Page 117 of The Golden Hour

Honey sucks in a short breath.

Mass Casualty Incident.

“What happened?” Honey asks, squeezing Daisy closer to her as her little girl cuddles into her chest.

“I-I don’t know, some…guy shot up a concert,” Mason says, his voice thick and trembling. Honey feels her heart drop into her stomach. “We’ve had a couple of victims trickling in, but there are a lot more people coming in—they need help with the strike—I know—I-I-I know I promised I wouldn’t stay late anymore, but they really do need help, and it’s—Honey, it’s really bad—they’re saying victims as young as⁠⁠—”

“Mason,” Honey cuts him off firmly, her heart clenching in her chest at the horror in his words. Those poor people. “Stay.”

Mason inhales sharply.

“...are you sure?” he asks, his voice so quiet and gentle.

There is a hesitancy that stings in his tone. Like he wants so badly to do what she asked. To choose them. To come home on time, because he said he would, because he has been saying it with his actions every night for weeks.

But he wants to help those in need.

And for once, he’s asking permission, not forgiveness.

“They need you,” Honey says, her throat tight. “Help those people.”

Mason exhales shakily into the phone.

“I promise I will be home as soon as I can⁠⁠—”

“You asked,” Honey says, because she actually still can’t believe it.

“What?”

“You called. You asked first,” Honey says. “So… it’s okay. Help them, Mason.”

“Okay,” Mason breathes, “...can I…”

His voice trails off.

“What?” Honey prods.

“Can you just bring the phone over to Daisy?” Mason asks softly. “So I can just hear her—just for a second, if you’re not busy.”

Her chest squeezes at his request.

“I’ll do you one better,” Honey says, adjusting Daisy with one arm. “Can you put the phone on FaceTime?”

“Yeah?” Mason says, and she hears the FaceTime tone before she hits accept. She tries to school her own expression at the sight of Mason’s face. He looks pale, his hair sticking up in all directions.

He’s treated MCIs before.

He’s spoken about them, more of a focus on the type of injuries he’s treated in them, but this…

His hazel eyes look haunted.

And she wants to help him any way she can.

“Here she is,” Honey smiles as she positions Daisy in the frame. Their daughter looks at the camera and then smiles widely when she sees herself, making Honey laugh. “There’s our pretty girl. Yeah, you like your own reflection, don’t you, Daisy?”

Mason’s smile shakes around the edges, and Honey watches as a tear trails down his cheek.

“Hi, baby girl…” Mason coos, waving.