by Vella Munn
A new start. Beginning the next chapter in her life.
Learning who she was.
Her stomach grumbled to remind her it was several hours past dinnertime. Relieved to be done putting blouses on hangers, she went into the kitchen where she’d left the pizza she’d picked up at the Pizza Shack. She popped it in the microwave then poured herself a glass of water. Tomorrow after work, she’d go grocery shopping.
Garret hadn’t said anything about what happened after a rescue but that didn’t stop her from contemplating having him over for dinner. If it was warm enough, they’d eat on the deck. She wouldn’t have to ask what he’d done because he’d be eager to tell her. She’d have no trouble envisioning every step he’d taken. She’d know how he felt the moment he laid eyes on the missing hiker. The man would be in remarkable shape for someone who’d twisted or broken his ankle and grateful for the water and granola bars Garret handed him.
The microwave beeped. Irritated by the interruption, she removed the steaming pizza and cut a slice. She carried her plate and water into the living room where the TV was tuned to a show she didn’t think she’d ever seen. Police with drawn guns were getting ready to go into what looked like an auto wrecking yard. She debated changing the channel but not before she’d taken a bite.
Make that two bites.
The phone in her pocket buzzed. She placed her plate on the nearby coffee table and pulled out the phone. Garret’s name was displayed.
“Hello.” She barely resisted asking how he was.
“I wanted to let you know we haven’t found him.”
He sounded far away and tired.
“I’m sorry. That means you’re spending the night out there doesn’t it?”
“Yes.” He said something she couldn’t understand, maybe holding the phone away from his mouth while speaking to whoever was with him. “We’re settling in until dawn.”
“You must be exhausted.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
When he didn’t add anything, she told him she hadn’t seen the evening news but was intending to stay awake for the eleven o’clock coverage. “I’m hoping it’ll be covered.”
“Reporters are at the base.”
“Do you have the feeling you’re getting close?”
“We better be.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just that he’s been out there long enough.”
Something about his tone had her wondering if there wasn’t more to the situation than he’d let on. If he’d felt comfortable sharing whatever it was with her, he would already have. She had no choice but to wait until he was ready to entrust her with the whole story.
When he asked what she was doing, she explained. She wanted him to tell her exactly where he was, who was with him, and what the morning’s plans entailed. Mostly she wanted him to keep talking so she could listen to his voice.
“I’m sorry,” he said after another muffled conversation. “I have to meet with Hunter and Jake. I just—I knew you were waiting to hear.”
“I was and thank you. Garret?”
“What?”
The single word found a home deep inside her. She could barely think for its impact. “Be careful.”
“Always. Do the same, all right?”
“Of course.” She squared her shoulders. Yes, she could deal with Sig on her own. “You have enough on your mind. Don’t need to worry about me. I’m looking forward to seeing you.”
“So am I.”
Chapter Eight
As the group reached where the rescue had begun, Garret winced at the sight of several vehicles bearing the logos of regional TV stations. He’d known the press would be waiting but, darn it, he didn’t want to talk to them. Mostly he wanted to take off his boots and let his feet breathe. Let his mind unwind.
“You got the short straw this time,” Jake told Hunter.
“Shit,” Hunter muttered. “Are you sure?”
Jake winked at Garret who winked back. “Positive. Give the reporters what they want.”
Hunter glared. “You two owe me.”
“Says who?” Jake said. “At least it’s good news.”
Jake, who’d had enough bad news for a lifetime, was right about that. The search had taken longer than they’d hoped. Thank goodness Morgan Netel was alive and that was all that mattered. Garret and Jake held back as a grumbling Hunter headed for the reporters with a tired-to-trembling Morgan who nevertheless insisted on talking to the press beside him. The reporters converged on tracker and tracked, leaving Garret free to thank the volunteers who’d given so much of their time and energy to look for a man who’d been in more trouble than he ever might know. The experienced searchers understood why he, Hunter, and Jake had been tight-lipped.
In addition to the press, the family members of the search and rescue team were there. Most had been through this, but if possible, they always showed up to let the volunteers know their effort was appreciated. He noticed several members of Hunter’s extended family.
“I want to talk to the sheriff,” Jake said. “Give him the big picture. Someone needs to let Morgan’s son know the truth.”
“I’ll do it,” Garret said.
When Jake nodded, Garret studied the crowd looking for the younger man. He spotted Heath Netel a few feet from where a reporter had stuck a microphone in his father’s face. Heath had already talked to his dad via cell phone after he’d been found.
Catching Heath’s eye, Garret indicated he wanted to meet with him at the parking area. Heath nodded and headed in that direction. Garret started to do the same only to pause when he spotted Amber leaning against her vehicle. He extended his hand, and Amber walked toward him.
He wanted to kiss her, hold onto her until no tension remained in him, but there were too many eyes on them and she might read more into the gesture than he wanted to reveal so he settled for lacing his fingers through hers. When he squeezed, she squeezed back.
“I didn’t know if you’d be here,” he said.
“You called. I came. Had to.”
What could he say in response to that, that he appreciated her presence? Hell, it was a lot more than that, the reward at the end of two long workdays and a nearly sleepless night. A deeply felt reward but one he wasn’t sure what to do with.
“How long will you be tied up?” she asked.
“Not long.”
“Good.”
Much as he needed to know what, if anything, she intended to do with their time together that would have to wait. He released her and concentrated on what he needed to tell Morgan’s son.
“I don’t know if I’ll be saying something you’re already aware of,” he said to Heath who barely acknowledged Amber. “But you need to know what we observed about your dad.”
Heath’s head dropped. “I think I know what it is.”
“All right. We’ve searched for a number of people with dementia so I’m familiar with the signs. With your dad, his memory issues seem to come and go. He wasn’t excited to see us. In fact, he was surprised to hear people were looking for him.”
“He didn’t know he was lost?”
“He did and he didn’t. I think some of it was his attempt to cover up his confusion. I think his insistence on talking to the press is part of his determination to prove himself. He didn’t ask questions so I tried to cover everything he might be curious about. Heath, he wasn’t happy about being left behind.”
“Left behind?”
With Amber listening intently, he told Heath about his father’s insistence that instead of traveling at Morgan’s pace, his know-everything son had done what he damned well wanted to.
“I’d never do that.” Heath sounded on the verge of tears. “I love that stubborn old man.” He hugged Garret. “Thank you, thank you for bringing him back to me. Talking him into going where we did was stupid on my part.”
Yes, it was.
“How did the two of you get separated?” Amber asked.
“He said he was
going to take a dump in private. Dad’s bathroom time has a tendency to be lengthy so I didn’t get worried until he’d been gone about a half hour. I called and called, but he didn’t answer. Did he have his hearing aids with him?”
“No.”
Heath scrubbed his eyes. “He can’t hear much of anything without them. How isolating that must have been.”
Because Heath had explained about his dad’s hearing, the searchers hadn’t done much calling. Heath was right. Morgan must have felt cut off from the world he knew, trapped in an unfamiliar one.
“He really said it was my fault?” Heath asked.
“Not consistently but enough that I wanted you to know.”
“Blaming has never been his way. I’m his only child. He thinks the world of me. At least he used to.”
“He still does,” Amber said.
Heath blinked repeatedly as if trying to acknowledge her presence.
“It’s one element in how a lot of people deal with memory issues,” she said. “My brother is a doctor specializing in geriatrics. He and I have talked a lot about dementia because that might become an issue with our parents. Hopefully not but we have to be aware of the possibility. My brother told me that blaming someone is an attempt at rationalizing the irrational. He’s blaming you because you’re close. It doesn’t mean he loves you any less than he used to.”
“I hate this,” Heath muttered. “What do I do now? Put a leash on him so he doesn’t get lost again?”
“Of course not. What if I call my brother and ask what he’d suggest in the way of reading material for you? I’m sure he’s up on all the latest research.”
“You wouldn’t mind?”
Her features softening, she hugged Heath. “Absolutely not. Nothing is more important than the people responsible for us being alive.” She looked over Heath’s shoulder at Garret. “Most of the time,” she mouthed.
Much as he appreciated her response, she didn’t know everything. How could she when he deliberately kept an emotional wall in place?
“You’ve been in charge long enough,” Amber told Garret the better part of an hour later. “It’s my turn.”
He blinked followed by staring at his boots. All around him, people were getting in their vehicles and leaving. When a reporter asked Garret to answer a few questions, he’d agreed to an interview. His answers had been short and not particularly revealing. When the reporter was finished, Garret had joined Heath and Hunter who were talking to the man responsible for training local search and rescue personnel. Thinking they might be better able to concentrate on what needed to be said if she wasn’t around, she’d left them. Finally Garret had rejoined her and suggested they make a run for it. Hunter and Jake had made plans to catch a ride with Hunter’s relatives. After a brief hug—she was getting good at this hugging business—she’d let him lead her to where their vehicles were parked.
He opened his door and, sighing, sat in it with his legs outside. Between his drooping eyelids and stubble, she wasn’t sure how much longer he’d be awake. Thanks to him and others, a man was back with his son. That was what mattered so why wasn’t she sure of her emotions? Darn it, there were so many of them.
“Listen,” she said. “This is how it’s going to be. We’ll drive separately back to the office where you’ll leave your rig. You’ll get in my vehicle and I’ll take you home.”
“Home?”
“My place for now. I hope you’re hungry because I have the makings for spaghetti, bread, and a salad.”
“Spaghetti?”
He locked gazes with her, but she wasn’t sure how much of what she’d said had penetrated. When she’d spotted him emerging from the woods, she’d been struck by how strong and competent he’d looked. Now he put her in mind of a deflating balloon.
A still handsome balloon with the power to ease her tension.
“Don’t tell me you don’t like my selection.”
“I like, and I’m starving.”
When they reached her place, she suggested he watch TV while she pulled dinner together. She steered him toward the recliner and handed him a beer then stepped back and studied him. He hadn’t said how many miles they’d covered, but his slouch gave her a pretty good idea. He’d assumed a great deal of responsibility for everyone’s safety, which probably explained his serious expression.
She waited until he’d taken a swallow then leaned over him and pressed her lips against his.
“Will you have any trouble sleeping?” She straightened because she didn’t trust herself if she remained too close to him. “Maybe you’ll replay what happened.”
He yawned. “Hopefully not this search because it turned out all right.”
“But others?”
“Yeah, others.”
“Why do you do it?” she asked.
“Do what?”
“Look for people. I can tell it takes a lot out of you.”
His eyes shuttered, he stared at the floor. “It’s all right.”
“Is it? Can you at least take a break? You, Hunter, and Jake could take turns so you don’t get so emotionally involved.”
“You don’t understand.” He didn’t look up.
“Obviously.” The moment she said the word she regretted it. She shouldn’t push him now. Later, hopefully, he’d explain why he put so much of himself into the searches.
“How about this.” She deliberately kept her tone light. “If I remove your boots and rub your feet will you promise to stay awake until I get this meal thrown together?”
“You don’t have to—”
“Sure I do.” She knelt and started unlacing. “It might be the only way I can get you to sample my cooking.”
“I’m sure it’ll be wonderful.”
She had no intention of admitting that she’d bought canned spaghetti sauce and a packaged salad. Given the time and right ingredients she could pull a decent meal together, but tonight was for filling his belly as quickly and efficiently as possible. However, that could wait until she’d administered to his feet. His socks were cleaner than she thought they’d be. No obvious dirt clung to his skin, not that she’d let that get in the way of ministering to any aches and pains. As she worked, she passed on some gossip Liz had told her about but didn’t mention going to the cabins or Sig’s attempt to contact her. At first he responded to what she said, but when he became quiet, she stopped pressing her knuckles against his instep and shot a look at him. His eyes were nearly closed, his head resting on the chair back.
“I think you’re good for now,” she said. “Don’t go anywhere. This shouldn’t take long.”
“All right. Amber?”
“What?”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
When the water was boiling, she put the bread in the oven and started the noodles cooking. She emptied the jar of sauce in another pan. She was looking for a bowl to put the salad in when she heard snoring. As the food heated, she tiptoed into the living room and eased the beer out of Garret’s hand. She was still getting used to how his features added and subtracted years depending on his mood. He’d looked young and carefree around his family. In contrast, he’d been all business this afternoon. When he first heard about a missing hiker, his expression had instantly turned serious. Worry had packed on the years, which had contributed to her mood. At first her tension was a result of her concern for the man Garret was looking for, but that had changed as she tried to picture exactly where Garret was and what he was doing. Rescue personnel sometimes got injured. A handful lost their lives.
The man in her chair had lived through this rescue. He was back in civilization, with her. Safe. Closed up in some respects.
Much as she hated waking him, once she’d filled Garret’s plate, she shook his shoulder until he opened his eyes.
“Food.” She waved the plate under his nose. “Doctor’s orders.”
“All right.”
Because she didn’t want him to move any more than necessary, she
’d pulled the coffee table close to him. When he straightened, she went back into the kitchen for her meal and the utensils. They ate in silence.
“I’m going to have to ask you to take me home,” he said when he was done. “I need a shower. I really need a shower.”
She fought the desire to sit on his lap, wrap her arms around his neck, and let him know how much he meant to her at this moment.
“You can have one here. A confession. I looked in your pack. There are clean clothes in there.”
He started to lean back then jerked forward as if he didn’t trust himself to relax too much. “Once I’ve had a shower, I won’t be good for anything except falling asleep.”
“Do it here.”
“That might not be wise.”
“I’m not interested in wise. Get into the shower. All right if I snag a change of clothes for you?”
“There aren’t many choices.”
“Stand up.”
When he didn’t immediately react, she held out her hands. He grasped them and she helped him to his feet. He started to lean toward her. Much as she needed the feel of him, that would delay what she wanted. Stepping out of his way, she pointed in the direction of the bathroom.
“All right.” He yawned and stretched. “I’m full. That was delicious.”
“I know it was. Now march.”
Maybe it was having older siblings, but Amber had never thought of herself as the motherly type. She wanted to be a mother, never any question about that, but she was content to wait until she held her own before opening herself up to maternal instinct. Just the same, she felt a bit motherly as she carried briefs, a shirt, and jeans into the steaming bathroom.