by Kathryn Shay
DANNY LEANED BACK in the padded booth at Pumpers and blew smoke in Jake’s face. As he took another long drag on the Marlboro, Jake noticed the lines around Danny’s mouth and eyes.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” Jake said.
“Needed to check some things out.”
So you said. Jake had been so stunned to see Danny, he hadn’t heard all the explanation of why his old friend had returned after ten years, but he’d gotten the gist. The crew, who knew him back then, crowded around him, talked a bit and suggested they all go to Pumpers after work. They had, and now Jake and Danny were alone in a booth. The others were standing at the bar.
“How are you, Danny?” Jake asked.
The grin Danny gave him was silky. Jake had remembered his smile before as honest and sincere. “Never better.” He signaled the waitress. “Hey, baby, get me another. Bring a shot of Corby’s with it.”
Obviously Danny still had a taste for alcohol. Even though his attitude and his personality seemed to have changed. “What are you doing down in Key West?”
“Sales.” He raised his wrist. On it was a Rolex watch.
“Nice.” Jake wasn’t as impressed as Danny no doubt wanted.
“How about you, buddy? I thought you’d be chief by now.”
Reflexively Jake’s hands fisted under the table. “No, I’m not. Just the same as when you left.”
“Well, some things have changed.” He nodded to the bar. “I think she likes me.”
“Who?”
“The fox.”
Jake frowned. “The fox?”
“Firefighter Whitmore,” Danny said in a singsong voice. He leered at her. Jake tried to ignore it. “She’s been checkin’ us out since we got here.”
She’s worried about me. Though he didn’t like Danny’s attitude, Jake hid his pique.
“She into kinky stuff?”
For a moment Jake panicked. He remembered how Danny had always known what girls Jake had been attracted to, the time or two he’d snuck out with someone else before he and Nancy got married. Danny had razzed Jake incessantly about being able to read his mind. Then, however, Jake hadn’t worried about Danny using it against him.
“What do you mean?”
“Does she sleep with more than one of you at a time?”
Jake forced his shoulders to relax. “As far as I know, she doesn’t sleep with any of the guys.”
“Come on, everybody knows….” He grinned. “Never mind, I’ll find out for myself.”
Jake stared at the man who’d been like a brother to him for thirty years. He’d turned into a stranger. But Jake wasn’t giving up on him. “Danny, why’d you come back?”
The salesman’s mask slipped. Danny coughed. Shifted. “Derek called me.”
Jake wasn’t surprised. When Jake had been hurt, Derek had opened up more than usual, relating some of the things he and Delaney had explored in therapy. One of them was Derek’s unresolved issues with his father.
As if confirming Jake’s thoughts, Danny said, “Apparently he’s seein’ some shrink. She told him to call me. He asked me to come home for a visit.”
“For Derek’s sake, I’m glad you did. Have you seen him?”
“Nah. Barb said he was at work when I went by the diner.” He shook his head. “She looks old.”
“Don’t we all?”
Danny examined Jake’s face. “Actually you look pretty good. Must be gettin’ laid a lot. Nancy still hot in the sack?”
“Nancy and I are divorced.”
“Ah. Got a younger babe?”
Jake shook his head.
With narrowed eyes, Danny stared hard at him; again Jake was uncomfortable. This was not the same man he knew years ago. Glancing over Jake’s shoulder, Danny lifted his beer in a salute.
“She’s smilin’ at me.” Danny frowned. “You sure you ain’t boffin’ her?”
“No. I’m not boffin’ her.” Jake glanced at his watch.
“Derek gets out of work at four, doesn’t he?”
Snorting, Danny stood and threw a wad of bills on the table. “Yeah. Still the old nag, aren’t ya, Jakey?”
Jake didn’t respond. He rose, too. “How long you here for?”
“Who knows. My business is…seasonal. I got time.” His gaze burned into Chelsea’s back. “Let’s see if I’ve still got the touch in this town.”
He chugged the rest of his beer, then swaggered to where Chelsea sat on a stool, still sparring with the guys. Danny sidled between her and Mick.
Jake watched as gradually Danny angled his body near her. After a few minutes he inched closer. His arm slid around the back of her chair.
It was then that Chelsea caught on. He could see it in the stiffening of her shoulders. In her expression. She tried to swivel her stool away from him, but Danny’s hand stopped it.
Finally she got to her feet. Jake prayed she didn’t leave the bar; Danny would follow her, and Jake would be forced to intervene. Already on an emotional roller coaster at Danny’s return, he wasn’t sure he could disguise his feelings.
Instead, she headed for the women’s room. Smart girl.
Jake sat in the booth. In minutes, she slid in across from him.
“You okay?” she asked.
He shook his head.
“I’m sorry he’s here.”
“Watch out for him, Chels. He’s changed. He used to be a nice guy. Now he’s…. I don’t know, just watch out.”
“Why’s he back?”
“Seems your sister and Derek engineered it.” Jake scowled. “I hope it’s the best thing for Derek, but given how different Danny seems, I’m not sure it is. Poor Derek. He’s got a lot of unresolved issues with Danny.”
“He’s not the only one.”
“I know.”
“Not a good time for the ghosts to return, is it?”
Jake shrugged.
“It makes our situation—”
“Don’t say it. Don’t compare us to him and me.”
Spontaneously she reached over and squeezed his arm. As she did, Danny appeared at their table. He stared at her hand on Jake. “Well, I’m off, Jakey boy.” He scrutinized Chelsea for a minute, then reached out and pulled the tie from her hair; it spilled over her shoulders. He ran his hand down the thick mane. “I been dyin’ to do that since I saw ya, darlin’. How about you and me gettin’ together later?”
She yanked her head away. “No, thanks, lover boy. I got plans.”
He looked at Jake’s arm, from which she’d hastily withdrawn her hand. “I’ll bet.”
And then he was gone.
THE MID-AUGUST SUN beat down on the players. It was the big softball game between Quint/Midi Twelve and the fire academy. Chelsea was pitching. She took a practice throw and zinged the ball into Mick’s glove. He tossed it back; she took two more practice throws and then the batter stepped up to the plate. It was the top of the ninth, Quint/Midi Twelve ahead by four. The batter was Ben Cordaro, looking more like forty-three than fifty-three. “Come on, girly,” he growled. “Show your stuff.”
She grinned. “Okay, old man.”
From shortstop, her sister called, “Don’t let the macho taunt get to you, sis.”
Often friends and family members filled in for people who were on duty or sick. Chelsea liked having Delaney play on the team; she was good fun. Winding up, Chelsea whipped the ball to Ben.
He got a piece of it, and the ball grounded to her. Chelsea snagged it and threw it to Jake on first. He tagged Ben three feet in front of the base. Chelsea heard him say, “Not bad for a girl, huh, Ben?”
Ben grinned and trotted to the sidelines with a wave at Diana, who sat in the stands looking as fresh as a flower in a yellow sundress and hat—with a squirming Timmy O’Roarke on her lap.
Next up was Beth. Dylan had coerced her into joining the league. Despite her husband’s protest, she played for the academy. From third base Dylan taunted, “Easy out, Chelsea. Lizzie Borden’s no problem.”
Beth
ignored him, as usual, which increased his quips.
“She couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn.”
Beth let the first two pitches go, then swung at the third, sending it in a line drive to third base. Shocked, Dylan fumbled it. When she was safe on first, Beth cupped her hands and yelled, “Stick it, Boy Wonder.”
Reed Macauley approached the plate. Chelsea suspected that Beth had gotten him to join the team along with her. He looked like he was having fun. Delaney, however, couldn’t let him alone. She yelled, “This one’s over the hill, Chels. No problemo.”
Dressed in cutoffs and the green academy team shirt, Reed looked young and fit. He shook his head at Delaney’s taunt and got two strikes. Then he hit a long drive down the first base line, past Jake, out to right field.
Joey scooped it up and threw it to Jake. Too high, the ball went over his head. Chelsea, who’d positioned herself about ten feet behind Jake, caught it and tossed it to him for an out. Beth, meanwhile, had made it to second. Jake jogged up to Chelsea and gave her a high five. “We make a good team, don’t we, babe?”
The little devil in her that he always encouraged snuck out. In a lowered voice she said, “On the field and in bed.”
“Shush,” he told her, but chuckled.
“Great play, Jakey boy.” Both she and Jake turned to the stands, where Danny sat with Derek.
Jake stiffened.
Chelsea trotted to the mound. Jerk, she thought. Jake had been tense and worried since Danny had come to town three days ago. He’d tried to talk to Danny about the past, but Danny had sidestepped the discussion. She hoped Francey didn’t invite him to the picnic at her house on the lake after the game, because she wanted Jake to have a good time.
Eric Scanlon, a captain on the Academy team, came up to bat next. Chelsea’s first pitch was a strike. “Way to go,” Delaney yelled. Minutes later, on a full count, Eric bunted and raced down the baseline. Jake came in and scooped up the ball just as Eric ran past him. Chelsea had run for first base, and Jake tossed the ball to her. She caught it only a split second before the runner touched the base.
“Out!” the umpire called.
The game was over. Quint/Midi Twelve had won six to two.
Jake jogged over to Chelsea and swatted her fanny. When she turned, indignant, he drawled, “All in good fun.”
With an evil grin, she pretended to get in his face. “Underneath what you just tapped are the leopard panties.”
His faced blanked, then he laughed. “Touché, Whitmore.”
They joined their teammates and everyone hugged, including Chelsea and Jake. He lifted her and twirled her around, and as she laughed and clutched his shoulders, she caught sight of DeLuca staring at them. Then people crowded around, blocking him from view. Chelsea willed herself not to worry. It was a beautiful day, she was looking forward to the picnic, and she wasn’t going to let Danny ruin anything for Jake and her.
As she and Delaney drove to Francey’s, Delaney’s idle comments about the few days Danny had been in town and how it had upset Derek made Chelsea’s confidence waver.
“They’re coming to Francey’s,” Delaney said. Chelsea pulled the car up behind a snazzy Corvette, and the women climbed out.
“Why?”
“I heard DeLuca wheedle an invitation from Alex.”
“He’s a jerk.”
Delaney snorted. “Fathers! They can ruin things for a kid.”
Chelsea grabbed Delaney’s hand. “Was it so bad for you?”
“Sometimes. I’ll never understand why Mom put up with it.”
“Love.”
Delaney snorted again. “All the more reason to avoid that trap.”
They took the path that led behind the house to a beautiful sunny backyard. Cedar decks leveled off from each of the three stories of the Templeton house, which looked like something out of Architectural Digest. Umbrella tables spotted the lawn and decks. Several feet away the lake sparkled like jewels in the four o’clock sun.
Chelsea surveyed the group. Almost everybody from both teams was here. Ben sat to the side on a step. Diana perched on one above him, knees apart, rubbing his back. He chuckled at something she said.
The O’Roarkes were spread out on a blanket under a tree, Timmy asleep, Dylan with his head in Beth’s lap. Utter peace shone from their faces as she read to him.
“Delaney?”
Chelsea looked into the pretty face of a woman she didn’t recognize. She had blond-streaked hair and big blue eyes.
Delaney said, “Andrea. How nice to see you!”
The woman smiled. “What are you doing here?”
“Chelsea Whitmore’s my sister. Chels, this is Andrea Murphy, a social worker from Mercy House. Chelsea’s a firefighter.”
“You’re Mick’s wife.” Chelsea extended her hand.
“I never made the connection because of your different last names,” Andrea said.
“Mick’s been wonderful to me since day one.” Chelsea smiled. “I really owe him.”
A shadow crossed the pretty woman’s face. “I’m glad. He’s not so liberal with me and his daughter.” The women made small talk until Andrea asked Delaney, “Can you and I talk shop for a minute?”
“Sure.”
“I’ll go meet your daughter,” Chelsea said, and nodded to where Mick sat by a small blond child who swam in a kiddie pool the Templetons had set up. Chelsea had taken two steps when someone crashed into her.
“Watch where you’re goin’, doll.”
She stared into the cold blue eyes of Danny DeLuca. “Sorry.”
He touched her hair, and she backed away. “Did you wear it down for me?”
Chelsea took a deep breath. “Look, we don’t know each other well enough for you to make those comments to me.”
“I’d like to change that.”
“I wouldn’t.”
He leaned closer; she got a whiff of something—pot? “Why not, baby? Why eat hamburger at home—” he nodded to where three of her group members stood, then patted his chest “—when you can have steak out?”
“I don’t eat red meat at all, DeLuca.”
She circled him and crossed to Mick. Sinking to the grass beside him, she said, “The creep.”
“He’s givin’ our lieutenant a rough time,” Mick told her. “He cornered Jake before you got here.”
“He’s a powder keg.” She hoped Delaney knew what she was doing with him and Derek.
Mick frowned as he stared across the lawn. “What’s your sister talking about to Andie?”
“Some case.”
“Figures. My wife can’t leave it alone.”
Chelsea was shocked at the bitterness in his voice. “Mick?”
He sighed. “Don’t mind me. I’m feelin’ sorry for myself.” His gaze surveyed the grounds. “Not a good day all around for our firehouse. Don’s wife refused to come to the picnic.”
“I wanted to meet her.” When Mick was silent, she asked, “Is everything okay with them?”
“Don took a second job—they need the money. Lucy’s not happy that he’s gone so much.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Women!”
“Hey, watch it, buddy.”
Leaning over, he splashed water with his daughter.
“’Cept for you, huh, Casey?”
“She’s beautiful.”
Peter sauntered over.
“How come you’ve never got a woman on your arm?” Mick asked him.
Peter said, “All the good ones are taken.”
Mick and Chelsea exchanged a glance.
“Anybody want a beer?” Peter asked.
“I’ll have a soda until Andrea takes over watching the kid here.”
Chelsea rose and accompanied Peter to the coolers set under the overhang of the deck. There she found Jake, talking with Francey and Alex.
Francey said, “Hey, here comes the arm.”
Chelsea smiled and avoided looking at Jake. Peter snagged the drinks and left to go
back to Mick.
“You two were certainly in sync today.” Alex nodded to her as she got a beer and twisted off the top.
“Who, me and Jake?”
“Yeah.”
“Got a good rhythm together,” he said with a barely disguised sexual undertone.
The beer she’d just sipped sputtered all over. “Sorry.” She wiped her mouth. “Yeah, I guess we do know where to put the ball.”
His eyes sparked mischief. “And the glove.”
Francey said, “Well, something went right.”
“I like playing with Chelsea.” Jake was obviously enjoying the double entendres.
She put the bottle to her lips and murmured, “You’re not a bad guy to play with, either.”
“France, come over here!” Dylan yelled.
“I’m comin’, too.” Alex followed her. “Maybe I’ll get to hold Timmy.” Alex and Francey left them alone.
Jake leaned against the cedar siding. He watched the calm blue lake and sipped his beer. Still without looking at her, he said, “Little girls who tease have to pay the price.”
She pretended interest in the beer label. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“So what’s the price?”
“You’ll see. Later.”
“Where? Your place or mine?”
Jake frowned. “I’ll come to yours. I’m worried about Derek; I want to keep an eye on him for a while.”
“I’m sorry.”
He pushed away from the house. “You can kiss and make it better,” he said, and walked away.
She watched him go, smiling.
“He’s a great guy, isn’t he?”
Chelsea turned. DeLuca again. “Yes, he is.”
“Is he a good lieutenant?”
Chelsea couldn’t resist. “The best.”
“How’s he in bed?”
“I wouldn’t know.”
“That’s not what Jakey said.”
She gave him a haughty look. “You’re pathetic, DeLuca.” Chelsea started to walk away.
He grabbed her arm roughly. “Listen, lady…”
She glanced pointedly at her arm. “Let go of me.”
His grip tightened. She remembered Billy’s violence, and her stomach clenched.
Joey appeared behind Danny. “Hey, Chels. I picked up the new car today. Wanna see it?” He said to Danny, “You don’t mind if I take Chelsea for a minute?” Expertly he drew her away. Danny was forced to let go. Joey’s face was full of thunderclouds as he escorted her to the side of the house. He stopped when they were out of sight of Danny.
