The Fireman's Christmas

by Meg Lacey

  Even a hard-of-hearing amoeba couldn't have missed the disapproval in Tessa's voice as she answered, "The distinguished gentleman with that very artistic display of flowers and art, you mean? Yes, that's Barrett."

  Danny held up his hand for peace. "I didn't mean that the way it sounded. I'm not the most artistic guy, so I didn't know how to describe it. I liked Barrett. What about him?"

  "We had lunch last week and started talking about some projects we can do together. Since he's a florist, he'd do the flower-arrangement design, but I'd design the environment around it. That started me thinking it might be good to add in party design and planning to my business services. What do you think?"

  Danny sipped his coffee. "Sure, that sounds okay. But I don't really get what you mean by that."

  "Barrett has this client who is looking to transform a living and dining room into a winter wonderland for Christmas. I'd create the wonderland look of the entire area, placing flowers and plants to frame the theme. Barrett would do all the floral arrangements for the table and for other areas where a display was needed, in addition to creating personal flowers for the guests of honor, things like that."

  "It sounds as if that type of thing will take a lot more of your time. We haven't seen much of each other since the show as it is. I thought you'd been avoiding me."

  Tessa took a gulp of her coffee. "No, I'm working more now. And it's not as if you've been hugging the sofa, either. When you're not on duty, the kids told me you're bringing work home."

  "If you work hard enough you get ahead. At least, that's what was drilled into me as a kid. We just got a good government resource grant, so I've been working with Mike on the curriculum and the advanced training procedures."

  "That sounds interesting. What's invol—" Tessa began, breaking off with a yawn so wide that Danny was afraid her jaw would break. "You'll have to tell me later. I'm whipped. I'd better take my kids home so I can go to sleep."

  "Stay." Danny took Tessa's mug and placed it on the table beside his. "It will give us some more time together."

  "That's not a good idea. You're on duty tomorrow so we both have to get up early and—Stop that."

  "I love the way your mouth trembles when you say no, but don't want to," Danny said, continuing to nuzzle her neck.

  "What is it you think I want?"

  "You want the same thing I do."

  "I'm not sure about that. I can't stay at home like Laurie did and not have a career. I'm sorry if that's what you want, but—"

  "That isn't what I want. I'm talking about working as a team. In a team everyone pulls their weight. Laurie and I shared equally."

  "Yes, she stayed home and you went to work."

  "That's what made sense for us," Danny said with a casual shrug.

  "It doesn't make sense for me."

  "Why should it? You're not Laurie."

  Tessa's mouth dropped open as she stared at him, suddenly infuriated by his reasonable tone. "That's what I've been telling you. God, you drive me so crazy I could just…just…" She yanked off her hat and threw it at him, delighting him so much that he reached for her and drew her into a mind-blowing kiss.

  "Danny." Tessa sighed before making a halfhearted effort to move away. "You're pushing me and I don't want to be pushed anymore."

  "Woman, you would drive a saint to hell." He shoved his way upright from the swing, then thrust his hands into his hair. "Damn it, Tessa, I think I'm in love with you. Why can't you understand that? How many more ways do I have to say it?"

  Tessa leaped to her feet and tossed his tone right back to him. "You have to say it until you get it right for both of us. And I think I'm in love with you, too, so don't shout at me like the fireman in charge of the situation."

  As the realization of what they'd both said hit them they dropped back onto the swing. Glancing once at each other, they couldn't hold the gaze. They both looked away. For a few minutes the only noise was the rattling rustle of the leaves still on the ground and the scurrying of a squirrel on night patrol.

  "What did you say?" Tessa ventured.

  Danny rubbed his chin. "I'm not quite sure."

  "You said you think you might be in love with me. Don't deny it."

  "I'm not denying it. I'm just surprised it popped out."

  "Did you mean it?"

  Danny was quick to reply, "Did you?"

  After one searching glance, Tessa stared at her feet. "I…yes, I think so."

  "You think so?"

  "I didn't plan to say it, either. It slipped out."

  There was another long silence while they both processed their statements. Danny broke the silence. "So if we love each other, what's the problem with our being together?"

  "I keep telling you, we're the problem. You and me. What we want. What we need. I need freedom and respect for what I want to accomplish. I need to reach out and try things I've never done before."

  "And marriage to me would prevent that?"

  "Who's talking about marriage?"

  Danny hesitated, a stunned look on his face. "I, uh, I guess I was…uh, am. Me, I think."

  "I just admitted to myself very recently that I was in love with you…but marriage. I don't know…"

  "I don't, either. But I do know that I haven't been involved with anyone like this since Laurie. I've avoided involvement. I figured I had enough responsibility with my kids and career. I didn't expect to meet anyone I'd feel this way about. So to me the next logical step is marriage. We sure as hell can't live in sin with six kids running around."

  Tessa was silent, not sure what to say. No, that wasn't true. She wanted to say yes. Then she would throw her arms around him and never let him go. He was a very special man, but…Frustrated, she slapped her hand on the arm of the swing. "Why do you do this, Danny?"

  "Do what?"

  "Bring up things like this without warning."

  "How am I supposed to warn you? Hire a flock of doves? Throw flowers at your feet? Wave a flag?"

  "I don't know, but you could have prepared me somehow."

  He dropped his head back. "Tessa Doherty, you drive me crazy."

  She lifted her chin. "In that case I'm surprised you want to marry me."

  "It surprises the hell out of me, too," Danny said.

  Glaring at each other, they fell silent again.

  Tessa peeped at him from under her lashes. "I really have to think about this."

  Looking a bit hurt, Danny said, "Fine—you do that. I'll think about it, too."

  "You have to think about it?"

  "You're not the only one who's scared."

  Tessa jumped into denial mode. "I'm not scared. I'm being deliberate. There are many things to consider."

  "Bull," Danny snorted. "You're terrified. That's what this 'freedom to go my way' excuse of yours is about. What it's always been about."

  "That's not true."

  "It is true. You're afraid to take a risk."

  "I'm taking a risk," Tessa stated. "I left Colin, I started a business, I…"

  Danny shook his head. "You run like hell if anyone gets too close to your heart."

  "My kids are close to my heart, and so are yours. Then there's my work, my—"

  Turning to face her, Danny said, "None of that counts. Until you open yourself enough to let a man in, too, into your heart, your mind, your body—the rest is just responsibility. That's what this is really about. You're afraid of yourself, of how I make you feel."

  Tessa jumped on one statement. "You're wrong. I'm not afraid. I am responsible for my life now, for Eric and Josie, for…" At Danny's skeptical look she trailed off. "I need some space here. Maybe we should make other arrangements for the children for a while. Is your aunt Connie well enough to take over? Except for Emma in preschool, the kids are in school full-time, so someone else could—"

  "I'll give you until Christmas, Tessa. I want an answer before Christmas Eve."

  "I'm not sure I can be here on Christmas."

  "You'll be here. The ki
ds are already making decorations and planning activities. They have Christmas all planned out."

  Danny's high-handed attitude robbed Tessa of words. His next statement robbed her of the entire English language.

  "You have to stop running from love sometime, sweetheart. I think a Christmas wedding is the place to do it."

  * * *

  IF TESSA THOUGHT she'd have peace and quiet to brood over Danny's ultimatum, she was mistaken. Not only was she swamped with holiday parties after she and Barrett had made such a splash with their winter wonderland party, but the kids had last-minute school plays and concerts. Then there were the traditional holiday visits. Since Danny's kids had asked her family to attend their events, too, she barely had time to think about Christmas, much less finish her shopping. As she and Rhonda wandered through a department store the Saturday before Christmas, Rhonda stopped so suddenly that Tessa ran into her and dropped her shopping bags directly in front of a bunch of kids racing through the aisle. Tessa rescued her bags from the marauding herd just in time.

  "You, kids, stop running," Tessa yelled after them.

  Rhonda started laughing. "That didn't sound like the quiet, repressed Tessa Doherty who moved here last spring."

  "What do you mean?" Tessa asked, stuffing the last of her packages back into her bags.

  "She would have been icily polite, careful not to make a scene in public."

  "I wasn't making a scene. I was telling those kids to slow down."

  "Yes, at the top of your lungs," Rhonda agreed.

  "Why did you stop so fast, anyway?"

  Rhonda grabbed Tessa's arm and twirled her around. "Look."

  Tessa looked around. "Look at what?"

  "That dress on the mannequin."

  "What about it?"

  "It's perfect."

  "Perfect for what?"

  "For your wedding, of course."

  Tessa groaned. "Rhonda, not you, too. You're my best friend. You're supposed to be on my side."

  "I am on your side. I'm almost pasted there. And because I'm on your side, I'm not going to let you make the biggest mistake of your life."

  "I've already made that one, remember? I married Colin."

  "Colin was a step on the path to where you're supposed to be, that's all."

  Tessa sent her friend a suspicious look. "Are you still dating that new-age massage therapist? I thought you broke up."

  "We did, but he won me back when he started talking about our auras intermingling. It sounded so sexy we ended up in a storage closet at the hospital."

  Tessa laughed. "You're incorrigible. I'm surprised you weren't caught." At Rhonda's expression she laughed harder. "You were caught."

  "Not caught, exactly, but we sure got some knowing looks when we emerged from the closet. I didn't know it until later, but my shirt was on inside out."

  Gaining control, Tessa said, "Rhonda, this is so like you. Remember that time when—"

  "Stop that. We're talking about your wedding dress here."

  "No, you're talking about it. I'm trying to change the subject."

  "You love him, don't you?" Rhonda demanded. "Don't tell me you don't, because you've been miserable not seeing much of him for the past two weeks. Your kids are complaining, Danny's kids are complaining, Danny's coworkers are complaining…."

  "Yes, okay, I love him, but—How do you know Danny's coworkers?"

  "I've been in touch with CJ Doren. She told me he's been like a tiger with a toothache at work."

  "He has?"

  "Yes, and you're just as bad."

  "I am not."

  Rhonda steered Tessa toward the mannequin. "Yes, you are. That's why we have appointments for facials, hairstyling, pedicures and nails later this afternoon."

  "I can't do that. I don't have time. I have a million things to do."

  "Make the time. You're starting to resemble an anemic ghost." Rhonda pointed at a full-length mirror. "Look at yourself."

  Tessa peeked. "Oh, come on, I don't look that bad. It's the department-store lights."

  "Trust me, you look that bad. The shadows under your eyes look as if a vampire bit you two days ago. And don't get me started on your hair."

  Biting her lip, Tessa said, "I'm tired, all right? I haven't had time to primp. I work for a living, remember?"

  "So do I, but I still wear some makeup and style my hair, not just yank it back into a ponytail. You're lucky you're so pretty, Tessa, or little children would run in terror."

  Tessa held up her hand, palm out. "Stop. I get the point. We'll go to the salon."

  "You bet we will. Right after we try on that dress."

  'I don't know if—"

  "Stop it, Tessa. You love him, he loves you. You'll work out the problems as you go forward. Do you want to end up a little old lady with nothing but regrets and cats? 'Cause that's the direction you're going."

  "I'm scared, Rhonda."

  "Who isn't? But Tessa, if you don't marry Danny you'll still be scared, but you'll be alone. Is that what you want?"

  "No. No, I don't."

  Rhonda dug her phone out of her massive tote bag and handed it over to Tessa. "Then call Danny and tell him so."

  Tessa hesitated, then took the phone.

  "Meanwhile, I'm going to take that dress to the dressing room for you. And don't worry about arranging the wedding. I already have everything under control. It's almost all finished."

  Tessa almost dropped the phone. "You, you, you…what?"

  "What are friends for? I knew you would say yes eventually."

  "I, you…"

  "Now, call Danny before I have to do that for you, too." Rhonda walked away chuckling as she heard the firm way Tessa was punching in Danny's number.

  * * *

  "HEY, SANTORI," Jake Doren called across the firehouse garage, "the chief wants you on the double."

  Danny hung up his cell phone and shoved it into the holster at his waist. He pushed away from the fire engine he'd been inspecting when Tessa called. "Where is he?"

  "In his office."

  "Right." He punched Jake's arm, giving him a big smile. "Thanks."

  "No problem," Jake replied, his attention already diverted by the arson canine investigator coming into the garage with his black Lab heeling at his side.

  Danny strolled into Mike's office. His chief was standing by his desk talking on the phone. "Yep, I agree…right. I'll let you know how it turns out."

  Mike waved him to a seat as he hung up the phone. "How's it going, Danny?"

  "Good."

  "Good," he repeated. "I was just wondering how you're doing lately."

  Danny sent him a quizzical look. "What are you, my mother?"

  Mike grinned. "I like to know what's going on with my department, that's all."

  "You seeing some problems I don't know about?"

  "Nope, nothing like that. I've been hearing that you're kind of touchy these days, but…"

  Danny grinned. "Who's touchy? I'm fine. Nothing's wrong."

  "In that case, am I invited to a wedding on Christmas Eve?"

  Thrusting his hands into his pockets, Danny rocked back and forth like a proud little boy. "You sure as hell are. You're the best man."

  "Everything is okay, then?"

  "Sure is. Damn good thing, too, because the kids have been bugging the hell out of me with questions about decorating the house for a wedding, plus Christmas. That was just the start. Aunt Connie told me she's handling the catering and then she called my mom and aunt in Missouri asking them to come up. The pastor called me the other day to say he's booked and can't wait to perform the ceremony. I even got a call from Barrett, that florist guy Tessa works with, about the flowers. If Tessa hadn't finally said yes I wouldn't have been able to hold my head up again."

  "Congratulations. Better you than me," Mike said with a grin.

  "Your turn will come, pal. I won't be happy until the entire squad is married."

  Mike laughed, then indicated that Danny take a chair. "Re
member I told you I had something else in mind for your career? Well, this isn't official yet, but our assistant fire chief has resigned. He's moving to Texas. This means I need an assistant chief. How about it?"

  "Me? You're offering it to me, you mean?"

  Mike grinned. "Do you see anyone else in here? Yes, you. You've been here over twelve years. You've worked your way up to captain and know administration, how to handle people and firefighting procedures. I've already got the blessing of the bosses. What do you say?"

  A bit overwhelmed, Danny couldn't answer for a moment.

  "You'll have an official ceremony, but I wanted to tell the superintendent that you've accepted the position. This way your hours would be regular daytime ones. You'd be on call when needed for a run just as I am, but you can get a more scheduled life for your family by doing this."

  "Mike, I don't know what to say."

  "Say yes or no, Santori."

  "Yes," Danny said, standing to meet Mike's handshake. "Thanks."

  "Don't thank me. You earned it."

  * * *

  WEARING A NEW NAVY SUIT, white shirt and silk tie with Santas on it, courtesy of his children, Danny stood by the Christmas tree in the same living room where he'd once interviewed Miss Peach to babysit for his children. The room was a bit different now, decked with lighted candles, flowers, Christmas decorations and wedding bells. He looked around, scarcely seeing the smiling friends and family who were gathered there to watch him take the plunge.

  "Don't try it, Danny," Mike Crezinski said with a bracing slap on his back. "The squad would tackle you before you got near the door."

  "I'm not going anywhere."

  Danny turned when the sounds of the wedding march began. As the music strummed he looked down the makeshift aisle that divided the small crowd. The first thing he saw was Rhonda surrounded by a loud group of excited children, slicked and scrubbed in their shiniest Sunday best, assembling at the back of the room. Rhonda, his mom and Aunt Connie were attempting to restore order.

  "Quiet," Rhonda said. "Whisper."

  "Kyle, Kevin, knock it off," he heard his mother say.

  "I forgot my underpants, Alison," Emma said.

  Alison groaned, but Aunt Connie had a solution. "Don't do any cartwheels, Emma."

  "Okay."

  Order was finally restored and Rhonda paced with the music toward the tree where the pastor, Danny and Mike waited. Alison followed looking very grown-up to his eyes. Danny focused his attention on the next group, hoping his younger children would make it to the front of the room without incident. He gasped, and then grinned as he saw something he'd missed before—General was part of the group. A leash of ribbons held by the twins was restraining the four-legged member of the family. General wore a dog-happy grin and stopped to bestow an occasional lick on the guests before continuing down the aisle.