Page 39 of Their Stormy Reunion

Michael: After my stint in the Rangers, I wanted to come home. I’d seen enough, lost enough. Nothing as bad as losing you, though.

Fallon: Again, if you want to get together and talk, name the time and place.

Michael: I will.

It was time for something lighter.

Fallon: So do you watch any reality shows? The Bachelor? The Bachelorette? Real Housewives?

Michael: Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. I am proud to say that I have been to five of the dives.

I snorted.

Fallon: You always did have a cast-iron stomach.

Michael: Yeah, but now I know how to cook.

Fallon: You do? I don’t believe it.

Michael: At the firehouse all of us take turns cooking. I’d be strung up by my entrails if I fed the folks crap, so I had to practice before I cooked, and make sure it was good.

Fallon: I’m surprised you didn’t have your mom cook something and then try to pass it off as your own.

Michael: I thought about it, but everybody wanders into the kitchen while you’re cooking, so that wouldn’t have worked. Instead, I had to take cooking lessons from Mom. They like my chicken fried steak and gravy the best.

Fallon: If you cook it like your mom does, I can understand why.

Michael: When can I see you again?

I should have expected that question. Dammit. Why hadn’t I?

Fallon: Mom’s arthritis has been really bad the last couple of days. I need to get her in to see her rheumatologist. Mom isn’t on any of the normal drugs for her disease and it’s pissing me off. If this doctor won’t help her, I’m going to find someone else. And one of our programmers quit, so I’ve got to find a replacement fast. We’re already maxing out on overtime.

Michael: In other words, now isn’t a good time.

Fallon: I promise, I’m not making excuses.

Michael: I didn’t think you were. How’s your dad? While you’re taking your mom to the doctor, does he need some company?

Fallon: You’d do that?

Michael: Fallon, haven’t you figured it out yet? I’m here for you this time. I’m not going to fuck things up.

That hurt. It hurt a lot. I didn’t come back to Jasper Creek to hope. Hope was bad. For both of us.

Michael: Are you there?

Fallon: Yes.

Michael: Are you going to say something?

Fallon: Eventually.

I closed my eyes and pressed my cell phone next to my heart and figured out an answer.

Fallon: Yeah, Dad could use some company, but please don’t get your hopes up, Michael. I don’t want you hurt.

Michael: I love your heart. You have the kindest heart in the world. If I get hurt, it’s only what I deserve. But you? I promise you, I will never hurt you again. I promise you that on my life. Good night, Sunshine.