Sight was overrated. At least, that was the affirmation. It was not the worst thing in the world at all. When you can hear the sound of water crashing against the shores, or when the boats begin new lives each morning, you didn't need to see anything. Especially on an island like Crockett Island. 

Rosalie Booker was fine with being blind. She didn't have a problem with it.

Rosalie knew what to expect each day. She knew what to hear and feel when the next day starts. Wake up. Get out of bed. Start the morning coffee. Hear the beep when the coffee got too high in the mug. Get dressed. Get ready for the rest of her day and feed the cat who comes outside her door without being late. And each morning she thought, maybe the cat was getting too fat. Maybe she was pregnant and it was time to take her in. She just didn't want to take her away from her friends, all the other strays that roam around the island. 

Of course, she knew it was the same little kitty who came to her door. The very slight shapes were the same, the same meow as she rubbed against her legs with a purr and gobbled up any food she left out. Turkey was her favorite, next to shrimp.

After that it was off on the same route. From her little home she used to share with her father to the general store. Rosalie would hear greetings and good mornings from some of the people on her way, though she barely remembered some of their faces. They were only words now. 

She swiped through the dusty roads with her cane, nearing the general store. It was just in time to open up, despite someone most likely being inside. Rosalie takes her keys from her pocket, feeling for the door knob. Before she could put the key through the keyhole, she hears the screech of the knob as it then leaves her hand. 

"Rosalie," she hears his velvet voice slide through her ears. "Good morning. Sorry, I've been here all morning with Joe." She smiled slightly knowing very well she was right. 

"I could tell," she replies with a hearty laugh, pointing to Pike who laid panting on the porch and enters the store, putting her things to the side behind the counter, and sets everything for the day up. Customers only came when they really needed something, as the general store was the only main store on the island. 

Sometimes the occasional person came simply to make conversation with Rosalie, not buying anything from there, most likely thinking she was lonely, she thought. That was of course after her father died. She used to be with her father everyday. She could never be lonely as the late Sheriff Booker brought joy to her day. 

Until he passed. Most people assumed she couldn't go on by herself. Being blind and running a store without her father as the sheriff? It was impossible to them. But she proved them wrong every day, going to work and making something of herself still. 

Even as the new sheriff took his role not long after her father's passing, she proved she didn't need the help others thought she did. The blurriest of images and splotches across her vision didn't stop her from enjoying her life. 

Sheriff Hassan never treated her like the helpless girl most believed she was. He assumed the role of Sheriff and since then they saw each other every day. She could hardly believe someone would do the job as well as her father, but Sheriff Hassan was a natural, and kind at that.

Sheriff Hassan nods but then replies, "Yep, Joe Collie caused some trouble last night. Saying something like," he pauses backing up, imitating Joe, "an albatross."

Rosalie laughs, ignoring the fact that Joe was still not doing well. That was always something to just ignore. No one did anything about it, even when it cost someone's legs.

"You want any coffee? It'll be good," she says getting up from her seat, grabbing her cane. The cane swipes the floor, scratching against the old hardwood, although Rosalie knew the store like the back of her hand. The general store hadn't changed for many years, even after she moved away and then came back to Crockett Island. Everything was the same. Same old houses and neighbors she thought she'd outgrow. Only thing that did change was her sight, the dwindling population, and at the off chance, new people. 

When Sheriff Hassan and his son, Ali, came to Crockett Island, Rosalie was shocked to say the least. Of course, someone would have eventually filled the sheriff's shoes, Rosalie thought to herself back then when they first arrived. Even after her father's death, it still stung to remember that he wasn't behind the sheriff's door. It wouldn't be her father's voice, but the softer voice of the man in front of her now.

Yet she was still a warm welcome to them on Crockett Island and all of its flaws. And Sheriff Hassan was better than she could have imagined. She knew her father would approve of the man who took his place. 

"Would love some," Sheriff Hassan answers. 

"Same mug?" 

"Yep." Rosalie grabs the red mug with a distinguished marking on the side, the reason Sheriff Hassan didn't have to bring in his own coffee that he would say is remarkably abysmal. 

Rosalie pours the coffee, waiting for the beeping from the little machine to go off, telling her it's full. When it beeps, she prepares it and then holds out the coffee for him like a surprise. "How is it?" She asks without realizing he hadn't drank it.

He takes a sip, feeling the heat rise into his face. The steam fogged his glasses up only momentarily as he was then able to watch her smiling face again. "It's great, as usual." He holds the cup down lower, leaving him with the view of Rosalie who beamed at the response. She then came around the counter to his confusion.

"Would you mind?" She held out her arm for him to gently hold. "I wanted to see Pike."

He brings his arm up, letting her grasp it. "No problem. I was going to feed him anyway." He held the coffee with one hand, and the other held a paper plate with crunchies up. As they stepped out the door, Rosalie heard the rustling on the porch. Pike grew excited, seeing Rosalie kneel next to him. She pets him, feeling him lick her hands, the wet slobber covering them. 

"Oh Pike," she laughs out as Sheriff Hassan leans over her to pat his head. Sheriff Hassan chuckled to himself watching her. 

"Morning, Sheriff Hassan. Morning, Rosie." Rosalie sighs, hearing the voice of Annie Flynn from a distance. Not many called her Rosie, mainly the older folks of Crockett Island who still pictured her as a young fragile girl. 

"Good morning, Annie," Rosalie replies as she stands up.

"Hey. Morning, Annie."

"Rosie, if you need help I can come by for a shift." Annie Flynn was always up for working a shift at the general store, but Rosalie had it covered. It passed a lot of the time. 

"Don't worry about it, Annie. It's a slow day again." 

"This must be your son. Riley, is it?" Rosalie perked up, not seeing the man but hearing two sets of steps on the graveled roads. She hadn't seen Riley Flynn since she was able to see long before she left Crockett Island. 

Strange how everyone always returned, no matter the cause. "No way, Riley Flynn! Nice to see you again," Rosalie comments, raising a hand to wave. 

She heard his stammer, probably not wanting to say much. "Um hi." The mother and son continued on their way back to their house, leaving the two on the porch to their own devices. 

"Well, I should probably see if Joe's awake yet." Rosalie nods, ruffling Pike's fur. The wind barely made a move, just swayed through the air towards her face. It was a beautiful day. 

"I'm gonna stay out here with Pike for a bit."

Once he went inside, Rosalie sat down on the porch, hearing Pike gobble the food down on the paper plate until it was left in slobber. 

Then came the barking. Rosalie tried to pet him, but he still kept barking loudly. The rocks near the porch shuffled and Rosalie chuckles. "Good morning Beverly," Rosalie greets.

"Good morning to you too, Rosalie. I would stay away from that. It snaps." Rosalie could not remember how Bev Keane looked when she was younger, and did not know how she looked now, but she definitely knew the woman was flinching away from the dog. 

"Oh, I'm sure he's just a little crabby," Rosalie defends. "Isn't that right, Pike?" She feels the lick of his tongue against her hands as he gets hyper from the attention once again. 

The general store door opens up with a scrape against the wood planks and heavy footsteps come up to Pike. 

"Good morning, Joe." 

"Whoa. Easy, big fella. Easy. Hello. Uh, mornin, Rosie."

"Snapped at me. Snapped right at me, just passing by." 

Rosalie chuckles shaking her head. Oh Bev, she thinks to herself. Joe voiced his thoughts. "Pike didn't snap. Barks sometimes. Mostly just to say hello. He's just big is all. He just sounds bigger than he means to." 

"Snapped," Bev recites the word, as if it would be more believable. "Thought he might have a go at my hand if I reached out. I'm telling you, Sheriff. It's a menace." 

Sheriff Hassan shakes his head. "I'm sorry, Miss Keane. He's just waiting for his dad." Rosalie scratches at Pike's neck, as he pants from getting pet more from Joe and Rosalie. 

"Speaking of a menace." Joe looks up, realizing what she meant. See, what did Rosalie need to do at home that was more important than this? Nothing. 

"Hey, what's that, Beverly? You wanna speak up?" They all wait for an answer from Bev only for soft fleeting footsteps. "Yeah, you just ignore her, buddy. She's just mean. She's just a meanie." 

"I don't know how she can not like such a cutie like you, Pike," Rosalie tells the dog.

"I'm sorry for the hassle. I mean it. Can't be what you pictured when you took this job, dealing with me all the time." 

It was true. Joe Collie always managed to be in the one small cell in the Sheriff's office in the back of the general store. He was the only one who really caused the most trouble. Rosalie remembered her father always having a morning cup of joe with him to get him to talk about what was wrong. She remembered hearing her father say the most difficult thing was getting Joe to leave. 

"Ah, it might bother me if I gave you much thought."

Joe laughs and clicks his tongue. "Come on, buddy." He walks away with Pike on his trail, not bothering to use a leash. "Later Sharif."

"Take care, Joe." Then he mumbles, "see you soon." 

Rosalie sighs holding out her hand for him to help her up. "My father used to say that every sunrise was different, but the people, well, the people stay the same. No matter what." Sheriff Hassan takes her hand, watching as she leaps up and bounces towards the door. She feels for the handle and opens it. "After you, sir."

He chuckles and goes to the door. "Thank you, miss." Rosalie giggles and the two go back inside the store. "It's actually looking like there will be a storm soon. The mayor was thinking of discussing it with some of the people." 

Rosalie hums, tapping the counter. There hadn't been too many bad storms in a while. Since Sheriff Hassan took over, the weather welcomed him with open arms. Now, there was only going to chaotic winds and destruction. 

"Will you need help with anything?" 

"I'll be fine, come on." She laughs brushing the thought away of being helpless in front of anyone, including the Sheriff. "Is the meeting still at the school?" The school would be close and during the slowness of the day for the store. 

"Yep. You want to come with?" He quipped, taking another sip of his coffee that was turning colder by now.

"I would love to," she replies, feigning flattery as she touched her chest with a touched look on her face. "Now, get to work, Sheriff. What are we paying you for?"

"The same reason we pay you," he answers walking back to his office, with a smile on his face.

___

A/N: Thanks for reading! It's a kind of short chapter but they will get longer! Also I changed Rosalie's last name for those who haven't seen. It is Booker now.