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“…I know it sounds kinda corny, but I grew up watching Mr. Rogers, and him saying to look for the helpers when things are scary left a big impression on me. It’s part of the reason I became a firefighter and went into the military. I wanted to be that for other people.” There was a long pause, and then he continued, “Well, I’m really excited to be considered, to be honest with you. I think I’d get as much out of this as I hope a kid would hanging out with me.” Another pause. “Okay, tomorrow at eleven works.”
When he signed off, Dani dashed back into his room. She hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but it was just that she could hardly believe she’d just heard Sean Riddick reference Mr. Rogers. Not because there was anything wrong with that, of course, but because that was something her granny had said to her—beginning on that day twenty-six years ago when her father died.
Granny, are you trying to tell me something? Dani jokingly thought to herself.
And, hand to God, Granny answered, “Live where you fear to live, Dani. That’s where you’ll find true joy.”
Dani heard Granny’s voice plain as day. She would’ve sworn she did. Stunned, Dani sat heavily on the edge of the bed and pressed a hand to her forehead. The fever had broken, so she couldn’t blame delirium for what she’d just heard—words she’d long forgotten her granny saying to her maybe a few months before she’d died. Dani had already become set on joining the military, and Nana didn’t love the idea. Dani had gone to Granny to share that she was afraid Nana would be mad at and disappointed in her if she didn’t drop the idea, and Granny had sat her down.
“Pay attention to the things that scare you, Dani. They’re important. Sometimes they scare you because they’re a true threat, but sometimes they scare you because they’re the things you want and need so much you know it’ll hurt if you don’t get them. In those instances, live where you fear to live, Dani. That’s where you’ll find true joy. Little in life is worse than regret that you weren’t brave enough to go after what you wanted.”
It’d been classic Granny, and it had made Dani brave enough to sit down with Nana and Pap and tell them why the army was so important to her—not just because affording college otherwise would be tough for them, but also because she wanted to be a warrior. Just like the men she’d seen honored at the Black Leggings Warrior Society Ceremonial. It felt like it was part of her roots.
She’d won them over. She’d faced her fear about talking to them and not only were they not mad, but she’d earned their approval.
How had Dani forgotten that advice?
And why was she hearing it now?
The reason came walking into the room, all six-foot-two-inches of him, looking hot as usual in a pair of jeans and a worn black T-shirt.
“Hey, whoa, look at you. Showered and dressed. You’re cookin’ with gas,” Sean said, grinning at her.
“Uh, yeah. I feel slightly more human today,” she managed, her head still whirling a little bit as she struggled to make sense of the feeling that something really, really important had just happened.
“You okay?” Sean asked, crouching in front of her. He rested his big hands on her thighs.
“I think so. I just had the weirdest thing happen,” she said, twisting the ring on her finger. “I thought I heard my grandmother’s voice.”
“Your granny’s or your nana’s?”
She blinked. At the fact that he was just accepting what she’d said at face value. And at the fact that he’d listened so carefully to her stories that he knew what she called her grandmothers. “It was Granny’s voice.” She waved a hand. “I mean, I’m sure it was just a really pronounced memory. Or déjà vu or something.”
“Or maybe it was really her,” Sean said, shrugging one big shoulder. “What did she say?”
“Wait, you really believe that?” Dani asked.
“I mean, maybe? Firefighters can be superstitious types and more than a few of the guys I know believe in ghosts, so…” He shrugged again. “Why not?”
His open-mindedness made him even sexier. “Wow, okay, well, she told me to live where I fear to live, which was something she said to me a long time ago.”
“Do the thing that scares you,” he said.
“Basically, yeah.” She looked into his dark eyes and saw nothing but understanding and acceptance, and it made him feel like such a kindred spirit. Damn if all of this didn’t give her something else to think about.
For the record, Granny, I heard you.
But she wasn’t ready to take her grandmother’s advice. Not yet. Not where Sean was concerned. So before he potentially asked what scared her, she blurted, “Hey, by the way, who were you talking to?”
