Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
“Stop!” Laney giggles. “We’re not naming our child Scooter. Anyway, I think we’re having a girl.”
Travis kisses her belly. “Doesn’t matter. We’re naming her Scooter. Scooter Mooder.”
I shake my head and grin, as does Gary and a few of the other guys.
“I remember when Evette used to greet me after a fire. There’s nothing like returning to a woman who’s dying to see you and so glad you’re alive. Best sex of my life.”
“What happened?” I drop my gear.
“She started fantasizing about my life insurance more than she fantasized about me.”
“That’s why I don’t have one of those.”
“Life insurance?”
I shrug off my shirt. “A wife.”
“I’m not buying it. And you should text your girlfriend to let her know you’re back and alive.”
“I don’t have—”
Gary’s gone before I finish.
I’m not messaging anyone. I wasn’t even gone for two days. No close calls. No need for anyone to worry.
Standing my ground, I make it home and finish half my dinner before I pick up my phone and stare at it. “I’m not telling her I’m safe and alive,” I mumble to myself, since I’m alone tonight. “I’m just being a good friend. Seeing how she’s doing.”
Fitz: My scars haven’t changed and my nuts are still chafed. I need a refund on that ointment
She doesn’t text me right away. She’s probably still working. It’s almost midnight before my phone pings and wakes me up.
Jaymes: Thanks for letting me know you’re okay. Night xo
“Dammit.” I toss my phone back onto the nightstand and grin.
After a short night’s sleep, I text her at four o’clock in the morning, her time, just to prove I’m still an asshole.
Fitz: Laney and Travis are having their baby today
It takes her five minutes to respond, just enough time to cuss me out.
On cue, as I get in my truck, she texts me back.
Jaymes: If u die today I won’t cry immediately because I’ll be too sleep deprived
Jaymes: And I already sent a baby gift yesterday after Evette told me they were inducing today. Don’t worry, the gift is from both of us
She can’t be serious.
Fitz: We’re not a couple
Jaymes: Love u 2. Have a great day!
“Fuck my life.” I toss my phone into the passenger seat and back out of the driveway.
Chapter Thirty
JAYMES
“You look just like your mom. I knew you would,” Dwight says after beckoning me into his room to show me he ate his breakfast and took his meds.
“Funny. I never thought I looked like her. She said I looked like my dad. But he died when I was five. He worked for NASA. That’s pretty cool, huh?”
Dwight chuckles. It doesn’t matter how often I try to bring him into reality; he laughs it off. Today’s the first day I’ve been his daughter, not his wife. Maybe that’s progress.
“I was a park ranger, not a NASA scientist.” He slips on his cardigan.
“I know this.” I help him get his other arm threaded through the sweater.
A park ranger who started a massive fire. The irony.
He slumps on the edge of the bed, head bowed. “I told her to stay close or take the bear spray. Always have bear spray.”
I listen. What else can I say or do? His wife’s dead. That’s why I don’t mind the days he thinks I’m her. She’s not dead on those days.
“A nurse.” He glances up at me. “She’d be proud, Barbara.”
I smile.
“Do you miss her as much as I do?” he asks.
I nod. “I miss my mom so much.”
“Yeah,” he whispers, trying to pull off his cardigan.
“Aren’t you going outside?”
“I’m tired. Those pills make me . . .” He gives up on taking off his cardigan, lying on his side with his cheek resting on his folded hands. “They make me tired. So I”—he closes his eyes—“stay out of trouble,” he mumbles.
I frown. He doesn’t need to be on such strong medications. He’ll never get better if he’s never given a chance to be himself again. No one in this ward is given the opportunity to be themselves or perhaps find themselves.
Midday, I take a lunch break and check my messages.
Evette: Laney had a little girl. Riley. 7 lbs, 4 oz. Both are doing great! I’ll send pics when I have some
Jaymes: Great news!
It’s unlikely that Fitz is on another fire so quickly, so I text him by copying and pasting Evette’s message.
Jaymes: Laney had a little girl. Riley. 7 lbs, 4 oz. Both are doing great! I’ll send pics when I have some
Fitz: Don’t be like that. I’m embarrassed for u
He sends a photo of Travis, Laney, and Riley.
“Oh my gosh.” I cover my mouth.
Jaymes: I’m proud of u
Fitz: I did nothing. I wasn’t there
I giggle.
Jaymes: I’m proud of u for having friends who send u pictures of their baby
Fitz: I have friends
Jaymes: Yes. But ur friend is in San Bernardino
He doesn’t respond. Either he’s legitimately busy, or he’s contemplating how to reply. I don’t give him a chance.