purgatory has a way of feeling like home despite the madness or trying to leave it." Waverly responds.
"Yea, I mean I always knew it was home. I just had to sacrifice some time away so I could be ready to truly protect it. You know." Nicole said, the double meaning clear to both of them.
"Well I am glad you're back. Purgatory needed you." Waverly answered sincerely. Nicole's words hitting a soft spot.
Nicole felt like there could also be a double meaning in Waverly's response, but decided she shouldn't look so deep into the engaged woman's words.
"So I am assuming you're here for Billy?" Nicole asked, taking a seat behind her desk.
"Yes, he is one of my kids from the organization. Billy is a great young man. He just needs some guidance. I don't really understand why he felt the need to shoplift. He has been working at the coffee shop after classes. He seemed to be doing well." Waverly stated, handing over some files that showed Billy's progress in the organization.
"He was caught trying to steal some crystals from that natural medicine shop on Main. If I am being completely honest I think he is a good kid. When they brought him in he didn't want to speak much, but when he did he seemed truly sorry. I see he has been participating in group therapy and volunteering at the rec center. " Nicole said, as she rifled through the papers Waverly handed her. The other woman nodded in response.
"Look Waverly. I think this kid has potential to fix his mistakes. I want to make a deal with you. Like you mentioned he needs guidance. What if he volunteers here with me on some evenings. I'll have him work by my side and I can try my best to help him. You know, teach him things. I can tell he doesn't have too many adult figures in his life besides you and your staff." Nicole offered.
Waverly sat there listening to the woman. In that instant she was reminded who Nicole was. She was the type of person to sacrifice her time to help others. The type of person who cared for people, even for people she didn't know.
"I think that would be great. Thank you Nicole. I thought I was going to have to do some begging to help the kid out." Waverly said truthfully.
"No begging here. We always said we would change Purgatory. It seems like you kept your word on that, it's finally my turn to do the same." Nicole said sincerely. Waverly fought the blush that threatened to creep onto her face.
"I do want him to sign one of these volunteer contracts. It would help him understand what he will be doing here and hopefully keep him accountable." Nicole added as she started clicking at the computer to print out the forms. Waverly sat in silence watching the woman work. The printer came to life as the papers came out.
"I will need you to sign some too since he is still a minor. Since I won't be putting this on his official record I won't have to make come in, but I do need to find time to see what she is up to. Make sure Billy has a proper home situation." Nicole said, as she handed the papers over to Waverly.
"I'll have him fill out his part as soon as possible and bring it in on his first day with you." Waverly stated as she began to sign the papers.
"Thanks for coming down. I didn't think it would be you of all people. Maybe I should've guessed, if it was a kid in need of help it was highly possible you would be here." Nicole laughed from her seat.
"Yea well, I try my best." Waverly looked up and smiled at the redhead. "I think I am done." she added as she looked over the papers one more time.
"Yea that's it for now I'll take these." Nicole said, grabbing some of the papers as she stood to place them in the cabinet. Waverly took this moment to stand as well, assuming they were done.
"Thanks again Sheriff Haught." Waverly said.
"Anytime. It was really nice seeing you." Nicole answered.
As if by instinct without saying a word. Waverly walked forward to the taller woman and hugged her tightly, resting her head on the other woman's chest.
"I am really proud of you. You did it. You're back exactly where you belong." Waverly mumbled after a moment. Nicole was taken by surprise by the hug, but off muscle memory she wrapped her arms around the woman's small frame holding on just as tight.
"I always told you I'd be back." Nicole said into Waverly's hair. In the hug she released all the memories of missing the short woman.
Waverly felt a pang in her heart. She felt the energy coming from Nicole it was a feeling she was much too familiar with, the sense of longing. In that moment she felt back home in Nicole's arms.
"Back then it didn't seem like a reality." she said sadly. Shifting in the embrace to now look at the woman's eyes. Both women in that moment thought about all the 'what ifs' that they missed in their young lives. But they were exactly that. What ifs that never happened. They both separated from the hug reluctantly feeling if they let go the other would disappear.
"I'll walk you out." Nicole said simply. Walking towards the door opening it for them.
"Ms. Waverly, Sheriff Haught am I gonna be in trouble?" Billy asked, watching both women make their way into the other room.
"Everything is gonna be ok Billy, but you will be seeing more of Sheriff Haught. Come on, I will explain everything in the car." Waverly said walking towards the exit.
"I'll see you around Waves and you too Billy. Have Ms. Waverly explain my proposal to you. Let me know what you think as soon as possible." Nicole said.
Waverly felt butterflies in her stomach at the sound of her nickname coming from the redhead.
"See you around Sheriff." Waverly said smiling at Nicole one last time before walking out of the office.
The rest of the work day Waverly could not shake off the memories from that morning. Although the conversation stayed pretty professional, that hug and Nicole checking her hand had really shook her. If Waverly was being honest she had imagined Nicole's return in 100 different scenarios. In some they would ignore each other, one where she didn't care about Nicole returning, a few where Nicole hated her, but one of the most repetitive was the scene where they ran back into each other's arms. In that imaginary world nothing mattered but them and their love. But this was reality and reality was she moved on. She was engaged and Nicole was just her first love. A love of the past.