Chapter Thirteen #4
“Do something nice. Remind her of why she ‘likes’ you.” Delores made air quotes. “She’s every bit as raw as you are, so be gentle. But tell her what you want, what you need.”
When Nora didn’t appear in the dining room Thursday night, Fallon made her move. Carrying a plate to the office, she approached quietly, finding Nora hunched over Ranger Reva’s computer. Tiny blue images moved in a stream across the monitor.
“I’m backing up photos from my camera into separate folders to be used in the video and for the individual files,” Nora said without turning. “And I’m not hungry.”
“Individual files?”
Nora sat back and stretched. “I’ll tell you, but you must swear not to tell anyone.” Fallon nodded. “Besides this project for Ranger Reva, I’m making each member of the crew a personalized file that they can keep as a memento of Firecamp.”
More work to make sure she doesn’t have a moment for us. Fallon cleared her throat. “I know that’s important, but I also know you need fuel like I did after that first day of sawing when you brought dinner to my tent.”
The stream stopped. Nora breathed out and smiled. “You’re right.” She rubbed Fallon’s leg. “Just like I was then.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Fallon leaned down to kiss her head. “And following your example, I’m going to wait until you take two bites before I leave you to it.”
Once Nora got to her third bite, Fallon started for the door. “Thank you, Falcon,” Nora said through a mouthful.
On her cot that night, Fallon considered how obvious it was that Nora was stressed about getting everything finished on time and to her own exacting standards.
If Fallon got to stay on here, she could build her reputation over the years.
This project was Nora’s way to leave something of herself for Firecamp crews to come.
What she didn’t understand was how Nora could give up so easily on what they had together.
Their phenomenal physical compatibility had surprised her; the deeper, more intimate emotional connection touched Fallon in a place that no one else had ever been. Did Nora not feel the same?
Even though Nora worked late and started early, at least Fallon got to hear her voice and see her around camp.
She now knew that watching Nora leave for college was going to be the hardest thing she’d ever done.
Her mother’s passing had hurt her to the core, but there was nothing she could have done differently.
She couldn’t stop thinking that she had a chance to change the outcome with Nora, if they could just figure out how to meet halfway.
With no idea of where that middle ground could be, Fallon did the only thing that seemed to make headway between them: She brought dinner again.
This time, Nora let out an exasperated breath as Fallon stepped into the room.
“Upshaw wants three minutes. I could easily do fifteen. It’s gonna be hard to make these cuts. ”
Fallon leaned in, handing her a plate. “Can I help?”
“No,” Nora said quickly, turning off the monitor. “This part of the project really is top secret.”
“You know it won’t hurt my feelings if you leave me out entirely.”
“As if. Your pictures are some of the best ones.” Nora smiled and touched her face before turning back to the keyboard. “I promise to eat, but you have to go.”
In a testament to how strongly the crew had bonded, no one left Saturday afternoon, even though their summer duties were officially over. They were all staying for the Sunday morning video premiere, and anticipation was high.
Fallon dropped by late Saturday afternoon, surprised when Nora wasn’t in the office.
Her camera sat on the desk, disconnected from the computer.
Fallon carefully moved it away from the edge.
The monitor showed dozens of folders, each marked with names of their crew members.
Fallon looked away, listening. There wasn’t a sound in the building.
Tempted, she moved the mouse over the folder with her name.
A square highlighted around it. She noted the other items on the desktop, including the video folder.
Looking at that would ruin Nora’s top secret surprise, but the folder with Fallon’s name should only have her photos, and she already knew about that part of Nora’s work. What could it hurt?
She double-clicked, and the folder opened, showing a list of file names.
Fallon clicked on the first one. A new program opened, filling the screen with her photo.
She was riding the ATV with a wild, silly expression, looking absurdly juvenile.
Embarrassed, she closed the image, accidentally closing the program in the process.
Moving the mouse over the folder again, she hesitated for a second before clicking on the second image.
Again, the program opened, revealing a close-up of her making a face—head tilted, tongue out, eyes crossed—while holding her chainsaw.
She remembered Nora snapping her photo during their work on the fuel break, but she didn’t realize it was such a closeup.
Why would Nora keep a picture of her looking so foolish?
Clicking the next one revealed a photo from that rainy day when Fallon had helped organize the tools.
Her eyelids were half-closed, and she held a screwdriver in her teeth like a rose.
She looked idiotic. Despondent, she was about to close the image when she noticed an option offering “Slide Show.”