Page 33 of Spring Break with a Fire Chief

Naomi has been out on maternity leave and we look forward to welcoming her back as she secures her spot. Madeline is excited to embark on a new journey and see what the world holds! We wish them well in their future endeavors and for all the help they bring to Love Beach.

Ted: Chief, you there? This has to be wrong.

Me: Thanks for the info

I don’t even know what to think right now. None of this makes sense. It doesn’t even read correctly. Travel nursing is not new to Madeline. But she told me she was staying. Are these the new roles she was talking about? I know she was covering for Naomi while she was on maternity leave. I suppose her time is up now that Naomi wants to come back.

But her lease.

Her license plates.

Her promises.

And on the same night as three years ago. When will I learn?

“Sir? Your car is here.”

I blink twice before realizing he’s speaking to me, just as Madeline comes up beside me threading her arm with mine. I quickly put my phone away.

“Nurse Torre! I hear congratulations are in order!” Alexis who is still standing beside me speaks to Maddie with a wide smile and I feel Maddie stiffen against me.

“Oh, uh, yes, thank you. It’s great news for the hospital.”

I rudely stepped away from both of them and open the passenger door. I don't look at her, I just stand there waiting for her to get in. “Have a great night, Alexis,” she says with a nervous tone and now I know there’s more to this story.

Chapter 19

Madeline

The ride home is silent and I have no idea what’s going on. We pull into my driveway where he puts the truck in park and lets it idle.

“Aren’t you coming in?”

“Not sure why. Isn’t this where we say goodbye again?”

His tone is cutting and it makes me jump. “What are you talking about?” He won't look at me, only continues to look out across the front yard through the windshield. “Is there something you want to say to me, Ryan?”

“No, Madeline. You’ve said it all along. I just didn’t want to hear the words.”

Is he purposely pushing me away right now? I thought we were getting somewhere. I’ve secured my home, my job. I thought he wanted me.

“Why are you acting like this?” I ask and he shakes his head but doesn’t speak. So I sit and wait. I’ll sit here all night until he talks. “Ryan. Talk to me.”

“I guess there really is a meaning to afool in love,huh?” He turns to me with a sarcastic laugh. “You got me again, Maddie. Ireally believed you this time. I believed Bill and the guys at the firehouse. I believed everything you were saying and telling me that it was different this time around. And just when I let myself step into a safe feeling, the rug was pulled out again.”

“What? Ryan, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

He laughs again but there's nothing funny about this. “The hospital website was updated. Congratulations on your new position.”

I quickly fumble for my phone and type in the website for LBH. I see the headline that reads everything incorrectly. I shake my head. “No, no this is wrong. I’m not taking this job. I’m the new nurse practitioner. Naomi is the one traveling.”

“Seems accurate to me.”

I drop my phone in my bag and my blood begins to boil. Not only did the hospital get it wrong, but now he’s showing he won’t ever believe me, no matter what I tell him.

“You know what? You’re going to feel really bad when you realize the mistake that was made here. And I’m not just talking about the website.” I open my door and jump out, slamming it behind me and run up my walkway to the front door, holding back tears that threaten to fall. I won't cry in front of him.

I open my door and slam it behind me, leaning my back against it. Only when I hear his truck pull out of my driveway do I let the tears come. I slide down the wooden door until I hit the floor and cry it out. I knew I hurt us badly but I thought we had come back from it. His behavior tonight shows he never got over it. And he never will. And I can’t wait around hoping he’ll change his mind.

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