“I’ve been on hold for almost fifteen minutes now waiting to talk to someone who can tell me what happened to the remainder of the supplies I ordered for the SnowFest first-aid tent.”
“Let me see who’s handling that. I’ll just put you on hold.”
“No, please—” And the background music was back. “Damn it.”
“Damn,” Daisy said.
“Shit.” Ellie needed to watch her mouth.
She walked to the laundry room and moved the load of bed sheets from the washer to the dryer and tossed clothes in the washer.
“Ma’am?”
Oh, thank God. “Yes.”
“Can you give us the order number?”
Oh, come on! “Does no one there know what I’m talking about?”
This wasn’t a big city hospital. This was Scarlet Springs. There was only one SnowFest, and she’d placed one order.
“If you give us the number, we can look it up and figure out what’s going on.”
“Hang on a moment, and don’t you dare put me on hold again.” Ellie hurried to the kitchen, found the right file, and took out the form. She read the number over the phone. “I didn’t get the AEDs, any of the oxygen equipment, or the heating pads—and those are the body-length pads used to treat hypothermia. The cots weren’t there either.”
“What’s a good number for me to call?”
Ellie gave the woman her cell phone number. “Please understand that SnowFest is two weeks away, so I need these supplies within the week.”
“I’ll look into it and get back to you.”
Ellie ended the call, her frustration soaring.
She sank onto the couch, wondering what to do now. Should she give Jesse space, let him find his way? Should she text him again, tell him that she cared? Should she assume they were off for Tuesday night and cancel with Claire?
Damn it.
She’d forgotten how miserable romance could be.
Oh, Jesse.
Her heart had broken for him last night. She’d known the story, of course. The Fisher family had lived in Scarlet Springs for a few generations, and Ellie’s father had been the family’s pediatrician. Everyone in town had been heartbroken over the tragedy, and most had turned out for the funeral in a show of support.
But it was still tearing Jesse apart. He’d broken down in her arms, his tears bringing tears to her eyes. It had lasted only a moment. Then he’d shut himself off, pulled out of her embrace, and laid back on his pillow. He’d held her, his fingers tracing a line along her spine, but he hadn’t spoken again—not a word.
Daisy burst into tears because Daniel had taken apart the puzzle she’d been putting together.
“Okay. Let’s put the puzzles away. It’s time to play outside. Do you want to make a snowman?”
* * *
Jesse lefta voicemail for Esri on his lunch break. “I really need to see you today. Give me a call or text me with a time, and I’ll be there. Sorry for the short notice, but it’s really important. Please call.”
Goddamn it!
He shoved his phone back into his pocket, stared down at the burrito he’d bought from the cafeteria, not the least bit hungry. His body needed fuel, so he ate anyway, doing his best to relax, trying to tune out the maelstrom inside his head.
He’d fallen the fuck apart last night. He’d let Ellie hold him like a baby, and he’d shed actual fucking tears. He’d thought that crying was supposed to make a person feel better. Instead, he’d wanted to punch something. He’d been a weak fuck and dumped all of his shit onto Ellie. What must she think of him now?