Chapter 15

A chill slid through her as she pulled open the freezer door to pick up a tub of whipped topping for their dessert. They were on the last of the strawberries they'd gotten from the farmer's market a couple towns over the week before and Justine had a craving for strawberry shortcake. Although she didn't dare claim it was a craving if her mom or sister called.

They were all eager to hear them say they were pregnant, but her body was still adjusting to the removal of her IUD. She and Tyler weren't too concerned about it right now. They were simply enjoying time together, especially since their fathers and some of the extended family were still full steam ahead on the ‘they shouldn't be together' train.

September had come on so fast she was still surprised that she'd officially been home for six months. It seemed like just yesterday that she ran into Tyler, and yet, it also somehow felt like they'd never been apart.

As of next week, her medical leave would be up, but she still had several weeks of vacation time that she'd get paid out for so there was really no concern when it came to money. She barely had any bills since she'd left the hotel. Her new car was about it, but she'd gotten a better deal to ‘finance' it than if she'd paid cash…go figure that one. The SUV was amazing, and she couldn't wait for the fall to hit full-force and take it on more road trips with Tyler as his schedule eased. Summer months for him were the busiest. Everyone's lawns needed a regular routine which his company provided, but his landscaping requests were insane, taking him away from her much more than when she'd first gotten to town, and they'd spent hours at a time together.

Although now that they didn't have to sneak around, it made their nighttime hours even sweeter. No worries that someone would call wanting one of them to hang out that they had to come up with some excuse to get out of or worrying about them just stopping by to discover their secret. No, it was so much better being upfront about things—even if their families were still trying to make their lives hell for having the audacity to fall for a Crawford or Anderson.

"Justine, Tyler," a voice said drawing their attention to the man headed their way and she gave the sheriff an easy smile.

"Sheriff, it's good to see you when it's not job related," Tyler said making Justine grin because they'd had to call him or his deputies more than once in the last few months when some of the more outspoken extended family members wouldn't leave them alone, leading to several being trespassed from Tyler's home and company properties.

"Absolutely, we haven't seen you all around church since your announcement," he added, and Justine's smile tightened a hint making his brow lift a bit their way. "I'm sure Pastor Adams doesn't hold any animosity for the need to cancel the sermon that day if that's why."

"It's not," she said as Tyler chuckled a bit.

"He stopped by once we were home to congratulate us again and assure us that we were still welcome no matter what others might think or say," Tyler expanded.

"It's just…if we go there's going to be more problems," she admitted making the man's brows furl with concern. "You know our families. The Andersons have their side of the church, the Crawfords have the other. It's so bad that they do two separate rooms for the breakfasts even. If we go, even though we might not be ‘picking a side' it's not going to look that way to anyone. If we sit on the side with the Andersons, my family will be furious. If we sit on the side with my family, the Andersons will be furious. Even if we tried to alternate, sit on one side this week, the other the next, it's still not going to help because whichever side we sit on first, the other will think we're supporting."

"And then the next week, if we switched side, the other part of the family will think we're switching loyalty and not that we're doing it simply to avoid choosing a side," Tyler continued, pulling a slow nod from the man.

"I didn't even think of that. We all have our normal spots where we sit and it's never been an issue," he stated.

"Maybe not in public but believe me, when someone sits on the Crawford side of the church, we hear about it at our next family gathering. God forbid someone that works for an Anderson business sit on the Crawford side even though the Anderson side is full," Tyler mused, and Justine nodded because her family was just as judgmental and suspicious of others' choices.

"Well, you learn something new every day no matter your age I guess," the sheriff said before turning his attention back to Justine. "I'm hoping we'll learn more if you decide to take us up on the job offer. We heard back and the joint commission for the city and the county approved the creation of it. Since we have a bit more space at the new office, the plan would be for you to have your own office there, but there'd be space for you to work out of the town's police department if you're needed there for something. Since a lot of what you'll be doing would be online, there's also the option to work from home as well with it. Obviously if we're working a case, we'd need you either on site or at the office, but routine things shouldn't be an issue."

"I actually have to head up to Seattle next week to sign some paperwork that says I'm officially cleared from medical leave and work out the details of my resignation. I'd have to make sure there's no issues with me starting if I'm still technically employed by the FBI, but after that, I should know more about when I might be able to start," Justine said and Tyler pressed a kiss to her temple, supporting her entirely with the decision making her love him even more.

"Then give me a call or stop by and I can show you around the office sometime next week. It's a county special investigator position. It doesn't require you to carry a weapon but if you'd feel better doing so, we should be able to use your agency accreditation to allow it without worrying about doing the state's program. I made some calls, and you should be able to qualify without any additional hours with all of your coursework you did while with the FBI. We'll have to submit it to the higher ups, but I don't anticipate any issues getting the approval."

"I'll let you when I get back," Justine said, and the man nodded in agreement before heading on to finish his shopping, letting them get home where Tyler took over cooking duties, letting her make up a syrup for the strawberries. It felt so good to do something as simple as just cooking dinner with him.

"Do you want to continue to carry a gun?" Tyler asked as she took the pan off the stove to let it cool.

"Would you have any issues with it?" she countered, giving him a soft smile as he pulled her up against him with a long, slow kiss that left her heart fluttering.

"If I did, then I'd have to get rid of my hunting rifle, wouldn't I?" he teased when they pulled back, breathing heavily as the timer on the oven dinged letting them know the potatoes should be done. "I hate the thought of you needing it, of having to use it, but honestly, I'd feel a lot better if you had one if you have to be anywhere near a dangerous situation. I know you can protect yourself physically against someone but if they have a gun and you don't…I need you to always come home to me."

"I always will, and I'd feel better if I had one while out as well. I always lock it up when I'm at home so there won't be any issues with that when we have kids," she added, giving him a pointed look that had him nodding in understanding.

"I'll order a gun safe for my riffle and get a new locking case for when I take it with me on jobs in some of the more remote areas."

"Wise choice," she mused enjoying dinner but even more the hours just after it as they did nothing beyond watch a movie while perhaps making out a bit, teasing one another, increasing the desire until they couldn't stop from heading to bed early.

Tuesday morning, she gave him a lingering kiss as she slid into her car, driving the nearly two hours to Seattle, shocked to find Melissa there instead of just one of the HR people to sit down and go over things with. She gave the woman a hug, smiling at the surprise on her face.

"Damn, here I was hoping you'd have gotten bored with this small town living and want to come back," Melissa said making her laugh. "No, I know. From the moment you told me that you and Tyler had gotten back together I knew that you were serious about the resignation. We're going to miss you, and I don't know what the heck you're going to find to do in that town, but you look happier than I've ever seen you so I'm really happy for you, Justine."

"Thanks and as far as what I'm going to do…well, our town and county created a special investigator position to help with online threats, harassment, and predators and the sheriff offered me the job. I shouldn't need any additional coursework, but we have to send something to some commission," she added, and the HR rep nodded.

"I can get that worked up and sent over with ease once there's an official application or offer to attach it to for review."

"So you're going to stay in the world somewhat?" Melissa asked and she nodded. "Well then, maybe we need to see about having this position be part of the task force so you can keep your access. You'd officially be their employee but then you'd be able to stay in the loop on things easier. It could be good on both side, if you see something we haven't then you can let us know and if anything comes up on the other front," she said holding Justine's gaze and she knew the woman meant Dynamite and his group, "we'd be able to let you know beyond to simply watch your back."

"I'd be good with that and I'm sure the sheriff and police chief wouldn't mind us having more resources to help with things," she said, and they worked it up before she headed home, stopping by the sheriff's office before going to the house.

"Justine, I just got off the phone with the state's attorney general. Seems they're pleased that we've managed to secure someone the FBI's task force thinks so highly of and wanted to see if they could perhaps occasionally see about getting some support from you. I told them I'd have to speak to you on it, but I have a feeling you wouldn't say no," he mused, and she shook her head no in agreement with him. "Alright, well, what did you find out?"

"Since the position will be partnering with the task force now, there's no concerns about when I start. As soon as I'm approved through the commission, they'll officially process my end of employment paperwork and then I'll be all yours. They'll send over my records for review to ensure I don't need any additional training hours once there's a record to reference."

"Then it's a good thing I already started a file for you. Just need you to fill out the official application and we'll get it sent up for review," he suggested, and she quickly filled in the form, then took the rest of the paperwork with her to finish at home as the clock slid closer to six.

"Hi babydoll," Tyler said as she came into the kitchen, giving her a quick kiss that made her brow lift curiously at the shortness of it.

"Hey honey-bae," she said, making his eyes sparkle a hint more as she set her things down on the desk at the edge of the kitchen. "Everything okay?" she added when he made no move to pull her into his arms as he normally would, making her heart beat just a bit faster with a hint of worry filling her.

"Yeah, we just have some visitors," he stated, nodding towards the front room and Justine smiled seeing it was both of their mothers along with their sisters.

"Hi, what are you all doing here?" she asked, hugging everyone but Barb and Caroline. They'd been far nicer and welcoming even to her in the last nearly two months, but they were far from being at the stage she was with the twins where they were fully affectionate.

"We wanted to see what you were going to do for your birthdays. They're both coming up in the next month and since we haven't had you home in ten years to celebrate yours, I want to make it special," her mom said giving her a grin. "We also wanted to see you, make sure everything went okay with your trip."

"We kind of expected you back a couple hours ago so we've been watching Tyler pace for the last hour," Hailey added giving Tyler a grin. "Is that why you barely kissed her?"

"No, just trying to be mindful that there are others in the house," he stated, pulling her back against his chest and her smile returned fully.

"Really? Cause that's never stopped you from making out with her whenever we're around," Isabelle said before turning to their mother adding, "not that it's some vulgar display but he's usually not so subdued."

"Usually the moms aren't around," Madison said with a wink at her pulling a soft laugh from her lips. "So, how'd it go?"

"Good, really good, which is why I'm late actually. When Melissa heard what my plans were, they checked with the bosses and got it worked out that I can keep some of my access as a member of the task force. So while I won't be an agent, I'll have access to their resources still. I popped in at the sheriff's station since it's on the way home to let him know and officially put in my application so they can get it pushed through the commission to approve it, to ensure that I don't have to go through additional training or some academy to be an official officer or deputy."

"Well I hope they wouldn't make you have to go through the police academy. I mean, how many police officers try to get into the FBI but can't? I wouldn't think it'd be nearly as much hassle going the opposite way," Madison said, and she nodded.

"So you're taking the job for sure?" her mom asked.

"Yes, so you'll all have to deal with it, but it should be far safer than anything I did with the FBI, okay?" Justine said holding her mom's slightly worried gaze.

"I know, I just don't like the idea of you being in any sort of danger."

"We're all in danger every day, Mom. Sure, ninety-nine percent of it is from unknown sources or accidents that might happen, but we're never a hundred percent safe. I'm good at what I do and no, this is not an announcement of any sort," she prefaced it with making the twins giggle a bit, "but, pregnant officers are pretty much on desk duty the entire time and that's primarily what my job will be as it is. I won't be out patrolling. I might occasionally be called out to help with something, but I highly doubt it'll be a regular thing, and like I said, when we do decide to have a baby and I am pregnant, that won't be an option to start, okay?"

"Alright, so any hints as to when that might be?" her mom asked making her shake her head no at them, laughing when Tyler whispered that he hoped to be trying or at least practicing again very soon into her ear.

"See now that's what they're like when we're around," Hailey teased.

"And we love to see it," her mom stated which simply made her heart happier, as did their insistence that no matter what their fathers thought or said, they were going to have a dinner out to celebrate their birthdays. Tyler's was at the beginning of October while hers was in the middle, and they agreed to have at least one get together for anyone in the family that wanted to come could before they headed out, and Tyler stole her upstairs until much later when her stomach growled with hunger.

It left a happiness surrounding her and Sunday morning she let out a soft groan when someone knocked on the door as she and Tyler were enjoying the peaceful morning. She sat up when Tyler brought the sheriff into the space and her brows lifted curiously since she'd heard from him on Friday that all of the paperwork seemed to be in order for her to start in two weeks.

"Is everything okay?" she asked when Tyler shrugged a hint as she glanced in his direction.

"Everything's fine, in fact, I'm here to escort you to a special Sunday service," he stated not letting them argue that it'd just cause issues when they were finally starting to have a bit of peace. They went up and quickly changed, heading over to the church while the early risers were downstairs having breakfast.

"Alright, what's going on?" she asked as they moved into the vestibule finding Pastor Adams there with a few others from the church council. Some of them were older than their fathers while others were a bit younger, but none of them was a Crawford or Anderson thankfully.

"Well, Sheriff Davies came to our meeting this week and let us know your reason for not coming to spend time with us recently," Pastor Adams said, and Tyler's arms brought her up against him further.

"We didn't want the reason you weren't coming to be due to the feud, fears of making it worse," Deacon Joel added, "or for others to be unknown victims of it so we and some of the others got together to make a few changes."

"We thought we'd see what you thought of them first," Sheriff Davies said, and Pastor Adams pushed open the doors to the sanctuary, drawing a soft gasp from her. Instead of the two separate sections for the rows of pews, there was now five. Three near the front of the space with aisles between them and then the two longer sections filling up the remainder of the room.

"Now, the middle section is easy enough to move if we have a wedding in the place, but we thought it'd be a more neutral set up this way," Pastor Adams explained. "Since most of your family likes to sit further back and the sanctuary opens up further up front, it fits three sections across easier."

"I think it's amazing," Justine said, glancing up at Tyler who nodded, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

"So do I, babydoll. Gave you something to use those old pews from Grover's church you restored too, didn't it, Jack?" Tyler added and the smile on his face spoke volumes. "Explains why I saw a few trucks out at your place yesterday. There I was thinking you all were having a fishing party without me."

"Fishing party?" Justine asked, looking around the group as more of them chuckled.

"Well, it's just fishing, but sometimes it feels like a party when we get a decent haul and decide to do a cookout with it," he told her with a little shrug.

"Especially when Tyler's the one cooking them up," Jack said, patting his shoulder.

"Mmm, maybe that's what we should do for the dinner our moms want to do for our birthdays," she suggested with a full grin up at him. "No one makes it quite the way you do."

"That's because I spent over a year perfecting the recipe, so you'd enjoy going out with me," he teased making her giggle at the surprised looks that brought about. "But I only make that recipe for you. I normally make the pepper fiesta one whenever we do a cookout."

"Now you're making me hungry for fish, honey-bae," she sighed, snuggling into his side further, as the term drew more looks from the group, but she didn't care. It was a name that was special to them for several reasons that they definitely didn't need to know.

"Then I guess it's a good thing I grabbed some salmon at the store while you were out with the girls yesterday," he said making her grin. "It looked fresher than the rest and I've had it marinating all night to make you the honey garlic bowls you like so much."

"You're the absolute best, you know that?" she said, lifting up to give him a soft kiss before looking back towards the group there. "Thank you, for all of this. Feeling like there was nothing we could do without causing more issues was hard."

"You're welcome Justine. We've seen the two of you around town and it's obvious you're meant to be together. We're all rooting for you and for this feud to end," Pastor Adams said, and she happily slipped up to a row in the middle section with Tyler. The pews were gorgeous, and she knew they were the ones Jack must have restored.

Tyler slipped his arm around her, just holding her, and she grinned when a while later they heard Pastor Adams' voice telling those just coming in as well as those coming from their Sunday school classes, "Welcome everyone, please come in and join us. Things might look a little different, but the deacons and I thought it was time to make some changes."

There were a few gasps as people came in and Justine looked down the aisle hearing a little squeal seeing the twins hurrying up it towards them. They turned, giving the twins hugs, and Justine ignored the few glares from her extended family that were unhappy to see it. She let out a happy sigh as the service started, Tyler's arm sliding around her again, and she leaned her head on his shoulder not caring what anyone else thought. It felt right to be here with him, in his arms as they enjoyed time with everyone.