"Did you ask Isabella or Maria?"
"Yes." Mom picked up her plate of half-eaten food and headed to the sink. "Isabella helps out at the school on Tuesdays reading with kids who are struggling. And Maria is taking little Bella to an ear, nose and throat specialist in Pasco this morning. Poor little thing might have to get tubes in her ears. She'snot likely to be back in time to turn around and take you to Richland."
"What about...Aunt Faith." Damon was grasping at straws now.
"She's headed to Spokane for a funeral."
Damon's mind raced through the rest of his family members. Uncle James was a doctor and would be working as well as Riley, his nurse practitioner. Aunt Hope was the high school principal and wouldn't be able to break away on a weekday. Nor could Paige who taught elementary. Even Gabe was already in Pasco today, working at the PT office there.
As the sheriff, Robert probably wasn't available. Ben was no doubt working in his law office. Damon's mind jumped to Jake, but then he dismissed it. Even though things slowed down on the ranch in the winter, Jake was still plenty busy.
Daniel. Maybe he can take me.
Damon grabbed his phone off the table and texted his best friend growing up.
His face fell a few minutes later when he received a response.
Daniel:Sorry, man, I'd love to, but I have a meeting with Austin Reed this afternoon to finalize the house designs for the new subdivision they’re starting soon.
Damon considered driving himself, but he wasn't sure he was ready to do that yet. He was still too jumpy, seeing everything as a threat. Even having his mom drive him to PT caused his blood pressure to spike. He never knew when something would trigger him. More than anything, though, he didn't want to tackle this hurdle alone.
But I don't want Grace with me either.
Except he did. He wanted to be able to talk and banter with her like they used to. He wanted to tell her how hard these past two months had been. He wanted to hold her hand and kiss her lips.
He put the brakes on those thoughts. How was he supposed to spend the afternoon with her and pretend he hadn't hurt her terribly? That he didn't still care about her? Much more than he wanted to.
His mom stuck around long enough to make sure he made it through his shower without any problems, then she was gone. Leaving him with two hours of solitude that he had no idea how to fill.
Damon was fed up with trying to find something worth watching when Grace's car pull into the driveway. His heart rate took off like an F/A-18 Super Hornet leaving a Naval Carrier, He turned off the TV, grabbed his crutches and started for the door, still wishing there was another option. He'd even considered hiring an Uber until he saw the cost and decided to swallow his pride. Even if it meant he might choke to death on it.
He was reaching for the doorknob when he heard a short knock, then the door swung open in his face. He stumbled back to avoid being hit, caught his left crutch on the bench in the entryway, and lost his balance. His shoulder slammed into the wall before he ended up sprawled on the floor.
His mind screamed,“Take cover!”
"Oh my gosh!" Grace clapped a hand to her mouth. "I'm so sorry.”
The cry of alarm snapped Damon’s nervous system into high alert.
His vision dims, tunneling in to identify the threat.
Heart racing.
Lungs seizing.
His jaw locks.
He raises his gun to neutralize the threat. But it feels all wrong in his hands. Too light. Powerless.
His muscles bunch, preparing for hand-to-hand combat.
Tension, thick and heavy, fills the air.
Then a deafening explosion splits the air.
Heat.
Pressure.
