Page 68 of Dandelions and Smoke

“I would’ve helped if I’d known.”

Another hollow laugh escapes her.

“That’s just it, Garrett.” She catches herself before the sentence finishes.

I wait, but she doesn’t say the rest. She never does.

Instead, she clears her throat. “If you can’t see your own kid for a year, maybe that’s because you didn’t fight hard enough.”

“I’m fighting now,” I bite out, my lips pressing together with barely contained fury, the muscle in my jaw ticking as I clench my fists.

“Someone certainly is,” she tosses back.

“Jasenia, if you don’t let me see my son, I’ll⁠—”

“I’ll figure it out and let you know,” she says, cutting me off before ending the call.

Every muscle in my body feels wound too tight. That conversation feels like it’s sucked the life out of me, but she’s going to let me know when I can see Scout, and that’s a huge step in the right direction.

About an hour later, a text comes in.

Little Lion: If I did, then I wouldn’t be able to answer you.

Always the smart-ass, I think with a small grin.

I sink into my chair, doing my best to shake off the lingering tension left from the conversation with Jasenia. Talking with her feels like stepping onto a battlefield where I’m constantly waiting for the next hit. Every word feels carefully chosen, every reaction something I have to brace for.

By the time the conversation ends, I feel like I’ve spent hours fighting a war no one else can see. So I turn my focus back to the woman whose face is lighting up my phone’s Messenger app. It’s a little after ten in the morning, and since I’ve been here since six, it seems like a perfectly acceptable time to call it a day.

Feeling good about this decision, I grab my coat and the scarf that Rory crocheted for me over the holidays, and make my way out of my office. Handmade with love, she said as she passed around the red, black, yellow, and white scarves to everyone at the station. I didn’t even know she knew how to crochet or when she found the time, but it’s just one of her many hobbies. This scarf is by far the warmest one I’ve ever owned, and while all our scarves match in color, she took the time to make each one different.

Each color identifies rank, experience, and specific roles on the emergency scene. White identifies who is in command, and since I’m the Chief, she made mine to reflect that, with white being the dominant color. Captain Levi’s has the most red with some extra white since he leads the crew. The rest have all the colors but are dominantly black and yellow for being fully certified.

Billy and Angela’s are black since they’re engineers. It’s a thoughtful gift that took time and truly highlights the way she makes sure to show everyone how much she cares. Since my party, she’s explained to me how sometimes noticing every little detail can feel overwhelming, but it’s her ability to notice and think of little details like this that makes her so special in my eyes.

Before I realize it, I’m smiling, and my heart stumbles before finding its rhythm again. At this point, there’s no doubt in my mind that I’m in love with her, but the last time I told a woman that, I was seventeen years old. I had no idea what love really looked like, what it could be, or what it could turn into. Rory is nothing like Jasenia, I remind myself, but years of closed doors and playing guessing games about what someone is thinking or feeling have left me cautious. Rory says exactly what she’s thinking and shares her mind passionately, but the one thing she hasn’t told me is if she feels the same way.

But does she need to?

Her actions speak louder than her words, so it’s about time I let her know.

With a newfound motivation, I’m walking to my truck when the alarms go off for an incoming call.

“Chief. You talk to Pinky yet today?” Billy asks as he hops into the rig.

I’m about to answer but pause, mouth open, as the address for the AFAs’ automatic fire alarm call comes over the radio.

Billy cocks his head to the side with a half grin and turns on the sirens. His smile is reassuring. Apparently, whatever he knows has him convinced this isn’t an emergency. The lights and sirens are his version of a grand entrance since it’s clear his capability for subtlety died a long time ago. With all the alarms he’s set off, Billy is happy to bring as much attention as possible to one of our own when they do it.

And today the culprit is Rory.

I quicken my pace and follow behind the truck after shooting her another text.

Did you set the house on fire? Nevermind. I’m on my way.

After so easily sneaking in through her window, I had alarms put on every possible point of entry and updated everything to include security and fire. For once, Blake didn’t argue. Her safety is something we can all agree on. Even Lucas thanked me for having the idea. It seems that he’s no stranger to Rory’s side-quest behavior.

I didn’t think we’d be finding out if the system works this soon, but given her close friendship with Billy, I should’ve known there’d be some overlap in testing my sanity. I take a deep breath as I put the truck in park and exhale with relief when her bright pink head of curls bounces out the door and onto her porch.