Page 54 of Tasting Fire
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As she hungup on Oliver, Emmy had never regretted taking the vow to do no harm as much as she did at that moment. The overwhelming urge to retaliate made her pace around her living room.
Would he have bothered to start rumors in Steele Ridge? Regardless, he was definitely capable of pulling the kind of strings that would encourage a struggling family to sue. They’d filed a suit against the hospital and management company, too, but no doubt Oliver had a plan for circumventing those and turning all the legal and financial heat onto Emmy.
All of which would probably quietly disappear if she were willing to return to BaltGen and sleep in his bed again.
Fuck you, Oliver Amory, and the high horse you rode in on.
Emmy stopped her pacing to stand in the sunshine let in by the tall wood-trimmed windows overlooking Main Street. It was soothing on her arms and shoulders and allowed her to breathe. She would get through this.
Across the street and down a few buildings, a line of customers was curving out onto the sidewalk from Mad Batter. Emmy smiled. It was so good to see her hometown starting to flourish. For years when she’d come home to visit her mom and Kris, it had seemed to get a little sadder, a little bleaker each time.
Until Jonah Steele and his family had turned things around.
Now, most of the storefronts on Main were filled and foot traffic was brisk. In the ER break room, she’d seen a regional publication that had highlighted Steele Ridge on the front page, saying it was an up-and-coming tourist destination.
The bakery line shifted, revealing the sandwich sign that Jeanine Jennings, the baker’s assistant, chalked by hand every day. Today’s message was:When the waves start hitting the shore, get on your surfboard.
Pretty funny for a mountain town.
But the waves sure felt as if they were crashing over Emmy’s head right now.
Wait.
Waves. Surfboard. Surfer.
She knew one of the best life surfers ever. If anyone had a chance at helping her learn to balance the bad with the good, it was Cash.
She bolted from the window for her phone and texted him.
How do u feel abt teaching me 2 surf?
His answer chimed back.U realize it’s over 5 hrs 2 ocean, rt?
Emmy:Metaphorical surfing
Cash:Big word!
Emmy:R u off today?
Cash:From station. Just finishing lawn job
Emmy:Let’s meet when ur done
Cash:How abt I pick u up? 1 hr
Emmy:I’ll b ready
She tossed her phone aside and grabbed her sad little notebook of fun. What else did she have?
Ride the Ferris wheel at the county fair. That was out, since Haywood County wasn’t currently in fair season.
Go to Magic Kingdom. Not exactly an afternoon excursion.
Climb a water tower.
Go ice-skating.
