Chapter 6
David finished up the report yesterday, while he waited for Tess to respond to his letter. She didn’t. So, he was forced to live with his decision. So be it.
He heard noise next door. Tess always opened their connecting door when she went to her office. Not today, he guessed. But he stayed where he was. About a half hour later, he heard commotion outside her office. He went into the common room. A white-faced Tess stood in her doorway holding a big gold box with a red ribbon on it. She looked up with panic in her eyes.
“Tess?” He frowned. “What’s that?”
“Godiva chocolate. For me. There’s no card.” He noticed she wore latex gloves. “Lance said next time to not accept a delivery without protection. But the lady who brought this touched it.”
Pulling his cell out of his pocket, he clicked in a number.
“Lance Manwaring.”
“Good, you’re in. We got another delivery.”
“I’ll be right over.”
“Manwaring’s on his way. Meanwhile, let’s go sit in my office. You can set that down on the conference table.”
Once inside, she deposited the box, drew off the gloves and dropped down across from him at his desk. In the sunlight streaming in through the open window, he could see she was pale and the light blue of her uniform washed her out. This was an unusual reaction for her, as she’d fought fires and been in gritty buildings and never lost her cool.
“Are you all right?”
Her dark brows furrowed, calling attention to her eyes, which were red. “Of course not. Not after that.” She gestured to the candy.
“It’s more than that. Your eyes are puffy, like you’ve been up all night.”
“Only since midnight.”
“You didn’t sleep? Why?”
“Take a wild guess, David.” Her tone was accusatory, underlaid with pain.
“I’m sorry that my decision hurt you. I didn’t know what else to do.”
She checked the watch he’d given her when she graduated from the academy, then stood. “I’m going to go work on my end of stuff while we wait for Lance.”
“I finished everything yesterday.”
“You were here on a holiday?”
“Nothing else to do.”
“You were invited to the barbeque.” Her voice was like cut glass.
“Yeah, sure. And let everybody know we’re estranged?”
“Is that what we are?”
“Pick your word. We wouldn’t have been able to explain the distance between us.”
Before she got through the door, she turned back. Tendrils had escaped from the clip at her neck and framed her face. “You know, you’ve chosen to live life alone. Yesterday is what it’s going to be like for you.”
A very low, painful blow.
Ten minutes later she returned with Lance. David noticed the guy’s hand at Tess’s back and his fists curled. The reminder that she’d be with another man dug deep into his wounded heart.
“David.”
“Lance.”
The cop crossed to the conference table. Shook out a large plastic bag and donned gloves. Carefully, he placed the package in the sack. “I’ll send this on to forensics, even though there was no card. I’ll make it a rush job.” He turned to Tess. “Maybe they’ll be able to tell where the gift came from.”
“Probably not. They couldn’t get anything off the flowers, and the florist didn’t remember who sent them.” Apparently, he came in person, wearing sunglasses and a hat. She never got a good look at him.
David nodded. His throat felt like a sock was stuffed in it.
Lance turned to Tess. “Want to have lunch with me today?”
“Um, not today.”
“I’d like to take you to Connors. It just opened up on Market Street. Think about it?”
“All right, I’ll let you know.”
When Lance left, she turned to David. He knew she could tell he was angry. “This is what you want, right?”
“Of course not!” He practically shouted. “But it’s the only thing I can think of to do.”
“We could have worked this out together.”
“No, that’s not fair to you.” He choked out the words, because he didn’t want to say them. “I have no idea how long it will take me to be myself again.”
“I’m a grown woman. I can decide that for myself.”
“No, it’s out of the question.”
“Fine. Back to colleagues. If you need me, I’ll be in my office. If it doesn’t concern work, don’t interrupt.”
* * *
At eleven, Brooke Cartwright came to her doorway. Every single day the sadness etched in her face a bit more. “Hey. Can you take a break?”
“Yeah.” The clock said ten a.m.
They walked out to the common room. Grabbed coffee and Tess chose one of the tables. She didn’t want to be overheard in her office.
“Lance Manwaring asked me to go to lunch with him.”
“Why do you look like somebody died if it’s a date?”
Tess sighed. “David wrote me a letter yesterday. He said he wasn’t ready to take our relationship further.”
“Honey, that’s okay. He’s still mourning. Give him the time.”
“Really? You said before he’d already mourned.”
She threw up her hands and they landed back on her thighs. “I’m not so sure of anything I say these days.”
Tess sat forward. “How are you? We didn’t talk the night of the ax throwing.”
“It was marvelous, by the way. I didn’t know Annie had it in her.”
“She’s gotten a lot stronger since our academy days. But I think she’s going through something. My guess is she’s suffering over returning to work in a couple of weeks.”
Brooke sighed. “It’s a hard decision. We both know that.”
“I remember. Tell me about Zach.”
“He had a terribly rough night. Vomiting. Chills. It was awful.” Her voice broke on the last sentence.
“Oh, Brooke. You didn’t want to stay with him?”
“I couldn’t. I have so much work to catch up on.”
Tess nodded.
Brooke’s phone buzzed. She looked at the ID. “The chief wants me to come to his office. I’ll see you later.” She strode across the room.
Poor Zach. Poor Brooke. Their situation made Tess chide herself for moping about her own life.
And her words haunted Tess. He’s still mourning. Give him the time.
* * *
He sat across from her, a pretty lady who would make a good plaything. He’d been taking them all his life, when he needed to. She studied the menu. She was so innocent, unsuspecting of his machinations. She’d find out soon enough.
Her phone buzzed. She looked down at it. She answered, making anger fuel inside him. “Hello. Oh, God, no. Yes, I can make myself free. I’ll be right there.”
She looked up. “I’m sorry, I have an emergency. I have to go.”
He controlled himself, for now. “Of course. I can drive you.”
“No, that’s okay. I’ll call you later to reschedule.”
With narrowed eyes he watched her walk out of the restaurant. He’d let her go now, but soon she’d pay the price. They all would.
* * *
Tess went into firefighter mode. She had an emergency on her hands and would deal with it. She’d get to the hospital and do what needed to be done. She drove fast but carefully to Crystal City Memorial, parked and raced into the large emergency room. Annie was already on the far side with Brooke. Another woman huddled with them.
Tess crossed to where they sat at a table. They were holding it together. “Brooke, I’m so sorry.”
Standing, she faced Tess, her eyes bruised. After a long hug, she drew back. “It happened so fast. Zach’s sister Marcia was with him and he slept off and on most of the morning. I only got to talk to him at eight. She said the last time he woke up, he was confused, restless, agitated. She called the ambulance to bring him here.”
“Oh, honey. I’m sorry. But he’s got good care now. The doctors will help him.”
“T-those are end-of-life signs along with the vomiting and chills last night.” She shook her head vigorously. “I researched all this and kept a notebook. He’s going to die.”
“Don’t go down that road yet.”
Marcia leaned in closer. “Listen to her, Brooke.” Her own eyes were red, too. They’d been crying.
“Let’s all sit back down.” Annie nodded to the table. They took chairs, Brooke and Marcia in front of Styrofoam cups. Annie asked, “Can I get you coffee, Tess?”
“No, thanks. I’m fine.” She pointed to the several bottles of water set out in the middle. “I’d have one of those, though.” Her stomach was churning, but she wouldn’t give in to it. She sipped the water, hoping to quell the queasiness she’d had since she got the call.
They waited. Finally, a doctor came out of the treatment area and over to them. He dropped down next to Brooke. “Zach’s not doing well. His breathing is dangerously labored.”
“Did you put him on a ventilator?”
“No.” The man squeezed her hand. “He has a DNR.”
“I don’t care. Do it.”
“It’s not what he wanted.”
Burying her head in her hands, she murmured, “No, no, no, no.”
The doctor waited then added, “I’m afraid there’s not even time to put him into a room.”
Brooke wept.
Finally, she looked up and grabbed a tissue Annie held out. “Can I sit with him?
“That’s why I came out. To bring you and Marcia in.”
Marcia took in a deep breath. “You can see him alone.”
“No, you come with me.”
Holding hands, both women followed the doctor to the treatment room.
Annie and Tess stared at each other. Her friend swallowed hard. “I can’t believe this. It’s so sudden.”
“It is.” Reality dawned in degrees. Zach was going to die. Soon. “Where are the others?”
“Lynne, JJ and Trish are working. As soon as they get subs, they’re coming over.”
Tess touched her stomach. “I feel so bad.”
“Me, too. I cried all the way here.”
“Who’s with Bridget?”
“I called my mother-in-law. She came right away. Were you at work?”
“I was out doing errands. I didn’t call David. Long story why.”
Annie scanned the area helplessly. “I guess we’ll just wait.”
A half-hour later, Lynne walked through the ER doors and hurried over to them. In an hour, Trish and JJ arrived. After everyone was briefed, the five Sisters of Fire sat together for the morbid vigil.
At 1:37 the doctor came back out alone. He said, “I’m sorry, ladies. Zach died.”
* * *
David walked into the hospital against his better judgment. But a need to see Tess had driven him here. He’d heard about Zach Cartwright via the fire chief. Tess called Joe to relay the gruesome information and asked him to tell David she wouldn’t be in. She was at the hospital with the rest of the Sisters of Fire.
He spotted them across the room, sitting at a table, some holding hands, Tess with her arm around Lynne who, he saw when he got closer, was sobbing. He knew Tess was suffering, too, but she was so strong. Stronger than he was.
When he reached them, she looked up. She was dry-eyed. He had no idea if she’d send him away, or throw herself into his arms, or worse, ignore him.
Annie sat upright. “Talk to him, Tess.”
Tess stood, leaned in and whispered, “Get me away for a little while.”
He slid his arm around her and led her into a small cove with telephones and a chair. She turned into him. “I feel so bad.”
David cupped her neck and he kissed the top of her head. “Of course, you do.” She nosed into his chest. His other arm went around her back. “You can cry now.”
“Okay.”
She did, wrenchingly. He held her, offering what comfort he could. When she drew back, he handed her his handkerchief.
“Thanks. I was trying to be strong but the emotion was building up.”
“Remember how I cried in your arms at one point when Hope was near the end?”
“Uh-huh.”
“How long has Brooke been sitting with him?”
“Over an hour.”
“Can I wait with you? I care about Brooke and Zach was a fine man.” He gulped back the emotion. “And you. I want to be here for you.”
Tess watched him. “I want you here.”
When they returned to the table, he asked the others, “Can I get anyone anything?”
No all around. He sat down close to Tess.
Not long after, Brooke came out of the treatment rooms with another woman David didn’t know. They all stood up as she approached the table. Her eyes were flat, and red, her face grayish with grief. “They’re taking him away.” She looked at David. “You know how hard this is.”
“I do. And if you need me, I’m here.”
Suddenly, David was holding another weeping woman in his arms. Over her head Tess nodded. He could probably give Brooke more support and understanding than all of them.
* * *
“Zach always loved the sky.” Brooke tipped her head up to the bluest of heavens. “I’m not surprised he planned this.”
“You didn’t know what he wanted?” Tess asked.
They were standing on her multileveled deck, looking out at the canopy under a copse of trees. The early-July sun sparkled off a pool and hot tub that were beyond the deck, along with a putting green next to that.
“He wrote his wishes down after he got sick. I’m sure he didn’t want to freak me out by letting me know he was planning his own memorial. He let me hope he’d beat his illness.”
The rows of seats were beginning to fill.
Looping her arm around Brooke, she held her close for a minute. That was all Tess could do.
“I’d better go to my seat.”
“Want me to get the boys?”
“They’ll be down when they’re ready. They told me I was smothering them.”
“Aw.”
“Yeah, kids.” She looked out over the crowd. “Oh!”
Tess tracked her gaze. More than a dozen men in crisp navy-blue pilots’ uniforms and hats had entered the backyard. Quietly, they lined one side of the chairs and stood erect.
“Wow, that’s impressive.”
“Like firefighters and police do for fallen comrades.” Brooke’s voice was hoarse.
Their friends in the department were already seated in the back. Probably fifty firefighters had shown up.
“Mom?” They turned to see Grayson and Jordan behind them. They resembled their parents with their blond hair and blue eyes. Like everyone else, and as Zach had requested, they were dressed casually in polo shirts and khaki pants. Gray said, “We’re ready.”
Jordan looked like he was going to vomit. Tess linked arms with him while Brooke did the same with Gray’s.
Once they were seated, Tess took her place with the Sisters of Fire a couple rows from the front.
Run by another pilot who’d been a chaplain in the army, the service was lovely. He spoke of the boys and their closeness to their dad, and how Zach was insanely in love—Zach’s words—with Brooke. He told about Zach’s career and how beloved he was by his colleagues. Tess caught a few of them, lined up like sentries, wipe a tear or two.
When the service ended, the caterers took over, laying out a spread for dozens of people who would stay for a light meal. David came up to Tess. She was glad. Despite what was between them, she needed his strength today. He touched her hand, curled his around her fingers. “That was nice, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. But this is all so sad.”
His jaw clenched. “Death always is.”
“David, is this bringing back all the stuff with Hope?”
“The sadness, yes. But the service was so different from hers. Don’t worry about me, though.” Releasing her hand, he slid his arm around her like a friend might and drew her close. “We’ll all be okay.”
She sighed. “Yeah, I guess we will.”
They’d gotten along the past few days—actually David had coddled her at work. There had been no way to trace the Godiva the arsonist had presumably sent and it had been bagged as evidence.
But there would be fallout for the two of them once her pregnancy was revealed.