Page 1 of Firefighter Midlife Wolf

1

“Turn left in three hundred feet.”

“Yeah, turn left. Right into the next disaster,” Jessica Anderson grumbled as she looked for the next street sign and did as the GPS told her. She thought she knew her way around Eugene until she’d had to drive all over town. Going to the grocery store or the farmers’ market was one thing. Finding the homes of her new patients was a different story, yet it seemed to be the least challenging part of this new job.

Jessica turned into the small parking lot of the senior living apartments. She parked the car before grabbing her tablet and double-checking that she’d entered the correct address for Verna Muldoon. She’d already transposed someone’s house numbers once, confusing everyone about why a visiting nurse had shown up at the door. If she were lucky, no one would call her agency and complain. That was the last thing she needed on her first day.

Getting out, Jessica stepped around the car and grabbed her nursing bag from the passenger seat. After the handle had gotten caught on the shifter and half the contents had spilled out earlier that morning, she’d decided it was much easier to just go around. There was no doubt she was learning a lot, but this was making her feel incompetent as hell. Why didn’t she just stay where she knew what she was doing? Where she didn’t have to question where things were? At the ER, she was on her own turf. She was the one in charge. She should just go crawling back to the admin nurse and ask for her job back.

And have to deal with Brandon again?

Her wolf reminded her exactly why it was time to find a new job. No one wanted to work alongside their ex-husband. That arrogant, self-centered jerk was a constant reminder of her failed marriage, especially with that condescending tone. He never would’ve quit the ER, so it was up to her. She’d already proven she was strong enough to leave him. Now, she just had to prove she was strong enough to handle this new position.

Stepping onto the small porch, she spotted the lockbox on the handle and pulled her tablet out again. It felt so awkward to just walk right into a stranger’s home. Yes, she had the code, so she had permission, but that didn’t really make it any better. Jessica continued the pep talk she’d been giving herself all day, remembering all the awkward things she’d had to do throughout nursing school and as she’d gotten established with her career. No matter how much passion she’d had for helping people, it’d still taken time to not feel weird about touching people’s bodies and performing procedures that made them uncomfortable.

She punched the code into the lockbox and hit the unlock button. It beeped loudly at her three times, but she didn’t hear the whirring sound of the lock opening. She tried the handle just to be sure. Nope. Still locked. Jessica entered the code again but got three loud beeps once more. ”Ugh, come on,” she groaned. As she touched the numbers for the third time, she thought for sure this would be both her first and last day of work as a visiting nurse. Instead, the lock opened.

If that were the worst thing to happen during this visit, she’d count herself lucky.

No lights were on in the apartment. Only the muted sunshine from the overcast day provided any illumination as it came in through the back sliding door. It showed Jessica that this was one of the higher-end senior living units, with premium flooring, solid wood cabinets, and fine furniture. She blinked as she tried to let her eyes adjust, though she’d much rather turn on a lamp. After a moment, she spotted a gray head poking up over the back of an armchair near the electric fireplace.

“Hi, Verna,” she called out in a gentle voice, not wanting to alarm her in case she hadn’t heard the door opening. “My name is Jessica Anderson. I’m your nurse today. How are you?”

The chair swiveled around. Verna glared at her with dark, fiery eyes. “Clear yourself!” she barked.

Jessica had been reaching into her bag, ready to check Verna’s vitals and do a quick assessment, but paused with her hand halfway inside the zipper. “I’m sorry?”

“As you should be, coming in here without taking precautions. Clear yourself!” The old woman pointed a sharp finger at the door.

Precautions? Oh. Jessica understood. “Would you like me to take off my shoes? It’s not a problem at all.” She gestured toward her feet.

Verna slapped her bony hands down on the arms of her chair. “The universe only knows where you’ve been and what you’ve picked up out there! I won’t have you bringing negative energies into my home. And don’t tell me you don’t have any because everyone does. Probably have some nasty spirits clinging to you, too.”

This woman was not talking about germs. Jessica’s eyes had adjusted to the dim light now. She spotted an array of crystals on the mantle among the framed family photos. A small circle of wood carved with a grid pattern sat on the end table, and several candles were arranged carefully on it. A short stick of twisted wood with stones wired onto the end rested nearby, appearing to be some sort of wand. She was starting to understand.

“I’m so sorry, Verna. Would you mind telling me what I need to do to clear myself? I’m afraid I haven’t done it before.” So much for a smooth appointment. This day was just getting better and better. She’d angered her patient without even trying.

“You walked right past it when you came in the door.” Verna pointed again.

Turning around, Jessica went back the way she’d come. The side table near the door held a large abalone shell, and a bundle of pale leaves rested inside it.

“Light that sage until it starts to smoke,” Verna commanded. “Then pass it all around your body. You can’t just do it, either. There has to be some intention behind it to clear yourself of anything that no longer serves you.”

Maybe I should clear myself of this damn job. Jessica held back a snicker as she slipped her bag off her shoulder to set it down.

“Sage that, too!”

“Okay.” She kept her voice light and airy, something she had plenty of practice at even when times were less than ideal. Jessica picked up the box of matches next to the abalone shell and lit one. She held the flame to the sage, moving it around a little. It didn’t seem to be doing much, and she was just about to risk her neck by asking Verna for advice when the end of the bundle burst into flames. “Shoot!”

“Blow on it, but gently.” The old woman was keeping a keen eye on her from her armchair. “You let it burn for too long, but it can’t be helped now. Hell, maybe you needed the extra smoke.”

Jessica’s hand was shaking as she held up the smoking smudge stick. “So I just pass it around me like this?” She waved the thing back and forth in front of herself.

“All over. Get your bag, too. Behind you. Over your head. You didn’t get low enough. Get your feet.” She issued orders every two seconds as the thick plume of smoke started to fill the tiny apartment.

“That’s probably good, right?” Jessica coughed. The smell was so strong. Her nose wasn’t as sensitive as it would be in her wolf form, but it was still far too much. She waved the smoke away from her face, but there was so much that she couldn’t really get away from it. And now what the hell was she supposed to do with this thing? Her instinct was to douse it in the kitchen sink, but at this point, she didn’t want to do anything without Verna’s permission.

Verna narrowed her eyes, and for a moment, Jessica wondered if she was trying to see whether or not any negative energies were still hanging around. “Just press the burning end into the shell and leave it there.”

---