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Carl was out running errands so Luke was manning the counter. Josh popped in to say hi for a few minutes.
“Things at the fire station slow? Luke asked.
Josh was a firefighter and was a certified emergency medical technician, and was usually kept pretty busy when he was on duty.
“Don’t jinx it. We haven’t had a call all day. That doesn’t mean we won’t be slammed tonight,” Josh replied. “That’s when people get sick, or overdose, or wreck their vehicles.”
“Stressful when everything happens at once,” Luke said.
“It is. But I do like the idea that I’m making a difference in the world. I’ve saved a couple of lives here and there, so it’s worthwhile,” Josh said.
“I bet it is,” Luke said. “Are you guys hiring?”
“You miss the excitement of your old job? What we do can’t compare to that.”
“I miss the action. Standing behind the counter all day just isn’t going to cut it for me. I’ll have to figure something else out to do with my life.”
“You’re going to break your old man’s heart,” Josh said.
“It wouldn’t be the first time,” Luke noted. “It most likely won’t be the last.”
“What a terrible son you are.” Josh laughed.
“I know, right?”
“Come in and talk to the chief. I bet that he can find a place for you. You’re a bit of a local legend,” Josh said.
“I will do that.”
Josh started to leave but the door opened. Raf and Xavier Faison, Alexis’ brothers, walked in.
Luke felt like a rock dropped into the pit of his stomach. They were the last people he wanted to see.
“Hello, Luke,” Xavier said, holding out his hand to Luke.
As Luke reluctantly shook his head, Raf said, “We just thought that we would stop in and say hello.”
“Hello,” Luke said, wishing that would be all they had to say and leave.
“Josh, it’s good to see you again,” Xavier said, insincerely, holding out his hand.
Josh simply shook the other man’s hand and nodded. Raf didn’t acknowledge Josh’s presence at all.
He knew better though. They had some kind of agenda. He hadn’t been close to either of the brothers before he joined the service and he had no intention of being close to them now.
“Are you glad to be back in Ivy Springs?” Raf asked.
“It’s always good to come back home, at least for a while,” Luke replied.
“You’re surely not thinking of leaving again, are you?” Xavier asked.
“I don’t know yet. I haven’t made up my mind.”
“It would be a shame to see you go,” Raf said. “I’m sure that your folks are happy to have you home.”
“I think so.”
Luke was trying to keep his answers to a minimum while being polite at the same time. There was no point in tipping his hand, letting the two men know how much Luke despised them and everything that they stood for.
