Chapter 2 Part 2

As he left the coffee shop, Seth felt a rush of blood swell in his head. He almost lost his footing, but steadied himself against the outside wall of the building.
“What are you doing, man?” he asked himself. “You aren’t ready for this.”
He answered himself with a voice he only slightly recognized as his own. “She is really cute though,” said the voice. “And that smile: she really got you with that smile didn’t she?”
Seth struggled to his senses, put one foot in front of the other and made his way to a light blue subcompact parked in the lot. Leaning against the car, he wiped several drops of sweat from his brow.
“Maybe you are ready.” Then he pulled the folded napkin from his pocket. He ran his finger across the numbers that just moments ago Lynn had scribbled down. “You might want to give this one a shot,” he thought.
“Yeah,” he whispered. Then he got in the car and started the engine.

Lynn glowed with a smile as she walked to the back of the coffee shop. She went to the sink to wash her hands before returning to make drinks. Claire, a co-worker who was quickly becoming a good friend, hurried to the back room to meet Lynn.
“Ok, so give me the dirt,” Claire said with a mischievous twinkle in her crystal blue eyes. “What’s going on with Mr. Firefighter?”
Lynn shrugged her shoulders and gave a puzzled expression. “What are you talking about?” she asked, playfully.
“Don’t play games with me, Lynn,” Claire huffed. Drying her hands, Lynn turned to the other barista. Claire caught a sparkle in Lynn’s eyes. In fact, it wasn’t just her eyes. It was her smile, her posture, her confidence. Lynn radiated a glow from deep within her.
“Oh, I know that look,” Claire smiled. “You’re falling for him.” At this Lynn blushed, but was not ashamed. “I haven’t really known him long. We have talked before, but not like today,” she could not restrain the smile that continued to escape her mouth.
“I think I am falling for him,” she said finally. Lynn giggled, and that two of them laughed as they returned to the front of the store.


Anne hung up the phone and turned to her daughter. There was panic on her face, and McKenzie knew that it must not be good.
“What did they say?” McKenzie was the first to speak. “Is daddy ok? Can we go see him?”
Anne put her hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Yes, we can go see him,” she assured her.
“But let’s sit down first,” she suggested. I need to let you know what happened and what we will do next.” Anne explained.
They sat on the sofa and Anne explained that Ray had been in an accident, that he was very hurt. He had broken both legs, his collarbone, and several ribs. “He may not even be awake,” she continued. “I am going to get Emma from day care and drop you both off at Mrs. Farmer’s house.”
“But mom! I want to go!” McKenzie objected, but her argument did not sway Anne’s decision.
“No, I will go. If he is awake, I will come get you,” she explained.
McKenzie did not much like the arrangement, but knew better than to argue with her mother. So she huffed and crossed her arms instead.
“I need to make a couple of calls then we will leave,” Anne said. McKenzie did not reply. Anne left the room and returned to the kitchen. She sat at the table and began to dial a phone number.

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