Straight from the Heart

by Layce Gardner

  Chapter Eight

  “Well, what do you think?” Parker asked. She had brought the new wheelchair to the hospital and wheeled it straight into Rosa’s room.

  Rosa sat up in bed and studied her new mode of transportation. “I like the color,” she said. She swung her legs over the edge of her bed.

  “I thought you would. I mean, how can you go wrong with neon orange?”

  “Yeah, it definitely screams, ‘Here I come! Watch out!’”

  “Orange is the universal color that means danger. I thought you’d appreciate that.” Parker patted the back of the chair invitingly. “You wanna try it out? Go for a quick spin?”

  Rosa looked toward the opened door. She lowered her voice to a whisper, asking, “You think they’re going to let me wheel up and down the hallways?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t check,” Parker said. “Do you want me to go ask somebody if it’s okay?”

  “Hell, no,” Rosa said defiantly.

  “That’s what I thought,” Parker said. “Do you need help getting that little butt of yours in the chair?”

  “My butt isn’t little,” Rosa said.

  “True. It’s not.”

  Rosa laughed. “You’re supposed to lie, Parker. Anytime a woman says her butt is big, you’re supposed to assure her that it isn’t.”

  “Oh.” Parker stared directly into Rosa’s eyes and without blinking, said, “Your butt is not big, Rosa. It’s not little, but it’s not big. It’s a Goldilocks butt. Just right.”

  Rosa barked a laugh. “Okay, don’t just stand there. Help me get my Goldilocks butt into that chair.”

  “Okay, here we go,” Parker said. She moved the chair up next to the bed and set the brakes. “I’m going to lift you, pivot, and then place you into the chair, okay?”

  Rosa nodded. “What do I do?”

  “Nothing. Just let me know if I hurt you in any way.”

  Parker leaned down until she was face-to-face with Rosa. She slipped her arms under Rosa’s arms and clasped her hands against Rosa’s back.

  “On the count of three,” Parker said.

  Rosa inhaled and held her breath.

  “One. Two. And here we go,” Parker said. She lifted. Pivoted. And deposited Rosa into the wheelchair.

  Rosa’s face turned pale and sweat beaded her upper lip.

  “Are you okay?” Parker asked.

  Rosa nodded. “I will be. Thanks.”

  Parker backed up and looked at Rosa. “You look good in that chair. Like the Evel Knievel of wheelchairs.”

  Rosa chuckled. She released the brakes. “Why are the wheels slanted?”

  “Speed. It’s designed for racing,” Parker said. “Oh, I almost forgot.” She pulled out a pair of fingerless biking gloves from her back pocket. “These will help keep your hands from getting rubbed raw. The man at the shop recommended them.” She handed them over.

  “And they’re color coordinated,” Rosa observed.

  “I’m all about fashion,” Parker deadpanned. “Put them on and we’ll go for a spin.”

  Rosa looked up at her friend. “Thank you for this.”

  “Don’t get all mushy on me.”

  A thought occurred to Rosa. “What about my house? All those stairs up to the front porch. You can’t be there to carry me up them all the time. Steph either.”

  “Not a problem. You now have ramps. They’re temporary. I designed them and Eric and I built them.”

  “I’ll have to thank him,” Rosa said.

  “Let’s roll,” Parker said, opening the door.

  “Try to keep up,” Rosa said. She wheeled herself out the door and sped off down the hallway.

  ***

  “How’s she doing?” Eric asked Steph. They were in the fire station kitchen. He was helping Steph make chili. Steph had put him to work chopping onions. He was wearing swim goggles as he chopped so his eyes wouldn’t water.

  “She hates me,” Steph said.

  “Rosa doesn’t hate you. She’s frustrated and sad,” Eric said, handing Steph the cutting board with the chopped onions.

  “Yeah, well, she’s taking it out on me. I warned her a hundred times to wear her vest and we both know if she had, she wouldn’t be hurt like this.”

  “Do not ever say that to her,” Eric said, pointing the knife at her.

  Steph handed him a bag of carrots. “I won’t. I’m not completely stupid. Chop these, would you?”

  Eric pulled his goggles off. “Carrots? In chili? Are you sure about that?”

  “Yep. Did you hear about the new scientific study? Vegetables are good for you,” Steph said. Eric laughed. “Besides, the way these guys shovel it in, I highly doubt anyone will notice a few little carrot chunks.”

  “True.”

  Sal walked into the kitchen, hands in his pockets, sniffing, lured by the aroma of cooking food. “Smells incredible.”

  “Don’t get too excited. It’s got to cook a while,” Steph said.

  Sal snagged a carrot off the counter and snapped it in half with his teeth. He pointed at them using the uneaten part of the carrot. “Did Cap tell you we got a new recruit?”

  “What?” Both Eric and Steph said at the same time.

  “Yep. Mel’s retiring,” Sal said.

  “Why now? He’s still got a few more years before he gets his full pension,” Steph said. She adored Mel. He’d taught her everything she knew about firefighting. He had taken her under his wing at a time when most men didn’t think a female firefighter could cut it. After six months, under Mel’s tutelage, she was as good as any of the guys. Now, she had their respect. She couldn’t imagine the station without Mel.

  “Speaking of the devil,” Sal said as Mel walked into the kitchen.

  Mel cataloged the morose expression on Steph’s face. “What happened?”

  “I told them your news,” Sal said.

  Mel looked peeved. He ran his palm over his shaved head. “Gee, thanks. I didn’t want to tell them myself or anything.”

  Sal looked sheepish. “Sorry.”

  “Why?” Steph asked in a hurt tone. “Why retire now?”

  “Because it’s time, Steph. I’m fifty-seven. My knees are shot. I’ve got arthritis in my neck, and both my shoulders need a rotator cuff operation. Add all that up and I’m a hazard to the team. I can’t put you guys at risk like that. Besides, I’ve got some fish to catch. I’ve got a friend up in Montana. He’s got a fly fishing business and he wants me to come in with him. Getting paid to fish, I’d call that a dream job. I thought you’d be happy for me.”

  Steph didn’t look at him. She kept her eyes focused on the pot of chili she was stirring. She felt like her whole world was falling apart. First Rosa and now Mel. “Chief found a replacement already?” she asked, still not meeting Mel’s eyes.

  “Yeah, she’s a nice gal. She was an EMT in Tulsa before she became a firefighter. She’s got a kid and wants to raise her in a small town away from all that crime. Tulsa is like any city; it’s got some bad hombres in it,” Mel said, doing a spot-on impersonation of Donald Trump.

  Steph couldn’t help but smile.

  “Chief wants you to train her, Steph. Show her the ropes of how we do it here,” Mel said.

  “Why? Because I’m a woman?”

  “No. Because you’re the best,” Mel said.

  “What’s her name?”

  “Ruth Callaway.”

  “A good Irish gal, eh?” Eric asked.

  “I’m Irish all right,” Ruth Callaway said, joining them in the kitchen. “But I don’t know about the good part.”

  Steph looked up and checked the new recruit out. Ruth was six feet tall, broad-shouldered, with short, almost-black hair. It was shaved on the sides and long on top. She had moss green eyes and a mouth that always looked like it was smirking.

  Steph knew by looking at her she would be an asset.

  “We won’t have trouble finding boots for you,” Steph said, noting Ruth’s large feet. She had gone through hell tryin
g to find firefighter boots small enough to fit her own feet.

  “Size eleven here,” Ruth said. “You know what they say. Big feet…”

  Steph cocked her head, asking the question silently.

  “Big heart,” Ruth finished.

  They all laughed.

  “It’ll be nice not to be the only woman,” Ruth said to Steph. “Mel and the Captain have nothing but good things to say about you.”

  “Is that right? What about us?” Sal asked.

  “Cap said you guys were all right,” Ruth said with a shrug. “But to watch out for the one called Sal.”

  Sal looked hurt. Ruth chuckled and socked him in the arm, saying, “Kidding.”

  Sal brightened and rubbed his arm. “Pretty good punch for a woman.”

  “Pretty good punch for anybody,” Ruth said. She raised her fist. “Wanna give it another try?”

  “No, that’s okay,” Sal said, backing up a couple of steps. Eric and Mel laughed good-naturedly.

  Yep, Steph thought, Ruth will fit in just fine. She was already acting like one of the boys. “I’ll show you around. Eric, keep an eye on the chili and don’t let it burn.”

  Eric gave her a mock salute. Steph headed for the door. Ruth followed.

  “Can I help with the tour?” Sal asked.

  “No, you’ve got some brass to polish,” Mel said.

  “Then you got to set the table,” Eric added.

  “Who made you boss?” Sal asked.

  “I did, because right now I’m in charge of the food,” Eric answered.

  ***

  As Steph showed Ruth the layout of the station, she asked, “So you have a kid?”

  Ruth’s eyes lit up. “A daughter. She’s ten.”

  “You a single mom?”

  “Yeah. Divorced.”

  Steph nodded. She opened a door and let Ruth enter first. “This is where we bunk. Women on the far side. Men on this side.”

  “We share with the guys?”

  Steph nodded. “We’re not a big outfit. It’s okay, we’re one big family. It’s like sleeping in the same room with a bunch of brothers. The worst part is all the snoring and farting they do all night.”

  Ruth laughed. “I have brothers. I know what it’s like.”

  “The head’s on the other side of that door. Unisex.”

  “Actually, I wasn’t really married,” Ruth said.

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah. I’m a lesbian. We had a ceremony, but never did the legal thing. We had a kid together. I was the birth mother. Lil decided she wasn’t really maternal. So she left,” Ruth said.

  “I’m sorry,” Steph said. “That had to be rough.”

  “Cece, that’s my daughter, took it worse than me. It’s hardest on her. She woke up one day and found out one of her moms left in the middle of the night and she won’t ever see her again.”

  “Harsh.”

  “That’s part of the reason I moved. I’m hoping a change of place will help Cece forget. We were living in the same house and I think it served as a reminder of our lives with Lil. We both needed a fresh start. I was really glad this spot opened up.”

  “I think that’s how a lot of us ended up here in Fenton. I had some bad stuff go down and moved here to forget, by way of a do-over,” Steph admitted.

  “Eric told me about your partner. Some of it I got from the paper. It made some big news even all the way down to Tulsa. I want you to know I’m really sorry and if I can help in anyway, just let me know,” Ruth said.

  “Thanks,” Steph said. She wasn’t too keen on Eric spilling out her private matters, but living together like they did, it was bound to happen.

  “Now, show me the ropes,” Ruth said.

  Steph gave her the tour, showing her all the equipment and its organization and locations. “Is it true about your feet?” Steph asked.

  “Yep, well, honestly they’re a size twelve but let’s keep that to ourselves. It goes with the rest of me—I’m just big all around.”

  “You’re going to be an asset. We have an eight-person team in this station. There’s a main station on the other side of town. We share team members so we can cover more. Those guys rotate in on our off days. It works well, makes us more cohesive.”

  “You’ve got a tight team here. That’s good,” Ruth said. “Damn, that chili smells delicious. Eric must be taking care of business in there.”

  “Yeah, his stomach makes him a good sous chef,” Steph said. “Let’s go eat. I’m starving.”

  Ruth touched her lightly on the arm. “I meant what I said about helping out.”

  “Don’t be surprised if I take you up on that. And the same goes for you. You need any help getting set up, moving furniture, just let me know. I’ve got good friends that are willing to help.”

  “Good to know,” Ruth said. Her stomach grumbled loudly. They both laughed. “Guess I’m pretty hungry, too.”

  “Good. I love to cook, but I especially like to watch people eat.”

  “Ha! Then I’m your gal,” Ruth said.

  Chapter Nine

  Amy woke up feeling old. Age was something she usually didn’t think much about. She had always thought that age was largely in one’s own mind. But today was different. Today was her birthday. Her 45th birthday to be exact. And that made her feel ancient.

  She heard Parker in the kitchen and smelled coffee. There was nothing like the thought of caffeine to get her old bones out of bed. She sat up.

  Parker poked her head around the bedroom doorway, saying, “Do not get out of bed. Don’t even think about it. That’s an order.”

  “Can I at least pee?”

  “Yes, but then back to bed. I mean it.”

  “I will. Do I get a birthday surprise?”

  “Oh, you just wait,” Parker said, then disappeared.

  Amy walked to the bathroom, noting every stiff joint and sore muscle. Since when did just sleeping give you sore muscles? She refused to look at herself in the bathroom mirror while she brushed her teeth. She knew it would only depress her. Whoever put the toilet right in the mirror’s line of sight must have been a sadist.

  She wished she had met Parker when she was twenty-five instead of forty-four. Specifically, she wished she had met Parker when her boobs were still perky. And when her butt was two inches higher. And her thighs…

  Never mind. It didn’t happen and there was no use wishing.

  At least Amy had never lived her life based on society’s ideal of beauty like some women she knew. Fading beauties took aging much harder because they’d been fawned over their entire lives. Then they reached their forties and suffered the same fate as all other middle-aged women—they became invisible.

  Going back to bed didn’t seem like such a bad idea. She considered staying there the rest of the day with her head under her pillow. Except Steph had a birthday party planned. And Rosa would be there. Her birthday was an excuse to get Rosa back into the swing of things.

  Parker came in holding a wooden tray with two cups of coffee and two pieces of cheesecake—Amy’s favorite dessert. There was a vase with one stunning purple dahlia. Parker smiled at Amy. “Happy birthday, my love.”

  “Oh, is it my birthday?” Amy feigned innocence.

  “Afraid so,” Parker said. “Now wipe that frown off your face. This is a day to celebrate, not mourn.”

  Amy fluffed up the pillows so they could both sit up in bed. “Do you ever wish we had met sooner?”

  Parker placed the breakfast tray on Amy’s lap and then crawled in next to her. “Nope,” she answered. “I wouldn’t change a thing.”

  “Why?”

  Parker explained, “Now is the perfect time. Finding you when we were both young would’ve been like picking a peach before it was ripe. I prefer the peach you are now.”

  Amy laughed. “Have I told you today how much I love you?”

  “Not today.”

  “I love you,” Amy said. She gently kissed Parker’s full lips. “Mmmm. You taste like coff
ee.”

  “Lucky for me you like coffee,” Parker said. She picked up a fork, cut into the cheesecake and held the bite out for Amy. “I figured we’d have cheesecake for breakfast since your party at Steph’s will be full of goodies. I wanted you to have your favorite first.”

  Amy leaned in and kissed her again. “You’re my favorite.”

  “And you’re mine,” Parker said.

  “Even if I’m old and wrinkly and my titties are sagging?” Amy asked. She’d meant it as a joke, but it hit closer to home than she’d intended.

  Parker put down the fork and took Amy’s face in her hands. “You will always be beautiful to me. I can see your inside self and it glows with love. That’s what I see and feel, right here,” she put her hand on her heart.

  “You are so sweet.”

  “And your outside ain’t so bad either,” Parker said, waggling her eyebrows suggestively. She fed Amy a bite of cheesecake.

  Between the cheesecake, coffee, and Parker’s kisses, Amy felt better. Instead of feeling depressed about her birthday, she felt thankful to be alive.

  After polishing off most of the cheesecake, Parker leaned in and nuzzled Amy’s ear. Her warm breath sent shivers down Amy’s spine.

  “You taste delicious,” Parker said, nibbling Amy’s earlobe.

  “Better than cheesecake?”

  “Let’s see,” Parker said. She quickly stuck her finger in the cheesecake then wiped a blob of it on Amy’s mouth. She kissed the cheesecake off Amy’s lips. “Mmmm,” Parker said. “Do I have to choose?”

  Amy pulled Parker in for a longer kiss. Their tongues found each other. Amy loved kissing Parker. She felt like she could kiss her forever and never lose interest.

  Parker caressed Amy’s breast through the thin fabric of her nightgown. Amy’s nipple instantly hardened, causing her to moan in delight. They’d been together for almost a year and still her body reacted gleefully when Parker touched her.

  Parker set the tray on the floor next to the bed. She kissed Amy again. Her lips still tasted of sugar. “Oh, you really are sweet,” Amy said.

  Parker kissed her neck then worked her way down. She raised Amy’s nightgown over her breasts. She sucked a nipple into her mouth and flicked her tongue over its hardness. Then she traced her fingers down Amy’s tummy. Amy sighed deeply.