Everything I Wish For (Lupine Valley #5)

19. Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

Brad

I check my phone for the hundredth time this morning. Lacey sent a photo of Lauren last night, half on and half off her couch, with her boots still on her feet, and in the same clothes she wore to the tree lighting.

I had called Lacey immediately to tell her she needed to get her into her bed, or I was coming over to do it. She informed me that Lauren was being an aggressive wine drinker and wouldn’t let them take anything off because she insisted she was going to The Bar after they left. I accepted her current state, because even sober she’s stubborn and Addy told me that she was asleep for the long haul. I trust Addy over anyone else.

I pace back and forth in the kitchen, waiting for my eggs to cook, and my phone to ring. Unfortunately, the eggs finish cooking before my phone goes off.

I sit down on my couch to eat when I hear my phone ding in the kitchen. I about knock over my coffee table trying to get to it.

Lauren has sent me and Lacey a photo flipping us off, and captioned it proof of life assholes.

Me: Thank you. I’m glad you’re okay. Want company today? I’m not on shift until tonight.

Lauren: I’m not good company today. Sorry.

Me: Can we talk please? I know you’re upset about what Layla said. And I want to explain.

I wait for a response, but one never comes. I flop back down on my couch, and turn on the news while I wait yet again for her to respond. It’s so unlike her to ignore me. And I’m getting really tired of waiting for her to talk to me. I know I asked her for time, but she isn’t giving me the time to explain.

The news drones on as I drift in and out of sleep, until the weather segment catches my attention. They’ve been talking about a Nor’easter coming, but now they’re predicting a huge ice storm. It’s all they’ve been talking about and what I’ve been waiting to hear. It’s going to hit mostly tonight while I’m on shift, and Sheriff Miller has called in extra officers.

“... stay home. Don’t go out even if you think it’s necessary. Get your groceries now, and make sure you’re prepared for at least a few days without power. This storm is not something to ignore...”

Shit. Guess there goes my nap.

I need to go make sure Dad and Momma are all set up with their generator, and probably grab some groceries for them. I guess I’ll be surviving on protein bars and coffee at the station until this storm passes.

After a quick thirty minute nap, I get ready and head down to the general store, hoping to get some stuff for Momma.

“Hey, Officer Robertson!” Mrs. Smith waves from behind the counter.

“Mornin’. You been busy today?” I grab a basket from the front of the store and head off in search of the list Momma texted me when I told her I was coming by.

“You know it. This storm is supposed to be a bad one. Walter is at home getting the generator all set up.”

“You be sure to tell him if he needs any help I’ll be at my parents just down the road and to give me a call.” I throw the last item in my basket and head on over to the counter.

“You’re just the sweetest. I’ll let him know. This all for your Momma?” She asks, placing everything into the reusable bag I put on the counter.

“Yes ma’am. I’m going on shift this evening and probably won’t be off until things are settled with the storm. So if you run into any trouble you just call us and we’ll come on out.”

She pushes the filled bag across the counter to me. “You’re such a good boy, I’ll be sure to tell your Momma she raised a good one.” She winks. “How’s that girl of ours doing? She need anything?”

Of course. I should have known she’d ask about Lauren. “She’s alright. Lacey and Colton were going to load her up with goodies since I have to get on to help Dad and then get to the station.”

“Oh alright, well you make sure you give her a hug from me when you see her later.”

I wish. “Will do. You be safe and get on home soon.”

I walk out the door and load the grocery bag into the back of my truck. Once I’m settled in the driver’s seat, I pull out my phone.

Me: Listen I know you’re pissed at me, but I need to know you’re all set for this storm. I told Colton to come check on you with groceries, I figured you’d slam the door in my face.

Lauren: I’m not mad at you.

Right. What is that about women who say they’re fine? I know better than to fall for that. Hopefully I’ll get done at Momma’s and can make it over to Lauren’s before my shift time.

I park my truck in the driveway, and grab the groceries from the back.

“Hey, son.” Dad comes from around the back of the house.

“Hey. Got that gas can in the bed if you want to grab it.” He nods as he passes me to get it.

I open the door and find Momma cooking up a storm in the kitchen.

“Whatcha making Momma?”

She jumps a little, clearly lost in her own mind while baking. Whatever it is, it smells amazing.

“Oh honey! I’m so glad you’re here.” She reaches out and takes the bag from me, putting her groceries away.

“I’m making you a whole bunch of treats for you to take to those poor officers workin’ this storm.” She gestures to the kitchen table that is covered in so many Tupperware containers I can’t even see the actual table.

I walk over and check out what she’s made.

Homemade biscuits with different jams she and Lauren canned this last summer.

Cinnamon Rolls.

Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Sandwiches.

Peanut Butter Cookies.

My mouth is watering. “Momma this is too much.”

“Nonsense. You all deserve it. You’re going to be working a lot these next few days.” She hands me the bag back so I can start loading these containers in.

Once I finish she hands me one last container with a mix of everything. “Here’s one just for you.” She kisses my cheek.

“Thanks Momma, you’re the best.”

I say goodbye to her and head back outside, loading up my truck with the goodies before venturing off to find Dad. I told him I’d help stack the wood at the door for their wood stove and get the generator hooked up for him.

“Be a real shame if we don’t have power for Christmas.” Dad answers my incoming footsteps without even looking up from the log he’s about to split.

“It sure would be. But at least we’d have each other and that’s all we really need to celebrate. Plus we know Momma’s going to be stress cooking on that wood stove even if there isn’t any power.” We both chuckle at my statement, she just might be able to feed the whole town if she has enough sugar in the house.

I spend the rest of the afternoon splitting logs and stacking ‘em for Dad. It’s exhausting, especially knowing I won’t be home any time soon to sleep before the storm hits.

I head out to the station a little early to grab a shower and unload all the goodies in the break room.

As I’m walking in, Sheriff Miller spots me with Momma’s infamous containers.

“That from your Momma?” A slow grin takes place on his face.

“You know it is.” I hand him one of the bags. Yes. One of the many.

“Ooh, boy. No one’s gonna be complainin’ about overtime now. Tell her I said ‘thank you.’” He places the bag on the table and heads back into his office.

Once I unload everything I hit the showers, and then grab my orders from the Sheriff. My first duty is checking on the development of elderly homes next to the senior center. The senior center usually goes over and helps the residents out during the day, but with the storm we like to go make sure that some of our frequent fliers are good to go. And if they’re not, sometimes the senior center will let them go spend the storm over there.

Hopefully I can finish quickly and head over to Lauren’s before it gets too bad out. Part of me is putting it off. I don’t want to hear her tell me she’s done. That we can’t even be friends after our fake relationship, because that’s sure how it feels.

It took a lot longer than I expected with the elderly residents. Most of that time was spent carting gallons of water from the senior center over to the resident’s homes so they could have water ready in case we lose power, or I should say when we lose power.

The storm has already started and it’s coming down hard. Fat, wet flakes, and frozen rain. A terrible combination considering it’s going to drop below twenty degrees here shortly. Then all those wet flakes, and freezing rain will turn to thick, heavy ice coating the power lines and trees all over town.

I carefully park in front of Lauren’s house, sliding a little on my way down the road. It takes me a minute to gather up the courage I need to go knock on her door.

My moment that I’ve granted myself is cut short when Lauren opens the door and stands on her porch, watching me.

I take a deep breath and open the driver’s door, slowly putting my feet down to make sure I’ve got a solid step.

Here goes nothing. I walk around the front of my SUV and head toward her porch.

“What are you doing here?”

“Checking on you. Are you all set? Your generator hooked up? You got groceries?” I shift nervously from foot to foot under the protection of the porch’s roof from the freezing rain.

“You know I am. You sent Colton here to make sure of it. He even split logs despite me telling him I had it covered.” She nods to the end of the porch where a fresh stack of wood is lined a few rows deep.

“Good. Good. So, uh—”

“I can’t do this Brad.”

I gulp hard, “Do what? Be alone for the storm?” I throw that part out there hoping it’s what she meant.

“No, Brad. Be with you. After Damon, I need complete honesty and I know I’m not getting it. He lied to me for years. You know how crushed I was, and now you’re hiding something from me too.” She pauses for a moment. “I love you. I’ve loved you for a long time. You’re my best friend. But after our time together, I can’t go back to being your friend and when it goes down like it did with Damon, I can’t hate you like that.” She pulls the coat around her shoulders tighter.

I stand there like a deer caught in headlights. Everything she said takes its time to process through my brain. Then when it does, the anger kicks in.

“We don’t have a beginning and an end, L. Just a fucking beginning. And if you think there’s an end, then I don’t know what to tell you. I’m here for it all. All of you, all of your flaws, all of the memories to come. But if you’re not with me on that, if you can’t give me a minute to explain, then I can’t keep doing whatever this is either.”

“ All units, 10-26 on Shephard’s Pass. Two vehicles involved. Requesting back up.”

I click my radio to respond, “Unit 43 responding.” I don’t take my eyes off of her. “I have to go. You let me know when you realize what I already do. That you’re it for me. You’re my whole world. And I’m not like fucking Damon. You should know that.” I half turn, ready to step off her porch when I think better of it.

I turn back toward Lauren and pull her to me, kissing the hell out of her before I release her and jog back to my SUV without waiting for her to respond.

I put my lights and siren on and take off to Shephard’s Pass. It’s a bad stretch of road on the mountain that no one should be driving right now. We specifically barricaded the road to thru traffic. And the residents know to stay put or leave before a storm. The drop off the side is too dangerous to risk and no match even for the guard rails we put up.

I slip a few times on the road, my mind too busy turning with thoughts of everything Lauren just said. And the memories that surface on a night like tonight. I need to get my head straight and clear any thoughts of her right now. We already have a fatal accident on our most dangerous road, I don’t need to make it one more.

“Why are we doing this, Brad? She doesn’t need you.”

“Yes, she does. She knew I was with you, she’d only call me for an emergency. I’m just going to bring her home and then we can get back to our plans. It’s not a big deal.”

“It is a big deal! The roads are terrible, and I’m so sick of our plans being ruined because of friggin’ Lauren!”

“She’s my best friend, Abigail! What do you want from me?”

“I want you to pick me! Your girlfriend! Put me first for once!”

As soon as she gives me the ultimatum, I look at her and not the road. I hit ice and lose control of my truck.

I approach the barricades slowly, going around them on the opposite side of the road. As I make my way up the mountain I can’t believe anyone would even try to come up here without changing their minds five hundred feet into the drive. It’s already slippery as hell.

I finally see the flashing lights ahead of me, all over the road. Even Sheriff Miller is on scene. That’s the first time I let the bad feeling skitter across my skin, causing goosebumps to rise.

I park behind the line of cars already here and get out, jogging over to Sheriff Miller and a few other deputies. Before I reach them I stop dead in my tracks. Two vehicles, one dangling by its back wheel from the guard rail and a second one slammed into the back of it, or where I’m imagining the back used to be before it was pushed into the vehicle and jumped the guardrail.

Shit. This is fucking bad.

“Robertson.” Sheriff Miller motions me over to the group and I see now that we have fire and ambulance coming up the mountain.

I freeze. I can’t move at the sight of the familiar scene, one that isn’t so different from my own over a decade ago.

“Robertson! What the hell are you doing? Get over here!” I jog over to meet them.

“What do we have?” I ask no one in particular.

“Two out-of-staters. They rented a cabin and tried to get out and get home after they originally thought they could stick it out. Two couples. Brothers and their wives. One hit a patch of ice and landed on the guard rail, the other one hit the same patch and slammed into the back of the first, sending him up and over the guard rail.” Deputy Young stops.

“The fatality?” I whisper after looking around.

“The driver of vehicle one. Wasn’t wearing his seat belt and was ejected on initial impact, when they went up and over the rail, well, I think you know.”

Fuck. He’s down the mountain side and there won’t be a recovery mission until after the storm passes. It’s too dangerous.

“What about his wife?” I look around again, trying to decipher who is who and what action needs to be done next.

“She’s over there, sitting in the passenger seat still.” Sheriff Miller nods over at the vehicle dangling precariously over the edge. Which means this is a rescue mission to get her out of that car as soon as possible.

“Okay, let’s go.” I start toward the car and Deputy Young places his hand on my shoulder.

“Wait a second, would ya? We have fire over there already, assessing the situation, and if that car goes and takes you with it, I’m not dealing with your Momma’s wrath. Let’s wait for fire and then we’ll move.”

He’s right, I don’t like it though. That poor woman is probably scared shitless, and traumatized.

I know firsthand what it feels like to be weaving in and out of consciousness, waiting in the cold for someone, anyone to stop and help you.

Fire waves us over, thank God. I would have fought against Young tonight to go rescue them.

The sheriff gives us our orders and I get into place on the driver’s side of the vehicle to help set up their stabilization equipment. I get down on the ground and do my job quickly.

“Set,” I yell out, then listen for the others.

There is a lot of commotion from the passenger’s side, and tense moments as the vehicle moves slightly.

“Got her, clear,” a breathless voice says from the other side.

I jump back quickly to clear from the car, and when I do I see my phone slide out of my pocket, and down the side of the mountain.

“Shit,” I whisper to myself. But I can’t waste any time as I hear the unmistakable sounds of metal scraping on metal.

I scramble back farther away from the vehicle as I hear shrieks from the other couple, and watch the now empty car fall over the edge.

“Oh, my God!” The other wife yells and lunges toward where I am.

I scramble to my feet quickly and by some miracle don’t end up back on my ass. I reach out and grab this woman before she suffers the same fate as the car.

“Hey now, we got her. Don’t worry. She’s over there in the ambulance, see?” I point toward the ambulance, and gently guide her in that direction. Her husband follows us silently, watching the empty space where his brother lies below. The thought alone makes my stomach roll.

Abigail and I were lucky enough that we both made it out of my truck and that it got stuck in the guard rail.

Unfortunately, before too long, Young and I get called out again. A tree fell onto a house from the weight of the ice.

Power is out in half the town already, and the fun is honestly just beginning. There won’t be any end in sight for days.