Page 6 of Rival Hearts

“Is that really a thing? The full moon thing, I mean,” Brody asked.

“Yes,” Becky said.

“No,” Jett said at the same time, and Becky gave her a playful glare.

“Look here, you,” Becky said.

“Hey,” Jett said, “I’m just saying. There have been studies that show there is no correlation between a full moon and births or deaths.”

“You sound like a textbook,” Becky said.

“And you sound like a superstitious witch,” Jett countered.

Becky laughed. “Well when you have been in the emergency services as long as me, you’ll start to twitch when the full moon comes! Anyway, regardless, the hospital was especially busy yesterday, so Josephine has a lot to catch up on.”

Dr. Josephine Mars was Ember’s wife, Becky’s best friend and the Head of Phoenix Ridge Hospital. Their family was big and complicated and full of strong women and Jett loved that about it.

“You know, as cool as it would be to be the head of something, I’m kind of glad I’m not,” Jett said. “It seems like too much work.”

“It’s definitely not for everyone,” Becky said, “and as long as you’re happy where you are, it doesn’t really matter what you do.”

“Tell that to my boss,” Brody said. “He’s trying to get me to take a promotion I don’t want.”

“You don’t want the promotion?” their mom asked.

Brody shook his head. “It means more money, sure, but it also means more hours and travel, and I’m about to be a dad.”

Jett nodded. That made sense. Even though she didn’t have children—she didn’t even know if she wanted any—but if she did, she’d want to be around them and their mother.

Some of the best memories she had were when her dad was still alive, and even though her mom was still amazing, she was never the same after he passed.

Brody finished his cigarette and soon after, everyone else decided to go back inside. When they got there, Hannah was sitting at the kitchen table with a glass of sweet tea in front of her.

“I know I just used the bathroom, but I am so thirsty,” Hannah said.

Jett and Brody’s mom laughed. “I remember that feeling,” she said. “Drink as much as you want and take good care of my grandbaby.”

Hannah smiled and took a large gulp of the tea. “I’m also starving,” she said. “Is it alright if we get food now?”

“Oh, absolutely,” Jett’s mom said. “You just sit there, and I’ll grab a plate for you.”

After everyone grabbed their food and sat around the table, the conversation started. Food in the Thompson household had always been a social event, with conversation and jokes. Jett always tried to keep her mouth closed when she was eating, but sometimes it was hard and no one really cared. Everything was all laughs, smiles, and love.

After a while, the conversation turned to work. Since Becky was the fire chief of Phoenix Ridge’s fire department, she started with giving a lecture on fire safety.

“And you,” Becky said, turning to Hannah, “when it comes to winter, don’t put a space heater in that baby’s nursery. If you’re worried about them getting cold, get a bassinet and put them in your room or something.”

“I know,” Hannah said. “Brody is anal when it comes to fire safety.”

Becky turned to Brody. “And you’ve checked all the fire alarms?”

“Regularly,” Brody promised. “I might not be a firefighter like you, or dad, or even Jett, but I’m very safe, I promise.”

“Except when it comes to smoking,” Becky teased.

“I’m quitting,” Brody said.

“I know, and we’re all proud of you,” Becky said.

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