I Never Thought I'd See You Again: A Novelists Inc. Anthology

by Неизвестный

  “Yeah, it is.”

  All right, she’d try again. “Will you consider seeing him now that you know that he isn’t well?”

  “No.”

  She watched a bird make its way across the sky and decided to change the subject. “Want to go run, since we’re both rested?”

  “Not really.”

  “What do you want?”

  He gulped back the rest of the beer and turned to her. “I want things right between us, Janie.”

  “Then we won’t talk about your father.”

  “We’ve been avoiding that and still and we’re oceans apart like the last time. Do you know why?”

  “Do you?”

  “Yeah, you said I’m not the man you thought I was. You and Abby both said you don’t know this side of me.”

  “Rye, I can’t make that not be true. Listen, I’ll go see Jack Harrison with you. We can talk about that, how I’m helping to distance us, then you can get some individual counseling.”

  “I’m not going to therapy over the man who ruined our lives.”

  She stood. “Then I don’t know how to bridge this gap between us.”

  She waited for him to suggest sex. They were on the same wavelength about that. Many women refused to make love when they felt distanced from their partner, but Janie agreed with most men — it was a good way to get closer.

  But Riley didn’t suggest a trip to the bedroom. Instead, he got up, followed her inside and snagged another beer from the fridge.

  Jesus, this was going from bad to worse.

  # #

  “Gallagher and Duncan, get two backboards out of the Midi.”

  Just the Quint and Midi — and no rescue squad — had been called to the scene because of a major accident at the lake that required all available personnel. Since McCabe, a paramedic, had been summoned out there, Riley filled in on the Midi. Though he wasn’t a certified paramedic, all firefighters were EMTs.

  Ramirez added, “There are multiple victims between the truck and the Camaro.”

  Riley followed Lisa Beth to the small rig. “You like EMS, Gallagher?”

  “Yeah. It’s a change.”

  “You?”

  “Uh-huh. Except when we have to go to Memorial. There’s a doctor there who treats us like shit.”

  He pulled one board out of the Midi. “Who is it? I only know the nurses.”

  “Of course you do.” Lisa Beth took a backboard, too. “How’s Janie?”

  “Good,” he lied.

  “When are you two gonna tie the knot?”

  Who knew, now? They hadn’t gotten around to setting a date. Hell, he hadn’t even bought her a ring, since she thought jewels were a waste of good money. She preferred the ring he gave her sixteen years ago.

  “Let’s hustle over,” he said, ducking her question.

  They hurried back to the crash site, though they both knew they’d have to wait until the Quint gained entry to the cars. “Janie and you?” Lisa Beth repeated when they arrived.

  “I don’t know when we’re gonna get hitched. There never seems to be much of a hurry.”

  “I hear ya. Divorce is a bitch.” He knew Lisa Beth was in her thirties, divorced and dated periodically, but not much else about her. She wasn’t as warm and open as Jane was. Or as Jane used to be.

  Focusing on the rescue, Riley watched Ramirez and Langston pop each door on both sides and take them off. The new guy subbing for Langston taped the front window of the Camaro and cracked it. The whole thing fell outward in a malleable piece.

  Then Decarlo jumped up onto the hood, took the Jaws of Life from Tony and turned them on. The sound of steel hitting steel hurt Riley’s teeth. “Geez, I hate that.”

  Lisa Beth had put her hand to her mouth. “Me, too,” she shouted over the generator noise.

  When the cut was complete, Decarlo handed down the giant scissor-like tool, then ripped back the roof. Without help.

  “Hell, Rocky’s good,” Lisa Beth said.

  “They don’t call him the Rock for nothing.”

  Since the back seat was so small, the Quint guys had literally taken the car from around the people inside so the victims were accessible.

  “Go on in,” Tony told the two of them.

  Lisa Beth took point and climbed into the back seat of the car. The teenagers there appeared unconscious. When Ramirez told them to get two backboards, Riley hadn’t realized three people occupied the vehicle.

  Which meant the kid in the front seat was dead. Lisa Beth realized that at the same time, and froze. Then she said, “Jesus,” and turned to her charge.

  Riley tried to ignore the body of a dead teenager in the front as he worked. In sync, he and Lisa Beth put collars on the two breathing boys and with the help of the others, slid them onto the two backboards. As four of the crew carried the kids across the pavement, Tony gave them another order. “Every emergency vehicle in town was sent to the lake so the Midi will take the victims to the hospital. You two go there, then come back to the house.” Luckily, the new Midi was equipped to transport victims.

  “I’ll ride with the guy,” Lisa Beth said. “No offense Riley, but I’m a paramedic.”

  “Wouldn’t think to question you,” he said with a grin. Jane loved that he wasn’t a chauvinist. “I’m down with driving.”

  The trip to Memorial was short because the scene of the accident was close to the hospital. Riley tried not to think about the white face of the dead teen and the terrible stink of death as he stopped the Midi, bolted out and headed around back. He opened the doors, helped Lisa Beth get out one of the gurneys and set it up on the pavement, then they repeated the process. They wheeled the victims through the glass doors of the ER. A nurse and doctor met them inside.

  Lisa Beth said, “BP, 90 over 70 on this one. Could be internal injuries.”

  “BP 150 over 80,” Riley told them. “And I think the kid’s arm is broken.”

  “We’ll take it from here,” the doc said. “Thanks.”

  When they whisked the victims into ER, Riley watched, deflated by the adrenaline spike waning. “I take it that isn’t the guy you hate.”

  “No.” She turned and her gaze caught on the nurse’s station. “Shit, there he is.”

  Riley tracked her gaze to a doctor with longish hair, his arm braced against a wall talking to someone. His smile was warm, affectionate. “He doesn’t seem like a monster.”

  “Looks can be deceiving.” Lisa Beth moved a few feet down further in the entryway. “Damn it. Um…Rye, come here and see who he’s talking to.”

  Riley joined her. The woman leaning against the wall, staring up at the doctor, laughing, was Jane.

  Lisa Beth grabbed his arm. “God, tell her not flirt with that guy, even for fun.”

  Flirt? Jane was flirting with another guy?

  “Rye, did you hear me?”

  “Yeah.”

  “He’s my ex and he’s a real player.”

  A sudden urge to protect Jane, combined with the images of her crossing him at every turn rushed through Riley. Then he saw the vision of that young kid, sprawled over the steering wheel in the front seat. Finally, the face of his father obscured all the images in his head.

  “The hell with this,” he barked and stalked toward his fiancé.

  Who was flirting with another man.

  # #

  One minute Jane was having a nice conversation with Linc Roberts, a new ER doc, and the next she was yanked backward.

  “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

  She turned around. “Riley, what…what are you doing.” He still gripped her arm. “And let go. You’re hurting me.”

  Linc moved in closer. “You heard the lady, let go.”

  “Fuck off,” Riley said to the doctor.

  “Linc, I can handle this.” She inched closer to Riley. “Honey, let go.”

  Suddenly, again, she was yanked back, this time by Linc. She heard a woman say, “Linc, stay out of this,” just as Riley lunged. T
he crunch of bone on bone accompanied Linc’s “Jesus Christ,” as he went down.

  Jane whirled on Riley in time to see two security guards grab him by the arms. “Back off, Gallagher,” one of them said.

  He continued to struggle. “Riley, back off,” the other reiterated.

  Restrained, he focused on Jane. “It’s bad enough you cross me at every turn with my father. Is this how you’re paying me back?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “It’s what all women do, isn’t it? Flirt with other guys to make men jealous so we’ll do what you want.”

  Jane watched an enraged Riley shout accusations at her and realized, as the guards dragged him away, that things between them had gone very south.

  # #

  At nine the next day, Riley swerved into the driveway and pushed the button on the garage door opener. What the hell? Jane’s car wasn’t in its spot. Hell, she hadn’t come home? Resentment hung heavily on his shoulders — he’d been through a hell of a lot more than she had last night — as he parked his car and entered the house.

  Its emptiness assaulted him. Suddenly, he was exhausted. Deciding to take a shower before he met his lieutenant — he couldn’t even think about what would happen then — he trudged upstairs and into the bathroom. A piece of paper, folded, was taped to the mirror. And he knew in his gut that this was not going to be good.

  He ripped the note off the glass, opened the paper and read it.

  Riley love,

  I know you’re hurting and I am, too. But we’re destroying our relationship with this constant fighting over your father. He’s been rushed to the hospital with severe breathing problems and I’m hoping you’ll go see him. Meanwhile, I’ve packed a few things and I’m staying with your sister for the four days we’re off shift. You and I need some time apart. We have to separate to save our relationship. I’m sorry if this hurts you more, but it’s the only thing I can think of to get some perspective on us. Please don’t contact me. I’ll be in touch. I love you.

  Janie

  Spots swam before his eyes and he rubbed them with his thumb and forefinger. How could she leave him at a time like this? How could she abandon him now?

  He showered, slugged back coffee and when it was time, left to go meet Tony at a breakfast shop at ten. Something bad was coming — and Janie wasn’t even going to be here to help him pick up the pieces. No, she was off getting perspective.

  Well, fuck her.

  He walked into the diner at exactly ten. He caught sight of Tony in the corner, dressed in street clothes and somberly staring into the cup in front of him.

  After he bought a double shot of espresso, he went to the table and dropped down into an adjacent chair. “Hey, Tony.”

  “Hey, Rye.” The lieutenant took a deep breath. “You know what’s coming, I’d guess.”

  “Uh-huh. I’m going to be suspended. For how long?”

  “A tour.”

  “I deserve it.”

  “There’s more.”

  “A letter of reprimand in my file.”

  Tony nodded.

  His brows raised. “More?”

  “Yes. I got a call this morning at eight. The list for the new lieutenants is coming out as we speak.”

  He never expected this. “I didn’t make the cut?” Truthfully, that was a shock.

  “No, you were on yesterday’s list.”

  “Janie didn’t? Oh, God I thought she was a shoo-in.”

  Tony shifted in his seat. “No, she made it. Actually, she’s number one. You were number two.”

  He swallowed back the bile in his throat. “Were?”

  “You’re off the list for now.” Reaching out, Tony touched his arm. “I didn’t know about this when I asked to meet.”

  Riley couldn’t respond. What Tony told him was unthinkable. Finally, he was able to get out, “For one little mistake, I don’t get the promotion?”

  “Hell, Riley, it wasn’t little. Memorial had been recruiting for Roberts for months. He’s a big shot trauma and orthopedic surgeon. Your attack was public and embarrassing to the department. Only Lisa Beth’s intervention kept him from pressing charges.”

  “She hates him.”

  “I know. You owe her.”

  “Was this your decision?”

  “Nope. But I’ll be honest and say I didn’t fight for you.”

  They were practically brothers, him, Langston, Rocky and the others. And Tony didn’t fight for him?

  Somehow he found the grace to say, “I get it.” He stood. “I gotta get out of here.”

  “Wait, Rye, let me…”

  But Riley was already headed to the door.

  # #

  Janie curled up on one of the couches in the waiting room of Memorial, watching Abby and Mave try to be strong. A doctor had come out earlier and given them a report on Ben…

  His condition is bad, Mrs. Gallagher. He’s got infection running through him. We’ve put him on a regimen of high powered antibiotics and a ventilator. The next 24 hours are critical.

  They’d all been stunned, and Jane had become even more resentful that Riley wasn’t there to comfort his mother, which he did better than Abby or Jane. That was five hours ago. Family had been allowed to go in one at a time, every hour, for a few minutes.

  Again Mave asked, “No word from my boy, Jane?”

  She took out her phone and checked again. “No, Mave, I’m sorry.”

  Feeling guilty herself because she’d told him not to call her, she’d phoned him as soon as they had news, and every hour since, asking him to call her back. But he hadn’t. Dear God, what would happen to him if Ben Gallagher died and Riley was off pouting somewhere? He’d never get over that. What kind of man would he turn into then?

  # #

  Marci, the pretty blond and buxom bartender, was new to Badges. Today was her first day at the firefighter and police hangout in downtown Hidden Cove. The owners were right to hire her.

  “I’ll have another one, beautiful.” Riley pushed his beer glass toward her.

  “That’s a six pack, buddy. I’m cuttin’ you off.”

  Reaching into his pocket, he fished out his keys. “Take these. I’ll call a cab. Gimme one more and a shot of JD.”

  “You shouldn’t, Riley.” They were on a first name basis, as they’d talked all afternoon about life, work and the wonders of the female sex. It was near six and she was going off at the stroke of the hour.

  “Just one more. I’ll leave when you do.”

  “I guess one more wouldn’t hurt if you’re not driving.”

  He watched her ass in those tight white pants but was interrupted when somebody sidled up to him. “Thought I might find you here, Gallagher.”

  Glancing over, he saw Brody O’Malley had come to the bar. “Hey, O’Malley.” He liked the paramedic on another shift in his house who had made lieutenant a few months ago. Lieutenant. Shit.

  “You looking for me?”

  “Sure am.” He ordered a beer when Marci bought Riley’s drinks.

  “Why?”

  “I just got off shift. I heard you’re suspended.”

  “Word gets around fast.”

  “The fire department has its own grapevine. If it’s any consolation, I was glad to hear you clocked Roberts.”

  “Yeah, why?”

  “Cause he’s an asshole. He’s shitty to all the paramedics, and worst to Lisa Beth.”

  “He’s her ex.”

  “No kidding?”

  “Why’d you come here, Brody?”

  The man shook his head and stared into the glass behind the bar. “I got suspended once. For taking unnecessary risks. I headed straight to this bar and almost got myself in a shitload of trouble.” He turned a knowing gaze on Riley. “Thought maybe I could offer you a ride home.”

  Somewhere in his not-so-sober mind, a voice warned, Go with him, Gallagher. It’s the only way tonight’s gonna end well.

  But the evil twin of that voice had other ideas. You
’re entitled to a binge. The boy in the Camaro died. Your old man showed up. Your girl deserted you. And you blew one of the most important things in your life out of the water. Stay. Get blottoed. Who’s gonna care?

  Just then, Marci approached them again. “It’s six. Come on handsome, I’ll drive you home instead of calling you a cab.”

  “He’s got a ride,” Brody said. “Thanks anyway.”

  Riley stood. “Nah, I don’t.” He threw some money on the bar. “And I’d love to go home with you, darlin’.”

  She took the cash, rung him up and circled around the bar. They started out.

  Brody grabbed his arm and drew him back. “Don’t do anything stupid, Rye. You got a good woman standing by you.”

  He stared Brody down. “Yeah, I thought so, too.” He slung his arm around Marci’s shoulders. “Come on, sweetheart.”

  Brody hesitated, then said softly to Riley, “Well, at least I tried.”

  # #

  This time, Jane’s car was in the garage. Had Riley ever dreaded anything more than crawling home in the condition he was in? The stale smell of booze, some cigarettes, and the joint he smoked at Marci’s apartment clung to him. And that wasn’t the worst of what he’d done.

  He took his time getting inside and caught sight of Janie out on the deck. She was dressed in pink jeans and a top, looking so innocent he wanted to bawl like a baby.

  The Keurig was on so he made himself a cup of strong brew and slid open the glass door, its whoosh alerting her to his presence. When she turned to him, her pretty face was glum. She was disappointed in him.

  Just wait.

  “Hi,” he said simply. “What are you doing home? You said you’d be at Abby’s for a few days.”

  “I tried to call you all day yesterday. And last night. Where were you?”

  He gripped the cup with enough force to break it and sat down. “Why were you calling me?”

  Her eyes narrowed on his face — she’d see the bloodshot eyes, the scratchy beard, and smell the stench of him. “Your father was rushed to the hospital yesterday with severe pneumonia.”

  It was like walking into a wall in the dark. “D-did he die?”

  “No.” She ran a hand through her damp curls. If he got close enough, he’d smell that wonderful scent on her. Would he ever get close enough again? The fact that he might not soured his stomach.