Page 27 of Sunflowers and Surrender

We both make our way to the front window and watch as Hanover’s finest pull into the parking lot, stopping next to a lone red BMW. The boys jump down from the bright red engine and head to the driver’s door. Within minutes, another set of sirens is audible, and an ambulance arrives on the scene.

“What do you think’s going on?” Grace asks.

“Looks like maybe the driver is having some sort of medical event.”

“Why would they send a fire truck for that?” I’m surprised as much time as Grace spends with my EMT and firefighter friends, she hasn’t learned more about how they operate.

“Fire is always dispatched on any medical call because there are more fire stations than volunteer rescue squads in the area. Basically, they can get there quicker and get care started until the ambulance arrives. It’s particularly helpful if someone is in cardiac arrest, has a stroke, or has a heart attack. Time is precious.”

“Oh. I never thought about that.”

It suddenly hits me that Alex is on duty today, and our shopping center is in his immediate area. This thought is confirmed as my handsome secret boyfriend walks around the back of the engine to return to the driver’s seat once EMS is on scene.

Alex is wearing his full turnout gear, likely because it’s so cold. As if he’s got mental telepathy, he removes his helmet, runs his hand through his wavy dark locks, looks directly at our shop, and gives me a wink.

“Um, Tues?”

“Yeah?”

“Is it considered cheating if your boyfriend just gave me an orgasm?”

Smacking her on the arm, I can’t help but laugh out loud.

Yeah, my boyfriend is one hot tamale.

Chapter 19

Tuesday

It’s Christmas morning, the happiest I can remember ever feeling. My family surrounds me, things are going better than I’d anticipated with Alex, and Ricky is preparing to leave for medical school in a few days.

It has been tough keeping my relationship with Alex under wraps over the last six weeks, but we only have a few more weeks to go before he plans to drive to Norfolk and break the news to my brother. He hopes our love life won’t be such a big deal once Ricky is preoccupied with more important things.

“Look who’s here,” my mom calls from the front door. I can’t help my grin. We all know who it is. It is how she greets Alex every holiday. It’s hard not running to him. I’ve missed him. I haven’t seen him in the last few days because of holiday festivities, my volunteer job, and our work schedules. Thank goodness I’m off of school for a few more weeks.

“Have you had breakfast, Alex?” Dad asks.

“Yes, sir. I had it early with my family. All of my sisters’ kids were up early waiting to tear into what Santa brought.” He chuckles, carrying several wrapped packages with him.

“Oh, those were the days,” Mom says in a sing-song voice.

“Don’t you two be in any hurry to start your own,” Dad scolds.

Ricky shakes his head, knowing that’s definitely out of the question for him. At least poor Julia is only a few hours away. But I know she wouldn’t want any surprise pregnancy to happen that could stand in the way of Ricky’s medical career. And there’s no way I’m ready. Heck, we can’t even tell anyone we’re dating yet. Any thoughts of marriage and children aren’t even on my radar.

Alex walks over to pat Ricky on the shoulder and hands him his gift. I don’t know why they bother to buy each other gifts. They each exchange a gift card to a local restaurant with the other every year.

Then he walks over to me. I can feel my pulse jumping to the point I wonder if everyone else can see it. “Hey, Sunny T. Merry Christmas.” He gives me a devilish wink and leans in to kiss me on the cheek before handing me his wrapped gift.

“Let me guess. It’s a book,” Ricky says.

My mother smacks him on the back of the head. “Hush.”

As I gingerly remove the pretty paper, I find a beautiful copy of Jane Austen’sSense and Sensibility. My heart soars as he knows this is one I’ve been hoping for. Turning the pages with gold foil edging, I find a pretty bookmark with a dark background covered in sunflowers.

“Thank you, Alex. I love it.”

“You’re welcome.” His grin is infectious.

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