Chapter Eighteen #2
Fallon carefully arranged herself on the small bed next to Nora, lying on her good side.
Nora knew she couldn’t reach for her, so she pressed her head into Fallon’s chest. “Two things,” Fallon said.
“First, I don’t think the doctor said anything about him dying.
At least not anytime soon, is that right?
” Nora nodded. “Meaning maybe you need to look at this as your chance to work through some things with him. Kinda like if a tree fell on him or something.”
She snorted and felt Fallon chuckle in response before she went on.
“And second, if you were nothing but a big disappointment, he wouldn’t have asked you to take him to PT.
I’ll bet he’s every bit as interested in closing that gap as you are.
It’ll take baby steps, but I think you can both get there if you want it bad enough. ”
Nora was quiet for a few minutes, trying to be casual about wiping her eyes and getting control.
She knew better than to be surprised that Fallon would see through her attitude or that she would offer such reasonable advice.
“So you did get that job in the fortune cookie factory after all,” she teased, shifting to look at her.
“Ouch,” Fallon said, and Nora sat up quickly.
“I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?”
“Only my feelings.”
“No fair. I can’t tickle or pinch you.”
“Small mercies.”
* * *
The session went better than Nora could have hoped. Besides working on her father’s physical condition, the physiotherapist—who thankfully was an older man named Ryan—got him to talk about his firefighting career under the guise of “getting to know you.”
Nora learned things she’d never known. Not the heroic “I do all right” swagger stories, but the frightening, near-death experiences he’d undergone and then glossed over like they were nothing.
At one point, seeing him wiping his forehead with the handkerchief he always carried, she sensed his pain was not solely physical.
He’d been talking about Mikey, a rookie who had died in the last fire of the season when they’d been overrun by flames and his shelter had failed.
“He was younger than my boys are now,” her dad recalled, and the anguish in his voice was something she’d never heard before.
“And you were there too, caught by the same fire?” Ryan asked.
Her father squinted as if seeing the stuff of nightmares. “Yeah,” was all he said.
While Anita and her mother watched, Nora pointed out the way the therapist had her father doing multiple tasks at once: carrying a glass of water while walking backward or balancing an egg in each hand and walking over a small bridge made of stairs.
After almost two hours, they were given a page of exercises and instructions on how to do them at home.
When her father agreed to go for therapy again later in the week, Nora felt like she’d won a Pulitzer Prize.
“I need to help Fallon,” Nora told her mother as they walked back to the car. “You and Anita can handle this for Dad, right?”
Taking the paperwork, her mother examined it carefully. Then she nodded.
Nora had declined Fallon’s offer to accompany them, suspecting she’d be frustrated about not yet being able to do her own physical therapy.
Nora had encouraged her to relax, saying she had a surprise in mind for them later.
As she and Anita helped her father into the house and her mother announced they were all going to rest for a while, Nora heard Fallon’s voice coming from their room.
It seemed unlikely she would have company, but Nora made her way quietly upstairs.
“Yeah, I’m sure, but thanks for the offer,” Fallon was saying.
Nora paused outside their door, knowing this conversation was none of her business but unable to keep from listening.
“You too, and I do appreciate the call.” After another pause, she heard a smile in Fallon’s tone.
“No, really, Maris, and keep me posted, okay…I will…Right.”
Maris, Fallon’s second on that last crew.
The girl who’d had hero worship in her eyes, even before Fallon had saved her life.
Nora’s throat went dry recalling her unreasonable jealousy during that first Firecamp, how her hostility had ignited whenever Fallon had gotten attention from anyone else.
Among her many reflections, after things had fallen apart, was identifying Addison, who had been a terrible flirt, as the source of those overwrought emotions.
But Nora hadn’t been interested in commitment then.
Did she want to ask for it now?
She took a moment to steady herself. Fallon had only ever flirted with her during their Firecamp, and she was certain Maris was no competition now. Laughing, Fallon was saying, “Yes, anytime. But be aware that I might not always answer…Okay, okay…I’m hanging up now. Bye.”
When Fallon hissed, as if standing was still painful, Nora realized she was stuck.
Going back downstairs would make too much noise, and if she walked in now, it would be obvious she’d been listening at the door.
Luckily, she heard Fallon move into the bathroom, so she waited a few seconds before making some noise in the hallway and calling to her.
“How was your father’s appointment?” Fallon asked, struggling with her sweatpants.
Nora went to help her. “It went really, really well.” As she finished tying the string, she kissed Fallon’s cheek. “And thank you for urging me to go.”
Fallon grinned. “Anytime if that’s my reward.”
“Actually, how’d you like to go to a movie as a reward?”
“A movie?” Fallon answered as if she weren’t sure what that was.
“Yeah. Our theater has two screens, and on one, they run Oscar winners from previous years. We might find something you haven’t seen.”
“That won’t be hard,” Fallon said quietly, gritting her teeth as she adjusted the sling.
When she didn’t expound, Nora pressed on. “This week they’re showing A Beautiful Mind. It’s an older movie, but I think it’s probably held up pretty well.”
“You’ve seen it?”
“On TV once. But all the commercials detracted from the drama. I’d like to see it again if you would.”
Fallon touched one of the scratches on her face. “I may not be suitable for a public appearance.”
“You look fine. And besides, it’s dark in the theater.”
After a long moment, Fallon asked, “Is it sad? I don’t like sad stories. Or scary ones.”
Nora cocked her head, thinking. “As far as I recall, there are a few sad parts and a few moments of suspense, but it has a good ending.”
“Okay.” Fallon headed down the stairs. “Maybe Friday. But for now, let’s go outside. Anita was talking about a fall garden, but maybe we should work on the flower bed first.”
“What do you mean, ‘we’?” Nora hurried to catch her at the front door.
“I can pull weeds with my right hand,” Fallon suggested.
Nora shook her head. “I don’t think so. I think your job is to keep me company.” She knew Fallon wouldn’t want to admit she was right, so she added, “Once you start PT, you can ask about doing yard work.”
By the end of the day, the front bed was in great shape, and the grass was cut. After keeping Nora entertained with stories about recent Firecamp attendees, Fallon got very quiet when they went back inside to clean up before dinner.
“Did you hurt yourself?” Nora asked. Fallon shook her head, chewing at her lip nervously. “Then what is it?”
Fallon swallowed. “I need to take a shower.”
“Me too,” Nora said. “Do you want to go first?”
Gesturing irritably at the sling on her shoulder while her cheeks colored, Fallon said, “I can’t…um…by myself.”
“Oh.” The light went on for Nora, along with a flash of heat. Fallon would need help, which meant they would both be naked. And wet. “Right.” She tried for a casual tone. “I’ll help you.”
“Thanks.” Fallon’s voice was tight, and Nora wondered if she felt embarrassed or nervous.
“I guess a nurse did this for you in the hospital?” The question was inane, Nora knew, but she’d caught a whiff of Fallon’s scent while sliding off her sweats and underwear, and she needed to say something to cover her own body’s response.
Fallon grunted a yes while Nora eased off her shirt, carefully avoiding looking in her eyes, knowing her desire would show.
“Let me get the water going,” she said, moving into the small bathroom.
Once the temperature seemed comfortable, she said, “Go ahead and get in,” turning aside to give Fallon privacy for the moment.
As she stripped, Fallon’s moan of euphoria made her tremble with anticipation.
Fallon cleared her throat. “Sorry. This just feels really good. Hot water on demand is one of civilization’s greatest accomplishments, don’t you think?”
Nora had to laugh. “Absolutely.” She waited a beat. “Ready for me?”
“Yeah.” Nora grabbed a washrag and stepped past the shower curtain. Fallon moved to the far wall, keeping her eyes on the showerhead. “You should rinse off too,” she said. “Or else you’ll get chilled.”
Nora let the water run over her chest before turning to douse her back.
As she did, she saw Fallon’s gaze fall to her breasts before she turned away.
“I’ll start with this side,” Nora announced, wondering if Fallon would hear the smile in her voice.
She liked knowing she wasn’t the only one affected by their nearness.
Running the soapy cloth over Fallon’s back, and her uninjured shoulder and arm, she could feel Fallon relaxing slightly. “I’ll get your legs from here too.”
“You shouldn’t have to do this too many more times,” Fallon said.
“Well, it is a hardship, but I’ll manage.” When Fallon scoffed, Nora ran the washcloth up between her thighs and over her buttocks. For a few seconds, the only sound was Fallon’s rough breathing. “I’ll turn around so you can rinse. Then we’ll do your front.”
After a few seconds in the spray, Fallon slipped past her and out through the shower curtain. “I think I’m good. We’ll get the other parts next time.”