Chapter 2

Later that day, Bert, Nick, Lizzie, and the baby went to the sheriff’s home to check his outfit. Bert wanted to try it on in case it needed any fixing. Nick’s wife had offered to come with them. She was good with a needle.

“Besides, I have nothing else to do,” Lizzie said.

Bert invited them in and opened the closet door to get the costume off the top shelf. In reaching for the box, everything off the top shelf fell on him and scattered across the floor.

Bert looked down at the things spread on the rug. One old photograph caught the sheriff’s attention. He grabbed it and just stared at the picture for a while.

“What’s that?” Lizzie asked, with curiosity.

“Oh, that’s nothing, just an old photo.”

“Mind if I take a look?” she asked.

Bert handed the photo to the deputy’s wife. “Pretty handsome guy, huh?”

Nick, who was helping to gather the stuff from the floor, peeked over his wife’s shoulder.

“Is this you when you were in high school, Bert?” the deputy asked.

“Yeah, I was young once, Kid.”

“Who’s the pretty lady at your side?” Lizzie asked.

“Well, actually, she’s—” Bert’s cheeks blushed.

“It’s okay, Bert. I didn’t mean to pry. You don’t have to explain,” Lizzie said, placing a hand on the sheriff’s arm.

“That was the love of my life ... Karen Morris,” Bert finally breathed out. Her name rolled around Bert’s head like a barbed ball, slicing open feelings that had long since become scar tissue.

“And the plot thickens,” Nick commented, earning a slap on the arm from his wife.

Nick started to backpedal, and added, “We all have old flames, Bert. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”

Lizzie stared at her husband with a look that meant ‘We’ll talk about your old flames when we get home’.

“Well, I suppose you’re right about that,” Bert said, still staring at the picture.

“When was this photo taken?” Nick asked.