Page 28 of Life After Levi

“We’ve got fifteen so far, but a few more are close to hatching,” she replies. “I’ll keep some, of course, because a few of my girls are getting too old to lay eggs now. As for the rest, I’ve got some friends who need to do the same, so I’ll offer them a few.”

I carefully lift the box and Levinia skips along beside me as I walk up the steps to the back porch. “Can you open the door for me?” I ask Vinnie, who nods then reaches up and manages to give me enough room to slip through, Miriam following behind me.

“Let’s set them over here,” Miriam says, walking to a corner of the kitchen that’s out of the way. I see the warming lamps already waiting and once I set the box down, she quickly attaches the lamps to the box, then slides a thermometer closer to the chicks. At my questioning look, she says, “We have to keep the temperature of their habitation between ninety-two and ninety-five degrees. This will ensure that’s what’s happening.”

“What do they eat?” I question, now curious as hell because I’ve never been around baby chicks.

“Pretty much anything we put down,” she admits. “But I have chick starter feed, as well as some fruit. Vinnie, can you get the bowl that’s on the counter? I cut up some of the fruit that was starting to go bad and added some bread I pulled apart as well as a few vegetable scraps.”

“Here, Memaw,” Vinnie says as she carefully walks across the floor with a small mixing bowl filled to the brim with the detritus things Miriam said she cut up.

Miriam takes the bowl from her before she loses her grip on it and then puts it into something that looks like a cake tin. It’s flatter so the chicks can get to it, and there’s a second one that has a small layer of water. “We don’t put a lot of water in it, so they don’t drown,” Miriam admits. “They’re not the brightest bulbs, if you catch my drift.”

I start chuckling when I see the chicks scrambling toward the food. A few get knocked down but manage to straighten themselves out and continue on their quest.

“Memaw says Pappy will get some worms for them when he goes to the bait shop. We’re going fishing tonight!” Vinnie states, clapping her hands. “Can you come too, Mr. Damien?”

“I’ve never gone fishing,” I reply. “But it sounds like a lot of fun, so sure, I’ll come with you.”

* * *

Em: How’s it going at the farm? Have you called your folks yet?

Me: Let’s see, I went fishing with your grandfather and Vinnie, helped Miriam with the new baby chicks that your daughter is in love with, and helped with the canning. I’m getting the true homestead experience. How’s your shift going?

I already know notto ask if it’s been quiet. Apparently, first responders are a suspicious lot, and they feel if the ‘Q’ word is spoken all hell will break loose.

Em: Pretty good so far. I learned how to intubate someone in the field today! I was so scared, but Shane was right there telling me how to do it and we got the patient to the hospital alive. That’s always my goal.

Me: It’s a good goal to have, that’s for sure.

I remember how hard the medics worked on me in the field in unsterile conditions. They were tireless in their efforts to keep me alive since I was losing so much blood and my body was going into shock. I credit them with saving my life, and the doctors at the hospital for keeping me from losing my leg. It was touch and go for a week or so, but one of the doctors had just come back from a medical conference where new wound techniques were discussed. He advocated to try some of them on me, which thankfully worked since I still have my leg. I’m scarred, of course, but I can live with that.

Em: How’s Vinnie?

I have to take a minute to compose my thoughts. I came here to drop off stuff that Levi had for his family, as well as for Emerie. I never expected to meet his daughter, one he died not knowing she was coming, or the woman who has captivated me, heart and soul.I love them. The thought should scare the hell out of me, because I’m in love with my best friend’s woman, but it doesn’t.

Me: Enchanting as always. I think she let me win our race today. It was ten lengths of the pool.

Em: What did the winner get?

Me: I got an ice cream sundae from Poppy’s Sundaes. But she got one too.

Em: She has you snookered, Damien. That’s her favorite place to go and you let her get a sundae even though she didn’t win.

Me: My girl deserves to have ice cream, Em. If you were home, you’d have gotten one too.

It’s time to turn up the heat, so to speak. Yes, we’re dating, but our time is limited with her schedule. I still need to figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life as well. While I don’t have limitless resources, I have enough saved to live comfortably for a very long time. But that’s not the person I am, so with Dale’s help, I’ve been putting in applications at the various businesses in town. I’ve even put a few in over in Maggie Valley. Ideally, I’ll find something to do remotely so when Em’s off, we can be together, even if I’m working.

Em: Well, maybe that’s where we need to go the next day I’m off then.

Me: Sounds like a great idea. And as for calling my folks, I did and I’m planning to go see them next week.

Em: Good. I know your folks and your little sister have probably missed you.

Me: They have and while I plan to live here, I still need to see them.

Em: Gotta go, the tones just dropped.

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