Page 36 of Embers of Love

“And a great deal of luck too,” her partner replied. She was slightly smaller than the other one. Josephine couldn’t remember her name, but she and Mikaila could pass for twins.

“I think she’s a little crazy because of her mom. The chief was pretty awesome in her younger days, being the first female chief of any US fire department. She is a real formidable woman.”

“And Ember has been living in her mom’s shadow.”

“Definitely some self-destructive tendencies there.”

Josephine had heard enough. She finished her lunch and rose. She planned to walk out without saying anything but decided that she was indeed going to say something to the two nurses.

“Perhaps you should gossip less about someone working hard to save lives and appreciate their efforts more?”

They gaped at her in surprise. Josephine was surprised herself. But the urge to speak up in defense of Ember was impossible to ignore. This was not normal for her, she wasn’t confrontative by any means, but Ember was a hero. She risked her life to save others. She deserved accolades, not criticisms.

She left the two women in shocked silence. Their interactions were going to be awkward from now on, Josephine realized. For someone who just got here, that was not a good thing, making enemies like that. But Josephine found she cared less about that. There was a familiar itch she felt deep within her. The itch that always drove her to run away from her problems. It was not as intense as it could be but that would change over time. She knew this fact.

Josephine sighed.

What was she going to do about Ember though? There might have been some merit to what the nurses were saying. They might have been wrong in assuming Ember was putting herself in danger just to surpass her mother. What if she was doing it because they broke up? She’d seen that look in her eyes. Ember looked lost. Josephine wanted to think of a way to help her without necessarily getting back together. Though the thought of getting back with Ember sent a thrill of excitement and satisfaction rushing through her.

Becky

Things were rough between the two but if there was anybody that could possibly reach Ember. She was the one.

“Doctor Mars!” someone called out her name, breaking her from her musings.

“Yes?” The sense of urgency was familiar. There was a medical emergency.

“We need a general surgeon in the OR! Doctor Morley is fifteen minutes ou?—”

“Take me to the patient,” Josephine went full doctor mode. She’d been taking things easy, but she knew something like this was going to happen eventually and was mentally prepared for it. She was in her element now.

“Patient is a female in her mid-thirties. Badly in need of an appendectomy.” The nurse gave her a rapid-fire rundown of the situation.

“How bad is it?” she asked the nurse.

The woman winced. “She’s about to pop.”

If Josephine was the swearing type, she would’ve let out a few expletives right then. She hated to rush surgeries like these, but there was nothing for it.

“Is everything prepared?” Josephine asked. She gowned up and scrubbed in and then walked into the OR, sighting the patient right away. Josephine gave the woman a reassuring smile. She looked panicked. There was no helping it, they had to inform her of what they were about to do and that would naturally put her on edge. Removing an appendix was supposed to be relatively simple but there were always risks involved.

“Don’t worry, Ms Flynn. It’s an extremely straightforward surgery.”

The woman gazed at her, bewildered. Something about her reminded Josephine of Ember. Then again, that could just be her mind playing tricks on her. Either way, she was determined to ease the woman’s discomfort.

“Then why is everyone going crazy?”

Josephine laughed. It wasn’t entirely genuine, but she was putting on a show that she was in control and that would, by extension, put the patient at ease as well.

“They’re not going crazy. They know what they’re doing.”

At the corner of her vision, she could see the nurses exchange glances. Thankfully, the patient didn’t notice them.

“It’s a relatively simply surgery,” Josephine explained. “Small incision, separate the muscles, find the appendix, tie it up and cut it out. You’ll be back on your feet in no time at all.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” the woman said gratefully.

“Call me Josephine,” she offered.

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