Meet Me Where the Oak Tree Grows

I shook my head, saying, "He's not back yet."
Right then, Jonah appeared from behind me, practically bumping into me. The two of them locked eyes, and the silence was thick with tension.
Time seemed to slow down, and just when I thought they might start throwing punches, Officer Cooper's eyes started to water, turning red.
With a fierce tone, he blurted out, "Jonah, I've been searching everywhere for you!"
Jonah paused, his voice friendly but distant, like he was catching up with an old acquaintance. "Cooper, it's been too long."
Cooper sneered, then suddenly burst like a firecracker, shouting, "I don't give a damn about your 'long time no see.' Acting all high and mighty now
that you're a big shot, forgetting your old pals?
"I'm telling you, the only way you're ditching me is over my dead body!" Tears streamed down his face like a dam had burst.
Jonah rubbed his temples, exasperated yet amused, as he nudged Cooper onto the couch and tossed him a box of tissues. "Wipe those tears
yourself."
Officer Cooper flung the tissues back at Jonah, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I didn't bring any cash. I can’t pay for them. After all, we're not that
tight, right?"
Then he got up from the couch, saying, "How could I sit? I'm only good enough to stand, since we're not that close."
Jonah frowned and said sternly, "Cooper!"
"Yes, Captain."
"Talk properly."
"Alright, alright."
Gradually, the gap that time had put between them faded, replaced by a warm camaraderie.
Realizing that Officer Cooper wasn't there to arrest Jonah, I felt relieved and decided to leave them to their conversation while I headed to the
kitchen.
"Jonah, how does tomato beef stew sound? I've been learning it from Aunt Marie lately."

Before Jonah could answer, Officer Cooper wiped his face and chimed in eagerly, "Yes, please, make plenty. I love it too." He got an elbow jab for
that.
Jonah glanced at him, "When did you get so close?"
He retorted confidently, "Your sister is my sister, right?"
Even as I stepped into the kitchen, I could still hear him hollering. "Don’t forget to add more spice!"
The kitchen was just next to the living room, and with the quiet of the evening and Cooper's booming voice, I could hear every word despite my partial
deafness.
"Seriously, how long has it been? And where did you pick up a sister?"
"Her name's Lana."
"What the heck? Aiden's daughter? Didn't even recognize her; she's changed so much. A few months ago, she was all skinny and moody, barely
spoke.
"I know her dad's a piece of work, but I didn't realize how much. Asking for two hundred grand, seriously? The only way to handle a jerk like him is
either to beat him senseless or lock him up. Otherwise, Lana's gonna have a rough time until she turns eighteen."
"Beating him up isn't an option, and getting him jailed is even tougher. With cases like Lana's, where it's minor domestic violence against a minor, the
law isn't that comprehensive. It takes at least a second-degree minor injury to convict, otherwise it's just a slap on the wrist. And by the time it reaches
second-degree, it's practically a life-and-death situation in the hospital."
The other man stayed silent, the only sound was the flick of a lighter as he lit a cigarette.
Second-degree minor injury... So domestic violence can lead to a sentence, not just a slap on the wrist.