“And somehow one article later we’re discussing whether maybe she should’ve taken charge quicker.”
Her hand reaches across the table and squeezes my wrist.
I look out at Jamie and Samantha.
Jamie is laughing.
Samantha is currently directing two fully grown firefighters carrying traffic cones.
“When does it stop?” I ask quietly.
Amanda’s gaze comes back to me.
I shake my head.
Not at her.
At all of it.
“When do I just become the person doing the job?”
“Probably never,” Josh answers. He is standing in the doorway holding a mug and wearing the expression of someone who has heard enough to know he’s walking into something.
His glance moves from Amanda, to me, to the article.
Then he walks in and sits down.
Amanda gives him a small smile.
“Hi.”
He nods.
“Morning.”
Then he looks at me.
“What’s happened?”
I slide the paper across.
He reads.
Once.
Then again.
He folds it neatly and puts it down.
“You’re right.” Josh shrugs. “If this had been me, the article would’ve said Station Manager Josh Walker.”
He taps the line again.
“Not county’s first anything.”
Josh doesn’t say things lightly.
He also doesn’t hand out sympathy to make people feel better.
