Jennie
"Jen, will you relax." Jisoo scolds me.
"I am relaxed."
"Lisa will be fine, it's not her first day on the job."
"A fire doesn't really discriminate based on how long a firefighter has been employed." I scoff. "Her shift should have finished by now. What am I doing? I didn't want to get involved with anyone; my focus should be on my daughter. Now things are getting too serious. What happens if something happens to Lisa while she's on the job? How do I tell Ella that? Or what if we do start dating and then break up?"
"They are all valuable concerns, but the fact that you're worrying about Lisa's safety should tell you something as well. Where is this all coming from? Is it just because the reality of Lisa's job is hitting too close to home or is something else going on?" Jisoo asks with a knowing look.
"We slept together." I whisper.
"Yes, I seem to remember having this conversation already."
"Yes, but now it seems that we're in a relationship. Before I was worried about starting a relationship just to have a break up, now I'm worried about something a lot more permanent than a break up. How do you explain a break up to a two-year old let alone anything else? It all has happened so fast and I don't know how to process it."
"Maybe a few days back here will help you sort some of that confusion out. As for Ella, it may be hard for her to understand but we'll all be there to help. Don't worry about her in this, focus on your own feelings."
My phone rings into the awkward moment saving me. I rush to answer and find that it is Lisa.
"Hello, hey, are you okay?" I say in a rush.
She chuckles down the line, causing the old butterflies to flutter in my tummy. "I'm fine, everyone's safe. We've been relieved by the day shift with strict orders to get some sleep. It may be a few more days before we can get this fire out."
I can still hear the tiredness in her voice.
"Okay, you're not going back to the house, are you?"
Suddenly, Jisoo starts trying to mime something, stopping me from taking in Lisa's words. With a furrowed brow, I ask Lisa to hold on for a second. "What?" I ask Jisoo.
"I was saying that she can come here if she needs somewhere to go."
"Jisoo says that you're welcome to come over here."
"Tell her thanks but I'm going to stay at the firehouse. We're all staying close just in case they need us back out there earlier."
"Okay then." I say feeling a weight of disappointment hit me. "Get some rest then and take care of yourself out there."
"I will. Are you and Ella okay?"
I smile softly, while turning away from Jisoo. "We're both fine, yes. Ella's been asking about you."
"I wish I was there with the two of you."
"Go get some sleep."
A soft tired chuckle proceeds before she says, "Yes ma'am."
When I hang up, I turn and see Jisoo giving me a look.
"Shut up." I sigh while plonking back down on the kitchen chair.
