Page 5 of Redwood Blaze
“I love them, Millie.” He turns and walks away.
Jeez.
I lean back against the doorway.
It’s always been like this with us.
And it’s something different than my past relationship.
I close my eyes hoping it’s getting better, but the visions are still there.
Shattered glass.
Broken mementos of my mother.
Clothes strewn on the lawn.
And the words never leave the deep recesses only to be brought forth when I’m either stressed or least expecting it.
You’ll never be free, Millie. I’ll find you wherever you hide.
He said them over and over.
And no matter how many nice words Rusty says to me, he can’t drown out the ones that repeat themselves on a loop.
I grab my laptop bag and head out to meet Mayor Jackson at his place of business, Jackson’s Sticky Ribs.
Maybe I’ll bring some ribs and cornbread back with me.
Plus, tonight is special and Rusty will find out why soon enough. But that’s how it is, we always look out for each other. We’re not just a team. We’re a family.
But my track record with family isn’t the greatest.
THREE
RUSTY
She’s been gone a while,but when she returns carrying bags of Jackson’s ribs, the team goes nuts. I help her carry in the rest from her Chevy truck.
A woman who drives a truck, that’s hot.
The guys dig in and ignore the spaghetti on the stove that Beauden and Aspen made for dinner. It’ll package up and wait until tomorrow. This is a treat.
I almost feel like she’s bribing us…lemon bars and now this?
“What’s up, Millie?” I ask as the guys pile ribs, beans, and cornbread on their plates and go to the back of the cabin to sit on the deck and watch the forest. You’d think we’d get enough of it, but when it’s peaceful, we’re full of peace.
“Nothing,” she says too quickly.
I’m not an assistant superintendent, but I’m one of the most senior firefighters on the team and I’m the only original Hotshot here. I’ve done fifteen years stationed at the same post. That’s almost unheard of.
I nod for her to meet me in the hallway. We both nod at a couple of newbies as they walk by. “Now, what’s wrong?”
She’s not fooling me. There’s some shit going down.
“I’m just… I’m just… it’s just nothing. Just drop it, Phoenix”
That’s a whole lotta “just” being dropped there.
