When Night Falls

Because of you

KADEN'S POV

Why I let my niece drag me to her dance recital, I don't even know. Watching little kids skip, laugh and dance to songs wasn't exactly a masculine thing when you were now a Constable soon to be Sheriff. But, Gina insisted I make an appearance for my one and only niece. My brother just casually sitting there, looking like he's interested when I know deep down, he's dying to get out just like I am. Although, the second Hanna got out on stage, his whole face lit up. She was the light of his life and anything she wanted, Terrence gave it to her. She was actually pretty good, along with her cousin Sienna. The mischievous Duo I have been calling them since forever. Gina's brother Dan use to bring Sienna over to the house to play with Hanna when they were young, the two have been inseparable ever since. Sienna even started calling me uncle. I didn't mind though. I gazed around the auditorium and sighed, just counting down the minutes when I can get out here. And then I saw her. Standing right at the back. She could have blended in with the crowd but she stood out like a sore thumb. Her face, still very familiar in my mind, has now matured into this woman.

Looking at her smile, made my heart do some weird things. She looked happy. Content if not. What was she doing here? I didn't think my night could get any better until now, in this moment seeing her once again. That night when Brett and I broke the news to her about her family and watching her fall apart before me, my heart hurt for her. I looked at Brett who had a broken look on his face as well and I couldn't help myself. I bent down and held her as she screamed and cried. I could hear her heart breaking into a million pieces before me and there was nothing I could do about it. This was the worst part about being a Police Officer. Is having to tell families and friends bad news, it wasn't something I wanted to do as a Rookie but someone had to do it. I shook the thought from my mind as I stared at her a little while longer. Her smile, I'd never seen her smile and I'd probably do anything to keep that smile around. Man I sounded like a creep.

The lights turned on and got me out of my daze. I had to stop staring at her before she noticed. My brother and his family stood to leave, thank goodness. Lets get out of here I internally yelled, I was ready to go home. I saw Gina walk out of the aisle and head straight to Amaya. How did she know her? Was I really seeing this? I had to get out this aisle! Gina went to introduce me to her.

"Officer Kaden" she remembered me. She actually remembered who I was and the look on Gina's face, I couldn't tell if she was angry, shocked or intrigued.

"Hi Amaya" I say back to her. She had a memorable name, it wasn't something you heard every day and even as I said it, I didn't feel worthy enough to allow that privilege of doing something so mundane and simple; of having the pleasure of saying her name. Gina was trying to just be, well Gina and wasn't happy that she was somehow out of the loop or something. "I didn't know it was her family you were helping out" I felt the need to defend myself, and her. Lets just get out of here and Amaya thought the same thing as she suggested we head out to the hallway.

I was finally putting 2-and-2 together. Gina's brother, Dan was married to Amaya's sister Naomi and both were in the accident. I didn't really do much with this case, I was just on duty and was told to head to the scene and then to the house to break the news to her. I was too busy thinking about all of this that I didn't notice we had actually stopped out in the hallway and I bumped into her from behind.

"I'm sorry" those big brown eyes. "Guess I wasn't paying attention"

"For a cop, you sure get distracted" this girl has sass. I could see the twinkle in her eyes. She was flirting with me or maybe she was just being nice. She smiled again. If her smile was the last thing I see, I'd die a happy man. We made a little small talk as we waited for the girls. The more she talked, the more I felt myself being drawn to her, drawn to her voice and her scent. I hung off every word she said.