Page 45 of High Intensity

I’m ignoring the guys and concentrate on putting in the new door lintel. The basic layout of Jackson’s bathroom will stay the same with the sink and toilet in the identical location, but we are building the shower a little deeper than the bathtub was, which meant we had to move the door slightly. The roomier shower will allow for the addition of a corner bench we plan to build in.

The other addition will be a safety bar we’re anchoring to double studs. Jackson protested that none of those added features were necessary, but all it took was Fletch telling him not to be an idiot, and that was the end of the discussion.

While I work, my thoughts inevitably slide back to the woman I left warm and cozy in her bed this morning. I’m not usually one to spend the night, but there was no way I could’ve left her after she bared her soul to me last night. Not that I would’ve wanted to anyway.

It’s so rare reality beats the imagination, but I’ll be damned if Jillian didn’t blow every one of my fantasies clear out of the water.

“You’re fucking whistling again,” Fletch complains behind me.

It’s getting dark out already, and only Jackson and I are left when Dan pokes his head in the door.

“Looks good. When do you figure you’ll be ready for me?”

All the new green board is up, and taped, and we’ve just finished throwing on a sealing primer to dry overnight.

“Tomorrow,” Jackson answers him.

My phone vibrates in my pocket. When I see the call is coming from Wellspring Senior Living, I duck past Dan and step outside to answer.

“Wolff.”

“Hi, it’s Marcela at Wellspring…David Gentry asked me to give you a call. I’m afraid your mother had a bit of a tumble in the dining room at dinner tonight.”

My heart seizes in my chest.

“Is she okay?”

“Well, she was talking when EMTs got here. David went with her in the ambulance and I’m sure he will be in touch as soon as he knows something.”

“Where did they take her?” I ask, walking back inside.

“Logan Medical Center.”

“Thanks.”

With that I hang up and poke my head into the bathroom.

“I’ve gotta go. Family emergency. I’ll call.”

“Wait!” I hear Dan yell behind me as I stalk from Jackson’s cabin to mine.

He follows me into my place where I snatch up my truck keys, grab my wallet and my phone charger off the counter, and snag my coat off the hook.

“What’s going on?” he asks.

“Mom fell. She’s on her way to Logan by ambulance. Don’t know anything more.”

“Shit. Anything I can do?”

I shrug into my coat and stuff my wallet and phone charger into the pocket.

“Nah. I’ll be in touch when I know more.”

“Hope she’s okay,” he calls after me when I step out and jog to my truck.

Me too, brother. Me too.

The clock on my dashboard says it’s a quarter to seven, with a bit of luck I can be in Kalispell by eight. I crank the classic rock station and try to drown out my worries with loud music.

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