The Cop and the Princess - Chapter seven:- Around Town

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The Market

The chilly morning breeze welcomed them as they stepped onto the quiet village road.

Hope walked a few steps ahead before unconsciously slowing down.

Without realizing it...

She had matched Sara's pace.

Sara quietly followed beside her, both hands hidden inside the oversized sleeves of Hope's leather jacket.

The jacket was a little too big.

The sleeves covered half her hands.

She gently pulled it closer around herself...

Almost as if she were hugging it.

For some reason...

It made her feel safe.

Hope glanced sideways.

"You've never been to a market like this before, have you?"

Sara looked around at the narrow streets slowly filling with people.

Fresh vegetables.

Flower stalls.

The smell of freshly baked bread drifting through the air.

She smiled softly.

"No."

"We never had anything like this."

Hope nodded.

"I thought so."

They continued walking.

For a while...

Neither of them spoke.

It wasn't uncomfortable.

It was peaceful.

Hope broke the silence.

"...Do you miss them?"

Sara looked at her.

"My family?"

Hope nodded.

Sara thought for a moment before answering.

"Not really."

Hope looked a little surprised.

"My mother has lived abroad for years."

"We hardly talk anymore."

She looked ahead.

"I only really miss Leon."

A small smile appeared on her face.

"He used to drag me everywhere."

"I complained every single time..."

"...but now I kind of miss those days."

Hope smiled faintly.

"I guess brothers are useful sometimes."

Sara laughed.

"Sometimes."

The conversation faded naturally as they reached the busiest part of the market.

Hope suddenly stopped in front of a small food cart.

"You've never tried these either."

Sara looked at the sizzling pan.

She shook her head.

Hope looked at the vendor.

"Two."

The old vendor smiled knowingly.

"Morning, Detective."

Hope nodded.

"Morning."

A few moments later, she handed one to Sara.

"Careful."

"It's hotter than it looks."

Sara confidently nodded.

"I'll be fin—"

She took a large bite.

"...Cough!"

She immediately started coughing.

Hope reacted before Sara could even say anything.

She gently rubbed Sara's back.

"Easy..."

"I warned you."

With her other hand, Hope grabbed a bottle of water from the stall and twisted the cap open before handing it to her.

Sara quickly drank.

After a few deep breaths...

She finally stopped coughing.

Hope looked at her.

"Still good?"

Sara laughed, embarrassed.

"...Still worth it."

Hope smiled.

"I figured."

Sara happily continued eating.

She looked completely focused on the food.

Hope quietly watched her.

Without realizing it...

A tiny smile slowly appeared on her face.

...

Cute.

The thought crossed her mind before she even realized it.

Hope blinked.

Then quickly looked away.

Just then—

A familiar voice echoed across the market.

"Hope!"

Hope stopped walking.

A helpless smile immediately appeared on her face.

"...I know that voice."

Sara looked around in confusion.

"You do?"

Hope nodded.

"I'd recognize it anywhere."

She slowly turned around.

An energetic woman, probably in her late fifty, made her way through the crowd.

Silver strands had begun replacing her dark hair, but they only seemed to brighten her cheerful face.

Her bright eyes sparkled with warmth and mischief.

She carried a woven basket in one hand...

While the other was already pointing straight at Hope.

"There you are!"

Before Hope could even greet her...

The woman reached them and grabbed Hope's hand.

"I've been looking for you!"

Hope laughed.

"Morning, Mrs. Martha."

Mrs. Martha narrowed her eyes dramatically.

"Morning?"

"I told you three days ago somebody stole my chickens!"

Hope nodded with complete seriousness.

"I remember."

Mrs. Martha folded her arms.

"So?"

Hope kept the straightest face imaginable.

"I've decided to put the FBI on the investigation."

Mrs. Martha stared at her for two long seconds.

Then burst into laughter.

"You've been saying that for three days!"

Hope shrugged.

"I'm waiting for them to return my call."

Mrs. Martha laughed even harder.

Then...

Her eyes slowly moved toward Sara.

A mischievous smile spread across her face.

She slowly raised one finger...

Pointing toward Sara.

Then looked back at Hope.

Hope instantly knew where this was going.

"...Don't."

Mrs. Martha's smile only grew wider.

Hope sighed.

"...Please, Mrs. Martha."

"...Not now."

"Oh?"

"...Mrs. Martha..."

Mrs. Martha looked warmly at Sara.

"And who might this beautiful young lady be?"

Hope answered almost immediately.

"...A friend."

Mrs. Martha slowly nodded.

"A friend?"

Hope nodded once.

"Yes."

Mrs. Martha chuckled.

"That's exactly what you always say whenever you show up with a new girl."

Hope coughed awkwardly.

Trying to escape...

She quickly changed the subject.

"...How's Miya?"

Mrs. Martha's expression softened instantly.

"She's doing well."

Then she smiled.

"She still says you're the cutest girl she ever dated..."

"...Even after you broke up with her."

Sara slowly turned toward Hope.

Hope suddenly found the grocery list incredibly interesting.

"...I'm glad she's doing well."

Mrs. Martha laughed.

"I still don't understand how every girl leaves smiling after breaking up with you."

Hope scratched the back of her neck.

"I don't either."

Mrs. Martha gently patted Hope's shoulder.

"Now stop avoiding me..."

"And catch whoever stole my chickens."

Hope gave her a tiny salute.

"I'll make it my department's highest priority."

Mrs. Martha laughed as she walked away.

For a few moments...

Neither Hope nor Sara spoke.

Only the sounds of the market surrounded them.

Finally...

Sara broke the silence.

"...Can I ask you something?"

Hope glanced at her.

"Mhm."

Sara hesitated.

"...Were all your girlfriends..."

"...that nice?"

Hope smiled quietly.

"Most of them."

Sara looked ahead.

"...How?"

Hope looked genuinely confused.

"What do you mean?"

Sara shrugged.

"You broke up..."

"But they still smile when they talk about you."

"...Even your ex's grandmother likes you."

Hope laughed softly.

"I honestly don't know."

After a moment, she spoke again.

"I usually dated someone for a little while."

"If I felt the relationship was worth giving my time..."

"I stayed."

"If I knew it wasn't going to work..."

"I simply told them honestly."

"That's all."

She smiled faintly.

"I guess that's how those numbers kept increasing."

Sara looked at her.

"So..."

"You never found the right person?"

Hope kept walking.

Her eyes remained on the road ahead.

"...I guess not."

"I never found the right person to stay with."

Sara quietly lowered her eyes.

For reasons she couldn't explain...

That answer made her heart feel a little lighter.

Hope noticed her expression.

"What?"

Sara quickly shook her head.

"Nothing."

Hope smiled.

"...You're a terrible liar."

Sara laughed softly.

"I was just curious."

Hope gently bumped Sara's shoulder with her own.

"Curiosity suits you."

The two continued walking through the lively market...

Neither of them realizing...

That with every small conversation...

The distance between them was quietly disappearing.

Scene – The Garage

After leaving the market, Hope suddenly looked toward the end of the street.

"Oh."

Sara looked at her.

"What?"

Hope pointed ahead.

"My garage is just over there."

"I left my car here yesterday for an engine repair."

She smiled.

"We should check if she's ready."

Sara nodded.

The two slowly walked toward a small neighborhood garage.

The place smelled of motor oil and fresh paint.

A few mechanics were busy working on different vehicles.

One of them looked up.

The moment he saw Hope...

He smiled.

"Hey, Hope."

Hope smiled back.

"Hey, Joe."

Joe wiped the grease from his hands with an old cloth.

"How you doing?"

Hope shrugged casually.

"Still alive."

Joe laughed.

"That's probably the best answer you could've given."

Hope walked around, looking toward her SUV.

"So..."

"How's my shiny car?"

"What's her status?"

Joe looked at the vehicle.

"First of all, Hope..."

"That thing isn't a shiny car."

"It's a crash with four wheels."

Hope placed a hand dramatically over her heart.

"Wait..."

"No."

"That car is my life."

Joe didn't even hesitate.

"You should buy a new life."

Sara couldn't hold back a laugh.

Hope sighed dramatically.

"Everyone's a comedian these days."

She pointed toward the SUV.

"So..."

"Did you fix it?"

Joe nodded.

"Yeah."

"Engine's done."

"You can finally take her home."

Hope smiled.

"Perfect."

She reached into her pocket.

"So..."

"How much do I owe you?"

Joe answered immediately.

"Fifty dollars."

Hope looked horrified.

"Fifty?!"

"Joe..."

"You're actually trying to make me beg."

Joe folded his arms.

"You forgot your detective discount."

Hope's eyes immediately lit up.

"...I have one?"

Joe nodded.

"Forty."

Hope laughed.

"Now we're talking."

She handed him the money.

Joe counted it.

Then smiled.

"Pleasure doing business with someone who's finally paying on time."

Hope looked offended.

"Excuse me."

"I always pay."

Joe looked at her.

"...Eventually."

Sara laughed again.

Hope pointed at him.

"I don't like your honesty."

Joe simply grinned.

Then...

His eyes slowly shifted toward Sara.

He lowered his voice just enough to tease.

"So..."

"Who's the pretty young lady?"

Hope smiled.

"She's a friend."

Joe raised one eyebrow.

"...Just a friend?"

Hope immediately looked at him.

"...Joe."

"Please don't."

"She's really just a friend."

Joe chuckled.

"Alright."

"I understand."

Hope gave him a look.

"No..."

"You don't."

Joe only laughed harder.

Hope shook her head before walking toward the SUV.

Sara quietly followed beside her.

After a few moments...

She spoke.

"...Can I ask you something?"

Hope smiled while unlocking the driver's door.

"This is becoming your favorite sentence nowadays."

Sara looked completely serious.

"...Did you date him too?"

Hope froze.

She slowly turned around.

"...Wait..."

"What?"

Sara pointed toward Joe.

"Him."

Hope looked genuinely terrified.

"No!"

"Seriously..."

"I did not."

Sara let out a tiny sigh of relief.

Hope rubbed the back of her neck.

"...His younger sister."

Sara completely froze.

"...What?"

Hope smiled awkwardly.

"It was years ago."

Sara stared at her for several long seconds.

"So..."

"You actually dated almost half this town."

Hope looked completely helpless.

"No."

"Obviously not."

Sara kept staring.

Hope scratched her head.

"...Okay."

"...Quarterly maybe."

Sara couldn't hold it anymore.

She laughed while shaking her head.

"You're unbelievable."

Hope opened the door with an exaggerated gesture.

"Our princess's carriage awaits."

Sara smiled despite herself before getting inside.

Hope walked around to the driver's seat.

As the engine finally came to life...

She smiled proudly and gently patted the steering wheel.

"See?"

"I told you she'd survive."

, Sara looked at Hope...

Then at the old SUV...

A tiny smile appeared on her face.

Maybe...

The SUV slowly pulled away from the garage...

Heading back toward the farmhouse.

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