Buddie: Partners in Fire

Chapter 56

Scene: Buck and Eddie’s Bedroom, Night, A Few Months Later

The moonlight filtered softly through the curtains, casting a gentle glow over the room. The past few months had been transformative for Buck. Therapy had helped him navigate the shadows of his trauma, and while the nightmares hadn’t disappeared completely, they had become more manageable, no longer controlling his life, he could sleep now. Beside him, Eddie slept peacefully, his arm draped over Buck’s waist.

But tonight, sleep eluded Eddie. The silence of the night felt heavy, his thoughts restless. I didn't know why but his mind wandered back to El Paso, to memories of his family, and especially his abuela. She had been a constant in his life, a source of warmth and wisdom. Something gnawed at him tonight, a feeling he couldn’t quite shake off. Carefully, he lifted his arm from Buck, trying not to wake him, and slipped out of bed.

Scene: Kitchen, Late Night

Eddie walked quietly into the kitchen, the cool tile floor grounding him as he flipped on the light. The house was still, the only sound the faint hum of the refrigerator. He reached for a glass and filled it with water, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling in his chest. As he took a sip, his phone buzzed on the counter, the screen lighting up with a call from an unfamiliar number. Frowning, Eddie set down his glass and picked up the phone.

Eddie: “Hello?”

The voice on the other end was soft, almost hesitant, as if the person didn’t want to say the words they were about to utter.

Doctor: “Mr. Diaz, I’m sorry to disturb you at this hour. I’m Dr. Gray, your grandmother’s physician. I’m afraid I have some bad news.”

Eddie’s heart skipped a beat, a cold dread settling in his stomach.

Eddie: “What… what is it?”

Doctor: “Your grandmother… she passed away a few hours ago. We did everything we could, but she went peacefully in her sleep. I’m very sorry for your loss.”

For a moment, Eddie couldn’t breathe. The world seemed to tilt, his grip on the phone tightening as the words sank in. His abuela… gone. The woman who had helped raise him, who had been a second mother to him, who had always been there with a warm hug and a kind word. The reality hit him like a freight train, and he staggered back, needing to steady himself against the counter.

Eddie: “Thank you for letting me know, Dr. Gray.”

His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. He ended the call, setting the phone down with a trembling hand. Eddie’s mind was racing, but his body felt numb, as if he were stuck in a nightmare. He stood there, in the middle of the kitchen, staring at nothing, trying to process the loss.

Eddie stood frozen in the dimly lit kitchen, the phone still clutched in his hand, his knuckles white from the grip. The news he had just received echoed in his mind, a harsh, unforgiving reality that refused to settle. It was as if the ground beneath him had crumbled, leaving him suspended in a moment of profound loss. He could almost hear her voice, warm and soothing, guiding him through the first meal he ever cooked on his own. He could see her smile, the way her eyes crinkled with joy as she tasted his first attempt at her famous tamales. The memories surged, overwhelming him, and yet the tears wouldn’t fall. They hovered, trapped somewhere between disbelief and the crushing weight of sorrow.

Time seemed to stretch, the silence in the kitchen pressing in on him. Eddie didn’t know how long he stood there, his mind stuck on the last conversation he’d had with his abuela, the way her voice had sounded weaker than usual, but still filled with love and pride. He’d told her he’d visit soon, that he’d bring Christopher down to see her. Now, that visit would never happen.