Chapter 2

Josephine’s POV

“Joey!” I heard someone yell from behind me. I turned and saw Tara my best friend running towards me. Tara and I had grown up together and even went to the police academy together. I smiled as she bounced towards me. She had always been a looker. She had very long blonde hair, stood about five-foot-nine, and was very fit. She had what every boy in our high school had wanted. I on the other hand had always been the quiet one. I didn’t date much because I was always focused on my goals. It wasn’t like the guys weren’t throwing themselves at me. I was attractive as well. I had long red hair with green eyes. I stood about five foot ten and had a full c cup. I knew I could have anyone I wanted but I had very high goals for myself.

“Are you ready for graduation?” I asked Tara as she stopped in front of me.

“Of course. Is your mom coming?” She asked me.

“Yes. She should be here soon actually. I should hurry up and finish getting ready.” I said as I started to walk back to our dorm. Tara followed behind me. Today we graduated from the police academy and then we start our new jobs on Monday. Tara was happy with just being a street cop but I was aiming higher. I wanted to be a homicide detective just like my father had been.

I was five when my father had died in the line of duty. I don’t remember much about that time except what my mother has told me. I do remember that I was very much a daddies girl. He was everything to me. There are a few home videos that my mother kept for me and I watch them when I feel sad or need to just see him. My mother has told me that he was one of the best homicide detectives in New York. Since I don’t remember much about that time I have had to go off of what others have told me and my own research. From what I know my father was on his way back to the station when he noticed a stranded motorist and decided to pull over and help. Unfortunately, the guy had other plans. The guy was a fugitive so when my dad stopped to help he freaked out and killed my father in cold blood. A passing vehicle saw everything and tried to help my father but it was too late. 

“Earth to Joey.” Tara pulled me back as I hadn’t even realized that I wasn’t paying attention to her. “Were you thinking about your father again?” She asked. I just nodded and wiped the tears from my eyes. Tara pulled me in for a hug and I sobbed for a few minutes. After I was done crying she looked at me.

“All better now?”

“Yeah. Thank you. I just wish that he could have seen what I became.” I said as I pulled away from Tara and walked over to the mirror.

“He is watching you, Joey. I am sure he is very proud of you.” 

“I know but I just miss him.” Tara hugged me one last time and then went into her room to get ready for graduation. I looked at myself in the mirror and whipped the last few tears from my eyes. I finished putting my makeup on and getting dressed then walked down to meet my mother.

“Joey, there you are.” My mother said as I walked up to her. “Oh, honey you look so beautiful.” She hugged me and held me close.

“Hi, mom. Thank you for coming.”

“Of course silly I wouldn’t miss this for anything.”

“How are Grandma and Grandpa doing?” I asked. 

“They are good. We are meeting for dinner after the ceremony.”

After my father died my mother decided that she wanted to be closer to my grandparents. So we packed up and moved back here to Little Creek. That was when I had met Tara. My grandparents were always very caring and helped fill the void the best they could. Sometimes, however, it wasn’t enough. I remember on my first day of school I had been so scared that I hide under the jungle gym. At recess, I was still hiding there when Tara found me. She climbed right underneath with me and asked me what was wrong. I had told her that I missed my daddy. She immediately did everything she could to make me laugh and then we just were inseparable after that.

“Is Tara’s parents going to be here?” My mother asked.

“Yes. I think they are already at the field. I’ll walk you over and help you find them they are saving you a seat.” She nodded and we headed to the field. After we found Tara’s parents I left my mother and went to meet Tara at our seats. 

The graduation ceremony wasn’t long since only about fifty other cadets were graduating. After the ceremony, Tara and I went to meet our families. As we approached them I saw Dan, Tara’s boyfriend with her parents. She squealed in delight as she ran up to him. “You made it!” She said as she wrapped herself around him.

“Of course I did babe. I wouldn’t miss this.” He said. “Hey, Joey. Congratulations.”

“Thanks, Dan. How are things going at the office?” Dan was about five years older than us. Tara had met him when we were starting the academy. He is a lawyer at a big-time law firm in the next city over. He was still just a rookie but had already started to make a name for himself. He was a good guy it seemed. He was also very attractive. He worked out a lot and stood a solid six feet. He had dark brown hair that he kept neatly trimmed and deep blue eyes. I swear if I hadn’t known any better I would think he was looking into your soul when he talked to you.

“Things are going well right now. I just got assigned to a big case. This might be my chance to make partner if I can win this.”

“That’s great Dan,” I said.

“Joey, dear we have to get going soon. Your grandparents are waiting for us at Tony’s.” My mother said. I nodded at her.

“Okay, mom. Well guys I will let you celebrate. I have to get going.” I said to Tara and her family. “It was nice to see you again Mr. and Mrs. Sims.” Tara’s parents hugged me and then I hugged Tara.

“Call me when you get home. Maybe we can get together this weekend and celebrate ourselves.” Tara said.

“Okay. I’ll call you when I get home. Bye, everyone.” I waved goodbye and followed my mother to the car. We headed to Tony’s to meet my grandparents. Tony’s was a fancy Italian restaurant here in town. Well fancy for us. After all Little Creek was a very small town of only a few thousand people. As we drove I thought about my life so far. My mother had never remarried after my father died and so I was an only child. There were days that I wished I had a little brother or sister to play with or share secrets with, but that was where Tara had come in and become a sister to me. We really did share and do everything together. I remember when she met Dan I got a little jealous because she was constantly with him. I got over it though because Dan was a good guy for her she seems happy.

We pulled up in front of Tony’s and I saw my grandparents standing outside waiting for us. I got out and went into my grandma’s arms. She hugged me tightly and I started to cry. “Oh, dear don’t cry. We are so proud of you and I know your father is too.” 

“I know nana but I still miss him.” She smiled as she wiped a tear from my eye.

“Come on dear let's go eat.” She said as she held my hand and lead me into the restaurant behind my mother and grandpa. My grandparents were my closest connection to my father besides my mother. They were his parents and my grandmother would always tell me everything she could about him. I had a very close relationship with my grandma. I could talk to her about everything. My mother’s parents had died before I was born so I never got to meet them. My mother never really talks much about them I assume there was bad blood between them. I always figured that when she was ready to tell me she would.

Dinner went great and I had a good time with my family. It was after eight by the time we made it back to the dorms. I had actually just found a small apartment that I was moving into this weekend. Tara was staying at Dan’s house for the night and then she would be on the hunt herself for a place. I took a shower and then settled into my bed. I pulled my phone out and called Tara.

“Hey, Joey. Guess what?”

I smiled into the phone because she sounded so excited. “What?”

“Dan asked me to move in with him. Isn’t that great?” I was a little shocked. They had only been dating for a short time but I guess if she was happy then that was all that mattered.

“That is great Tara.” 

“So I know that you are moving into your new place tomorrow but how about we all get together tomorrow night and celebrate?”

I thought about it for a moment. I usually didn’t like to go out and party that much but since we were celebrating I guess I could. “Alright. What time should I be ready?”

“Eight. I will pick you up and then we will meet Dan at The Dive.”

The Dive was the local bar and frankly was a dive. However, they usually had a good crowd on the weekend and their food and drinks were cheap. 

“Alright, I will be ready.” I hung up the phone with her and looked around the dorm we shared. It seems empty without all our stuff out and about. We had already packed everything up since I was moving into my apartment and Tara had planned on staying at her parent's house until she had found a place. I giggled at the thought of telling her parents that she was moving in with Dan. Mr. Sims had always been a bit of a hard ass when it came to the men that his daughter dated but he did seem to like Dan so maybe things would go great. I finally drifted off to sleep around midnight. I couldn’t wait to start the next part of my life.