Chapter 193: Thoughts of the Future"It makes you think, bro," Alex said to Judd, slamming closed the driver's side door of the boxy red truck. Having just handed off a car accident victim to the capable hands of the trauma staff at St. Mary's, the pair had stopped off for a late lunch. Judd frowned as they made their way into the fast-food outlet which was unusually crowded for a Monday afternoon. The previous day, he'd dropped Angie and Olivia at Palm Beach International before heading in for his 24-hour shift. With any luck, he'd be home by dinnertime. While he'd enjoyed his sister's visit, he'd be happy to have the place to himself once again. "Now tell me again what happened?" Judd asked as they settled into a booth by the window, their burgers and fries resting on brown plastic trays."Oklahoma City. Local FD was called out on a goer, and two first responders were shot—a cop and a probie smoke eater."Eyebrows knit in thought as he sipped his soda, Judd considered Alex's
Chapter 194: MemorialJessi chugged happily through the rest of her week. It wasn't until Thursday that Sarah noticed the absence of her wedding rings. "It was time," she quietly responded to Sarah's question.By Friday, Jessi had nailed down a venue for the Chief's retirement party. The Doubletree was only too happy to deeply discount one of their ballrooms for the cause. The bargain venue left money in the budget to go over the top with decorations, including flowers. Jessi knew that Antonio could do wonders with the budget she had set aside.Since the night she'd talked to Judd, she kept eyeing the ornate burlwood box, wondering what he would suggest she do with the items inside. So she was excited when she heard him pull into the driveway Saturday morning.Not more excited than Buddy, however, who whined incessantly until Jessi opened the door and allowed him to tear across the lawn to greet Judd."Howdy, killer," he grinned, kneeling to ruffle the dog's ears."Hi, Judd! Can
Chapter 195: AdventureBack inside the house, Judd washed up in the kitchen sink. Jessi handed him a dishtowel to dry his hands. He eyed the old dishwasher, then looked to Jessi."I don't really feel like messing with a dishwasher today, do you?"Jessi's eyes widened. "Oh, well, no, of course not. I'm sure you have plenty to do. Don't worry about it at all," she said quickly.Judd shook his head. "It's a beautiful day. Why spend it inside?" He stood straight, hands on his hips. "How do you feel about stand-up paddleboarding?"She worked her mouth for a moment, frowning. "I don't guess I'm opposed to it, as an activity, you know. I'm sure people enjoy it. Live and let live," she giggled nervously."I mean," he cupped her elbow gently, "how do you feel about going? With me. Today.""Oh, I don't know, Judd. I'm kind of the queen of klutz." Jessi's face turned bright pink. "I don't know if I'd be any good at it."Judd's eyes narrowed slightly. "Not sure I like my little o
Chapter 196: This Is HardBack at Jessi's, Judd took Buddy out for a walk while Jessi waited on her knees in front of Sir's chair. She hadn't bothered to change from her swimsuit and cover-up. Judd was still wearing his board shorts.Reflecting on their time together, she sensed a change in their relationship. The day had been different from any they'd shared previously. They'd been out together before, at Square Grouper for example. But that had always been to cap off some chore they'd done around her house. Today, there'd been a level of intimacy they'd shared while burying her box in the backyard. And spending time together on the water had been exhilarating. She wasn't sure whether it had been the activity…or the company. Watching Judd, shirtless on his board, paddling and maneuvering along the river had been…well, suffice it to say, she felt the longing that stirred deep within her soul. Not to mention in her nether region. He'd held her, what, a dozen times or more
Chapter 197: Being ThereJessi peered raptly at the screen of her laptop. The offices of Sea Star Celebrations were housed in a converted 1920s bungalow not far from downtown West Palm Beach. The living room served as a reception and waiting area. Jessi's office had once been the home's dining room, while Sarah occupied one of the two bedrooms. The other bedroom was used for files and storage, as was the tiny, detached garage in back. "Jess?" Jessi had just finished ordering the programs for a wedding when Sarah stopped in her doorway. "Hi, girlfriend!" Looking up, Jessi frowned. Sarah was pale and there were dark circles under her normally sparkling blue eyes. "What's wrong?""I don't know, I just suddenly started feeling awful. My head hurts, and I'm cold and achy. I've got about half a mind to take myself to the urgent care.""Cold and achy sounds like that flu that's been going around. How about if I drive you to urgent care?""No, I can make it. But if it's the flu,
Chapter 198: Not EnoughMuch to his relief, Judd's evening passed uneventfully, and he was able to get a full-night's sleep. It wasn't until the middle of breakfast that he and Alex received a call. According to the dispatcher, a two-year-old child had fallen into the family pool.Judd felt a knot in his stomach as Alex pulled the boxy red truck to a stop in front of the address they'd been given. A man met them as they got out of the truck, frantically pulling them towards the back of the house. "Please, hurry, my baby fell into the pool!"Pulling along the gurney loaded with gearboxes, Judd and Alex followed the man through a side gate into the backyard. At the edge of the pool, a woman sat holding a small girl, both of them soaked to the skin. The woman wailed as she rocked the child. "My baby!""Ma'am, let us take a look," Alex said gently."Marisol, let them have her!" the man urged. "They're here to help."She allowed Alex to remove the child from her arms, and he and Jud
Chapter 199: Rather Be With JessiAt 7:00 that evening, Judd, wearing a blue dress shirt and jeans, sat at the bar of an upscale chain restaurant at Downtown at the Gardens. It was not the kind of place he'd have chosen, he thought as he sipped his Yeungling draft. But he'd invited Kit to pick the place, and he assumed it was a restaurant with which she was comfortable.Twenty minutes later, he was checking his phone to see if he'd missed a message from her when he heard someone call his name. He turned to see a petite young woman making her way toward him. Her dress was short and black, her shoes, black stilettos, and while her short spiky hair had been jet black in her profile picture, it was now accented with a purple swath spiking up in the middle."Hi, sorry I'm late. I just couldn't get my act together, you know?" She smiled and proffered a black-manicured hand. "I'm Kit."Judd slid off his stool and shook her hand. "I'm Judd. Yeah, I was starting to get worried. It's n
Chapter 200: Late-Night Surprise Visit"Goddammit, motherfucking, son-of-a-bitch!" Jessi pushed away from laptop on the kitchen island and stomped out the back door. She did a little deep breathing, telling herself that breaking the computer was not the answer.She'd spent the last two hours working on revamping Sea Star's website and now, for some unknown reason, all her work had been lost. Everything had been three times harder than it had to be, and she'd rebooted her computer twice. Maybe, she considered, I should just let Adam do it next time he's down.She stood outside gazing at the moon and trying to let go of her frustration. From inside, she heard her phone ringing. Hurrying back into the kitchen, she saw that it was Judd."Hey, there! How are you?" she asked."I'm okay, how about you?""I've absolutely had it with this stupid computer, I'll tell you. I'm just about to take it and toss it into the pool."She heard him chuckle. "It can't be that bad, can it?""Oh, it
Chapter 328: Epilogue"Just one more push, you're doing great," the doctor said."How are you holding up, Dad?"Bleary-eyed, he nodded to the pink scrubs-clad nurse. He was ready for this long night to be over.He felt her starting to squeeze his hand again. "You've got this, babe," he murmured, kissing her forehead.Eyes closed and teeth clenched, she bore down, releasing a grunting squeal with the effort."Stop! There we are, Mom. The head is out. Now don't push, just breathe for a moment."Still holding her hand, he leaned over to see the back of the baby's head. His heart was in his throat and tears streamed down his face."Now this is it. On the next contraction, go ahead and push."He turned back to her. Eyes wide, she panted, gripping his hand for dear life."Oh, God, here it comes," she cried."You're doing great, I'm so proud of you," he murmured, turning to watch as their child was born.Fifteen minutes later, he strode down the hospital corridor to the family waiting
Chapter 327: No Time Like the Present"You should go home and get some rest, Jackie."Without taking her eyes off Scott, asleep in his hospital bed, she reached for Blake's hand. "I can't. I need to be here when he wakes up.""You're sure?"She nodded, then looked to her brother. "Can you take care of the kids? I hate to impose, but…""No worries, Jackie. Now that the storm's over, we'll take them back to our house. Amy's more comfortable there, anyway. We'll have a sleepover party."Jackie sighed. "I know they're ready to be back in their own beds. But I'll be home tomorrow, for sure, at least overnight.""Okay, sis." He kissed Jackie on the cheek. "Keep us posted."In the quiet of the hospital room, Jackie pulled a chair beside Scott's bed. As soon as they'd arrived back at the lodge, Blake and some of the others had carried Scott to the battered Suburban, laying him on the back seat.At Amy's insistence, Blake had driven Jackie and Scott to town. By the time they reache
Chapter 326: Dream Versus RealityHe was staring up at an azure sky. A warm summer breeze caressed his face. He turned his head and Jackie smiled at him, her deep blue eyes sparkling. "Where were you?" she asked.Scott shrugged. "I don't know.""Well, you're back now. That's what counts." She took his hand and led him to a bed in the middle of a sun-drenched field full of flowers. The bed's sheer white canopy billowed in the breeze. Kissing his hand, she released it, reaching up to slide first one, then the other spaghetti strap of her filmy white dress, allowing it to slide down her body and pool at her bare feet. His gaze slid from her sapphire eyes to her succulent lips. Then it traveled over the firm globes of her breasts with their pert pink nipples, to the flair of her hips, to the junction between her thighs where tight black curls were neatly trimmed. When he met her eyes again, she smiled knowingly and sank to her knees, bowing her head and resting her hands palm
Chapter 325: Warrior Princess"Jacks, you can't go out there." Blake's face twisted with concern."He won't come back until he finds Pierce. But he won't find Pierce, because Pierce is here. You can't leave Amy. I'd never even ask. And if Ned Hart won't go out there, I have no other choice." Her voice was deadly calm.She grabbed her grey coat, then put it back on its hook, heading into the dining room. Blake followed. "Jackie, seriously, I don't want you going out there." He grabbed her hand, stopping her. "Scott wouldn't want you going out there.""He can tell me that when I find him. Can I borrow Amy's pink parka? It's brighter than mine, easier to see."Blake exhaled sharply, his tone resigned. "I've known you long enough to know that once you've set your mind on something, that's it. At least let me put together a pack for you."While Blake scavenged from the survival students, Jackie put on Amy's parka and spoke to Grant and Emma. "I'm going out to let Scott know
Chapter 324: From Bad to WorseAway from the wide-open expanse of the lake, the trees blocked a certain amount of the wind, but plenty of snow filtered down. Try as he might, Scott couldn't make out any tracks left by Pierce. He continued up the trail, slipping and sliding as he made his way up a steep ridge. The designated campsite was the clearing at the top, but once he arrived, the area was empty. Even the snow was thin, having been blown into drifts against the bases of the trees surrounding the clearing. Where are you, you little shit? Scott turned in a circle, considering the most likely way Pierce might have gone. The clearing was exposed. He'd have wanted to find a spot that afforded more shelter. Which meant he would have gone lower. But in which direction?Rolling the dice, Scott headed west, where the clearing dropped off in a bluff about thirty meters above a ravine created by a now-frozen creek. He peered down into the gully, willing Pierce not to be there at
Chapter 323: Who's Missing?An hour later, Scott sipped his coffee and gazed out over the room. A handful of his campers had volunteered to help with lunch, and they'd all enjoyed potato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. Now, a group of guests was working on chili for dinner.Out of habit, he mentally counted his group. Tom and Patty Payton, who'd headed up lunch, were playing cards with Justin Sapp and Paula Martinez. Dan Spinelli was talking fishing with the father and sons from Cherub Lake. Not finding Pierce, Adams, or Bennet, he frowned slightly. A trip to the restaurant kitchen revealed Brian Bennett and Keely Adams working on cornbread to go with the chili.That leaves one. Scott returned to the dining room. Jackie was across the room checking on Amy. He cruised by the table where Dan was swapping fish stories. "Sorry to interrupt, but have you seen Pierce?"The younger man frowned. "Not since we ate. But you know, now that you mention it, his backpack is gone." H
Chapter 322: Everyone Shelter at the LodgeAs Jackie and the children hiked toward the main lodge, they heard the snowmobile returning from the island. Jackie sent Emma and Grant ahead with their backpacks, Max galumphing along behind them, while she waited for Scott to secure the snowmobile."How'd it go?"Scott's lips were a grim line. "About how you'd expect. There's nothing we can do about it with the storm coming. Everybody understood, really. Except for Pierce. He's such an asswipe."Jackie's eyes widened but her lips curled impishly. "Oh my, Sire. Language."He popped her ass lightly. "And now my Princess requests a spanking. My day is complete."They both laughed as the entered the lodge. Trina had a huge fire going in the dining room's fireplace, and she'd already been to the cabins to invite guests to gather in the main lodge, where there would be food and heat."Hi, guys," she greeted Jackie and Scott. "I called the crew to let them know to stay home today. Then
Chapter 321: Blizzard WarningFrowning, Scott watched the latest weather report on the early morning local news, his mouth set in a grim line. Beside him, Jackie stirred. "What is it?" she murmured."It's alright," he answered softly. "Go back to sleep. It's not even 5:00 yet."She sniffed loudly and yawned. "I'm awake now. What's the matter?" She pushed up on an elbow and rested her head against his shoulder.He shook his head derisively. "The blizzard. They're predicting the storm to hit by this afternoon.""I thought it was supposed to skirt us to the south.""I hoped it would. But now we're under a blizzard warning." He kissed her temple and slid out of bed."What are you going to do?"He stepped into a pair of fleece-lined jeans and shrugged into a grey thermal Henley. "I'm heading to the island to let the campers know. Obviously, we're postponing the solo outings. I'll offer them the chance to return for free to finish their second week of this session." He glanced
Chapter 320: Winter SessionPulling the hood of his black parka lower over his head, Scott ducked behind the windscreen of his snowmobile and headed back to the lodge. At the bunkhouse cabin, he'd just welcomed Tom and Patty Payton, the only married couple he'd had thus far in his wilderness school.Having checked in with Jackie in the reception area of the lodge, the pair had made their way on foot across the ice to the island where they joined fellow survival students Justin Sapp, a stocky young man with an infectious sense of humor, and Paula Martinez, an attractive thirty-something Latina who wrote a Spanish-language adventure blog.Everyone in this session had broad outdoor survival experience, including the Paytons, who had once spent a year in the Amazon cataloging wildlife. They'd told Scott they were excited to learn winter survival skills in the wilderness of Ontario.That leaves four more clients yet to arrive, Scott mused as he pulled up the slope to park beneath the lodg