The Sweetheart Deal Read Free Page A

us.
    “I’m Richard Allen.” He extended his hand. “And this is Nick, and Jeff.” He indicated the other two. Then the three of them all reached for chairs, placed them in front of us, and sat down.
    “A group of skiers observed your husband skiing downhill very fast before he collided with a tree,” Richard said. “They contacted ski patrol and we responded.”
    “How badly is he hurt?” I said. “Can he walk?”
    “When we got to your husband,” he said, “he had no vital signs, and despite trying to revive him, we were unable to.” He leaned closer to me. “I’m very, very sorry, Audrey. I know this is a terrible shock.”
    The boys and I sat there. I was waiting for more. I was waiting for Richard Allen to say but. But in a few months he’ll be fine. But he’ll be able to tell you about it himself in a few minutes . But I recommend he be more careful in the future. He was a very kind man, but he said none of these things.
    Andrew started to wail and Christopher and Brian clutched him and the three of them attached themselves to me, no space between us. All I could do was kiss them and feel my body, heavy in the chair. My sons surrounded me like a small herd, which I tried to comfort and contain. They were all crying now, but Christopher and Brian still tried to soothe Andrew. I didn’t cry. Not then. My sons have lost their father.
    “But you said you’re bringing him down,” I said.
    “They’re bringing his body down,” said Richard. “We’ll call the medical examiner to transport him to the funeral home of your choice, or to the one in Hood River until you decide. Is there anyone else you’d like us to call? When you’re ready, we’ll go so you can identify him.”
    “But he was wearing a helmet,” I said. “How could this happen if he was wearing a helmet?”
    “He was,” Richard said. “We have his helmet. He was going so fast, there’s no way to know if he suffered a head trauma or another internal injury from the force of impact.”
    Every day that Leo had gone to work, the possibility of his death hovered. That, I’d learned to live with, but not this.
    “Is there anyone you’d like us to call?” Richard asked.
    Who should they call? I would have to call my parents, Leo’s parents and sister, my brother. So many people. Which was worse, making the call or getting it? It was a call no one wanted to get and I didn’t want to make.
    “Yes, please,” I said. I gave them Kevin’s number, and Erin’s. “They’re close friends. Kevin and Leo work together.” Nick and Jeff stepped away and dialed.
    And Garrett. It felt like the middle of the night here, though it wasn’t, but it would be late in Boston. When did I last talk to him? Leo had told me he’d called Garrett on Christmas Eve, from work, but I couldn’t remember the last time I’d spoken to him. That was a call I had to make. And our families. Erin could do the rest.
    Nick and Jeff returned to their chairs.
    “I reached Kevin,” Nick or Jeff said. “He’s coming with the medical examiner and will drive your car home. I’ll give him your keys.”
    “Erin and her husband will be waiting at your house for you,” the other one said.
    “We’ll have someone drive you all home,” said Richard.
    My hands were numb, as useful as two dead fish at the ends of my wrists. “He was a firefighter.” I worked to move my lips. “He did what you do. He saved people. He had to do this too.”
    Jeff and Nick both nodded. “Yes, ma’am. We know he was.”
    Richard sat looking at his hands folded between his knees before he looked at me. “Take as much time as you need. When I hear from the team and you’re ready, we can go see him. In the meantime, is there a funeral home I can contact? One less thing for you to handle.”
    “I don’t know,” I said. I kept kissing the boys. Andrew had wormed his way into my lap and curled up into a ball half his size. “I guess McKays? A lot of the Catholics use McKays, I