Page 57 of Phoenix Rising

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to. Lucinda could see the desire in Becky’s eyes every time they were together, the same longing that she felt bubbling just under her own skin. But they’d agreed. No rushing. No falling headfirst without looking at what was below.

They were building something, even if it wasn’t clear yet what that something was.

Lucinda heard the soft buzz of her phone and glanced at it, her heart skipping a beat when she saw Becky’s name on the screen. She smiled, her fingers hovering over the screen for a moment before she opened the message.

Becky: U free around 1? Want to grab lunch?

Becky: If ur free.

Becky: No pressure.

Lucinda chuckled softly. Even in her texts, Becky was careful now, not pushing too hard, giving her space.

Lucinda: Lunch sounds great <3

She wanted to see Becky, wanted to sit across from her at lunch and talk about nothing and everything. It wasn’t easy taking things slow, but it felt right. It felt like the only way they could make this work.

As she cleaned up her coffee cup, she thoughtabout how different things felt now. She wasn’t running anymore. She wasn’t trying to control every little aspect of her life to keep herself safe by keeping her distance. She was learning to let go, just a little, to trust that things could unfold at their own pace.

And with Becky, for the first time in a long time, she felt like she didn’t have to rush.

Lucinda dried her hands and took a deep breath. Maybe this was what it meant to truly build something—slow, steady, and with the kind of care that could last. It wasn’t perfect. There were still moments of doubt, of hesitation, but there was also hope. And for now, that was enough.

Lucinda watched as rain began to fall over Phoenix Ridge, wondering where Becky wanted to take her.

The rain had been relentless for days, hammering against the windows like a constant reminder of the growing threat outside. Lucinda stood near the entrance of the Emergency Operations Center, her arms folded tightly across her chest as she listened to the low murmur of the weather reports.

The storm system over Phoenix Ridge was unlike anything the city had seen in decades. The skies had opened up days ago, dumping a torrent of rain that had flooded streets, knocked out power in some neighborhoods, and pushed the infrastructure of the city to its limits. The real danger, though, was the dam near Phoenix Ridge. As the rainfall continued to pummel the area, the dam had become dangerously close to failing.

Lucinda’s thoughts drifted to Becky, who was in another part of the EOC overseeing the emergency response teams. Now, in the midst of the worst storm crisis the city had faced in years, they found themselves side by side again—not as lovers, but as professionals, fighting to save their city.

"Dr. Everett?"

Lucinda turned as one of the junior doctors approached her holding a clipboard and looking frazzled. "The mayor just called in. They’re considering mandatory evacuations. They want us ready to receive an influx of patients from the low-lying areas."

Lucinda nodded, glancing down at the maps spread out on the table in front of her. The low-lying districts had already been heavily impactedby the rain, and if the dam gave way, those areas would be completely submerged.

"Get the emergency response teams prepped," she said, her voice calm but firm. "We need to make sure the hospital is ready to receive patients. Prioritize critical cases and make room where we can. We’re going to be flooded—literally and figuratively."

The doctor nodded and hurried off to relay the orders. Lucinda let out a slow breath, running her fingers through her hair. The weight of responsibility pressed down on her chest, but she was used to it. This was her element: chaos, crisis, and control. Yet the anxiety gnawing at the edges of her mind had nothing to do with the impending disaster and had everything to do with Becky.

Even after two weeks of trying to rebuild their relationship, Lucinda still found herself on edge whenever they were in the same room. There was a tenderness between them, an unspoken understanding that they were both trying to do better, but the scars of their breakup lingered.

She heard the sound of boots on the wet concrete behind her and turned to see Becky approaching, her face grim, her uniform soaked through from the rain outside. Becky always hadthat effect on her—a mixture of warmth and tension, of longing and restraint.

"Lucinda," Becky said, wiping rain from her brow. "The mayor just confirmed it. They’re issuing mandatory evacuations. We’re going to have to move fast. Roads are already becoming impassable."

Lucinda nodded, glancing at the maps again. "I’ve got the hospital staff prepping for casualties. We’ve already started discharging non-critical patients to free up space."

Becky’s eyes softened just a fraction as they met Lucinda’s. It wasn’t the time for personal conversations, but Lucinda could feel the undercurrent of their shared history pulsing between them. "Good. Let’s hope it holds."

They stood there in silence for a moment, the rain pounding against the roof of the EOC. Outside, the situation was growing worse by the minute. The roads were slick, and reports were coming in about rising water levels across the city. But inside the EOC, there was a strange sense of calm between them.

"I’m worried about the dam," Becky admitted, her voice lower now, as if speaking the words aloud would make the threat more real. "If it fails,we’re looking at a citywide disaster. We can’t evacuate fast enough."

Lucinda swallowed, feeling a pit form in her stomach. "We’ll handle it," she said, her voice steady. "We always do."

Becky’s lips twitched into a small, almost imperceptible smile. "Yeah. We do."

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