Page 26 of Phoenix Rising

Becky nodded, her eyes red and her skin blotchy.

Lucinda put a hand on Becky's shoulder. Becky's muscles released slightly under Lucinda's touch. "Why don't you call Dr. Mars? She'll want to know once Ember gets transported. She'll be able to go home tomorrow, I promise."

Becky sighed. "I trust you," she said quietly holding Lucinda’s arm before grabbing her cell phone and calling Dr. Mars.

When Becky left the tent, her words reverberated in Lucinda’s head.

I trust you.

7

BECKY

Becky sighed shakily. Lucinda was right. Everything had gone smoothly, and she even cared for Ember through it all. The doctor had earned more than just her respect. The next few hours were thrown into chaos. Becky called Josephine to let her know Ember was okay but was being transported to the hospital. Josephine agreed to be there when Ember was admitted. Becky had to call City Hall and report the situation, asking for the police to investigate who had set off the first canister. Probably some teenagers who had no idea what the accelerant actually was. The exhausted teams had help from the uninjured volunteers to take everything down,and Becky was finally free to meet Josephine and Ember at the hospital.

Becky strode into the hospital room to see Ember eating a pudding cup with their little girl Natalie sitting on her knee sharing. Natalie was like an exact mini-me of Ember. Same wild red hair and strong beautiful features. Such a bright and engaging little girl.

"Mom! The hospital finally got banana pudding!" Ember said giddily.

“Granny!” Natalie called wriggling her little body down from the hospital bed to make her way over to Becky. She reached up to her to be scooped up. “I missed you.”

She leaned in and kissed Becky, her fingers sticky from the pudding. Becky was crazy about Natalie. Well, about all of them. She loved her family fiercely.

Josephine rolled her eyes from the chair next to her. "That's all they’ve been discussing for the past fifteen minutes. Sometimes it is like having two children."

"This is a major upgrade from that shitty chocolate sauce you guys were trying to pass off as pudding the last time I was here," Ember replied, scraping the edges of the container with a spoon.

Becky bent down and kissed Ember on the top of her hair while still holding Natalie. "Let's try not to make your hospital pudding rating a habit, hm?"

"It's not my fault I got stabbed by shrapnel," Ember grumbled.

Josephine rolled her eyes. "She's staying overnight to ensure her wound doesn't get worse, but she should be able to go home tomorrow morning."

"That's what Dr. Everett said would happen," Becky said.

"Woah, is your crush the one who did my stitches? Tell her I give her a nine out of ten, but only because no one can beat Josephine's." Ember smiled dreamily at her wife.

Becky pulled out her phone to see Lucinda's name flashing across the screen.

Lucinda: How is Ember?

Becky: She's great. More concerned about hospital pudding than her wound.

Lucinda: That makes me feel better.

Becky looked up at Josephine. "Are you good to sit with her for a few hours? I've got something I need to do and will return tonight."

Josephine raised an eyebrow but didn't pry. "Yeah, I'm free all day. I had Dr. Spencer take my one surgery today."

Becky nodded before kissing Ember's head again. "I'll be back later."

"Tell the doc I said hi!" Ember grinned.

Becky shook her head, texting Lucinda.

Becky: What's your address?

Thirty minutes later, Becky knocked on Lucinda's apartment door.

---