“London? What’s the matter, baby? Are you okay?”
She sniffles and hiccups, a sure sign she’s been crying.
“Sage…it’s Cam.”
My heart stops. My breath is strangled like it’s been lassoed and squeezed tight, the grip sucking out the remaining air in my lungs.
“What about him? What’s going on?”
Every single possible worst scenario runs through my head. A week ago, Cam was summoned to the Smoky Mountain National Forest where a forest fire raged and had to be contained. It’s Cam’s job now and one I know he is exceptionally good at. But even strong and experienced firefighters still face bad situations.
Cam told us how he became a smokejumper after he was de-commissioned from the Air Force. How in three years he’s been promoted to a crew leader and is responsible for six other men.
He knows the risks and consequences and would never do anything to jeopardize his life because of his son, Taylor.
No one can ever prepare you for bad news. Even when you’re someone like me, who’s been the recipient of some pretty rotten shit thrown my way. Like hearing from the judge that you’re remanded to a sentence of three-years for reckless homicide.
Or being told by a prison guard that you’re being thrown in the hole for a week. It should be easy for me to deal with this because I’m used to it.
But hearing London’s words across the line has me stunned silent.
Her voice is so soft I can barely understand what she says. I strain to hear it over the raucous laughter and chatter on the bus. But then wish I never did.
“Cam’s been medivacked to the Nashville Trauma Center with second-degree, possibly third-degree burns and life-threatening injuries. Doreen just called me and I’m meeting her there as soon as I get dressed. Sage…” She can’t finish the sentence through her anguish and tears.
Oh my God.
No. This can’t be happening. Not after things just resolved between all of us. Cam can’t leave us like this.
Shaking off all the negative thoughts that run through my head – like, is he going to die? What will happen to us? Or to Taylor? – I clear my throat and with more confidence than I actually have, respond to her.
“London, please don’t worry, babe. Everything will be fine. I will make sure of that,” I promise, knowing I have no way to ensure this or protect any of us from this tragedy. But until I know the extent of the problem, I need to keep London calm and protect her from this pain.
“Listen to me, darlin’. You just sit tight, and I’ll find the nearest airport and come home tonight. Just give me some time to make the arrangements. I’ll be there soon, baby. I’ll be there for you and for Cam. Because he’s not fucking leaving us. You hear me?”
The increased volume of my voice and my loud tone must have alerted Aimee of my tension, as I find her in the doorway when I lift my eyes. Concern etches at her features and I just shake my head and stab my index finger in the air to ask for a minute. She nods and steps out of the room, leaving me once again standing here in utter disbelief.
“Okay,” London quavers, sounding like she did when she was a little girl. “Please hurry. I need you.”
It’s those words that do me in and I fall to my knees, my head hitting the floor. I’ve lost my way more times than I can count, and I’ve always relied on London to pull me back up. But now that the roles are reversed, and London needs me to soothe her worries, I know it’s what I was made to do. If Cam can’t be there to protect her this time, then it’s up to me.
And right now, it looks like I need to find a way to help them both.
