Page 26 of Firefighter Midlife Wolf

“Pretty well, overall.” Jessica frowned at her tablet on the passenger seat. She didn’t have to look at it to know who she’d be seeing for her next appointment. She knew she was strong enough to handle whatever came her way, but she was still nervous.

“Overall?” Dawn questioned. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, really. My supervisor is great, and she’s really got my back. I’m busy, but it’s nothing like the ER. No offense, but I can’t say I miss that stress.”

“Hey, none taken. We’re actually a bit short-staffed right now since a couple of other people left, so it’s even more hectic than usual,” Dawn admitted. “And, of course, anyone who wants to work here has to put up with Brandon.”

Jessica would take almost any job, even stressful and hectic, if it meant she didn’t have to work with Dr. Anderson. “I don’t know why the hell I married him or why I thought it was a good idea to ever work with him.”

“Hey, we all make mistakes, right?” Dawn said with a laugh. “So what’s the bad part, then?”

“I’ve just got some patients I’m concerned about. It’s getting handled, but you know how it is.”

“Yeah, I do. What about that kid that I referred to you? Jack Westbrook? Poor thing. He and his family are part of our pack, but it’s not like he really gets involved since he’s not a shifter. I know you can’t tell me much, but is he hanging in there?”

“He is.” There wasn’t much they could discuss as far as their patients, since they didn’t work at the same place any longer, but Jack was a mutual patient. “It’s going to be a while before he’s up and on his feet again. So I guess you know Hayden pretty well since he’s part of your pack, huh?” Jessica’s own pack, the Silvergroves, was undergoing a major rehaul now that the bad seeds who’d been leading them had been removed. She hadn’t been involved for a long time because of that, and she missed having that sense of community. The Glenwoods were all pretty tight.

“Oh, yeah. I’ve known Hayden and his brother Pierce forever. And their dad, Rick. With him being the fire chief, it was really no surprise that they followed in his footsteps.”

She had so many questions she wanted to ask, but how? “Hayden is, um, really something.”

There was a long pause before Dawn finally replied. “Wait. Do you like him?” she asked in a singsong voice. “I hadn’t even thought about it! A firefighter and a nurse. That’s a cute combo!”

“I don’t think job compatibility is what it’s really about,” Jessica began. “But yeah, I think there might be, you know, something happening there. I mean, not right now, of course. Not with Jack being hurt. And for lots of other reasons.”

“Something?” Dawn asked. “Girl, don’t leave me hanging like that!”

Jessica laughed nervously. She hadn’t said this aloud to anyone else. Even her conversation with Hayden about it had been vague. “He’s my mate.”

“What!” Dawn’s screams filled the car. “That’s so exciting! So spill! Tell me all the details!”

“There really aren’t any details,” Jessica replied. “Like I said, things are complicated right now. We have to wait, so I’m not sure what’ll happen.”

“It’s just so perfect!” Dawn squealed. “I want to know every detail, even if it’s just staring at each other from across the room.”

“That’s been the most of it,” Jessica admitted. “I’ll have to tell you later, though. I’m at my next patient’s house.”

“Tease!”

With a promise to talk again soon, they got off the phone. Her call with Dawn had been a nice distraction from what was coming. She should be looking forward to her time with Verna since she’d really come to like the old lady, but all this business with Darcy was making that hard. She steeled herself as she walked up to the door and punched in the code, which she knew by heart now. Verna would have to understand that it was time for them to get professional assistance with this problem before someone got hurt.

“Ah, there you are.” Surprisingly, Verna was on her feet. Instead of her usual loungewear, she was dressed in a loose tunic and linen pants. Gold earrings dotted her ears, and a black crystal hung around her neck. She was digging in a purse that she had propped up on the back of the couch. “I hope you’re ready to go.”

“Go?” Jessica put her medical bag down, completely forgetting about any smudging or cleansing. She’d been expecting Verna to say something about her wolf heritage again, but Verna’s statement had thrown her off track. “Go where?”

“To the bank,” Verna said firmly. “The damn thing isn’t in here. Hang on.” She retreated to her bedroom.

After a moment, Jessica followed her and stood in the doorway of the room. Like the bathroom, it was decorated in a dark purple that somehow suited Verna. The bed was neatly made, and the window that let the bright sunshine in didn’t have a single fingerprint on it. Several crystals and figurines were displayed on the long dresser alongside perfume bottles and a jewelry box. Once again, there was nothing about the room that would make her think Verna had lost her mind.

The fact that she was on her hands and knees in front of the closet, tossing purses and shoes over her shoulders, made her think otherwise.

“Verna, what’s going on?”

“I hid it.” The old woman’s voice was muffled as she dug around in the bottom of the closet. “I knew I had to do a good job of it, too, or Darcy was going to find it. She’s a sneaky one, but I know she’s been looking.”

Darcy had seemed to be looking for something when she’d been ‘cleaning’ the apartment the last time Jessica was there. “What is it she’s looking for? Can I help?”

“No. I’ve got it.” Verna crawled backward out of the closet. She rose up on her knees and held up a gold key. “I almost hid it too well.”

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