Love & Reason Keep Little Company (Freen x Becky)

Chapter 16

"What the..." Yaya's almost went into the back of a parked truck as she rounded a corner and spotted blue lights outside her partner's house.

Her car screeched to a halt outside Nadech's house, right behind the sheriff's vehicle. Yaya took the steps of the porch two at a time as she pounded up them and burst through the front door. Her heart felt like it was going to explode as she frantically called out, "Nadech? Freen?"

"In here, babe." Nadech responded from the living room. Yaya rushed into the room and found Nadech, his niece and the sheriff inside.

Nadech recognised the panic on her face. He reached for his lover, placing a reassuring hand to her chest. "No need to worry. The sheriff came by because the neighbours reported a disturbance."

"Some kids put firecrackers in a pumpkin one of your neighbours left out on their porch." Sheriff Waraha shifted her weight from one foot to the other as she turned to address Yaya, her hand resting on the butt of her gun as she offered the other woman a warm smile. "Kids will be kids, but I suppose I don't have to tell that to two teachers."

"No, Khun." Yaya nodded in agreement. She wrapped her arms around Nadech, her heart rate returning to normal after the shock of seeing police lights outside her partner's home.

The firecrackers explained the noise they'd heard earlier, before Yaya had taken Becky home. Nadech had worried it might have been something to do with Seng Wichai — from the look on Freen's face, so did he.

"I thought I'd stop by while I was in the neighbourhood, see if there'd been any more trouble from the Seng boy?"

"Not recently." Nadech answered. "I spoke to Seng in my office after last week's attempted break-in. He denied being involved, but I made it clear that if I were to catch anyone in my house without my permission, I would shoot them."

"Uh, Khun Nadech, I should remind you that Bangkok doesn't have a stand your ground law. We use Castle Doctrine, and that only applies when the homeowner and the intruder don't know each other, and the onus is on the homeowner to retreat safely from the house." The sheriff pursed her lips. "So if anything were to happen, we obviously never had this conversation."

"Of course, Sheriff Waraha. Let me see you out." Nadech fell back into the role of host with ease, guiding the sheriff out.

"Did Becky get home okay?" Freen asked once she and Yaya were alone.

"Ka." Yaya rubbed at the back of her neck with a frown as she glanced at Nadech at the door.

"Now Freenky, I'm not so sure about us taking away for the weekend and leaving you alone here-"

"It's your anniversary, uncle Nadech!" Freen protested.

Nadech had arranged an entire weekend getaway in secret for him and Yaya's ten-year anniversary. They didn't count all the times they'd broken up over the years - and Freen knew how much it meant to him.

Nadech shown Freen the ring he was going to propose with Yaya. Freen didn't want to cause any more heartbreak between her uncle and aunt. She wasn't about to let Nadech and Yaya back out because of her.

"I'll be fine here! I'll ask Becky to stay over."

"Hmm, I bet you will." Yaya crossed her arms over her chest as she gave Freen a knowing look.

"Fine! But don't let anyone else know we're away and call the sheriff at the first sign of trouble, do you hear me?"

"Yes, uncle Nadech." Freen smiled sweetly at him and Yaya, already planning her weekend alone with Becky.