It had been close to two weeks since we came back from our family vacation to celebrate Granddad's birthday. The day after we returned, my step-gramps and grandma returned to Albuquerque. Everyone else has been on the go since we got back. Gram Gram and Granddad were more desperate than ever to clear the house and get it on the market. My parents were using every spare second they had to help them. Even my siblings were helping every chance they got. But it was still a much bigger job than we had thought. Plus, it didn't help that we were hit with nostalgia everywhere we turned.
We had so many memories here. Things sure are going to be different.
My stomach flipped at the thought of how different things would be. I haven't had the easiest time with change in recent years, and my family knew it. Just another way my break-up with Gabriella affected me.
"Hey bro, you don't look too well," Braydon noted, checking my forehead. "You don't feel any warmer than usual. Are you feeling OK?"
I shrugged his arm away. "I'm fine," I grumbled as shouting and banging came through the window.
Braydon and I exchanged looks of horror, making our way to the small window in the attic corner. We had a perfect view of the front yard, and the opened window made it easy to hear some commentary.
We got on either side of the window and peeked out, making sure not to be seen. There were two built guys out there towering over Gram Gram and Granddad. They were inches from Granddad's face when one of them grabbed the box out of his hands and chucked it on the floor.
"You better pay us what you owe us," He revealed the gun underneath his coat. "Or you won't like it when we run out of patience."
Braydon tapped me on the shoulder. "Let's go," He urged, running for the door.
I was right on my brother's heels as the sirens started blaring in the background. "Gram Gram. Granddad," I cried, hopping over the railing.
Braydon and I raced out the front door, bumping into an officer in uniform.
Braydon stumbled back. "Sorry," We apologized simultaneously.
"It's fine," The uniform officer straightened herself and showed us her badge. "We're SFPD, and we were called here because of a disturbance. Do you two live here?"
I shook my head. "No, we're just here visiting our great-grandparents."
"Understood," The uniform officer replied and turned to Gram Gram. "If you guys aren't pressing charges for damages, you need to keep the noise down so you're not disturbing your neighbors. This time we'll let you off with a warning."
Granddad nodded. "Yes, sorry, officers."
The officer started to leave, but another officer in regular clothes stopped him. "Hold up, Officer Carter, are you really just going to leave without arresting anyone?"
Officer Carter paused for a brief second. "There's no cause. We can't make an arrest."
The plainclothes officer folded her arm across her chest and gave her a serious look. "Then secure your surrounding again because I see a possible reason to bring in two people here."
Officer Carter turned around and looked around. His eyes darted from us to the mess on the lawn, to the car with the broken window shield, and back again.
He turned back to the other officer for assistance. "Sorry, Officer Diaz, I'm not seeing what I missed."
Officer Diaz sighed and stepped forward. "OK, then note that you need to be a lot more observant and follow me."
Officer Carter followed behind Officer Diaz until she stopped in front of the two built men. "Gentleman, I see you have a loaded weapon; where did you get it?"
One of the men huffed, sizing her up. "Why should we tell you?"
Officer Diaz stood her ground, not at all afraid of him. "You don't have to tell me, but you will need to show me the permit for your weapon, or we can take a little ride, and you can show me down at the station. The choice is yours."
The two build guys eyed the officers for a second, then each other. Suddenly they took off in opposite directions. Officer Diaz reacted immediately and did a flying tackle to take down the guy who attempted to run right past her. Officer Carter chased the other guy down the street.
Officer Diaz proceeded to read him his rights as she cuffed him. Once the cuffs were secure, she helped him get back on his feet. He grumbled as he dragged his feet in protest.
He paused in front of me, and I stumbled back. My stomach formed knots when he moved closer until he was inches from my face. "Your family is out of time; give us what you owe or face the consequences."
Officer Diaz pulled him back and warned him, "Hey genius, you're already being charged with illegal weapon possession and resisting arrest. You sure you want to add to your charges?"
He huffed as he shrugged her hand off. She grabbed his arm with a warning look. He kicked one of the boxes on the ground, causing Gram Gram to jump. Officer Diaz pulled him away to the police car.
He stopped next to the car, turned to Officer Diaz, and asked, "Is this really necessary? I was only trying to get them to give us what they owe."
Officer Diaz said, "I don't care what they owe you or anyone else. You still don't have a permit for your gun, and you resisted arrest," She opened the back door of the car, "So get in and watch your head."
When she closed the door behind him, Officer Diaz radioed her partner. "Officer Carter, check-in; please respond if you can hear me."
Granddad set the box in his arm on the step and began picking up the yard. Gram Gram moved toward Officer Diaz with a grateful smile. "Officer Diaz, thank you."
Turning around to face us, she dropped her hand to her side. Smiling, she spoke in a soft voice. "Happy to help."
Officer Diaz's radio crackled, and Officer Carter's voice came through. "It's Carter. I have one suspect in custody. Code 4."
"Rodger," Officer Diaz responded, clipping her radio back on her belt. "Here, let me help," She offered to Granddad, picking up the items closest to her and tossing them in the box on the stairs.
We were all clearing the yard when Officer Diaz and I reached for the same item causing our hands to brush. I instantly jumped and fell back, startled by what happened.
Officer Diaz reached her hand out, and my mind completely spaced to my date with Sharon nearly three weeks ago.
A feeling of ease filled me as Sharon, and I dug into the picnic. It wasn't nearly as weird as I thought it would be, and there wasn't any pressure. It actually felt nice to hang out with her.
"Sorry this was kind of forced on you," I apologized while we snacked on the fruits.
She wrinkled her nose with a shrug, "No worries. I get why they're so insistent."
She reached out, handing me a sandwich."Does your family set you up too?"
She leaned back, relaxing a little, "Depends on which family, but on a few occasions, I had a couple of my family try to set me up."
I chuckled, "How did it go?"
Sharon scrunched her face and chuckled, "Just about as well as you could imagine."
We both laughed, and I felt totally at ease, like when Gabriella and I used to go on dates. I reached for a drink in the basket and offered it to her. I grabbed a second one when she took it.
We both squealed and jumped to our feet when she opened her soda, and it came spilling out. "Oh, sorry," I apologized, fumbling to clean the mess.
"Accidents happen," Sharon replied when she finished drying her jeans.
Suddenly we both burst out laughing.
Hard.
"I don't...know why...we're laughing..." I stated between my laughter.
She shook her head. "Neither do I," She replied between her laughs.
When we finally got ourselves under control, I tried to open another drink. "Just great," I groaned after the tab snapped off.
This night was so not going well.
Sharon took the can from me. "I can fix it," She replied, reaching for a straw. She explained as she worked, "Any object is only as strong as its weakest link."
POP!
I jumped at the sudden pop, but Sharon didn't look surprised. Our hands brushed when she handed the open beverage back to me. Pulling back immediately, I noticed her bracelet again.
"I've been meaning to ask, where did you get your bracelet?"
Sharon showed me the bracelet. "My parents gave one to each of my siblings and me. Over the years, charms have been added for different reasons."
"Troy," I heard someone shouting as they shook me.
I snapped out of my memory and took Officer Diaz's hand. My eyes were glued to her bracelet as I got on my feet again.
"Officer Diaz, this might sound weird, but do you mind telling me where you got your bracelet?"
Officer Diaz pulled her arm away and covered the bracelet. Narrowing her brow, she searched my eyes for something. She has the same eyes as Sharon, I thought when our eyes locked, could they be related?
Officer Diaz shoved her hand in her pockets. "I've had it for as long as I could remember. It was a gift from my parents when I was a toddler."
Just like Sharon, could they be siblings? But Sharon never mentioned having a sister before. However, she did say that she has siblings. Then again, her last name isn't Diaz.
Officer Diaz's cheeks were bright pink when she broke eye contact with me. "Here, don't want to lose these," She handed us the cards in her hand.
"Officer Diaz," Officer Carter called when he approached us with the other built guy who ran off. "Ready to go?"
Officer Diaz turned and nodded. "Yeah, get him in the car. I'll be right there."
Gram Gram and Granddad thanked her again with a shake of her hand. She made sure we were good to clean the yard on our own before leaving.
"Wait, Officer Diaz," I called after her, jogging up to her.
She froze, and I nearly bumped into her. "Was there something else you needed?"
I blew out a nervous breath. "Not sure, but I was hoping you could tell me your name."
She dug a card from her belt clip and handed it to me. "My name and number are on the business card. If you run into more trouble, feel free to call me."
"Thanks," I took the card and pocketed it without looking at it.
My great-grandparents and Braydon stepped forward and placed a hand on my shoulder. "We're fine now, but you'll be the first to know if we need more police assistance."
I shot Braydon a warning look as Officer Diaz turned bright red again. "I think I should go. Good luck."
We watch as Officer Diaz drives down the street in the police car. When she was out of sight, Granddad and Gram Gram returned to work cleaning the yard.
"Come on," Braydon patted my back, "Superhero Diaz is gone, and we gave some major cleanup to do."
Turning around, I pulled Officer Diaz's business card from my pocket. My jaw dropped in shock and confusion at her name:
Inspector Esmerelda Diaz-Montez
(650) 555-0183
Montez
Could she be related to Gabriella? But Gabriella never mentioned any siblings.
Starting back in the direction Esmerelda drove off in, I debated if I should talk to Gabriella.
