Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 106538 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 426(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106538 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 426(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
“You’re going to work?” Tia squints.
“Maren’s alive—for now. So yeah, I’m going to work because I need to stay busy, and the people there will get the most current updates on her condition.”
“Are you going to see her?” Tia asks.
I grunt, pouring coffee into my thermos. “She’s in Canada.”
“Is her family from here?” Suddenly, Tia seems interested in Maren, that woman, whose name she refused to say when she didn’t want me having anything to do with her.
“No. Nebraska. I’m sure they’re either there or on their way.” I take a sip of my coffee before screwing the lid onto the thermos.
She continues to prod. “Have you met them?”
“No. Nebraska is a ways away. I’m not sure biking there is a good idea.”
Tia frowns. “You know what I mean. They could visit her here.”
“I haven’t met them. Just her roommates and a few other friends. I gotta go so I can check on her cat before work.”
Amos finally breaks his silence. “When are you going to tell Lola about the accident?”
“When I’m ready.”
Tia frowns as I open the back door. “We’ll pray for her.”
I pause for a few seconds, judging her sincerity. But it doesn’t matter. I don’t have the emotional capacity to worry about her thoughts or opinions. “Thanks,” I mumble.
When I get to work, some of my coworkers offer sympathetic smiles. I’ve never tried to keep my relationship with Maren a secret, but I also don’t talk much about my personal life. Since the car accident, I’ve thrived on keeping to myself. But now I know Ira has been busy sharing my relationship status. Knowing her, these people are part of a prayer chain. She’s organized them for other people.
After stuffing my backpack into my locker, I bypass the break room and get to work. By midmorning, Taylor finds me.
“Maren’s out of surgery,” he says.
I climb down the ladder and wipe my forehead with my sleeve. “That’s good.”
“She’s in a coma on a ventilator.”
That’s not as good, but yesterday I assumed she was dead. “What happened?”
“I haven’t heard much. Of course, it’s under investigation, but it could take a while to come to any conclusions, especially if Maren’s in a coma and unable to give us any information. However, I’ve heard speculation that it might have just been extreme turbulence. Other pilots reported rotor-cloud activity. Maren had just finished her last drop. It will get sorted out eventually. She’s alive for now; we both know that’s pretty miraculous. So let’s focus on that.”
I nod several times.
Alive for now.
“When were you going to tell me about you two?” he asks.
“My wife died,” I say.
Taylor’s brow tightens. “Yeah, I know.”
“I have a daughter.”
He nods.
“She was in the car accident that killed my wife and my father. That was over two years ago. And my daughter still won’t get in a vehicle. And she doesn’t want me to be in one either. So I’m not the tree hugger you think I am. I’m just a guy with a daughter who is struggling. I’m a private person unless you ask me about my life. So that’s why you didn’t know about my relationship with Maren.”
Taylor continues to nod slowly. “Ozzy, I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry. I feel like an asshole for not knowing this.”
“Don’t. It’s fine,” I say.
“Well, we’re all concerned about Maren. Everyone at Cielo is family. I’ll let you know what I know when I get any updates. Henry, Cielo’s CEO, is headed to the hospital this morning to be with Maren and help her and her family in any way possible. If you need time off to go—” Taylor catches himself, pressing his lips together.
“I won’t be going anywhere to see her. It would be quite the journey on a bicycle.”
“I’m sorry,” he whispers.
“Oz, someone at the front office is asking for you,” Brady yells.
I nod and grab a rag to wipe my hands.
“If you just need time off to process—”
“I don’t,” I tell Taylor, brushing past him.
When I reach the main office, a dark-haired woman in a green-and-white floral sundress faces me. It’s Jamie. She draws in a shaky breath and finds a sad smile. “I didn’t know if you knew about Maren.”
I nod. She swallows hard and blinks away the tears welling in her eyes. “Fitz is in Canada, too, working the same fire. But he hasn’t been able to see her yet. Will and I have a flight there this afternoon, and her parents arrived this morning.” She hands me her phone. “Give me your number. I’ll keep you informed. And if you could continue looking after her place and cat, we’d be so grateful.”
I should be on that plane.
I’m angry and frustrated, but I don’t know who to blame.
Nobody, I suppose.
“Thank you,” I murmur, entering my contact information into Jamie’s phone.
“How’s Lola doing with the news?”