Page 14 of Phoenix Rising

"But you combated my every suggestion." Lucinda rubbed her arms against the chill that had fallen with the sun.

Becky snorted, pulling off her jacket and handing it to Lucinda. "Put it on. It's just getting in my way." She rolled up her sleeves.

Lucinda took the jacket, mumbling a thank you. She wondered if a snake was hiding in the pocket and if this was all some ruse or prank. But as the sun dropped lower, so did the temperature,and Lucinda, who hated being cold, put it on. Immediately, the smell of warm oak and vanilla washed over her.

"I challenged you because we need to think about all the options. Every pitfall, every possible outcome." Becky finished untightening the bolts, leaving them in a small pile in the dirt. "Change is hard for anyone. I needed you to sell it to me."

"And did I?" Lucinda found that she was suddenly craving the chief's approval. She wanted to know what else Becky thought about her.

"That's why you and I will be working on it." She rubbed the back of her neck, marking her skin with grease. "I admire your dedication to this job and to my community.”

Lucinda had no idea what was happening. Becky confused her to no end. She was gruff and serious but also playful and funny. Which was the real chief? And why was she so desperate to know?

"I'm sorry about yesterday," Lucinda blurted out. "I thought I needed to show that I couldn't be pushed around, but instead I caused unnecessary tension."

"That's alright. I had gotten too comfortable. I needed someone to come scare me shitless."

Lucinda was quiet, her heart thundering in her ears.

"Well, Lucinda," Becky said, changing the subject. Her name took its time coming from her mouth. Each syllable skated across Lucinda's spine. "Why'd you pick our little city? I saw your credentials. You could've gone anywhere."

"Anywhere wasn't hiring."

Becky laughed. "This was a huge leap. What made you want to do it?"

"Honestly? I was sick of the weather." Lucinda sat on the gravel, tucking her feet beside her. She was definitely going to need that bath now.

"Enough to leave your friends and family? I'm not buying it, Doc," Becky said playfully.

"My job wasn't fulfilling me."

"And?" Becky pulled the ruined tire off and tossed it to the side like it weighed nothing.

Lucinda cleared her throat. "Maybe I had a breakup."

"There it is."

Becky's charming smile warmed Lucinda's cheeks. She looked away, now aware of how close they were sitting on the ground, even though Lucinda had a whole lot she could be in.

"But I didn't move because of her," Lucindaclarified. "It was everything. She was just the catalyst. I needed a change. Something that felt like it could motivate me. Being here is an amazing opportunity. Also, I really do hate the rain." Lucinda laughed. Her bad mood was slowly lifting off her shoulders with Becky’s company. "What about you? How long have you been here?"

"A while now. After my wife and I got a divorce, Ember and I moved here. She was just a little girl. The city also gave me an offer I couldn't refuse. So I guess we've been in similar situations."

Did she say wife? "Where's your wife now?"

Becky bit back a smile. "Ex-wife. She's in Colorado. Remarried and started a new life. I wanted to focus on Ember and my career."

"So Ember works with you?"

"Yeah, she’s taken a few years out to raise their lovely little girl and work on her passions but she comes in two or three shifts a week these days. She's a pain in my ass, but she does her job well. She's got a lot more of me in her than I expected." Becky got on her knees to push the spare tire into place.

"Come here." Becky motioned for her to come closer.

"What? Why?" Lucinda peeked over Becky's shoulder.

"I'm walking you through how to change a tire, Lucinda."

Becky pointed at the jack and the X-shaped wrench, explaining to Lucinda everything she had done up until that point. But Lucinda could hardly concentrate because the way Becky had said her name made her mind collapse.

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