Page 28 of Embers of Love

Josephine kissed her. It lasted a few seconds before she forced herself to pull away. Ember whined in disappointment, stretching her lithe body like a cat after Josephine got out of bed. She was sorely tempted to climb back in, but she had things to do.

“See you later?” Ember asked.

“Maybe? Depends on how long my dad will let me get away.”

“I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too.”

Josephine started to leave but then stopped.

“Do you know where I can buy a car?”

Ember raised an eyebrow at her question. Slowly, a grin stretched her lips.

“What’s your budget?”

“Who the hell convinced you to buy a muscle car?” Benjamin said, gaping at her new car.

Josephine cringed. “Do you hate it?”

“Hate it?! I love it!” Her dad walked a circle around the car. “Never pictured you of all people driving a mustang.”

Her dad gave her a look. Josephine didn’t quite know what it meant. On their drive into the city, her father noted the terrain.

“It reminds me of the Sonoran Desert, but less dry, and there’s more plant life.” Everyone in medicine knew her father as one of the most famous surgeons in the world. Sure, he was an excellent surgeon, but he knew far more than that. Josephine could remember multiple vacations she’d been on with her father. He would point out various trivia as they journeyed. He was interested in everything.

“It’s beautiful,” Josephine said.

“And very vulnerable to wildfires,” her father added.

Briefly, her mind flitted to Ember. If something of that sort happened, she’d be on the front lines. Dangerous. Josephine pushed it out of her mind. She was certain if wildfires were that common around here it would have already happened before she came. It was the season for it after all.

“So, are you going to show me around this new city of yours? I’m still trying to figure out why you decided to pack up and move without telling anyone about it.”

They’d gotten Benjamin settled in his hotel room. Josephine had been spared his questions so far but as soon as they sat down to eat at the restaurant, he spoke up.

“It’s a great city,” Josephine said hesitantly.

“Why? I haven’t seen anything particularly special about it. Well, fine the streets are cleaner than New York, I admit. But that can’t be the reason why you’ve changed so much in such a short time.”

“I’ve changed?” Josephine blinked in surprise. “How do you mean?”

Her father gave her a conspiratorial look. “I’ve seen you smile more in the last two hours than you did for a whole week in New York. You’re happier, more relaxed. It feels like after all these years you’ve finally taken my advice and begun to live.”

Josephine receded into her thoughts. Some introspection revealed that, indeed, she’d been smiling more since the first day she arrived at Phoenix Ridge.

“It’s the people here,” Josephine confessed. “I never really thought about it, but back in New York, I hardly ever had any friends. Sure, there were co-workers and a few acquaintances but after…after my breakup, I lost my ability to connect with people. Coming to Phoenix Ridge helped me regain that.”

“You found love again,” her father said. It wasn’t a question.

“Yes.”

“Who?”

“I…it’s not the reason why I came. We sort of met and things sparked off and she’s been so amazing to me.”

Her father nodded. Josephine noted a slight look of disappointment in his eyes. He had that same look when she’d come out to him as a lesbian. Of course, he’d been completely supportive, but she knew he wished she’d settled down and had a more traditional family. He never quite got rid of that hope.

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