America's Bravest by Kathryn Shay

Author:Kathryn Shay
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: children, blogging, contemporary romance, arson, firefighters, reunion story, backlistebooks, professional ethics, emotional drama, female firefighters, americas bravest, hidden cove, intense relationships, long term marriage, troubled past
Publisher: Kathryn Shay

Chapter 2

“Hey, Soph, terrific TV coverage.”

“Sophia, great guy you got there.”

“Go, Tony!”

As she walked toward the nurse’s station, Sophia acknowledged the comments, but the people who said them were rushing by so she couldn’t ask what they were referring to. It was about her husband, for sure. And immediately, she felt her stomach coil. Oh, no, here it comes again. She told herself he was okay, because of the tone of people’s remarks, but the cramps continued until she got to the doctor’s lounge and ducked inside.

Brock greeted her. “Have you seen the TV?” he asked easily.

“No. I don’t even know what happened.”

“Another daring save by your hero husband.”

Her throat got tight.

“Come on over, they’re showing it again.”

He sipped his coffee as she joined him in front of a television; they both stared at the screen.

A clean-cut, good-looking guy read from a prompter as he faced the camera. “With some recent criticism in the news of the local fire departments about their hours, free time and salary, one firefighter earned his pay today when Martin Luther King Elementary School caught fire in the kitchen.”

A picture of the structure came on screen. “The building was enveloped in smoke when America’s Bravest rolled onto the scene to save the day.”

A close-up came on of Tony’s rescue rig as he jumped off along with the others. For a moment, Sophia appreciated his muscular six-foot frame, that confident stride that sucked her in when she was in junior high—and still did.

The camera cut back to the school and showed him hurrying in with his crew. Well, that wasn’t too bad. This was something he did every day. Still her pulse sped up. Especially when the camera panned to the inside of the building, filled with smoke thick enough to obscure the rooms and people in them. Suddenly, Tony came on screen at the front door carrying out, oh Dios, a child about Marianna’s age. The little girl head-locked Tony while he held his air hose on her mouth.

Another shot of him on his knees. Coughing, choking, unable to stand. She felt her own knees turn to gel.

“Sophia?” Brock grasped her arm and brought her to the couch. He eased her down. Got her a glass of water.

“I can’t or I’ll throw up.”

“What on earth… Jesus, put your head between your knees.”

She bent over. Her pulse calmed and she could breathe again. When she felt well enough, she sat up.

“Soph, what happened?” When she looked at him, his features were taut and his eyes held concern.

“I’ve… God, I hate this. I’ve been having reactions to Tony’s job lately.”

“What? For how long?”

“A year, maybe. It’s worse around 9/11 and other anniversaries.”

“Are you getting treatment?”

She frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Psychological help in dealing with these episodes.”

“I don’t need help,” she blurted out. “He needs to quit his job.”

Brock’s brows arched. “I had no idea.”

Before she responded, Sophia breathed in deeply, then out again. “I’ve kept it from everyone. But I can’t do it anymore, Brock. He’s been a firefighter for fifteen years and it’s always been tough for me.

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