AARON

Her message had been a swift, powerful blow. So strong it knocked me into the next day without a minute of sleep.

It wasn’t like before. I couldn’t just show up at the diner if I wanted to see her. I couldn’t simply go to Sally’s for a few drinks if I needed my fix. I had to truly wait, and it was torture, but I wasn’t giving up.

The week went by, and I worked. She needed space, and so I put my attention elsewhere.

Chad.

I watched down the street like a hawk and hated not knowing where he’d turn up. The car he’d be in was never at either of the bars or his parents’ house. Hell, his folks hadn’t even realized he was back in Wynne until he showed up there when they weren’t home.

“Sam and Regina said the place was trashed,” Randy added after telling me about the burglary. “Marv said he got away with a few hundred bucks they had in a safe, most of Regina’s jewelry, and a full set of heirloom silverware. Some nerve, stealing from family.”

I put the piece of equipment I’d been checking back into the storage compartment on engine number one, and then slammed and latched the door.

He’d never change.

“You got a minute to hang out here? I need to talk to Sheriff Long. Chad was at my house Monday looking for money,” I admitted, feeling my temper manifest.

“Yeah, sure. I didn’t know you were friends,” Randy replied, surprised.

“We’re not.”

#

SHERIFF LONG TOOK THE information I had on Chad and the vehicle he’d been in, and was pretty sure it belonged to one of the Gunter boys who stayed at a run-down shack outside of town when they were in the area. He said he’d let me know if anything came of it.

At home that afternoon, I felt like a hand grenade with the pin out, ticking and waiting until someone let go.

I missed Faith more than ever. I prayed that eventually she would be ready to talk, but, with every silent day, dread grew. Still, as far as I was concerned, it wasn’t over until she said it was.

When my phone rang, a fleeting thought ran through my head: it was about to happen. I took a breath and flipped it over on the end table beside my recliner, seeing it was an unknown number.

“Hello,” I answered, half expecting it to be Chad. Instead, a woman’s voice came over the line.

“Hi, Aaron? You don’t know me. I’m Noel, Faith’s friend.”

I sat forward to listen, unsure why she’d call. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Yeah, me too. I hope you don’t mind that I called the station, and they gave me your number, which I didn’t expect they’d do. I’m in HR and that’s kind of a no-no, but it worked.” She lightly laughed on the other end, which gave me a glimmer of hope. “Anyway, I’m sorry to call like this, but it’s kind of important.”

She didn’t sound like she was calling to chew me out, so I relaxed. However, we only had one common thread, so I got to it. “How’s Faith?”

“Still upset. Confused. Worried. You really threw a curveball at her.”

“I should have told her a long time ago.”

“Yes. You should have, but honestly, I get it. I’ve listened to her talk about the stuff you’ve done for her for almost as long as I’ve known her. Small things. Big things. I don’t think you did it to hurt her, I think you were trying to help.”

“I was.”

There were a few seconds of silence on the line. “Okay, so why haven’t you gone down there?”

“I’m giving her some time.”

Her tone changed. “Yeah, and you’re making a mistake. She doesn’t need time. She never did. She needs a man who will show up. She needs you. So even though I think you’re good for her, you’re really fucking it up.”

Was I? Had I done it again? I wasn’t sure what to say.

Noel continued, “Go down there. Talk to her.”

My two-way radio went off on the island, and I listened to the tones: a structure fire.

“I’ll talk to her. Thanks for calling, and I don’t mean to be rude, but I have to go.” The tones came through again and the dispatcher sped through the location and details.

“Sure, okay. Good luck.”

I hung up and by the time I had my boots on, Smokie was waiting by the door. As usual, I directed my eyes to her house. Her car was there and the lights were on, so I ran into the station where Randy and Wade were already suiting up and getting ready to go.

“An explosion out in the county. A neighbor heard it, saw flames, and then called it in,” Randy explained.

By the time we got there, it was worse than reported and I called for the neighboring station to assist before I even got out. Sheriff Long’s cruiser was beside the white car I’d reported to him. He was on the ground holding his head, and Randy tended to him.

“Marv, anyone inside?” I shouted as I pulled the line off the engine.

“I saw a couple of guys run out back when I pulled up,” he answered, but I barely heard him over the roar of the fire. “I think they torched it when they saw me pull in.”

Our second engine pulled in, and I headed to the nearest entrance with Wade, not sure what we’d find on the other side. If anyone was alive in there, they wouldn’t be for long.