Page 7 of Lawson & Jill

She cocked her head sideways. “Yes, just like that. How’d you know?”

“Sometimes I’m involved in medivac extractions. I’d say your job is pretty important.”

“Nah, it’s mostly just creating training manuals and procedures so that the real folks can do their job.”

“Jill, don’t bullshit a bullshitter. You had to do the job before you could train others to do the job. So, how much hands-on experience do you have?”

“I worked down in Houston in a hospital for two years, and also as an EMT. That allowed me to really get into the nitty-gritty. I saw just how important it was to have the right equipment to assess and immediately communicate with the physicians. For a heart attack patient, it could make the difference between life and death.”

He liked that.

He liked her.

“Do you really think your current job is boring?”

“I really don’t know what I think. I’m antsy. I can do my job in my sleep. I came here from Texas for Lorraine. I could move back to Houston, but it seems like all of my friends have moved on. Ellie got married, and Troy and his wife just had twins. Tonight’s the most excitement I’ve had in months.”

Law considered her expression. He recognized parts of it. Definite sadness and a lack of direction. She looked like the rug had been pulled out from under her.

“When was the last time you took a vacation?” he asked.

Jill didn’t immediately answer. She continued to eat bite after bite of pie. Law didn’t push her, he could see that she was thinking.

“I took time off to take care of Lorraine, and one short trip with my parents. Other than that, nothing. We had a home health care worker come in a lot, she had good insurance and money to augment what wasn’t covered. But still, I wanted to be there for her, especially in the end.”

“Cancer?”

She put down her fork and nodded. “Pancreatic. It was her third bout. I visited the other two times, but we both knew this was going to be the last time, so I came to stay.”

Lawson covered her hand. Jill turned her palm upwards so that she could tangle her fingers with his.

“She’d kick my ass if she could see me right now. We discussed this. She knew I had hermit tendencies.”

“Siblings? Parents?”

“No siblings. My parents still have the same house where I grew up in Florida, but they both retired about six years ago and Dad talked mom into an RV.” Jill shuddered. “They now spend six months a year on the road in really, really, close quarters.”

Law grinned. “And that’s a bad thing?”

“Dad can’t hear and refuses to get hearing aids, and Mom loves to talk. So he can’t hear her, and she gets her feelings hurt. It’s kind of a mess. Then let’s add in the fact that they have three cats in the RV.”

Three cats?

Jill glared at him. “Don’t even try to deny it, I see you trying not to laugh. Yes, the darn thing smells like a litter box. Mom uses Febreeze and burns incense. Patchouli. I think Dad might have also lost his sense of smell along with his hearing.”

“Do they ask you to go RV’ing with them?” Law managed to ask with a blank expression on his face.

“Fortunately, I had a late-onset allergy to cats. At least, that’s what I told them. I met up with them in Deadwood, South Dakota. I had my own hotel room. We had fun for three days before I needed to get back to the office. How about you? Are you a hermit, or do you do a lot with friends and family?”

Lawson flipped his hand over so that hers was resting on top of his. Her hands were pretty and dainty. “I should probably release you so you can eat more of your pie,” he admitted.

“I’m thinking you should quit side-stepping questions,” Jill teased with a smile. “You know, sharing easy conversation and inconsequential personal information are things you do the first time you go out with someone. If you’re interested in having pie with them again, that is. But maybe I’m reading this situation wrong.”

* * *

Jill tried to pull her hand out of Law’s before it turned into a sweaty mess.

I didn’t really say that, did I?