Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 46257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Almost convincing myself that sounds like a run of the mill, straight outta the manual firefighting 101. Which it isn’t. I’ve got no business here that has anything to do with work, but I’m not about to tell her iron pants Mom that. Not in the first minute of meeting her anyhow.
“Ma’am?” I ask again, lowering my tone to a firmer one.
Her eyes narrow on mine, and she crimps her mouth in thought. Finally, she shrugs to herself and trots out of the car, only speaking once she’s passed me on her way to her front door.
Her key pointed out like a pistol, aiming at one of the shiny brass locks.
“I guess so. You can leave anything you need signed or filled out. I’ll see that she gets it. But right now, Bridget needs some rest and some peace and quiet.
I don’t mind her tone. It’s the news I hate hearing, knowing I’ve missed her after she fell straight into my arms.
It’s just not fair. It’s not how this was supposed to go.
“I understand,” I tell her Mom, reaching for one of my cards from my top pocket.
“If you could have her call me as soon as she gets in, I’d appreciate it…Mrs….?” I ask, offering my card once I join her on the porch.
“I’ll let her know,” she clips, making sure I understand our conversation is over before she lets herself into the house.
I stand stunned for a moment, wondering how I might have handled that better, but figure if Bridget’s not here, I’ll just wait until she is.
I can feel her Mom’s eyes on me, even when I walk back to my car. So I drive off and circle the neighboring blocks before settling on a vantage point behind her house.
A slight rise gives me a full view of the rear of the house and yard.
Something inside me tells me the room on the farthest end of the house facing the yard is Bridget’s. And as the afternoon turns to evening, something tells me I’m in for a long wait to see Bridget again.
But I meant what I said.
I’ll never let her go.
Not ever.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Bridget
I can’t believe myself.
Chickening out from Ash’s invite for something as innocent as coffee, and only because I know in my heart he wants more than just a hot drink. But I hardly have time to even think about that once my Mom turns up on the scene, screaming out to me and chattering like a crazed monkey.
“Bridget, oh my god! I heard the news on the radio. Then I saw the flames…Thank god you’re alright,” she exclaims.
Of all people to show up, and as much as I know she only acts the way she does because she cares, her timing couldn’t be worse.
I scan the crowd, hoping Ash hasn’t seen her. But like with everything, my Mom gets herself involved where I’m concerned, I don’t stand a chance at having a say.
It’s not long before I’m in the ambulance, on my way to the hospital, with Mom following in her car. Already having told me she’s calling my Dad, who she’ll get to meet us there. With my parents involved now, I know it’s only a matter of time before I’ll have to deal with Karen too. Anything to do with my job always comes back to Karen, and the invisible sway she seems to have over my Dad.
“You’re fine.” I’m told a thousand times by the paramedics and the emergency room doctors, who seem more interested in seeing me leave so they can deal with actual sick people.
Then why do I feel so lousy?
Ash.
Hoping he didn’t see my Mom, but knowing I’ll probably never see him again, finds me sinking lower in my mind than I’ve ever felt.
I should’ve just gone for coffee with him. At least then, I wouldn’t be back in Mom and Dad's jail. After all this, there’s no way they’ll let me go anywhere by myself.
It’ll somehow be all my fault, even though I got everyone out of the building.
Even though I’m the only one who was in any real danger.
That’s just how they paint everything.
We love you, honey, but only when you do exactly as we say.
Once I’m cleared to go home from the emergency room, it’s my Dad who insists I stay with him for the rest of the day.
Mom tells him she has a ton of things to do at home and “It’s just easier if you go with your Dad.”
Meaning I have to sit through hour-long lectures on how I managed to screw everything up and ‘what’s he gonna tell Karen?’ What’s he gonna tell everyone he knows when they find out the building that burned down was the one I was left in charge of to do the fire drill for?
That’s the speech I prepare myself for, but my Dad surprises me.