Finding Home in Redemption

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Nothing I did helped settle my nerves. All morning, I paced my apartment until it was time to leave and I ended up walking to work for the first time in months just to get rid of some energy.

Even though I'd spoken to Brennan on a couple of occasions, I was still nervous about seeing him again, and when he walked into my office, my heart began to pick up its pace again.

"Good morning," he said, taking a seat in front of me.

"Hi," I answered breathlessly.

Without any words, he handed me his driver's license, and I turned toward my computer. Brennan Jacob Murphy, born on June thirteenth. His address was listed in a town nearly three hours away from Taylorsville, and his picture looked exactly like the man sitting in front of me; A man with short brown hair, warm brown eyes, and a polite smile.

"I guess I missed your birthday," I said. "Happy Belated Birthday."

"Thank you," he answered.

"So, thirty-three?"

"Yeah. I'm getting up there in age," he laughed.

I smiled but then remembered what had been bothering me.

"So, where's Dog?" I asked. I was upset with myself that I hadn't asked sooner. I looked at Brennan, and he looked sad.

"The station that I worked with were the ones that owned him. He hadn't been placed with an officer yet when they asked me to come to Hillview, but now he's with a guy named Scott. They kept your name for him, though. I went back a few weeks later, and they were there. Everyone was talking about, 'Dog, the dog.'" He laughed, and I joined in. I was sad to find out that I probably wouldn't get the chance ever to see him again but I was glad he was okay.

"You live pretty far away from here," I said, pointing to his license.

"That's where I grew up. I own a piece of land and a house there now."

"Where are you staying while you're here?"

"In the apartments across the street, by The Market."

"Oh, those are pretty nice! They didn't have any vacant apartments when I moved out, or I would have lived there."

"I'm glad they didn't," he said. "I would have never had the chance to meet you, otherwise."

I ducked my head and smiled.

I was still smiling when Pop came into my office an hour later. Brennan had finished filling me in on the changes I needed for his employee information, and he went to the shop to work. Before he left, he looked me in the eye and told me if he didn't make it due to Sam "accidentally" dropping a car on him, he loved me.

It was supposed to be funny, but I couldn't laugh. I know he meant the words because if there was one thing I knew about him, it was that he wouldn't casually say that.

He gave me a sad smile and walked away.

"What's up chipmunk?" Pop walked in and took a seat. He must not have liked the way the chairs were positioned because he stood and moved them around a bit. Then he looked at the small pot of flowers on the corner of my desk and moved it to a different spot.

When he noticed my expression, he shrugged his shoulders and sat down.

"It's all about feng shui these days, Bentley," he said.

"Feng shui?" I asked, trying to hold in my laughter.

"Maria made me watch a movie. She moved my couch, Bent. Said it gave the living room the wrong energy. How can the couch give off bad energy? It's a stupid couch!" His bald head was getting more and more red by the second. A giggle escaped me on accident, and he narrowed his eyes.