Page 96 of Light Up The Night
"I knew it would be difficult and emotionally taxing, but I wasn't prepared for exactly how much so. I do not think anyone could be. Not for this."
She sounds different. Not just the occasional contraction, which is new, but…something I can't pinpoint. I set that aside—it's not important right now.
She sniffles. "How is everyone in Three Rivers? I find myself thinking of them often. Not as often as I think of you, of course, but…I grew to like that place very much in the short time I was there."
"Oh, y'know, mostly the same. Noelle gave birth not long after you left. They named her Ella Faye. She's a sweet li'l nugget. Cute as a button, super smiley, and only throws up on me occasionally.”
This gets me a laugh. "Oh, that is wonderful to hear. Ember is well?"
"Yeah, she popped that kid out like a champ, to hear Fee tell it. He’s biased, but then, Ember is one seriously tough bitch."
"She isnota bitch, Riley Crowe."
I laugh. "That's a term of endearment between us. We call each other names out of sibling-in-law love, same as I do with the guys.”
I hear a siren, a horn, and shouting. "Damn," she hisses. "I have to go, unfortunately. We just received another truckload of victims."
Truckload? She’s not prone to exaggeration like that, and not about this, so she meansliterallya truckload of victims? Fuck that.
"Go, baby, go. Do your thing. Call me any time, for any reason. I luh—” I almost say it. "Cadie, I…"
"I know," she whispers. "As do I. Do not say it, however. Please. Just…just save it, if you will. For when I see you again in person.”
"Yeah, yeah." Fuck, I wish I knew what to say. "They're lucky to have you over there, Cadence. I'm proud of you."
For some reason, that last part wrenches a single sob out of her. "Oh, my heart. How I needed to hear that, my sweet Riley. Thank you." A bracing sigh. "Now. I must bid you farewell until we speak again."
Ah, there it is—the formality. Aside from the contractions, she was speaking less…formally. Less archaic. I'm not sure how I feel about it, to be honest.
But it's back again, there at the end. Like putting on armor, almost.
"Bye, honey. Be safe."
"I shall. Goodbye, Riley."
I wait until my phone beeps, indicating the call has ended, and then I toss my phone aside.
My eyes burn.
Fuck, I miss her.
And fuck, I wish I could just give her a hug. She sounded so…not broken, just…exhausted and brutally sad, I guess.
She doesn't call again.Two weeks later, though, I do get a tattered, bloodstained scrap of prescription pad paper with another quick, scrawledI miss you, things are hard, but I am making itsort of note on the back.
I keepthe notes in my truck with me.
When she left,she said her visa expires in December, so I'm counting the days until then.
Not long, now.
Chapter 15
CADENCE
THANKSGIVING
Istrip my latex gloves off and toss them in the receptacle. Same with the plastic apron. I swipe the surgical cap off my head, along with the PPE glasses. Gasping, every muscle aching, I stagger out of the makeshift OR and beeline for the nearest marked exit. I had quite forgotten that it was day, still. I have been in that OR for six hours, trying valiantly but in vain to save the life of a young girl not even old enough to have her menses.
