by Kathryn Shay
“Yeah, sure, why wouldn’t I be?”
“I’m feeling bad. We had a tiff yesterday.”
He just watched her.
“Can I come in?”
“Suit yourself.” He turned his back and walked into the house and she followed. He leaned against the counter. “So, shoot.”
“I’m sorry I got mad about Grandma. I still don’t like that you did all that without consulting me, but we should have talked about it.”
“Hey, no problems. What’s a little tiff between friends?”
She hadn’t expected the attitude. “Oh. I thought maybe you were upset about us.”
“Nah, look, I was about to go for a walk. You can let yourself out while I change.”
“Okay. Would you like to do something tonight?”
“Not tonight. I’ll call you.” And he walked down the hall.
Holly took a few steps toward the dining area then stopped. She wasn’t going after him. He’d acted like there was nothing between them. And that pissed her off.
Then she caught sight of a manila envelope on the table. Peeking out were some pictures...of Joe. And another person. Knowing she shouldn’t invade his privacy, she picked up the photo sticking out. It was of Joe, looking so young and innocent it broke her heart. With him was a beautiful violet-eyed woman. Francey Templeton.
“She’s pregnant with twins.” Holly looked up to see Joe had come back.
“Ah, I see.” She took a deep breath. “Do you want to talk about her?”
“There’s nothing to talk about. I don’t know why I got those pictures out.”
“Don’t you? You’re upset about her pregnancy. It’s okay to feel that way at first.”
“If I am, I don’t want to talk about it. Especially with you.”
She felt as if she’d been slapped. “We have before. Remember what I told you about Linc?”
“I said no!” He’d raised his voice.
She recoiled. Without saying anything, she left the house. This was a side of Joe she definitely didn’t like.
* * *
Joe walked into the firehouse, feeling pissy and pouty. He’d had too much to drink last night after finding out about Francey and creating a second tiff with Holly. Growling, he dumped his stuff in the office, said goodbye to his counterpart on the night shift and headed to the kitchen.
The guys and Hildy were at the table eating. “Hey, Joe,” Tully said way too cheerfully, “Norm’s wife sent in egg strata and bacon for breakfast for us. There’s some warm for you on the stove.”
With a mouthful, Norm nodded. “She’s a keeper.”
Oh, great. Now the smell of eggs and meat turned his stomach. Or was it Norm’s comment?
Liam piped up with, “Man, I think my new girlfriend’s in for the long haul, too.”
Holding a piece of bacon halfway to her mouth, Hildy nodded. “I had a date with a really nice guy last night.”
Joe grabbed coffee and leaned against the counter. “How’d it go the last few days?”
“We had Lieutenant Amati.” From group two. “He was great.” Everything was great for Tully. Usually, he liked that about the kid, but today, it irritated him.
“You okay, Murray?”
“Yeah I got a hard head.”
After more input, Joe pushed away from the counter. “I gotta go read the reports on the last two days. I sent the chores for the day out to your phones this morning.”
“What about breakfast?” Norm asked.
“Sorry, Norm. My stomach’s off.” Having lied to his men—he couldn’t take happy company right now—Joe walked to his office, sat at his desk, and booted up his computer. He checked the reports, which took a half hour, then read his mail on his phone. There was one from ejordan.
Huh. Holly’s grandmother. How would she have gotten his email address? He clicked in.
Dear Joe,
I’m so sorry I involved you in our family issues. I know it didn’t go well with Holly after that. I tried to talk to her, but she wasn’t in the mood to yesterday and I’m moving out today. I think she might need time. I know she cares about you. Again, I apologize for interfering with that.
Goddamn it, he didn’t need this. He bolted up and went back out to the kitchen. The group had empty plates in front of them, but were chowing down on some pastries. Which Norm’s keeper wife probably sent in. “Why are you all sitting around like this? I told you I sent you the chores.”
Silence.
“Somebody speak.”
Norm stood. “Right up until now, we were enjoying the breakfast my wife sent in.” He stood. “Let’s go, everybody.”
Shit! Now he’d pissed off his crew.
Joe went back to the office and was grateful when the P.A. came on. “Truck 8, domestic dispute at 444 Grand Avenue. Weapon involved. Wait for the police to arrive before entering the house.”
He grabbed the printout and flew out to the bay first. When his group joined him, he said, “Don’t put on turnout gear. Just get in the truck with it.”
The siren blared as they sped to the scene. “Tully, you never had a call like this, right?”
“No sir.”
“Stay with me. Do only what I say.”
“Why are we going to the site if the police are?” he asked.
“We’re all EMTs. In case of an incident.”
“Won’t an ambulance go?”
“If the closest ones are free. Sometimes they’re not. Didn’t you learn that at the academy?”
That stinging criticism shut even Tully up.
They swerved to the side of the road in front of a three-story home. Grand Avenue wasn’t as posh as East Avenue, but this was definitely an upper-class neighborhood.
The police hadn’t arrived. They waited in the truck. The radio crackled on again. “Woman at 444 Grand is in the bathroom and the guy’s throwing himself into the door. She says he’s going to hurt her.”
Not listening to the rest, Joe flung open the cab. “Let’s go.”
They popped the front door, and Joe rushed inside first. He followed the bellow of the man. When they reached him, Joe bent at the waist and hurled himself forward. The knife the guy carried flew out of his hand. Liam and Tully helped wrestle him to the ground.
The police came in. “Damn it, you were supposed to wait for us.”
Joe stood. “Judgment call.” But he knew by the looks of the officer’s face, he was in trouble.
* * *
Because they hadn’t walked in a bit, Holly and Lizzie brought their clothes to school, changed and were out on the high school track by four. “So, how’s the party planning going?”
Lizzie and Greg were in charge of the end-of-the-year party held the first week of June, a bit before school ended. “Great. We’re having it at Taylor’s in a private room for dinner and some fun stuff starting at five. Then at eight, a band starts. The Grooms.”
“Sounds like fun.”
“Are you coming?”
“I’m not sure.” She didn’t want to mope about Joe, but she wasn’t much in the mood for a celebration.
“Joe could meet you there at eight.”
“I doubt it. We’ve had a couple of fights, and he’s behaving like a jerk.” She gave Lizzie the short version.
“Ouch. His reaction to his ex must have hurt.”
“You know it wouldn’t have if he’d talked to me about it. We discussed before the similarities of our reactions to Linc and Francey. But this Joe was mean and remote. I didn’t like him.”
“Yikes. Already?”
“I know. And that bothers me. Monday, I thought he was great. Now, by Thursday, we’re already fighting.”
“Yeah, he probably isn’t worth it.”
She stopped. “I didn’t say that.”
Lizzie turned. “Are you giving up on him?”
“No. But I’m not going to set myself up again for him to treat me like he did.”
“I agree with that. Before you jump to conclusions, or g
et scared about the relationship, know I’ve never seen you react to a man like you have to him.”
“I’m thinking this through. But the next move is his.”
“That’s okay.” Lizzie walked back to Holly and linked their arms. “Wait it out, girl. And come to the party. We’ll have fun.”
“All right, I’ll come.”
* * *
“I drew the short straw, so to speak.”
Joe glared at Hildy. “What do you mean?”
“I was elected to talk to you.” Hildy rolled her eyes. “They figured you might not bite a woman’s head off.”
“Sit.”
She did. “Joe, what’s wrong with you?”
“Is this about the call this morning? I already got reamed out by the brass. I still think I did the right thing.”
“Which is poor judgment on your part. You’ve been in a rotten mood all day. Are you in pain? That tackle couldn’t have been good for you after the injury from the fire.”
“No, I’m better.” Which was a lie. He was sore as hell after stupidly putting himself in harm’s way. This was the old Joe. He didn’t like him much. “But I didn’t think I was in a bad mood.”
“You ruined the breakfast Norm’s wife sent in. You yelled at Tully for not mopping the floors right. And you tore Liam down because he cooked something you didn’t like for lunch.”
“I hate fish,” he said, sounding even to himself like a child.
“I rest my case.”
“You know, I’m your lieutenant here. I—” He cut himself off. She was right. He’d been a bear. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and leaned back against the chair. Finally, he faced her. “Go get the guys and bring them in here.”
When three more sheepish firefighters crowded into his office, he shook his head. “Shit, you look like somebody died.”
“No response from them.
“I’m sorry I’ve been so hard to get along with today. I got some issues I’m dealing with and took it out on you.”
“Over what, Joe?” Norm was the oldest and dared ask him.
Should he share this? He was their lieutenant. Still... “I had some news yesterday that set me off. Then I was mean to a woman I like. Both times, I was a jerk.”
Hildy spoke up. “Can it be fixed with her?”
“I don’t know. But that’s not the issue. I apologize for acting like I did. Let’s go out for a beer tomorrow night after our tour’s over. My treat.”
Tully brightened. “To Badges?”
“No, I got a better idea.” Liam spoke up. “There’s this great band playing at Taylor’s. Let’s go there.”
“It’s a date.”
Chapter 18
* * *
Betsy walked into the office a few minutes after Vanessa had made her last phone call. “Can we talk a bit?”
“Sure.”
Betsy sat. “Your last phone call was to the captain of House 8.”
“It was.”
“Did you set up interviews?”
“I’m going to meet with the three officers first. Pat Green said he’d alert the others. But I could tell he was concerned.”
“Just wait,” Betsy said with a gleam of glee in her eyes, which bothered Vanessa. “Shall we plan our strategy?”
So much had happened since she last talked to Betsy, she had to recall what she’d told her assistant.
Let me decide what the next step is and when to take it. Then I’ll...talk with you about this.
“After I talk with the officers, and if I go ahead and interview others, I’ll bring someone else in.”
“What do you mean if you go ahead?”
Vanessa didn’t like being questioned. “Exactly what I said. Nothing’s a fait accompli here, Betsy. I’m pretty much feeling my way through this.”
“You said I could help.”
“No, I said I’d think about you helping. I’m also considering asking Dane Corrigan to sit in. Or maybe Bob Zeleny will change his mind.”
Her nose went up. “Well, fine. I can tell I’m not needed here so I’ll be going.”
Vanessa watched her leave. Had she hurt Betsy’s feelings? She’d never agreed to let her help with the investigation. A bad feeling came over her. Something was off with her assistant.
A text pinged on the phone.
I’m ready any time you are, dear.
Be right there, Mom.
Deciding to leave behind her thoughts of Betsy and the upcoming discussion with the officers, Vanessa headed out to pick up her mother. Betsy wasn’t at her desk, thank goodness.
When she arrived at Holly’s condo, she rang the bell and her mother opened the door. “Hello, Vanessa.”
“Hi, Mom. Are you ready to go?”
“Yes. If you’ll help me with my bags.” She stepped aside in Holly’s foyer and Vanessa saw suitcases by the door. “Are you sure about this?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I’m not.” Her father strode up behind her mother. She’d seen that look on his face once before—the clenched fists when he found out about her and Craig Pierson. “She went and rented a place all on her own.”
“Why aren’t you going with her, Dad?”
“For a lot of reasons.” His face softened. “Ella, stay and we’ll talk more.”
Her mother walked to her father and kissed him on the mouth. “I’m done talking. If you want to come and live with me, that’s fine. If not, I’ll still see you, Edward.”
Her father sputtered. Ella picked up a suitcase and walked out the door.
Vanessa stared at him. “Dad, what are you going to do?”
“I moved my stuff to Paul’s today. One thing she’s right about, we can’t keep imposing on Holly.” He turned his back on her.
Again. Loss and grief swamped her. But she took a deep breath, picked up the second suitcase and brought it to the car. Inside, she smiled at her mother. “I hope this works out.”
“It was time. I let too many things happen in the past without intervening. Now I am.”
“Like what?”
“We should have a talk about that sometime. Later, though. This move is enough upheaval for me.”
She squeezed her mother’s hand. “Can I say how wonderful it is to have you...like this, with me?”
“I feel the same, dear.” She studied Vanessa. “You seem different. Did something happen?”
Oh, yeah. I shattered my whole world yesterday. “We’ll talk about that sometime, too.”
Vanessa started the car. “Let’s go to your place.”
“Ah, that sounds good. My place. I had the bed and bar stools delivered already. We could order food in, and you could help me pick out what I want for the rest of the place.”
“Sure, Mom, anything you want.”
Twenty minutes later, they were in a big and airy space with lots of windows. Dutch Towers was an older complex, but this unit had obviously been remodeled. They sat at the kitchen bar on pretty oak stools. After they ordered Thai food, her mother took out her laptop. “We’ll browse the furniture from the store where I got these.”
Vanessa’s head spun at everything that was happening. At least the drama between her mother and father kept her from thinking about last night and this morning with Chase. And from the fact that she was starting the process to interview firefighters in his department.
* * *
“Hey, everybody. I’m home.” The conference had ended today at three, and Chase had driven back to Rockford. He’d hoped to be here before the kids got home from school, but there had been an accident on the expressway slowing him down.
A little burst of sunshine came running to him from the back of the house. She jumped into his arms. “Hello, baby.” He kissed Colette’s head.
“I missed you, Grandpa.”
“Aw, I missed you, too.”
Kassie trundled down the stairs, more controlled than her sister. But she hugged him and held on longer than she usually did. “I’m glad you’re back.”
“I am, too. Sorry I’m late. Are you hungry? Want to go out to dinner?”
“We cooked!” Colette’s eyes rounded like saucers. “Aunt Melinda said we could if we were careful.”
“Was she here?”
“No,” Kassie told him. “We called her when we got home, like we’re supposed to.”
“Well, Kassie’s old enough to use the stove.”
Colette took his hand. “Come see.”
The kitchen was spotless. As a firefighter, both he and Scott were tidy around the house and the girls seemed to have followed in their footsteps. He sniffed. “That smells delicious. What is it?”
“Can’t you tell?” Kassie asked.
He sniffed again. “Hmm. Yeah. Fried chicken.”
“Aunt Melinda says it’s your favorite.”
“It sure is.”
Both Kassie and Colette chatted as they prepared the rest of the meal. He focused on them, trying to keep Vanessa out of his mind, as he had for the past eight hours. Still, the memories of her accompanied him and on the trek back here. He forced her from his mind now.
The chicken was tender, the green beans crunchy and the French fries hot and spiced with something. When they finished, Kassie said, “Go in the living room and relax. We’ll clean up.”
“But we’re supposed to share duties. Whoever cooks doesn’t clean up. My mama would be outraged if I sat on my duff and let you two do KP.”
“This is a special occasion, Grandpa.” Kassie’s smile was full and genuine. “We’re glad to have you back. There’s some messages by the phone. We wrote everything down.”
Though logically, he knew it wasn’t necessary, he’d been overcautious and had a landline installed when the kids moved in in case they needed it sometime. He kissed each of them on the head, went to the living room, sat and picked up the notepad.
The air conditioning guy had called about cleaning their unit.
His sister had phoned to say hello.
Then, “Somebody named Nancy came over yesterday. She wouldn’t give her last name. She left this envelope for you. Don’t worry. Aunt Melinda opened the door.”
Chase dropped the pad as if he’d been scorched. Nancy came here? The kids’ mother came here? To his house! Dear God in heaven.
