Her eyes widened. “School. I’m supposed to pick up the kids in fifteen minutes.” She started fumbling through her bag, searching frantically for something. “I’m not late. Never. Not once. I know what it’s like when your parents forget to pick you up time and time again.”

I set the note back on the SUV and took Caelyn’s shoulders in my hands. “It’s okay. They’ll understand.”

Caelyn took a slow, steadying breath as if trying to rein in all of the emotions running through her. “I’m going to call the elementary school and tell them I’m going to be late. Can you call the high school and have them tell Will to go wait with the girls? He knows how to look out for them.”

I squeezed her shoulders. “Of course.” I released my hold on Caelyn, even though it was the last thing I wanted to do, and pulled out my phone again. After a quick search, I found the number for the high school and explained the situation to the school secretary. She needed to speak with Caelyn to verify the story, but once that was done, the woman agreed to let Will know that Caelyn was running late and to meet her at the elementary school.

I shoved my phone back into my pocket just as Caelyn was wrapping up her own call. She gripped the device so hard, her knuckles were white. “Mia’s teacher is going to wait with them until I get there.”

“They’re going to be fine. Completely safe.”

Caelyn let out a shuddering breath. “I just don’t want them to be scared.”

“You’ve made it so they won’t be.”

Caelyn nodded but didn’t seem assuaged. She had a jittery quality to her now, as if she couldn’t stand still.

A sheriff’s department SUV pulled to a stop behind my truck, and Parker Raines stepped out. I nodded in greeting. Caelyn gave an awkward little wave. “Sheriff.”

He smiled warmly. “I’ve told you time and again, call me Parker.”

“I know. It’s just weird because the old sheriff was all about formal titles. But that doesn’t matter. From now on, you’re Parker. You know my friends and I call you Sheriff Hotstuff.” She let out a little squeak. “I can’t believe I said that out loud. When I’m nervous, I ramble. And this note has me really freaking nervous. I’m just gonna shut up now.”

Caelyn clamped her mouth closed as her cheeks reddened. Parker and I looked at each other and then we both barked out a laugh. Caelyn’s face got even redder. “It’s not funny,” she hissed at me.

I grinned. “Come on, it’s a little funny. Do you guys have a nickname for me, too?” I couldn’t help but ask.