Red Tape by Michele Lynn Seigfried Read Free Book Online

out on the back patio watching my dad do the grilling. They had driven in from Lawrenceville for the day. Detective Texidoro and his wife, Stephanie, were also joining us for lunch. When they arrived, I told them the tale of a dozen eggs and we all got a good laugh.
    I helped myself to a glass of wine. “I could use a little wine this week,” to no one in particular. I was only back to work for two weeks and I already had the urge to have a drink. I hadn’t had a drink in forever. I decided to stop breastfeeding the other day. It was fine while I was home with the baby, but I found it to be too cumbersome to pump while being back at work.
    “So, how were your first couple of weeks back to work?” Stephanie asked me.
    “Do you mean besides a robbery, a lunatic resident, and the fact that I’m acting administrator this week? Fantastic,” I said with a hint of sarcasm in my voice. I turned to Tex, “Any leads yet on our intruder?”
    Tex told me that there were no leads yet and that the fingerprints were still being processed.
    “Did you ask the mayor if she saw anyone strange lurking around?”
    “I did and she did not.”
    We agreed to stop talking shop and enjoy the day. My cousins lived more than an hour away and we didn’t see them as often as we liked, so we didn’t need to bore them with our work conversation.
    “By the way, Chelsey,” Stephanie said. “Jose and I have a friend that I am going to set you up with.”
    Oh no, I thought. I could feel my face getting warm. I started fanning myself with an empty paper plate that was on the picnic table in front of me. Were they talking about setting me up with Officer Williams? My heart started beating faster at the thought.
    “Well, I don’t particularly want to be set up.”
    “Look, you are single and we have a great guy for you. He’s handsome, successful, and he loves kids. What could it hurt to get out for one night? You admitted you were stressed about work. You need some fun.”
    My mom piped in, “I’ll watch the baby for you, Chelsey.” I glared at her as if to tell her not to do me any favors.
    “I don’t know,” I said. “Who are we talking about here?”
    “His name is Kristof Beck and he owns Bratz Restaurant,” Tex told me.
    I was a little disappointed. I guessed Bonnie put the idea in my head about going on a date with Officer Williams and as much as I tried to deny it, I was very attracted to him.
    “Bratz? Where is that? I never heard of it. And what kind of a name is Kristof?”
    “It’s German,” Tex said. “And the restaurant is a German place with specialty Bratwurst and German beers. It’s in Jackson Township near Great Adventure. It’s a great place; you should try it.”
    “Maybe I’d be willing to try the restaurant, but I really don’t want to be set up. Thank you for thinking of me, but I’ll pass.”
    Stephanie and my mother pleaded with me a little, but I wasn’t having it. How would a restaurant owner have time to take me out anyway? I would think that while I worked days, Monday through Friday, he would have to work nights and weekends.
    As the sun started to set, my cousins headed out on the road back to Lawrenceville, and Tex and Stephanie bid us “adieu.” I stuck around for a while longer. My father built a fire in his chiminea in the backyard and I pulled up a beach chair near it. He looked at me. “You know, it’s only your first couple of weeks back at work. You’ll get back into the swing of things and you won’t be so stressed. It will all be fine.”
    “Thanks, Dad, I appreciate that and I appreciate all that you and Mom do for me.”
    It was chilly outside. I grabbed another glass of wine and wrapped myself in a blanket. The baby was asleep inside with my mom keeping a vigil eye over her. My father brought out some marshmallows to roast. I hadn’t roasted marshmallows since I was a kid and they had a way of making me feel like I had traveled back to those days when life was easy. The