Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 80555 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80555 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
“Yeah. We found the source of the cash not reconciling.” He drained the potatoes with efficient movements, and I was ready with the milk and butter for him. “Newer server skimming tips. Luckily, he wasn’t particularly subtle about it, nor did he protest when confronted, but I hate letting people go.”
“I’m lucky to work with a good crew.” I watched as Magnus mashed the potatoes as if his frustration was fuel. Perhaps there was something to admitting when things were hard. “I’ve never had to fire someone, but I feel you on sometimes being the person in charge sucking.”
“Word.” He saluted me with his beer before taking a long sip. He plated our food with more of those quick movements. I liked watching him work, liked how easily he made the plates pretty with potatoes, chicken, and some sort of pan sauce over the top. Following him to the breakfast nook table, I exhaled hard as I sunk into my chair.
“We lost one tonight.” Fork poised for my first bite, the words tumbled out of me instead.
“I’m sorry.” Eyes soft, Magnus lowered his fork, a clear invitation for me to continue.
“It was a call way out in the country, up some mountain roads. Almost outside our service district. A wife called in because her husband had stomach and chest pain, and she couldn’t get him into the truck by herself.” I spoke slowly, letting the memory of the call unspool like a movie I didn’t care to watch again, yet needed to. “The guy, naturally, didn’t want to go, but after we arrived, we talked him into listening to her and coming in to get checked out. The wife was worried about appendicitis. I was worried about cardiac. We were both wrong.”
“What happened?” Magnus reached across the table to take my hand, holding it tightly.
“Abdominal aneurysm. By the time we realized what was happening, we were almost down the mountain.” The moment the inevitability of the situation hit me would be etched in that corridor of my soul devoted to feeling helpless. The scenario hadn’t been one where life flight could have been summoned or would have made a difference. It had come down to us and a race against time. “Burst before we could make the hospital doors. The guy was talking with us right up until he flatlined. Tate took it hard. He was driving and did everything right, but he’s young. Wants to save them all.”
“And you?” Magnus squeezed my hand, expression as sympathetic as I’d seen it.
“And me…” My breath caught, and a choking sound escaped my throat. “I’m old and still want to save them all.”
“I know. And I know you did the best you could.” Magnus came around the table to wrap me up in a bear hug. I collapsed into his embrace, spending several long minutes soaking up his strength.
“The food’s getting cold,” I murmured, embarrassed by how I continued to cling to him.
“Let it.” Magnus kissed the top of my head.
“I didn’t mean to unload on you. I know work talk can get heavy…” My face stayed hot and tight. For all that Montgomery had been a dedicated and caring physician, he’d preferred to leave hospital business at the hospital. He’d listen if I had a bad shift, but most of the time, the chaos of coming home to the kids and his steady energy had been enough distraction. I’d forgotten how good it could feel to talk things out, but my skin prickled, a sheepish mood descending on me.
“I don’t mind.” Magnus tightened his hold on me. “Truly. The worst thing that happened to me today was firing someone, and you listened to my story. Why wouldn’t I want to return the favor?”
“Yeah.” I nodded, but inside, my brain raced with all the reasons he shouldn’t. We weren’t a couple. He was dealing with his own weighty shit in the aftermath of the fire. I was more or less his landlord, and we were navigating the whole in-law thing. Why burden him with my crap?
“You’re thinking too hard.” Magnus stood, but not before dropping another kiss on my head. “I’m a people person. I’m a born bartender. Trust that I like listening, okay?”
“Okay.” I obediently took a bite of my chicken. “Thank you.”
“And no thanking me for being a decent human being.” Sitting back down, he wagged his fork at me. “Now, eat while I contemplate which eighties comedy I most want to revisit.”
“Oh, a deep dive into the classics.” I welcomed the distraction of movie talk like water in a desert. But I had to admit it was easier to move on to lighter subjects now that I’d talked about what had happened. I didn’t want to like this, didn’t want to like Magnus this much, and certainly didn’t want to come to need him.