Chapter 07
“Y ou really think she’s turned a corner?”
Becks’ soft voice came to me from the driver’s side of her SUV, leaning up to peer at me around Lucas.
I smiled reassuringly and nodded at her.
“We’ve been talking a lot more than we had been lately. She’s letting me help her with things, and willing to ask for help when she needs it. She even had me over for dinner the other night.”
It had been a couple weeks since I’d found Monica sitting in front of that nightstand in tears. I’d seen the handwriting on the envelope. Paul’s messy scrawl had driven all of us nuts when he’d been alive. Monica was constantly misunderstanding telephone messages or notes he may write down instead of texting. He hated texting. I hadn’t pushed to know what was in it. Just helped her to her feet and wrapped her in a huge hug. We’d finished emptying the room.
Her and the girls seemed lighter. They’d gone shopping that night and Lacey had even texted me funny pictures of them in the store picking out decor and bed items. I had been shocked when Lacey had even thanked me for helping and trying to come around even more. Usually she was so hesitant to instigate communication in her teenage years that it knocked Mon and I sideways when she was nice to us.
Becks’ eyes lit up and Lucas groaned.
“I know that look. It means you have an idea,” he quipped.
Beck's small hand slapped his muscular arm.
“Shut up. I was just thinking Trev should start coming to our weekly dinners at Monica’s!”
A warm feeling moved through me at the idea of it.
“I don’t know, guys. That seems like a couple thing.”
“Lucas and I weren’t together when I started joining them for weekly dinners with Monica and Paul,” argued Becks.
“Yeah. And just look how that turned out,” her husband laughed.
“Would that be so bad?” asked Becks.
Both of us swung our gaze to the woman. Me wondering if I was that transparent about wanting my ex-wife again, Lucas in shock at her suggestion.
“What is with women and matchmaking? Dude, I’m sorry-” he began.
“It's fine.” I said, winking at Becks. “I have to get on shift though. Thanks for dropping these by for me.” I held up the cookies Lucas’ wife and Natasha had made me. “The guys will appreciate these.”
“Just make sure you get at least one before they’re gone this time,” she returned laughing.
Becks was apparently in some sort of baking kick. Lucas chalked it up to the pregnancy and feeling more motherly than usual. They’d started telling people the last couple of days that she was expecting. I was happy for them. Monica had gloated that she knew before anyone else did after Lucas and the doctor.
I waved them off as I turned and looked at the firehouse. Working the night shift was typically quiet. Something felt off tonight though. I wasn’t sure what it was. After being a firefighter for so long you start to develop a sixth sense about these things.
Brushing it off, I walked on in, greeting my coworkers and grabbing a cookie from the bag before placing it in the middle of the table. The men in this firehouse were like bloodhounds on the scent when free food was available. They’d be gone within minutes.
A couple hours later, nearing midnight, my phone went off.
I raised an eyebrow, watching the three dots move across the screen like she was typing. They stopped and disappeared several times before her message finally came through.
Complete silence came over my screen. I really couldn’t believe I’d gone there. It was quicker than I’d intended. I was just so weary of waiting and pining over her. The silence continued and I knew she was in her head.
Well then. That had just happened. Shaking my bangs off of my forehead I sighed, scrubbing my hands over my face. She didn’t seem completely freaked out or opposed. Just hesitant, and I could get that. I was hesitant in some ways to destroy the peace we had.
The fire house’s alarm crashed through the building and everything stopped. I went into work mode as the speaker burst to life with the alert on what had happened. Two car accident. Civilian on scene. No emergency personnel yet. Within seconds myself and the guys were in the truck, sirens blaring and speeding down the streets towards the location. My adrenaline was pumping. This was what I loved about my work. Every call. We’d get there and save lives. I never pictured any other alternative until the situation screamed we were too late.
Jumping out of the truck on my side, my jaw clenched taking in the scene. A truck was sideways on the road with an older gentleman sitting behind the wheel, shaking his head.
I overheard him.
“It was the darndest thing. The car just ran the stop sign and came out of nowhere. I was going sixty, I couldn’t break in time-”
Walking up to the small sports car that was now on its passenger side, I hit my stomach, palms slapping the pavement to peer into the window.
Just to meet the green eyes of my petrified daughter, hanging upside down, staring at me with tears streaming down her face.
“Daddy?” her voice was small and shaking, breathless in her terror. My entire body was clenched, unprepared for this scenario. She was supposed to be home safe in her bed. What the fuck?!
“Don’t move.” I spoke brusquely, my voice calmer than I felt. “What hurts? What happened? Dammit. It’s my daughter!” I yelled at my coworker who had stopped behind me. I met his wide-eyes and he moved, relaying the information.
I wouldn’t be able to handle this as much of a professional and they would have to pick up whatever slack if I broke.
“I’m so sorry.” Lacey was sobbing now.
“Hey. We’re not talking about that right now, baby. We just need to get you out of here.”
My eyes moved past her taking in the unconscious form of the boy she was with.
“Have you all been drinking?” I asked briskly.
“No. I promise. I just wanted to hang out with him. I know I shouldn’t have snuck out. Mom doesn’t know-”
“I know your mother doesn’t know.” I replied. “She thinks you are home, safe in bed, with a headache. Where you should be. Give me a minute.”
Standing and running my fingers through my hair, “FUCK!” I let out, in a quiet yell.
My coworkers got to work pulling out backboards and getting the two kids out of the car. Whoever-the-Fuck-He-Was looked to be about Lacey’s age. Maybe older. I yanked my phone out of my pocket. I hated doing this. Things had calmed down. But her mother needed to know.
“Hello?” Monica’s sleepy voice answered me, becoming more alert as she heard the background noises and sirens. “Trevor? What’s going on?”
“I need you to stay calm, Monica.” I said, somewhat sternly.
“Okay, you’re scaring me.” she whispered now.
“Lacey isn’t in bed. She snuck out. I responded to a car accident and it's her and some boy. She seems fine, but the car tipped sideways. We’re removing them from it now. I’ll ride with her to the hospital. I’m calling Lucas to come get you. I don’t want you driving.”
“What? Oh my fucking God!”
I could hear her scrambling, breath rushing in pants.
“I’m going to-” she began.
“You’re not driving. I’m calling Lucas. Get dressed. Be waiting.” I was terse, barely holding it together myself. “I need you safe too. You’re not driving. Please.” I was begging.
“Okay. Just….tell him to hurry! Tell Lacey I love her and I’m coming-”
“I will, just get dressed. I have our girl, Mon.”
Hanging up, I jumped up behind my daughter who was strapped immobile onto a backboard now. Dialing Lucas, I gripped her hand, staring down at her green eyes swimming in tears as I asked him to go get Monica and bring her to us.