Page 24 of Protecting Vidalia
“It looks like they are staying in the area, is that normal?” Vidalia asked after they left.
“Not really. They should be at a higher elevation,” Jake replied, taking her hand and pulling her away. “We need to make some phone calls this afternoon and try to get this sorted. If something is keeping those bears this low, they need to find out what it is. It puts the bears and everyone else around here in danger. Not to mention visitors and tourists on the trails.”
Poke had joined them. “Actually, you all aren’t the first ones to mention seeing bears this spring,” she added with a worried frown. “You’re the only one who has brought in pictures and thought to warn everyone, but a few other hikers have reported seeing a bear. I thought it was strange, but exciting, you know? We all love seeing wildlife. I just didn’t think about it being so unusual.”
Jake nodded. “Thanks for the info, Poke. We’ll tell the parks authority what you’ve said. “Why don’t you jot down the descriptions of those two young men and where they saw the bears, and collect any other information if someone else comes in. Plus, if you remember who has reported it before, and where they saw bears, jot that down to. I’m sure the authorities will be very interested to know.”
Poke’s eyes lit up. “I’ll do that, Jake.”
“Poke! I need ya back here!”
“That’s Joe, I got to go.” Poke rolled her eyes and hurried off.
Vidalia looked up at Jake. “I’m finished with my lunch, but you aren’t. I want to look at a few things here in the gift shop, so why don’t you eat while I browse? Then we can go back to your place, since you have cell service there, and make those calls.”
Jake took out his wallet and handed her two twenty-dollar bills.
Vidalia put up her hand. “Uh uh, my lunch was on the house, remember?”
“It’s not for lunch,” he protested. “Grab me some of that rocky road fudge they have in the gift shop. Whatever that will cover.”
Vidalia’s eyes widened and a grin appeared. “You a chocoholic?”
Jake flushed slightly. “Of course not. Well, not like a woman anyway,” he teased. “They make it locally and I like to support the business.”
“Uh huh...sure...you just don’t want to admit loving chocolate because it’s a woman thing.” She cocked her head knowingly to the side, her eyes full of mischief.
He put both hands in the air in defeat. “Okay, you got me. Just don’t tell Dax, I’d never live it down.”
She laughed then and Jake was entranced. He hadn’t heard her laugh before. It was light, musical, and lit up her eyes from within. He badly wanted to kiss her, but he knew that was impossible. He had to wait for her to kiss him first. Dammit, why had he even said something that stupid?
Mentally he groaned. “My foods getting cold,” he growled turning her around and pushing her butt with his hand. “Get, woman, do your shopping.”
She shot him a smug glance over her shoulder. “Don’t worry, your secrets safe with me. I always guard blackmail material with my life.”
Jake watched her as she moved around in the gift area, wolfing down his second burger in record time and finishing off Vidalia’s fries. Fishing for his cell phone in his pocket, he located it and pushed Dax’s number.
“Hey, buddy, what’s up?” Dax’s cheerful voice landed in his ear.
“I got her to laugh today and she seems to be enjoying herself,” Jake said without preamble.
Dax’s voice turned serious. “You of all people know what it’s like to present one facade to the world and be lost in a different one in your mind,” he replied. “Trust me, Vidalia isn’t over this, she needs time and help. She seemed normal here at work too, until she lost her temper and threw a cup of coffee at the wall in the breakroom."
“Wow,” Jake replied. “I didn’t take her for a hot temper.”
“That’s just it, she doesn’t have one. The stress is destroying her little by little. She’s been snapping and snarling at some of our crazy regulars on the phone where she used to be really sweet and understanding. Like the old lady who couldn’t find her cat the other day. She told Mrs. Heinz that if she didn’t harbor fifteen illegal cats in her house, she wouldn’t have to worry about losing one. Then proceeded to tell her to stop calling 911 for non-emergency calls unless she wanted to be arrested for filing false reports.”
Jake couldn’t help but chuckle. “Sounds like it was a conversation long overdue,” he said. “But I get what you’re saying, she’s not her normal self.”
“Sometimes she is, sometimes she isn’t.”
Jake frowned. “Is it possible part of what she’s going through is just simply burnout? It’s pretty common among dispatchers, especially 911 dispatchers. There is a lot of life and death trauma calls that come through those phone lines, it happens to the best of them.”
Dax sighed. “You’re right, of course, and that could very well be part of it. But if she won’t see a shrink, she may not get any better at this point. I know she’s up there trying to help herself, and that’s good, but I just don’t think it’s going to be enough.”
Jake cleared his throat. “Okay, I have to let you go. It looks like she’s about done with her tourist shopping. I’ll try to talk to her again, but she shuts down every time I say anything about it. She refuses to discuss it.”
“Where are you at?” Dax asked curiously.
