When I’m With You by Sandi Lynn
Chapter 6
Ben
Last day of my three-day shift. Last night was brutal with the apartment building fire, but we got it under control and there were no casualties. It was my turn to cook dinner tonight, so I decided to make everyone burgers. Shana, one of the only two women on the squad, helped me out by cutting up the tomatoes and onions. She was a good firefighter and she was one of the guys. I mean that in a literal way. Her girlfriend, Kylie, was an ER Nurse over at Cedars Sinai Hospital. They met one night after Shana got hurt in a fire.
“Thanks for cutting that stuff up,” I said as I walked in from outside with the burgers.
“No problem, Ben. You know I like to help out any way I can. Hey, Kylie’s got this friend that I think you should meet.”
I sighed. “I don’t think so, Shana. I’m not ready to start dating or anything.”
“I don’t blame you. I told Kylie that I would ask. She’s pretty geeked up about fixing you up with someone.”
“Tell Kylie that I appreciate the thought, but I’m not interested.”
We gathered around the table and ate dinner until the fire alarm sounded and we were off to fight another fire.
* * *
Islept for ten hours straight and the only thing I remembered was dreaming about Amy. My eyes flew open and I could swear I smelled her perfume lingering in the air. I climbed out of bed and splashed my face with cold water. My phone started beeping with a text message from my mom.
“Meet us at Cleo at eight o’clock for Olivia’s birthday. It was a last-minute change in plans. Sorry for the short notice. See you soon.”
“I’ll be there.”
I shook my head because we were supposed to be celebrating her birthday this weekend. It was already six o’clock when I looked at the time on my phone. Shit. I didn’t have a gift for her. Quickly, I jumped in the shower and got ready so I could leave earlier and stop at the florist to pick up some flowers on my way to the restaurant.
“There you are. You’re late,” my mom said as she hugged me.
“Sorry, but traffic was pretty bad, and I had to make a stop. Happy birthday, Olivia.” I smiled as I kissed her cheek and handed her the flowers.
“They’re beautiful, Ben. Thank you.”
Olivia was a fourth-grade teacher and Finn taught high school. They had been dating for a little over a year. They met when they both had to take a class for their master’s degrees. He told me that he was planning to propose to her on her birthday, which was this Saturday. As I glanced over at her hand, I didn’t see the ring, so he still must be waiting until then.
“How are you, son?” my dad asked.
“I’m fine, Dad.”
“How’s the good old fire station doing?”
“It’s doing great.”
My father retired from the fire station two years ago after suffering from a heart attack and undergoing bypass surgery. It was then he realized that he needed to make a life change and he did. He retired, started eating right and exercised.
“What are you doing tomorrow night?” Finn asked.
“I have plans. Why?”
“I was hoping that you would come with me and Olivia to a wine tasting party over at Vitello’s.”
“Thanks for the invite, bro, but maybe next time.”
My family didn’t know where I went on Friday nights. They didn’t need to know. That bar was my place of escape, even if it only was for a couple of hours.
* * *
“Hi, Damian,” I said as I walked in.
“Evening, Ben. How was your week?”
“Long. Very long.”
He set my usual bottle of beer in front of me, and when I went to take a drink, that man from last week sat down next to me.
“Long time no see, pal. I can’t believe how fast the week went by.”
“I don’t think I caught your name last week,” I said.
“Oh, sorry. I’m David.”
“Nice to meet you, David. I’m Ben.”
“Likewise.”
“I really couldn’t stop thinking about those fish and chips you were eating last week, so I decided I had to come back and order some.”
“You’ll be happy you did.” I smiled.
We got to talking for quite a while. We ate our fish and chips, drank a beer, and then I told him about Amy. He sort of asked after he overheard Damian mention her.
“I’m really sorry to hear that. I really don’t know what to say, bud.”
“Thanks.”
“Have you talked to someone? Like a therapist?”
“No. That really isn’t my thing.”
“You know that medical building down the street?”
“Yeah,” I replied.
“They have a spousal support group every Friday night at eight o’clock.”
I looked at him in confusion. “How do you know that?”
“A co-worker of mine mentioned it. He takes his mother. Maybe you should check it out.”
“Nah. Who wants to sit in a room and listen to other people talk about their loved ones? That’s way too depressing. Especially when you’re dealing with your own grief.”
“See, that’s the point. You sit and listen and discover that you’re not alone and that others are going through the same thing. They’re the only ones who understand your pain and grief and they won’t be the ones to tell you to do the things you don’t want to.”
What David said made a lot of sense.
“If anything, just go sit in the back and listen.”
Damian cashed me out and I held out my hand to David. “It was nice to meet you, David.”
“Likewise, Ben. Have a good night.”
I walked out and climbed into my truck. As I pulled out of the parking lot and was stopped at a red light, I looked to my right and saw the medical building David was talking about. A million reasons entered my mind as to why I shouldn’t go, but like he said, I could just sit and listen. I looked at the clock on my dash. It was seven fifty-five. “Ah, what the hell,” I said as I pulled in and parked.
