Page 21 of Embers in Our Souls
“Oh, yes, I remember. You were pretty allergic, if I remember correctly,” Malloy looks up at me for confirmation.
“Yes, he is.” I nod my head. “I’m Indiana, his mother. Thank you so much for everything you did for him that day. Noah and I wanted to come by and say thank you.”
Malloy looks at me a moment, then down at Noah, quickly bringing his attention back to me, his smile widening. “Of course. Indiana, you said?” He brings his hand out for me to shake.
“Yes, Indiana Ranton. And this is my friend Kalli. Kallista Francis.”
“Nice to meet you both.” Malloy is smiling wide, a little too happy with this encounter. He seems almost giddy at the fact we’re here. I don’t understand it, but soon his attention is back on Noah.
“Noah, you want to come check out the fire engine? We just got it all cleaned up.” He juts his chin in the direction of the truck behind him.
“Mom, can I?” Noah looks over his shoulder at me.
“Sure, but please be careful,” I tell him. “Listen to Mr. Malloy.”
“Yes, Mom,” Noah says as he’s already looking in amazement at the truck.
“Well, hello. Good to see you again,” I recognize the firefighter greeting me. Shit, what was his name? It started with the letter R.
“Hi. Rover, is it?”
“Close. It’s River. Hi, nice to meet you.” He shakes Kalli’s hand.
“Hi, I’m her friend Kalli. I’m so sorry, do you have a restroom nearby?”
“Yes, down there and to the left.” He points her in the right direction.
She scurries off and I’m left behind and hoping there are no surprises while she’s gone.
“Sorry about your name. That day was a lot for me,” I say apologetically.
“It’s fine. Luckily you didn’t say it around my brother or I wouldn’t live it down.” He winks. “He seems to be doing better.” He juts his chin toward Noah.
“Much better. Took a while for the swelling to go down, but he made a full recovery, thank goodness. He wanted to come by and see everyone that saved him that day.” I smile up at River. “Thank you, by the way.”
“It’s no problem. Just doing our job.” River looks at Noah again, then back at the double-doors.
A few of the other guys start making their way out to the bay to greet us. They’re showing Noah all the features of the truck and his face is glowing. River leaves me behind to watch them show off the truck to my son and meets up with the rest of the guys. They even let Noah put a helmet on and I snap some pictures.
All of a sudden, I feel a presence next to me. At first I think it’s Kalli returning, but the way my body reacts to the presence,hispresence, I know exactly who is near me.
I turn around to see Tyler standing and staring at me.
“Hey, Indy,” he greets me.
“Tyler. How are you?”
“Oh, just peachy. That’s quite a kid you got there.”
Peachy? Well, he’s certainly not the Ty from high school.
There was a time when our roles were reversed. I was the light and airy one, and he was the dark and stormy presence. Now, it feels as if we’ve switched. My guard is up and he has let go of the darkness that once surrounded him.
I can feel my spine straighten and my veins fill with ice as I stare back at him. My heart quickens as I look at the man I thought I could give my whole heart to—the man Ididgive my whole heart to. Only for him to destroy it. Now I fight not to give into temptation.
“It’s good to see you again,” Tyler breaks the trance my mind has fallen into.
“Don’t do that,” I tell him.
