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The gravel crunches underneath my feet as I walk out to my car and start the engine. We are only a couple blocks from the hospital, so I put it in drive and take off. Finding a parking spot is the more difficult task, and after two laps around, I find one in the back forty. Please let them still be here.
The automatic doors open and shut behind me as I approach the front desk. It’s loud inside, people coughing and groaning. The room is packed full of sick or injured kids and adults, and there are never enough staff to get to them quickly. I hate hospitals.
“Hello, my name is Angela Haddon, I’m with the fire department. I’m looking for a mother and daughter that got brought here just about an hour or two ago.”
The nurse looks at me, and her eyebrows raise. “You know we can’t give out patient information without their consent.”
She is right. I will have to wait for them in the waiting area. When they get released, they will come out this way and I can approach them.
“That’s okay. Could you at least verify for me if they are still here?” I ask, folding my hands as if I’m praying.
“They are.”
I retreat from the desk and take a seat by the exit. There is no way for them to get past me. It’s the only exit from the emergency room. With the time frame since coming here, they should be out any minute. The doctors can’t do much for smoke inhalation, and I don’t remember see any bad burns on either of them.
While I wait, there are some kids sitting on the floor by a Christmas tree in the corner of the room. It’s wrapped with blue and gold lights with some boxes underneath. Most likely fake. This year has flown by and I’m excited to see what the new year is going to bring. I would never tell anyone this, but as I get older, one-night stands aren’t as fulfilling as they once were. It would be nice to have someone that will stick around. It’s a defense mechanism, though. Pushing people away so I don’t get hurt. Eventually, I’m going to have to let someone in.
Speaking of Christmas Eve, I wonder if my brother, Hendrix, will be coming to town? Usually he does, but I haven’t heard from him in a while. Probably too busy running his tech company with his best friend, Stefan. The money has gone to his head. The last time I went into Dallas to visit, he purchased this ridiculous mansion that has twelve bedrooms. Why does a single man need that many rooms? He’s an idiot. Oh, not to mention the car collection he has posted up in his twenty car garage that he had custom built. Money is everything to him right now, and that means he doesn’t have time for us.
Hendrix is waiting around to be able to sell the company and just live off his share, which would be millions. He is smart, but not exactly the working type. I’m surprised he has lasted this long and Stefan hasn’t killed him yet.
The ER door to the lobby opens and the little girl and her mother walk out. I try not to be creepy, so I wait for them to get close to the door before saying anything.
“Hi, do you remember me?” I ask, crouching down to the little girl.
She hugs me and nods.
I look up at the mother. “Do you guys need a place to stay? One of our local firefighters, Damon, owns some duplexes and he would like for you guys to stay there until you can get everything situated.”
“We couldn’t impose. I don’t have much money.”
I shake my head. She doesn’t understand. “It doesn’t cost anything. He doesn’t charge rent to misplaced families, ma’am. Just a good guy wanting to help the community anyway he can.”
A tear forms in the corner of her eye. “Are you sure? I called the shelter and they said they had a spot available for us.”
I hand her the key and piece of paper. “This is the address and his phone number. Would you like a ride? I don’t mind dropping you guys off on my way home.”
The duplexes are a couple miles from here, and after all they have been through, walking that far is too much. I stand there, waiting as she looks at her daughter and then back at me.
“We would love that. Thank you.”
They follow me to the car, and then load up in the backseat. This is what the holidays are all about. Giving back to the community and helping those that are less fortunate. They are the ones that need help right now, and I’m just happy they will have somewhere warm for Christmas.
“So, what’s your name, sweetie?” I ask, looking in my rearview mirror.
“Jodi.”
“What a pretty name.”
The rest of the car ride is silent, but they don’t know me, so what can I expect. The little girl has probably been taught not to talk to strangers.
“Here we are,” I say, pulling into the driveway and coming to a stop.
They get out of the car, and I walk with them to 4B as they use the key to open the door.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”
“Angela.”
