Owen

The shrill sound of the submarine dive alarm goes off in my ear, and I reach out and slap the touch screen of my iPhone before yanking the pillow over my head. Every morning I wake up regretting my choice of alarm sounds, yet, I never change it.

I hate change too much I guess.

I'm so run of the mill. So average. I grew up in this town, went to college the next town over, got a job in this same town, and have the same friends I've always had. I even married the same girl I dated in high school. She's been gone for a while now, and I've dated a little here and there, but all the women are the same and I'm tired of them. I'd love a change.

But nothing ever changes in Shelby Forest.

"Dad."

I pretend not to hear him.

"Dad...daddy we're gonna be late!"

"We're not gonna be late," I groan. "You say that every day."

"Da-ad!"

The pillow is yanked from my hands, and I grunt a little when I feel my ten-year-old son jump on top of me. "Sawyer!"

"I want some pancakes."

I can't help but laugh as I push him off of me and rollover. "You're such a plotter. You just wanted me to make you breakfast."

He grins. "It got you up, didn't it?"

I roll my eyes. "Did you get your bath yet?"

"I..."

"Get your bath or I'm not doing anything, you hear me?"

"Okay!"

He bolts out of my room, and I let out a long breath. "Boy is gonna be the death of me." 

I rub my face with my hands, and when I pull them away, the picture catches in the corner of my eye. Jamie me and Sawyer. I miss her, wish she were here to help me during mornings like this when it takes a lot of effort to yank my sorry ass out of this bed. It's been five years though. I've been working hard to move on with life for the good of Sawyer, but then there's that part of me that won't let go. It's that part of me that needs her, that will always need her.

"Gotta get up." I yank the picture facedown on the nightstand and make myself get out of bed. I stagger into my bathroom and take the quickest shower ever, shave, dress in my freshly pressed uniform that momma helped me with the other night and fasten my holster around my waist. It's terrible that I have her help me after five years of being single, but she says she doesn't mind.

It's been too long since I've had a woman around this house. My mom says it's not healthy and I try to ignore her. I've been trying to plan a summer fishing trip with Sawyer to take my mind off of things. Daddy says I'm just avoiding my issues. Don't get me wrong, having a big family around to help us is great, but I could do without a lot of the nagging.

Some days, Sawyer is the only thing that keeps me from shutting myself away in the bedroom for good. It sure would be easier, avoiding life, but I made promises to Jamie. I told her I would be Sawyer's whole family if I had to be, and I'd never go back on my word.

It's just hard.

I fix pancakes and eggs for us and go over my schedule for the day. Court at eleven, more parking ticket disputes to show up for and a few DUI's too. What an awful waste of time. I'm thankful I switched to days though. The work is a joke but I couldn't take more graveyard shifts with Sawyers school schedule.

"Sawyer!" I call out, not looking up from my paperwork.

"I'm coming!"

"I'm gonna eat your pancakes!" I stab them with my fork.

"No! No Daddy!"

"Five seconds!"

"I'm here!"

I hear him skid to a stop and look up just as he grabs my arm that's stabbed his pancakes. "Good thing you're so fast, huh?" I smirk and slide his chair out for him. "I almost had two big plates all to myself."

"You wouldn't really eat mine," he giggles.

"Try me tomorrow," I wink at him. "Now hurry up and eat so we're not late for real."

He nods and starts to consume his plate, while I begin to get lost in my schedule again.

"Dad do you know if the people across the street have kids?"

"What d'you mean? What people?" I ask, not looking up.

"In the Holbrook place," he tells me. "There are people there now."

"Are you sure bud?" I give him a questioning look. That place has been vacant for eight months and I haven't seen it being shown to anybody. I thought there was something wrong with the place.

"I saw them when I was bringing the garbage out, Dad," he tells me with enthusiasm in his eyes. "Can you ask them if they have kids?"

"Hmph." I raise an eyebrow. My son doesn't lie, he knows better, so now I'm curious. I get up and walk out the back porch door, peering across the street like a run of the mill nosy neighbor. Sure enough, there are cars in the driveway. I don't remember seeing a moving truck though. Strange.

"Do they have kids!" Sawyer asks when I walk back inside.

"I didn't see them yet, bud," I laugh. "I can't just go knocking on their door. That's rude, don't you think? We don't want to scare them off just yet."

He shrugs. "This street is boring. All the kids are older."

"Maybe it's better. You can't be running around all hours as it is." I reach out and ruffle his hair, before moving his empty plate away from him. "Go on and get your stuff so we can leave."

He grumbles about how he doesn't want to go to school, but one questioning look from me makes him change his attitude. I pack up lunch and toss the dirty pans in the sink. Sawyer is ready ten minutes later and we go out to the car.

"See I told you there were people Dad!" Sawyer tells me and points enthusiastically across the street as I open the passenger door to my police cruiser for him.

I glance back over my shoulder, and sure enough, he's right. A younger couple is milling around the front yard, talking quietly to each other. The woman seems a little confused while her male counterpart seems to be loving life. No kids in sight though.

"Guess it's just them buddy. Sorry."

"Shit."

"Sawyer!" I give him a commanding look.

"Oops..."

His mother would drag his hide in the house and tan his hide good for that. I just can't do it though. I haven't had the heart to lay a hand on him in five years, but he's mostly a good kid. If I send him to his room or ground him, it usually does the trick. "I don't want to hear that out of your mouth again, got it?"

"Yes, sir."

He hangs his head low as he gets into the car, and I close the door behind him. I hate to be that nosy neighbor, but I can't help watching the two of them as I cross over to the driver's side of my cruiser. They seem normal. Maybe I can help them fit in with our group. I need a change. New friends are always a good way to change.

"Hey there!"

The guy across the street is waving at me enthusiastically. It gets me to smile. Yeah. New friends are good. 

"How you doing?" I wave back.

He walks over, but the woman hesitates and hangs back. "Just got in last night." He steps right up to me and shakes my hand like he's never been so glad to see a new face in his life. "I'm Simon Callaway and that's my sister, Riley."

"Owen Garrison." I shake his hand. "I didn't even know anybody bought the old Holbrook place."

"Oh well, it was pretty quick. We closed the deal just last week."

"Wow. You must have a great realtor."

He laughs. "The best there is."

"That's my boy in the car, Sawyer. He's ten. He's been begging me to find out if y'all have any kids since he discovered you this morning," I laugh. "Looks like I'll have to disappoint him."

"Yeah having kids with your sister isn't the best idea," he smirks. "Don't let me keep you though. You're heading off for the day?"

"Yeah, I'm a sergeant with the Shelbyville Police. If you need anything from me, don't hesitate. I organize the neighborhood watch too so you can join in if you want. Nothing really happens around here though. We've had a couple of car break-ins, broken windows...teenagers."

"Sure," he smiles brightly. "Yeah, I'd love to."

"Hey if you want, me and some buddies are getting together to watch the basketball game tonight after my tour. I can swing by around seven and pick you up, you know, introduce you to the neighborhood. Your sister is welcome too, if she wants," I offer.

"Sorry about her," he says, uneasily. "This move took us pretty far from home, so she's just getting used to being in a new place. She's really great once she gets going. I swear."

"No problem." I look over his shoulder at her and wave a little. She immediately looks down at the ground.

"Count me in, Owen," he nods. "I'll work on getting Riley to join in, but no promises."

"Great. I'll see you then."

He shakes my hand again and turns away. His sister quickly retreats inside the house, but he's quick to follow. I slowly walk back to the car, half of me questioning why she seems so secretive while the other half tells me to leave it alone. If I was new here I would probably be weird too. I mean, I was really weird after Jamie died. I didn't really talk to anybody besides my folks for a good three months.

"Do they got kids?" Sawyer immediately asks once I get into the driver's seat.

"It's have, and no." I buckle my seatbelt and start up the car. "His name is Mister Simon and that's his sister Miss Riley. I expect you to introduce yourself later and be accommodating. They're going to come out with us so we can introduce them to everyone."

"Yes, sir."

I smile and ruffle his hair as I pull away, for the first time in months, looking forward to an evening of change, even if it's small.