Mia’s words from earlier this morning come back to me, how us moms have to stick together. Her words and my talk with Ava today mix with all the feelings I have about being an outsider and an observer to this close-knit group of found family members.
I strive to be enough for Evee, but Ava’s right. She deserves to be loved and have others to love right back—just like I see with all of the people here.
And finding a friend or two feels like a safe space to start.
“Employee of the Month goes to Rumi,” I hear Luke say with a clap of his hands, and it brings me back to the moment.
Annie lets out a sigh. “It’s not even worth saying we don’t have Employee of the Month.” Her voice sounds exasperated, but there’s also love—and teasing.
“So it’s decided,” Ava says, no doubt wanting to make sure the meeting not only ends on time—two more minutes—but thatwe finish everything we need to. “Three new summer drinks will phase out the spring drinks next Monday, as well as one baked good to replace the carrot cake scones.” We all nod in agreement. “Lenny’s will have their strawberry old fashioned and pineapple margarita, and I’ll let Elsie and Sierra know, so they can find a book to match each flavor to showcase at their shop.”
“Sounds good to me,” Luke says. “Thanks, boss,” he says, giving her a salute. We all know Luke is the owner, but Hey Honey’s runs as well as it does thanks to Ava. “I’ll get everything ordered tonight, so it can be here by then.”
“And I should have the Honey's graphics and menus done by this weekend,” Mia adds.
“Go team,” Annie says, as she stands, the chime of the door causing us all to turn in that direction to find Eddie pushing two sleeping toddlers in their stroller.
“Just in time, like always, Ed,” Luke says, and laughter fills the space.
Eddie pushes the stroller through the door, walking over to Mia, leaning down to place a kiss on her forehead. “You all know how I feel about coffee,” he starts, but Mia finishes for him.
“It shouldn’t need all the extra shit,” she says, lowering her voice to mock her husband’s, causing more laughter from everyone—and I think I see Emmett’s lips twitch as he stands up.
“On that note,” Drew says as Emmett reaches out a hand for her to take, “we’ll see you all next door in a few.” She turns to me. “You too, Rumi?” she asks, looking over to me as she grabs her husband’s hand.
“Um, yeah. I’ll be right over.”
If she’s surprised that I’m accepting the invitation to Lenny’s for the first time since I started working at Hey Honey’s, she doesn’t show it. She lets Emmett help her up from her chair and lead her to the door with his free hand on the small of her back—his other hand holding their sleeping daughter.
“You’re going to Lenny’s tonight?” Reagan asks as she stands up, grabbing her purse from underneath her chair. Her dirty blonde hair is braided in two much neater braids than the one that is currently holding my hair after the morning shift, helping Ava reorganize the stockroom, Evee’s bath time, and making it back here for the meeting.
“Yeah, you?” I ask, hooking my diaper bag over my shoulder as I stand, holding Evee in my other arm.
“I don’t think so, but I need to talk to Luke and Annie before I head home.”
“Oh, okay,” I say to her. I try to hide the disappointment I have that she won’t be there. Ava is my safety blanket, but I can’t rely on her tonight, especially when she’s making me go in an effort to make friends. I was hoping to spend some time getting to know Reagan—it’s not like we have a ton of time to chat during our shift changes. “I’ll see you tomorrow then,” I offer, knowing Tuesdays are one of the days where she relieves me from my morning shift.
Reagan gives me a noncommittal nod before heading over to where Luke and Annie are chatting with Mia and Eddie.
I glance outside to see the sun has almost set, and I take a deep inhale. Closing my eyes, feeling Evee in my arms and the faint scent of coffee in the air, surrounded by chatter, I try to let go of any doubt from this morning—the doubt of bringing people into Evee’s life or making friends for myself.
We’re going to be okay, me and her.
I can make it through a drink or two tonight.
Maybe even make a friend along the way.
CHAPTER 8
JACK
Aside from makingmyself look like an idiot at Luke’s coffee shop this morning, today hasn’t been as bad as I thought it would be.
I thought the day would continue to go downhill when I got to the fire station and knocked on Chief Sanders’ office door. But the familiarity of the place, the faces, and even the work itself outweighed the reminders of being there without Bennett.
I left the station with my old job back, my first shift starting tomorrow morning. With reassurance from me that I’m fine and ready to be back at work, Chief put me on my old rotation—24 hours on, 48 hours off—and I’ve convinced myself that it’s the only way to move forward. But I’m on anunofficialprobation until I deliver on the request he made that I start weekly sessions with the therapist I worked with after Bennett died.
As part of my probation, I’m still expected to report to any active fires we get called to, but he said he has our Fire Lieutenant keeping a close eye on me, ready to report back if there are any issues in the field.
