August Heat (A Year in Paradise Book 8)

by Hildred Billings

  Siobhan weighed those options while Krys continued to linger in the doorway. The slamming of a door in the distance meant the oncoming nosiness of one Aunt Gabriella. Siobhan had to think fast, Preferably, to rid herself of this nuisance clogging up her office. “I’ll drive into town around 7:30. If I think you’ve picked out a decent spot, I might hang around. For cinematic purposes, of course.”

  Brows knitted and body backing out of the doorway, Krys said, “Of course. Cinematic purposes.” The door was half closed when she poked her nose in again. “Saturday night. Eight. The park in town.”

  “I’m sure I’ll find it.” There was only one park in Paradise Valley, and only one lawn big enough to host a “movie in the park” premier. Siobhan would be lucky to find parking, though. She had been there when a T-Ball game happened, and it was not good.

  She didn’t go after Krys when the door shut and a car engine started a minute later. Glares from Krys’s car reflected off the office windows. They prevented Siobhan from seeing her aunt open the door, giving her the start of her life.

  “Who was that, huh?” Gabriella took another look in Krys’s direction. “You know I don’t swing that way, but that gal has a got a nice ass.”

  “I hear that’s what happens when you’re a firefighter.” Siobhan cleared her throat and flicked the hair out of her face. She did not need her aunt beholding how flustered some people in that office were. “You get a nice ass.”

  “Oh? Firefighter, huh?” Gabriella leaned out the door, right foot hovering in the air as she got a good, long look of the old car disappearing down the driveway. “Then again, if that’s what the firefighters look like around here, I might have to start dating around. Friend of yours?”

  Siobhan finally succumbed to her squeaky office chair. “She’s helping with the kittens. She’s the one who brought them in.”

  “And?”

  That got Gabriella a harsh look over the shoulder? “And what?”

  “Aaaaand?”

  “And we might be seeing the movie in the park on Saturday,” Siobhan muttered.

  Too loud, apparently. That gave Gabriella the ammunition she required to grab Siobhan by the back of the chair and spin her around like it was her birthday. Gloats that it was “about time someone went on a date again” filled the air.

  Siobhan felt like she was about to be sick. The spinning chair wasn’t the only culprit.

  Chapter 9

  KRYS

  “Hear me out, would you?” Krys placed her elbow on the chief’s desk, coffee-stained papers rustling beneath her. “The dalmatian days may be over, but that doesn’t mean we don’t need some animals around here, all right?”

  Chief Johnson rubbed his brow and burrowed the pads of his palms into his eyes. A resounding sigh nearly knocked Krys out of her seat. What was worse? The torrential bullcrap storm she conjured when she helped herself into her boss’s office, or that tired face looking back at her? The man was supposed to have a nap at this time of day.

  “Kittens,” he echoed. “You want the firehouse to adopt a litter of kittens.”

  “Doesn’t have to be all of them…” Krys massaged the back of her neck. If her chief was usually napping at two in the afternoon, then she was working out. Lifting weights. Jumping rope. Getting the guys to join her in yoga, because God knew those boys were tighter than the hoses they dragged from engine to hydrants. “Keep a couple so they can play with and keep each other company. I can find homes for the others. I mean, they’re good mousers.”

  The chief propped his chin up on his hand. “So are Dalmatians. You’ll notice we never got one. Or a bulldog, for that matter.” That was a reference to the poll the weekly town newspaper ran a few years ago. “What breed of dog do you think befits the Paradise Valley fire hall?” Somehow, “bulldogs” beat our Dalmatians by over twenty percent. Krys had always thought this a terrier town, so that was news to her.

  “If this is about money to feed them and take them to vet, we’ll find a way. Remember when they had that library cat a few years back?” Ah, yes, in the days before Yi. Old Smokey and Yi overlapped each other by one year. Rumor was that the cat finally gave up the ghost because it couldn’t stand the new head librarian. “They always had a few dollars in the donation bin for food and litter.”

  “You gonna clean up that litter box every day, Madison?” Chief Johnson laughed as if that were the most ridiculous thing he ever heard. “’Cause I ain’t! Doubt you’ll find many of the guys here want to pick up cat crap, especially if they already do it at home.”

  Krys sat back in her seat. “We already share the chores around here. What’s cleaning a food bowl and scooping up some clumps?”

  “You’re out of your mind. Collect some donations for those cats you found, if you want, but I’m drawing the line at inviting them to live here. Do you know how much paperwork that is for me, anyway? Even if I wanted them around…”

  Krys knew it was a longshot, but bringing the cats to the firehouse was her best shot at getting all four adopted together. Or at least two of them together. She had already asked her friends if they wanted to adopt some furballs, but Lorri pointed out her upcoming baby, and Jalen admitted she wasn’t home enough those days to take care of a pet. The closest Krys’s roommate came to helping out was promising to make some fliers to hang around town. “FREE KITTENS TO GOOD HOME.” Luckily, she had snatched a decent photo of them together the last time she was at Siobhan’s place, not that it had helped them get adopted yet.

  “If you like them so much, why don’t you keep them, Madison?” the chief called after her as she left his office.

  “My landlord won’t let me!”

  “What’s up now?” asked Quimby in the lounge. A talk show played on TV. Looked like some serious video gaming had been going on until Tim Young passed out asleep in his chair. “Getting yelled at ‘cause you’re a girl?”

  Krys stopped dead behind the couch. “Who said I was a girl?” she snapped.

  It got Quimby every time. He’d be momentarily scared witless that he had offended her, only for Krys to slug him in the shoulder and suggest they go spot each other at the bench. My favorite men are the ones who fall for my dumb jokes. They were usually the ones teaching her those dumb jokes to use on others later.

  “Nah, man.” Krys slammed down beside him on the couch. “Was trying to convince him to get the firehouse to adopt the cats.”

  “You’re still going on about those cats, huh? Thought you handed them over to the vet.”

  “I did, but it’s not like the vet can keep them, either. Besides, those furballs need to get fixed before they start inbreeding.” That reminded her… “Hey!” She smacked her hand against Quimby’s arm. “I’m taking up a collection to pay for their spaying and neutering. You gonna put up twenty bucks?”

  “Twenty bucks? Damn. Does that pay for one of them? Do I look like I’m made out of twenties?”

  “Pfft. Shoulda known you weren’t good for helping out some poor animals that were abandoned behind a barn set on fire.”

  “Speaking of, did you know the fire marshal still isn’t convinced the fire was accidental? He thinks it may have been arson, but I’m not supposed to share that.”

  “How did you hear that?”

  Quimby shrugged. “My girl went to school with his brother. I hear things through the grapevine.”

  “So it’s entirely derivative rumors.”

  “Derivative? I dunno what you mean.”

  Oh, my God, Quimby. That high-quality Clark High School education right there. “Basically, you’re talking out of your ass.”

  “Believe it or not,” Quimby continued, dutifully ignoring Krys’s comments, “those kittens were a big part of him coming to that conclusion. They weren’t free roaming after escaping the fire. Somebody put those barn cats in a box and kept them far away from where the blaze would be. You ask me, Longfellow was pulling an insurance scam on an old, crappy building. Thing was a giant fire hazard, anyway. Next wildfire wo
uld have knocked it down. Those cats definitely wouldn’t have stood a chance then.”

  “Thanks for the reminder that it’s fire season.” It had been an awfully quiet one that year. The past two or three years had been nothing but nail-biters by the time July rolled around, thanks to droughts and the drying of every tree in the vicinity. Last year alone, one of the PNW’s many wildfires came dangerously close to Paradise Valley’s city limits. A few of the rural residents had evacuated into town and were prepared to evacuate elsewhere, too. Like her fellow firefighters, Krys had been ready to join the fight elsewhere in the state, but the city made it clear that they were needed there in Paradise Valley. There were already only three of them who worked full-time. The part-timers and volunteers couldn’t make up for them if they were suddenly gone to fight fires elsewhere. Still, it had been rough sitting back and waiting, waiting, waiting. Krys had been so paranoid about fires in town that she drove around, looking for illegal burning to report. They say it’s only going to get worse as the years go by. I can believe it.

  Krys shuddered. Quimby ignored it.

  “Can’t believe Longfellow would burn his own barn down,” Krys said, changing the subject. “There’s no way he got a decent payout from it. You think it was a controlled burn? No way. You were there. That thing had every opportunity to spread if we didn’t get there quickly.”

  “We got there quickly because Longfellow called us the ‘moment he saw it.’”

  “Uh huh…” Wouldn’t be the first time the firefighters were called in to control an arson burn, but she refused to believe it happened that often. “There’s still no mama cat, either. Or, at least, I didn’t see anything in the debris.”

  “Could’ve been a feral cat who thought the barn was a safe enough place to put her kittens. Either way, those kittens are better off at the vet’s. Better than being left to the wilds or at the pound. You know what they do to animals there.”

  “Thanks for the reminder, Quimby! What do you think I’m trying to do, if not get these guys a nice home?”

  The snorting of a man rousing from his afternoon slumber startled Krys, who was too uptight for her own good. Tim Young jerked out of his chair, the PS4 controller in his lap clattering to the floor. “When did we get cats? I love cats!”

  It took Krys a moment to realize what had happened. In his half-sleep, Young had misheard the incident with the kittens and assumed they were already here, ready to become firehouse cats. The man did love cats, didn’t he? He unabashedly carried cat-shaped keychains and had a picture of his own cat as his phone background. His gaming avatars were humanoid cats, and he once told Krys that he used to volunteer at a shelter before dedicating his time to firefighting. If anybody could help her figure out this predicament, it was him.

  “I’m trying to get the chief to agree to take the cats in here. Don’t you think it’s time we got some furry mascots, Young?”

  His eyes widened. “I never thought this day would come…”

  “He hasn’t agreed to it yet. We need to…”

  Young leaped up from his chair. It flung back and forth from the impact of his shifting weight, and Quimby was the first to shove his foot against the chair to steady it again. Young stood before them, flexing the fact he was the widest of the full-time crew. It was not all fat.

  “How many cats?” he asked.

  “Four bouncing baby tabbies.”

  He looked at Krys as if she might be pulling his leg. “You bring four kittens into this place, and I might die for them.”

  “Just might?” Quimby quipped. “Whenever you hear there’s a cat in a housefire, you’re the first one barging through the flaming doors. You’re the most popular guy in the calendar because you’re always posing with the cats you’ve saved.”

  “I’ll die for them!”

  Clearly, I’m not the one who should be going on a date with Siobhan tomorrow. If Siobhan were straight or Young unmarried, Matchmaking Madison would be back in business. “So you’ll help me convince the chief to adopt them?”

  “I got him to use donation money for the new treadmill, didn’t I?”

  “Thatta boy,” Krys said with a grin. “Use those skills of persuasion to save some lives.”

  At least this was one less thing to worry about. Now, could Krys get confirmation that things would go as well with Dr. O’Connor, the only person in Paradise Valley to look at her and think, “Yeah, I hate that asshole. Look at her eating her sandwich. Who does she think she is? She probably stole that sandwich from somebody else.”

  Krys was a believer in good omens, though, especially when they held degrees of separation from other outcomes she wished to achieve. The kittens were connected to Siobhan. Success with them meant success with her.

  Yes, that’s how it worked. Krys clung to that belief as she hit their private gym, prepared to be her most toned, fittest self for her date the next day.

  Chapter 10

  SIOBHAN

  This was a mistake. A clear, unbelievable mistake.

  I really am an idiot. Siobhan’s car crept down Georgia Street, looking for a decent place to park. Cars, pickups, and business rigs clogged the parking lot and street, however. Siobhan didn’t think she had to leave a whole hour early to get a decent place to park. Nor did she know of anywhere nearby where she might park without a tow warning. I should have taken up her offer to pick me up, but nooo, I needed my own escape. Siobhan still didn’t regret driving herself to town. Aunt Gabriella had been insufferable enough finding a suitable outfit and makeup for her niece’s “big date.”

  More like big whoop. Siobhan wore a nice blouse with jeans, but she wasn’t about to slap on a dress and makeup. Not for a movie in the park. Was Gabriella insane? The evenings may still be warm in August, but temperatures quickly fell once the sun set. Siobhan wore a long-sleeved blouse and brought a jacket with her. Besides, a woman never knew when someone like Krys might try to put on the moves. The ol’ “oh, you’re cold? Here, I’ll warm you up!” trick.

  I don’t think I could stand it. The moment I wonder if this was the same body odor Emily smelled when she cheated on me, the moment I’m outta there. Siobhan still wasn’t convinced that Krys was innocent. Sure, she might think she was innocent. Think being an operative word. That doesn’t mean her hands are clean. A player didn’t keep to only single girls, no matter the intention. Not if given enough opportunity to fool around.

  What am I doing? Why am I doing this? Siobhan waited a little too long at a four-way stop. Someone in a tiny green Honda honked at her, propelling Siobhan’s car forward as she continued her search for a decent place to park.

  She ended up on Idaho Street a few minutes’ walk away. After looking around to make sure she blocked nobody’s driveway, Siobhan put the car into park and gave herself a pep talk before getting out of the car. God, I wish I knew more people in town. Now would be a good time to have some friends to fall back on if things blow up with Krys. Krys had called the office yesterday evening with “big news” to share at their date. About the kittens. I keep forgetting about them… Although she didn’t usually work with house pets, Siobhan had seen her fair share of cats and kittens. After a while, they blurred together. What made these four so special that everyone bended over backward to change their fates?

  Not that she was complaining. The animal lover in her was glad to know they might have care in their near future.

  Something stinks, though. Siobhan locked her car and searched for the sidewalk, stuffed with overgrown grass and weeds. Trees in dire need of trimming hung over her head. Rickety fences threatened to keel over. This was apparently not the most affluent part of town. The houses were loved and well-lived in, but at what cost? This is why I can’t stand living in towns. You’ve got neighbors who don’t take care of their properties. Neighbors looking through your window. Neighbors.

  People being people, basically.

  “Fancy seeing you again.”

  Siobhan swerved her head the moment she stopped at
the intersection of Idaho and Georgia Streets. Behind her stood a young couple holding hands, probably en-route to the same event. Siobhan didn’t recognize the short woman wearing a baggy sweater and running her fingers through thick, auburn hair. She did, however, recognize the taller woman with short hair and a gaze for trouble.

  Lorri. From the hardware store.

  “Uh, hi.” Siobhan forced a grin. “Thanks for the fertilizer recommendation. It’s working really well.” That was a lie. Kinda. She honestly didn’t know how it was working for Aunt Gabriella’s garden.

  “Oh, good to hear.” They continued to wait together as more cars slowly drove by, looking for a place to park. These two have the right idea, I guess. Unfortunately for Siobhan, walking was not an option. “You here with somebody?”

  “Huh?” Siobhan had not expected such a nosy question. Right, she’s friends with Krys. Oh, God. Had Krys told her friends she was going out with Siobhan that night? I’m about to die already. Siobhan was hoping for a low-key hangout. She wasn’t calling it a date anymore. She’d test Krys’s behavior, then maybe have a date. This was a woman who was cautious in love, after all. “I’m… meeting a friend, yes.”

  A gap opened in traffic. Lorri stepped forward, her partner’s hand firmly ensconced in a strong grip. “Have fun.” That was a said with a knowing look.

  She totally knows!

  Siobhan didn’t know where Krys was. Honestly, the more she thought about it, the more she was inclined to turn around and claim to have a stomachache. Didn’t help that the park was filled with picnic blankets and towels. A giant screen was erected by the softball area, and the more the sun set, the more Siobhan wondered if she would ever find Krys among the crowd of people out on dates or family outings. Groups of friends smuggled in beer while kids tore up the patches of green between blankets. The occasional man got up to make use of the short line to the men’s restroom. The women’s, naturally, wrapped around the building. What was worse than a line to the women’s restroom? One in Paradise Valley, where a majority of the residents were grown women.