Page 116 of Free to Live

“I’ve been ready,” I admit. “I just didn’t know how to reach out.”

“How about we start with my walking you around here explaining what happened? Then I’ll drive you back to your brother’s before he has a meltdown.”

“That’s not exactly a perfect date, Chief. Maybe you can tell your wife to get you to work on that?” I sass with just a hint of a smile ghosting my lips.

His eyes probe mine for another minute. He swallows. Hard. “I’ve never been so glad to know someone got out in time, Holly.”

My chest heaving, I fight the tears. And lose.

“He can barely function now without you. And I would give anything to see my boy smile again.” Pulling me into his arms, Joe’s father both shreds and heals my already battered heart. Because I know it’s up to me to make the first move toward reconciliation.

We stand in the ghostly remains of my house for a few minutes before he pulls back. “Come on. Let’s walk the perimeter.”

And slowly, I begin to pick my way around the remains of one life before I figure out how to grab hold of the one waiting for me.

The one I should never have let go to begin with.

* * *

By the timeChief drops me at Phil’s, I have an idea. “Can you wait ten minutes, Chief?”

“Take what time you need, Holly,” He shoves his truck in park, leaving the engine running.

I need my phone.

I race inside to hear Phil yell out, “Where in the hell have you been, missy! I have a bunch of stuff with your name on it!”

“Not now, brother. Chief’s outside waiting for me.” I dash past him and into the room I’ve been using. Spying my phone, I grab it and the homemade invitation that’s been sitting on my bedside.

“What the hell, Hols?” Phil comes charging out after me. He’s got a determined look on his face.

Spotting Phil, Chief cuts the engine and slides out from behind the wheel. “Phil.” He holds out a hand.

“Any idea what this is about, Chief?”

Joe’s father runs his fingers along his chin in a way so reminiscent of his son, I just grin. “Looks like your sister’s healing” is all he says.

Phil rolls his eyes. I shove my phone in his hands.

“Is Joe working today?” I demand. Both men’s eyes get large, but it’s his father who responds.

“He’s at the station, yes.”

I turn to my brother. “FaceTime him. Now.”

“Uhh, Holly. I don’t want to spoil anything…”

“Now, Phillip. Before I tell Joe that you put your cat in that tree your damn self to get the fire department here in T-shirts last summer.”

Chief chokes on his laughter.

“Jesus, you must be feeling better,” my brother mutters. Unlocking my phone—which reminds me I need to change the password once my hands can navigate the small buttons easier—he pulls up the FaceTime app. “Hey, Joe.”

“Phil? Why are you calling from Holly’s phone?” His confusion is evident.

“I just got back to the house from an errand I was running.” A look crosses Phil’s face I can’t decipher. “Anyway, Holly wanted me to call you, so here she is.” My brother lifts the phone until it’s facing me.

“Hey.” I wave anxiously.