The Firefighter's Pretend Fiancee (Shadow Creek, Montana)

by Victoria James

  “I know,” he said, taking her pulse again, not liking how long all of this was taking. He wanted to be able to take C-spine control to stabilize her, but there was no way into the car yet. He went through another round of questions, asking about feeling in her limbs and was satisfied with her answers, but frustrated he couldn’t do anything for her yet.

  “How’s the driver? It was his fault. He was driving too close to the center line. He nipped me and I tried to get control.”

  “It looks like he’s okay. Don’t worry about that now. Who can I call for you?”

  She stopped talking and started crying. “I want my husband,” she said, staring straight ahead and crying.

  “Okay, we can call him.”

  “You can’t, he’s on a flight… Ben, I can’t lose this baby.”

  He nodded, trying to check his emotions and not attempt anything rash to get her out. “I know, Amy. We’re going to get you out of here. We’ll get you to the hospital. It’s not far.”

  “We tried for so long to get pregnant. I can’t lose her,” she sobbed, turning her head to look at him. The fear in her eyes gutted him.

  “Amy, you can’t think like that,” he said, standing once Harris gave him the thumbs up that the vehicle had been stabilized. He needed to be there for Amy, and he needed to remain calm. “I’m going to disconnect the battery on your car, okay? You’re going to be able to see me. I’ll be right here. You can keep talking to us. No one is leaving.”

  “Okay,” she whispered.

  He prayed he’d be able to access the battery quickly and easily. He needed to make sure that possible fuel and fuel fumes wouldn’t ignite from a potential battery spark and to make sure that the power source to the safety restraint systems was no longer supplying a charge.

  “Ben!” she yelled as he finished. He ran over to her side of the car and looked inside. Sweat was running down her temples and forehead, and he hated that they hadn’t been able to get her out yet.

  “You okay, Amy?”

  “I feel hot and I think I’m having contractions.”

  Oh, Jesus. “Have you had contractions before?”

  “Braxton Hicks. These feel similar. But worse. I can’t have my baby here, Ben,” she sobbed.

  “Amy, let’s not go there yet. We’re going to get you out of here. You’re not going to have your baby here,” he said, looking up to see where they were at with the equipment. Martin passed him a tarp. They were going to have to time the contractions. There was no way he’d be able to deliver a baby with her lodged in the car. “We’ll get you out. You’re not having your baby in this car.”

  “Have you ever delivered a baby?”

  “Lots,” he said, exaggerating slightly. “I’m fully trained as an EMT, and I’ve delivered babies in all sorts of places.”

  “Okay, that’s good,” she said, not sounding like it was good at all.

  Sirens could be heard, he knew that the police department was on its way, and he knew ambulances were soon to follow as well. They needed backup, and they needed this woman in an ambulance.

  Half an hour later, they were ready to stabilize and move Amy from the car. She was between contractions, and they needed to move now. “Amy, I’m going to be right here with you. We’re going to take C-spine control. I’m going to hold your head still, and my partner Harris is going to place a collar around it from behind, okay?”

  “Okay,” she whispered, exhaustion and fear taking its toll on her strength, her voice not sounding as strong anymore.

  “You’re doing great, Amy. We’re going to have you out of here really soon, now, okay? You can squeeze my hand as hard as you want whenever you feel a contraction coming on.”

  “Okay, Ben,” she whispered through her tears.

  He kept talking her through everything they were doing. “Paramedics are standing right here, ready to get you to the hospital as soon as you’re out.”

  Minutes went by, but it felt like hours. He was covered in sweat under his heavy uniform, but he knew the immediate danger from the tanker was over, the fire having been put out. This woman was someone’s wife, someone’s daughter, sister… He stared at her face and imagined the panic her husband was going to feel when he called him. This could have happened to anyone. It could have been Molly. What if she’d been trapped in that car, with their baby? He looked down for a moment, controlling his thoughts; he couldn’t think about her now. He couldn’t deal with that.

  He compartmentalized and looked back up at Amy who was trying so damn hard to keep it together. She needed her husband. He checked in with his crew, updating everyone, knowing Finn was now in charge. Amy squeezed his hand every few minutes, and he knew Chris was timing the contractions. He kept his eyes on her, praying that baby was going to be okay.

  …

  “I think you’re in for a hectic night,” Molly said as she and Luke Thomson stood at the ER bay doors. Molly was ready to go home for the night, but Luke was starting his night shift. The ER was fairly quiet, but Molly was on edge because she’d heard the call come in about the collision and tractor trailer fire; she knew Ben was working tonight.

  Luke smiled, but his gaze was focused outside. Molly knew his thoughts were on the pregnant woman that was en route to the hospital. She knew there was also an injured firefighter, and she was trying not to be irrationally worried, but the thought that Ben was injured and that he didn’t know the truth was ripping through her. “Yeah. Let’s hope that baby is okay.”

  The lights from the ambulance flashed in front of them, and Molly’s heart started racing as she hoped Ben wasn’t riding in one of those ambulances. “I’m going to meet them,” Luke said. Molly watched Luke jog out the doors.

  Minutes later, Luke was walking alongside the stretcher. Molly’s heart dropped as she saw Ben walking on the other side, the very pregnant woman clutching his hand. He was still in full uniform, his dark hair sweaty and matted to his head, his face haggard. The second he made eye contact with her, she realized she couldn’t let this go on; she needed to tell him the truth. They burst through the doors and whisked by her, Luke’s voice filling the area as she asked for details about the woman.

  Molly watched as Ben walked with them. She couldn’t leave like this. She knew he’d be out a minute later; he wouldn’t be allowed in the bay as the woman was being treated.

  A few minutes later, Ben came walking out, looking beaten down and tired…and more amazing than she ever remembered. But before she could even think of going over there, Chase Donovan, police chief, walked in. Ben nudged his chin in his direction and walked over to meet him. The two men walked over to a grouping of chairs near the windows, speaking in low voices. Molly took out her phone to make it look like she was busy instead of just waiting around, stalking her fake fiancé. The sounds of their deep voices hushed in conversation filled her ears. They stood there face-to-face, and it struck her how hard their jobs were. Chase was married to her once close friend, Julia. She’d heard through her sisters that Julia’s little boy and first husband had died in a car collision, and that Chase had been on the scene. They did this, day in and day out and then just went on with their normal lives as though they were like everyone else, but they weren’t. She blinked back tears as she stared at Ben’s tired face and wanted nothing more than hug him, to feel his strong body against hers.

  She wanted to be his soft place to fall, even though she hadn’t earned that right.

  A minute later, Chase was leaving. He gave her a wave and then exited the building.

  She turned to Ben. His gaze was on hers, and she didn’t know if she was imagining it or wishing it, but she saw the vulnerability in that strong face and she didn’t think twice. She didn’t think of how it would look, or if he’d reject her, she ran to him because he had been through hell. She ran to him because she wanted to offer the comfort he so freely gave to whoever was in need. She ran to him, and just as he’d done in all her dreams about him, he hugged her close to his body. She felt the tremor
that ran through his hard body, and she held on tighter.

  She pulled back slightly and looked up into his eyes. “Ready to go home?”

  He ran his hand through his hair. “I have to stay and wait for Amy. I need to get ahold of her husband. I promised I wouldn’t leave her alone. Then I gotta go back to the station and fill out paperwork, shower…”

  Her smile dipped slightly, but she squeezed his hand. “Okay. How about I get you something? Water? Coffee?”

  He took a step back, physically distancing himself. “I’m fine, thanks.”

  “I can wait with you,” she said, realizing she was starting to sound pathetic.

  He rubbed the back of his neck. “You’ve been in this place long enough. Go home, get some rest. I’ll be fine.”

  She nodded, trying to look as though she hadn’t been shut down. “Take care. I’m sure she’ll be fine. You know, Luke’s the best around.”

  He gave a nod. “Good night.”

  She watched him leave; he was fearless and compassionate. But he was used to being alone. He didn’t need her. Ben had a life that didn’t include her.

  She was just his fake fiancée.

  Chapter Seven

  Molly threw her purse and overnight bag over her shoulder and made her way from the hustle and bustle of the ER to the quiet and virtually empty lobby of the hospital. It was almost ten at night and the end of a long week. She didn’t think she’d ever felt more tired emotionally or physically. She’d discovered early on that working long hours was the perfect antidote to get rid of your demons. She was usually too exhausted to think. Early on, after the “incident,” as her mother liked to call it, she’d been plagued with nightmares, night sweats, and all the classic PTSD symptoms.

  As time went on, as she dealt with the trauma of what had happened, as she worked with her therapist, they became less frequent. But she’d made a correlation between the hours she worked and the frequency of the nightmares. When she was so tired that she could fall asleep within a minute of her head hitting the pillow until her alarm woke her up, that had the best probability for a good night. Exhaustion kept the nightmares at bay. So that’s what she’d done. For the last nine years, she would work until exhaustion. Careerwise, it’d been a blessing because she’d accelerated everything. But personally, it meant no fun, no downtime, and no romance. That was fine, because she didn’t even know what any of that meant anymore.

  Being back in Shadow Creek had changed it all though. Ben had changed it. Too many emotions simmered close to the surface. Since the night of the accident, he’d been distant, cool. She’d tried to ask him about it, stupidly thinking he might want to talk about it with her, but he’d given her one-word answers and gone on with work. It was clear that whatever softening she’d imagined from him was just in her head.

  “Molly!”

  She stopped abruptly as her mother’s voice in the quiet lobby echoed loudly. Dread filled her stomach as her mother walked over to her. What was she doing here at this time of night? “Isn’t it a little late for you to be following me?” Molly whispered as her mother stood in front of her. She looked fine; she was still dressed up, her makeup perfect.

  Her mother pursed her lips. “Well, you don’t return my calls; I never see you. You’re back in town and you’re ignoring me.”

  Molly took a deep breath. “We haven’t seen each other in years. There’s no need to strike up a relationship now.”

  “You’re my daughter,” her mother said, her voice not exactly sounding motherly. It sounded more like a hiss, her words as though she were claiming ownership.

  “Yes, your adult daughter. I’m not a possession you can snatch back. Besides, Addie’s back in town. Why don’t you help her set up her shop or something?”

  Her mother rolled her eyes. “Don’t even get me started on your sister and that ridiculous waste of an education business she’s starting. I’m here to talk about you.”

  “I have nothing to say to you. You had your chance years ago. Unless you have something new to say to me, like, oh I don’t know, ‘Molly I was wrong. I failed you horribly.’ Something along those lines?” Her heart was pounding rapidly, angry with herself for getting into this.

  Her mother’s eyes narrowed, and she took a step closer to her. “I helped you. You’re here because of me. This career of yours is all because I helped you. Someday you will realize that and thank me.”

  Molly recoiled and backed up a step from her, feeling as though she’d been punched in the stomach. Nausea started making the room spin, and she knew she needed fresh air. She needed to leave. “Never. I will never thank you. Because of you, I ruined my relationship with Ben.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “I saved you from the humiliation of having to go through doctors and police officers and lawyers. Your name would have been all over the local paper. Do you know what that would have done to you? Small towns never forget. Would you have wanted Ben to know the truth? He would have never looked at you the same way again.”

  Molly was shaking, grasping for what little control she had left. “I know what this is. You are a master manipulator. I went through almost ten years of therapy, and believe me, we dissected your behavior for hours. I won’t fall for this anymore. I was young and naive then. I’m not anymore.”

  Her mother stepped toward her, eyes flashing. “I am and always will be a mother protecting her children.”

  Molly squeezed her eyes shut. “You ruined my relationship with Daddy. And then he died, and he never knew why I distanced myself.”

  “You did that. You distanced yourself. Your father was heartbroken,” she said, looking down her nose at her. “I’m sure he wouldn’t be too happy to know you’ve moved in with Ben.”

  Molly clenched her hands together. “Ben and I are engaged.” Oh how she wished it was true. If she and Ben were really engaged, it would mean her secret was out and that he’d forgiven her. It would mean she could go home and talk to him, lean on him.

  “That’s what I heard. I want you to break it off.”

  Molly stiffened. “Excuse me? What makes you think I’d even consider that?”

  Her mother took a step closer to her, and Molly felt a bead of sweat worm down her back. “If you don’t, I’ll tell him everything.”

  “What makes you think I haven’t told him everything?”

  Her mother smirked. “Because he hasn’t come barrelling through my door telling me what a horrible person he thinks I am. You have two options: you either break it off with him or make him rescind his application as fire chief.”

  “What?”

  “You heard me.”

  It dawned on her, then. Next year was reelection year, and her mother knew Ben would never support her. The mayor and fire chief worked together, and Ben would never be her yes man. Ben and his brother also carried a lot of influence. And the current chief was very close to Ben’s family… It would all be bad for her mother. “As if I would ever do that,” she hissed.

  “Be careful, Molly,” her mother said.

  She had to leave. “Stay away from me,” she managed to say before rushing out the automatic doors into the damp outdoors. She took large gulps of cool air as she trudged to her car. Her hands were shaking as she sat down and quickly locked the doors. She clutched the steering wheel and continued taking deep breaths, trying to refocus her thoughts.

  She wouldn’t let her mother ruin everything Ben had worked so hard for. This was what she’d been afraid of if she moved back here. She couldn’t keep seeing her mother. She would destroy everything Molly had built. She lowered her head and rested it against the steering wheel. What the heck was she doing? All her old wounds, heartaches…her mother was threatening to bring them out into the open. Her mother had always put her career goals ahead of all of them, but this was a new low. Now she had this new threat dangling over her. She was going to go back to Ben’s place and act like everything was normal. Yet, he was the person she wanted to see most right now.

  She sho
ok her head, the steering wheel grinding into her forehead. She was going to have to focus. Drive to Ben’s. If he was home, she was going to have to fake being fine for the one minute he spoke to her, and then she could go to sleep. She raised her head and turned on the light in her car to look at herself in the mirror. Disaster. She ran her fingers through her hair, wiped the smudged mascara, and considered it good enough. After a few minutes, she felt confident enough to drive.

  She drove through the quiet streets quickly, grateful that Ben’s place wasn’t far.

  Molly pulled into Ben’s driveway and relaxed her shoulders when she saw the porch light was still on, even though his truck wasn’t there. It was midnight and pitch black out in the country. That was one thing she hadn’t counted on. But for the fifth night in a row he’d left the light on, as promised. She was grateful he wasn’t home tonight, though. She was in no condition to talk to him or see him. She gathered her purse and the overnight bag she took with her to the hospital every day and got out of the car. She was so tired and drained that she winced with every step she took. She should have eaten dinner because she was pretty sure the empty stomach wasn’t helping her exhaustion and emotional state.

  She let out a sigh of relief as she entered the warm house. She locked the door and took off her shoes and hung her jacket. The hall light was on, and she padded across the floor to the kitchen. She already knew Ben didn’t keep much in his fridge besides a bag of apples and beer. She was going to have to get her own groceries this week.

  At least she was alone. She was used to being alone. Now it was awkward. They were overly polite to each other, but neither of them really spoke to each other. After the night of the collision, it looked as though he went out of his way to avoid her. He worked almost as much as she did, and most often their paths didn’t cross for more than an hour or so.

  Unfortunately, this morning she’d run into him when he was getting out of the washroom, after showering, and he hadn’t been wearing anything but boxers. This, of course, had sent her on red alert because the Ben she remembered and this Ben were different. Oh, he’d always been athletic, but this was something else. This was pure man.