Free In Embers (The Ember Series Book 3) by Madison Daniel Page B

was a line of people waiting for their food and I figured I’d be a little longer than I first thought. Standing in line I studied the menu patiently.
    “Excuse me, sir,” a strange voice asked from behind me. I turned to find a women with a dark ball cap atop her head.
    “Yes?” I said, weary.
    “You’re Max Valentine, aren’t you?” she asked like it was a fact. Some of the other customers in line shot me curious glares and stares.
    “Umm…I might be. Who are you?” I asked, defensively. The woman stepped up to me removing her cap to reveal bright red hair pulled back into a tight ponytail. Her eyes locked onto me as her hands fell on her hips.
    “You here to see your girlfriend?”
    Officially annoyed, I snapped, “Who the hell are you?”
    She said nothing and smiled politely.
    “Well?” I pushed.
    “Boy, it doesn’t take much to get you all riled up, now does it,” she huffed. Just then, one of the cafeteria attendants asked for my order. Needless to say, I was flustered.
    “Your order please,” the impatient man asked again.
    Leaning into me, the redheaded interrogator said, “We’ll talk soon. Have a good lunch.” Then, she walked out of the cafeteria with a crooked smile.
    “Who are you?” I called out. She said nothing and walked out the door.
    “Sir, your order…” the man behind the register demanded. My head whipped back to him and I grimaced.
    “Pasta and a salad, no dressing.”
    “Large Coke?” he asked, blankly.
    “Did I order a drink?”
    “Coke, sir?” he stood his ground.
    “No Coke.” Now was the time my fires would have made their presence known, but as my temper awoke, my insides stayed cool and normal.
    “Diet Coke?” he asked, like an insult.
    “Are you friggin’ kidding me?” I snapped. The man shrugged his shoulders and smiled.
    “Just checking, sir.”
    Slamming my money on the counter, I reached over and grabbed my food. As I started to calm myself, he pushed my buttons once more.
    “Do you have anything smaller than a twenty dollar bill?”
    “Really?” I growled.
    “Really, sir.”
    Looking to my side I discovered a small boy waiting patiently with his arms wrapped around a large teddy bear.
    “You thirsty, kid?” I asked him, quickly. His big brown eyes stared up at me and he shook his head, yes. “Good. Get this kid the biggest Coke you have and keep the change!”
    The kid smiled below me, and I turned to walk out of the cafeteria.
    “What about a diet…” the attendant tried to ask me , but I cut him off.
    “And a diet too!” I shouted just before I rounded the corner.
     
    Standing just outside the door of Asia’s hospital room I could tell something was different. My nerves tickled my spine as I reached out for the door handle.
    “Come in, Max,” Asia’s voice announced from the back of the room. It startled me for a second, but I quickly walked inside the room and dropped the bag of food to the floor. I wasn’t ready for what, and who, awaited me.
    “Aloha,” Sam said, standing next to Asia’s bed. She was in one of her simple , but beautiful summer dresses and her hair was pulled up over her shoulders. Madi was sitting upright in Asia’s lap with her little hands grabbing at Asia’s long dark hair.
    “Sam…” I mumbled. She walked up to me and gave me a polite hug. Madi giggled from the bed and Asia watched me intensely. Asia looked better. Actually, she looked back to normal, strong and stunning.
    “What’s going on?” I asked, softly. Thunder pushed against the windows and it felt like old times again. Madi clapped when the storm awoke everywhere. Inside, so did I.
    “We came to see Asia,” Sam spoke cautiously. Asia quickly jumped from the bed, carefully holding Madi as she did. Asia’s hospital gown slid open just enough for me to notice that her bandages had been removed and her wounds had been healed.
    “I can see that,” I agreed.
    “I feel like a million bucks! Thank you, Madi Lee,” Asia said, with a