Page 85 of Fanning the Flames

The elevator arrived to take them the few flights up. Sadie studied Joan’s weary face in the fluorescent lighting. “How are you really holding up?”

“By a thread,” Joan said. “I can’t believe we got spanked so bad. I can’t believe our truck is gone.”

“It totally sucks, babe.”

“And Friendship Park is all jacked up. That place is special. It’s where we had our first date.”

“Aww, that’s right.” Sadie leaned into her. “We had our first kiss there, too.”

“It’s also where you said you knew I was Catch, so…”

The elevator doors opened to the far side of the seventh floor. “Still my favorite date of all time. We’ll make more happy memories there.”

“I hope so,” Joan said.

“I know so. You’ll figure things out with the Supers. You’re good at plans.”

She gazed at Sadie with those sad eyes. “But we made plans.”

“We’ll get back to them when this is over.”

They dragged each other around the corner. “Almost there,” Sadie encouraged her girlfriend as much as herself. “That shower is within?—”

The words died in her throat at the sight of her parents standing outside their apartment.

Mom unclasped her hands. “Sadie Jane Eagan! Why haven’t you been answering your phone?”

“What are you doing here?” Sadie said.

“Checking on my daughter who was involved in a near-fatal incident.” Mom heaved her into a tight hug. “You stopped replying to calls and texts, and I got scared.”

“We just wanted to make sure you’re okay,” Dad said.

“I’m fine.” She almost asked how they got into the building, but no doubt her hysterical mother had made some poor resident let them in.

Mom pulled back only far enough to grasp Sadie by the upper arms. Her chestnut-brown hair was getting long, brushing her shoulders.

Joan started a handshake with Dad that turned into a semi-awkward hug. “Hello, Mr. Eagan,” she said.

“Hello, Joan.” Dad wore a knit gray cap that coordinated with his houndstooth coat. “Nice to see you again.”

Sadie reached as far as she could to pat her father’s arm. “Hi, Dad.”

“Where have you been?” Mom said. “When you didn’t return my calls, we worried something more had happened. So we got in the car and?—”

“I told you the calls and texts were getting overwhelming and I needed a break from my phone,” Sadie said. She unlocked the door so they wouldn’t bother their neighbors.

“Everyone has been watching the footage of that maniac crushing the food truck.” Mom walked in beside her even though they didn’t quite fit side by side.

“Luckily, we weren’t hurt.” Sadie slid her filthy blue sneakers off as Joan dealt with the alarm. “Mark’s okay, too.”

“Did you see Friendship Park? It’s eerily similar to what happened the last time Big Quake…”

“It makes sense. He said he wanted to finish what he started.”

“I can’t believe you were there. I can’t believe my baby almost…” Tears welled up in Mom’s brown eyes.

Sympathetic guilt twisted Sadie’s stomach. “Don’t cry. I’m okay.” She gave her mom a quick squeeze. “I shouldn’t have turned my phone off.”

---