Page 21 of Come Back to Me

Thank God.

I grin. “Sure, if you’re ready.” I don’t waste any time turning back in the direction of the car since I don’t want to risk her changing her mind.

We make it back to the car, get our blanket and cooler, and find a pleasant spot in a mowed field to have our lunch. The dogs greedily lap up their water and then nap in the sun near us while we just enjoy our sandwiches, and the surrounding nature, without the need to fill the silence.

It only takes about twenty minutes of rest, and the pups are back up and at it, chasing each other around the field and wrestling. Annie and I watch for a few minutes and laugh at their antics.

I turn my gaze to her and she doesn’t seem to notice at first, so I just bask in the pleasure of looking at her.

When she swivels her head, her eyes meet mine. A gorgeous smile forms as she looks at me.

“So, if our dogs are going to be hanging around each other more, I need to know what kind of family Gracie comes from. Tell me something about yourself, Jack.”

I chuckle at her trying to keep up the ruse that this is all about the dogs .

“I’m an open book. What do you want to know?”

“I don’t know. Anything is good. Start basic, tell me—” she pauses “—what made you decide to become a firefighter?”

“That’s an easy one, but not too exciting, I’m afraid.” I continue, “My dad and uncle were both firefighters, and I grew up around it. I never really wanted to be anything else. I know now that I like to help people, and the sense of family you have with your shift crew is amazing, but I don’t think I was mature enough to factor those things into my decision when I initially chose it as a career.”

She’s sitting cross-legged and alternates between looking at me and watching the dogs. She turns that beautiful face toward me again. “Obviously I’ve never seen you fight a fire, but I can tell you’re a great paramedic. They’re lucky to have you.”

My pride beams inside me from just these few sincere words spoken by this woman I’ve only known for a few weeks. I wonder how her comments can mean more to me than any of the awards and commendations I’ve received for my service in the military and fire department over the years.

I want to know everything there is to know about her.

“How about you, have you always wanted to be an ER nurse?”

The look that comes over her face, and the break in our eye contact as she picks at imaginary lint on the blanket, has me wondering if I’ve said something wrong.

“No, I thought for a long time I wanted to be a vet, but Ichanged my mind when I was seventeen.” She glances up at me with a sad smile and eyes to match.

It makes me want to wrap her in my arms and protect her from whatever’s caused that sadness.

She pauses and clears her throat, then says, “My dad died when he was forty-five from a massive heart attack. I was home sick from school that day and had slept in. I found him in our kitchen when I got up to get some water.”

I can’t stop myself and I pull her closer to me, wrapping her into my side. I’m shocked when she lets me. “Oh, Annie, I’m so sorry.”

She puts her head on my shoulder and that bit of trust means the fucking world to me.

“I didn’t know how to do CPR, but I tried anyway. Even when the paramedics took over, they never got him back. I felt so guilty that I had slept in and thought maybe if I’d found him earlier…” She pauses.

I use the pad of my thumb to wipe away the solitary tear streaming down her cheek.

“The coroner said that he had likely died several hours before I found him so even if I had known CPR, it wouldn’t have saved him.” She’s quiet for a few moments but then clears her throat. “Losing him was the worst thing I’ve ever gone through. He meant the world to me. Eventually, as I dealt with my grief, I decided to become an ER nurse so that maybe, someday, I could help prevent someone else from losing their entire world too soon.”

She seems like she is going to say more, so I wait patiently.

“My sister Kelly was only fourteen when it happened, and my mom, who was never a doting parent anyway, fell into a deep grief and kind of checked out on us. So, I took care of Kelly the best I could and when I graduated high school, I commuted to the public university near our house. Fouryears later, I graduated with a degree in nursing and started my job in the ER.”

She lets me continue to hold her to my side as she finishes her story and we spend the next fifteen minutes just sitting together, quiet. I’m so grateful that this amazing woman gave me the chance to know her better.

ANNIE

Several weeks later, Jack and I are sitting in a booth in my favorite ma and pop restaurant near my hometown. We still have about an hour and a half until the start of the Ohio Cardinals United National Hockey League game I agreed to come to with Jack tonight.

I want to focus on our conversation and look at his gorgeous face, but I can’t stop myself from turning to the door every time someone opens it, causing the bell to ring.

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