10. Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Elena
A fter I cleaned up my mess, I sat in the living room and cried myself to sleep. Hunter found me there in the morning, but we had no time to talk. He had been called in for an emergency and had to leave immediately.
He gives me a quick kiss on the lips and starts to leave. Then he comes back and gives me a deeper, more passionate kiss before heading out.
I stare at that closed door for a few minutes. There's nothing for me to do. Evie is staying with the babysitter, so I try to do some work.
That turns out to be an impossible task because I'm distracted as well as worried for Hunter's well-being in his dangerous job. I pace around the cabin, trying to settle myself. It doesn't work. After a couple of hours, I know I'll go crazy if I don't find out more information about this emergency.
I get dressed and drive into town in Hunter's spare truck. I go directly to the fire station and am dismayed to see it's almost empty. This place is never empty like this. I walk around, trying to find someone who can give me information.
A kind soul gives me the captain's wife's number, and I put it in a safe place in my purse. I head to Perfect Brews, sit down, and call the number. The person answers almost immediately, and I feel guilty for startling her. She must be worried, too.
I explain who I am, and she decides to come over and talk to me at the coffee shop. I wait impatiently for her, and when she arrives, I almost bowl her over with the hug I give. I realize I don't know this woman, and she must think I’m a crazy person, so I let go.
"Thank you for meeting me here, Claire."
I show her to my booth, and we both take a seat. Carly comes almost immediately to take Claire's order, and we sit in silence, watching and measuring each other.
"First time dating a fireman, huh?"
"Am I overreacting? I mean, it's his job. He deals with danger often."
"I want to say you'll get used to it, but every woman is different."
"Should they have been gone this long? It's been six hours."
"It can take a while if the fire is big enough,” she explained patiently even though her hand trembled.
"What do you do to keep from going crazy?"
"I pray. Then I worry, then I pray again. Sometimes, all the wives and girlfriends get together and do an activity like quilting or crochet, serving coffee and tea, and telling stories about how our heroes have come home time and time again."
We talked for about two hours, and then she had to go make dinner for her kids. I stayed in the coffee shop until dark, alone with my thoughts of doom. I'm not religious, so I don't know if a prayer from me would help. Heck, I don't even know how to put together a prayer.
My phone buzzes, and I rush to grab it, hoping it’s Hunter. Instead, it’s Evie's babysitter. She had an emergency and needs me to pick her up. I hurry to get Hunter's daughter and take her home. She's fussy, but according to the babysitter, she’s been fed and is ready for bed.
I think Evie's intuition is telling her that her daddy is in trouble because she becomes increasingly agitated. I read her book after book, but she doesn't go to sleep. Finally, we fall asleep together in the rocking chair, both of us with tears in our eyes.
Horrible dreams of Hunter being injured in a fire fill my dreams, and when a sound startles me awake, I find I've been crying in my sleep and am all sweaty and clammy. The sound that woke me was my phone, and I rush to see who is calling.
It's Mrs. Brown—not Hunter, as I had hoped. I've grown closer to Mrs. Brown and her friends because they help babysit Evie whenever Hunter gets called to work unexpectedly. I pick up the phone and let Mrs. Brown do the talking.
"Dear, do you want me to go pick up Evie?"
"Um, no, I was going to stay with her today."
"I thought you'd want to go see Hunter at the hospital."
A chill goes through me.
"What? Hunter is hurt?"
"Yes. I don’t know how bad, though."
"Okay, I'll get dressed and drop Evie off on my way to the hospital. Thanks for calling me."
I hang up the phone and start getting us ready. Of course, it all takes more time than usual, and I'm going crazy not knowing what's going on with Hunter. I finally get everything ready and drop Evie at Mrs. Brown's house. She gives me a look of pity and I swear I almost punch her right in the nose. I don’t want pity. I want to know if Hunter is okay.
He can't be that bad off, otherwise I'd have had many more phone calls this morning. I rush to the hospital and run inside. The stubborn nurse refuses to tell me anything about Hunter, but thankfully, Claire Miller, the captain's wife, walks by with a tray of coffee and tells me to come with her.
When we arrive at the emergency wing, I see anxious people sitting in the waiting area. Claire guides me to a seat and tells me to wait there. I'm desperate to know what's happening, but all I can do is look at the sad faces surrounding me.
"Hi, I'm Sandy. Marc's sister. You're Hunter's girl?"
"Ahh."
I don't know what to say. I’m unsure about my relationship status right now, and my mind is racing with all the possible injuries he could have.
"He's okay. He's been asking for you."
That takes me by surprise, and Sandy gives me a small smile. She sits on the coffee table in front of me and takes my hands in hers. I offer her a grateful smile and wait with her in silence. Every now and then, one of the wives, girlfriends, or family members of the firefighters approaches me and introduces themselves.
Finally, Claire walks towards me with an urgency I haven't seen in her before. Did something happen?
"Elena, they're trying to treat Hunter, but he's being stubborn and wants to see you first."
I stand up immediately and get ready for battle.
"Show me where he is."
She leads me to one of the rooms on the floor, knocks softly, then opens the door for me. I rush in and see Hunter in bed, an oxygen mask covering his face. Doctors and nurses surround him, and they all seem to sigh in relief upon seeing me.
"Are you Mrs. Granger?"
"I'm…"
Hunter suddenly spots me and gets agitated. He lifts his arm, which has a painful burn on it, to get me to come over. I don't hesitate for a second.
"You've got five minutes." The doctor says, and they clear out the room.
"Hunter, you've got to let them treat you."
He tries to lower his oxygen mask to talk to me, but flinches in pain when he moves his arm. I reach out and lower the mask for him. He attempts to speak but struggles a bit. Before he can ask, I quickly tell him about his daughter.
"I left Evie with Mrs. Brown. She spent the night with me, and we were both very worried about you. She was fussy, but so was I. She's calmer now."
"I thought…"
That's all he manages to say before he has a coughing fit. It's so severe that I think he's going to cough up a lung. The doctors rush back in, and I place a gentle kiss on his lips.
"I love you, Elena."
I try not to let him see my dismay at his confession. I love him too, but his life is so dangerous.
"The doctors will take good care of you."
I place the oxygen mask over his mouth and nose, and he nods at me before closing his eyes. I leave the room, nearly in tears, searching for a bathroom where I can release my feelings, but the group of firefighters and their partners stop me.
"He's letting them take care of him now," I say.
Most of them return to their seats in the waiting room, but Claire stays with me.
"You're leaving him."
I feel myself blanch. How did she know I was thinking of leaving? I don't say anything because I'm not sure of anything right now. Claire pulls me to the side and gives me a stern look.
"He loves you."
"He just told me."
"Do you love him?"
"I do." My tears threaten to spill.
"Then that's that. Isn't it?"
"It's more complicated than that. You know it."
"Don't give up on him."
I walk away from her and head to the bathroom, where I can cry freely. After about an hour and several people checking on me, I leave my temporary sanctuary and return to the waiting room. Claire approaches me.
"They're keeping him overnight for observation. He inhaled quite a bit of smoke. His burns are not serious. I can get one of the volunteers to stay with him tonight so he's not alone."
"No, I want to do it. Let me just check with Mrs. Brown if she's okay with Evie staying longer."
Mrs. Brown is happy to take care of Evie, and I go into Hunter’s room once they tell me he's resting comfortably. I sit in a recliner next to his bed and look at his pale face. I love this man, but being with him could bring me constant heartbreak.
I watch him closely all night long and notice he opens his eyes every now and then, but slumber always overtakes him. Too bad that when he finally wakes, I'll be gone.