Hearts on Fire (Book 5: Creek-Harbor)

Chapter 15// Emma & Elliot

(Emma)

I have never been so happy to get back to work. Finally, after two weeks chief gave the okay for me to get back on shift, Elliot is also back but he's on light desk duty, which he is making it known to everyone that he hates it.

I mean you can just see the grumpiness rolling over him, but I can understand it. I don't know him that well as a person, but I've seen what kind of firefighter he is and he needs the job to function in life, he needs to be on the frontlines of things. 

And right now, he can't do that, because of his shoulder and for that he is in one sour mood every shift.

"How are you feeling, being back at work?" Dex asks me, as we restock the back of the ambulance. Looking from where Elliot is scowling and towards to Dex.

"I'm fine, honestly I'm glad to be out of the house. I love my kids but it's nice to work" I replied with the truth.

"Good I'm glad, your back and healthy" He said to me, throwing him a smile. I'm lucky to have him as a friend, to be fair he's probably my best friend.

Before I have a chance to reply back, I see Elliot heading over to us,

"Watch out sour bear is heading our way" I joked, Dex looks behind him and hides his laugh just as Elliot reaches us.

"You have to take me with you, on your next call out. Or otherwise I will not be hold accountable for my actions" Elliot says to us with a mix of hope and annoyance.

"No chance, Chief will have our asses if we take you out with us" Dex replies with a shake of his head. Elliot scowls at him for a second before meeting my stare.

"What Dex said sorry, your shoulder is still recovering Argent" I argued, now it was my turned to get glared out. Glaring right back at him and shrugged.

His shoulder injury is a big deal, one wrong move and his whole recovery could be delayed, Elliot needs to understand that.

"And so is your wrist but you're out in the filed" Elliot argued back at me, 

"It's different, my wrist is a slight break and now has a soft-cast on. I can move mine without a risk of re-injury you can't-" I started to explain then cut off to look him in right in the eye before continuing,

"Now put on your big-boy boxers and stuck it up" I smirked, as Dex laughs.

"Mean woman..." Eli mumbles back at me, but a small smirk on his lips as he does.

Getting ready to kick a comeback out only to stop as soon I saw a figure coming towards us. Climbing down and stomped my way over to her, without looking back Dex or Elliot.

What the hell is she doing? How the hell did she know we moved?

"Emma...honey.." She started to say as soon as she saw me approaching.

Stopping in my tracks and stood face to face with my mother.

"What are you doing here?" I asked her, my mother just looks at me sadly.

It's my whole life of nearly twenty-seven years, I've learnt one thing from my mother. She only comes around when she needs money, a place to stay or to tell us she's getting married again.

I can't even call her my mother to be honest, she walked out on me when I was six-months old, claiming that she didn't know how to be a mother, honestly she's right she doesn't know how to be one, never has and never will.

My whole life she was barely there, never shown up for my birthday or holidays, she wasn't even there when the kids were born.

But I accepted all of that because it's just what type of person she is. There is just one thing that I don't think I could ever fully forgive her for, and that's not showing up or calling when Drew was killed.