My Redemption: Second Chance Series

by S. K. Lessly

  I made my way upstairs to take a shower and get dressed. It was ninety-five degrees today, humid and sticky, so I decided to put on a long peach color spaghetti strap sundress that flowed softly over my curves. I pulled my hair into a high ponytail and slipped my feet into a pair of flats. I placed saran wrap over the pies and managed to locate a large enough box to transport the pies to the firehouse. Once I had the pies secured in the box, I headed out to my car.

  Butterflies started flying in my belly as I got close to the house. When I came up on the red brick building and noticed all the trucks were there, I felt like throwing up. I thought about turning around and going home but that would be a coward move, especially since I baked like nine freaking pies. So, yet again, I put on my big girl pants and parked my car.

  I grabbed the box that housed the pies and I made my way to the open garage doors with the intimating trucks facing me.

  “Can I help you?” an older man with short grey hair asked as I approached the house. He looked really official and I assumed this was the chief of the house.

  I smiled as we met at in the middle of the driveway.

  “Hi, I’m looking for Lieutenant Logan?”

  “Logan? Um… I don’t think he’s working today.”

  My heart dropped suddenly.

  The man looked me over once then turned his head and asked over his shoulder, “Hey, is Wolf here today?”

  “Yeah, he’s in the back, why?” returned a voice that came from behind the trucks. A figure then stepped into view when he didn’t receive an answer and his eyes fell on me.

  The firefighter was rather nice looking and had a great body. He was tall, muscular in all the right places, with smooth dark skin, roaming eyes and sexy lips.

  Damn, are all firefighters like those calendars they sell in the malls? Is it a requirement or something?

  The black guy headed in our direction, his eyes never leaving mine. Once he was close, he asked, “What's up chief?”

  The older man looked at him then regarded me again. “This young lady is looking for Logan, are you sure he’s back there?”

  “Oh, yeah I’m sure. He’s giving some new recruit the business.”

  I resisted an eye roll as these two yahoos were carrying on a conversation as if I wasn’t standing here with a heavy freaking box in my hands.

  “Ahh, if he’s here, would you mind getting him for me?” I addressed the black guy since he seemed to be more helpful than the older guy, and less judgement in his stares.

  “Oh, I’ll do better than that, sweetheart,” The young guy said as his eyes, once again, roamed over my body. “I’ll take you to him. If you please?”

  The guy made a bowing motion and stretched his arm to show me the way. I walked past and straightened my back with as much confidence as I could muster. Deep down, however, I couldn’t stop the shakes that were threatening to overpower me. I was already nervous about coming here, but to feel the judgment and questioning looks from the chief and I started to rethink my decision to come here.

  Plus, this dude was straight undressing me with his eyes. I felt kind of dirty and hoped it wouldn’t take long for him to bring me to Paul.

  “Here let me get that for you,” the young guy said as I got to a door.

  I smiled kindly and walked through as a burst of cool air touched my face. I looked around the very clean and functioning space. It wasn’t what I expected a firehouse to look like but then I remembered Paul saying he did some work on the old building to give it some personality.

  “Whoa, is this you, Manley?” A big white guy asked as he approached us.

  Manley… really? I looked at the black guy escorting me and I shook my head. He probably gave himself that name thinking it was cleaver.

  “Not yet!” Manley looked back at me and winked. I gave him a tight smile, trying not to encourage but the move was totally missed by this character.

  “Hey Wolf, you got a visitor!” Manley called out, his grin spreading along his young face.

  I shifted my eyes from his and looked around for a familiar face and was quickly rewarded. Samson came from the back of the firehouse, looking large and foreboding. He looked at me and gave me a huge smile. Thank goodness for small favors. I had returned his smile but his gaze shifted to the guy next to me. A deep scowl quickly appeared on his dark face.

  “Damn, Larry,” Ah, so Manley isn’t his true name. It figures… “Why don’t you pretend to have some manners. Grab that box from her hands. You’re so damn trifling.”

  Samson shook his head, waited for the box to be lifted from my hands before he enveloped me in his massive arms.

  “What’s up, girl? What brings you here?” He asked once he pulled back from me.

  “Hey Tank,” was my response and even though I never called him that nickname, I thought it a good idea. I wanted Manley or Larry, here to know Samson and I were close.

  “Lauren?”

  I shifted to the right to see past Samson and caught sight of Paul coming from the back of the firehouse. Damn he looked good in his blues, the short-sleeve shirt complimenting his arms and torso. I fought back a groan and gave him a smile as he stepped around Samson to get to me. He quickly pulled me into his arms for a hug that didn’t last as long as I wanted it to, but I loved it just the same.

  When he released me, he stepped back from me and placed his hands in his pockets.

  “What are you doing here?” he asked me smiling.

  “Well, I decided to bring the heroes of the neighborhood some pies and I was just dropping them over.”

  “There’s food in that box?”

  I turned to see the big white guy from earlier, grab the box from Manley.

  I laughed as Samson also looked inside the box, “What you make?” Samson asked me.

  “Uh there’s three apple, three peach and two cherry pies in there.”

  Samson licked his lips. “Oh Lauren, you know how I love your cherry pies.”

  As word got around there was food in the house, more people came out of the crevices of the building. Paul pulled me away from the mayhem ensuing and started to say something to me when the white-haired man from outside approached us.

  Paul addressed the man. “Sir, this is Lauren, a friend of mine and Samson’s. She also lives in the neighborhood and she just brought us some desserts.” He looked at me, “Lauren this is the chief of the house, Chief Michaels.”

  The chief stretched his hand out to me. “It’s a pleasure and may I just say thanks for the kind gesture.” The smile he gave me seemed a bit forced, but at least he didn’t look at me as if I had robbed a penny from one of those donation containers, for abandoned puppies, you find next to cash registers at the grocery stores.

  “No problem sir,” I replied as sweetly as I could, without vomiting on his nice and polished shoes. “It’s nice to meet you too.”

  Chief Michaels released my hands, gave me another tight smile before he turned from us and addressed his men.

  “Hey you vultures, show some respect in front of company.”

  The chief headed to the frenzy that was his team barking orders. Plates and utensils were pulled out of cabinets and drawers while someone removed the pies out of the box. They spread the desserts along the counter separating their common area from their kitchen and began cutting into the warm great smelling goodness.

  “He seems nice.” I said on a snort.

  “Don’t let him bother you. He’s harmless.”

  I snorted again then looked away from the chaos and found Paul staring at me smiling.

  I smiled back. “What?”

  He shook his head and said nothing. His hands were now behind his back and he was surprisingly on his best behavior. But that didn’t last very long.

  “Let me give you a tour of the place.”

  I nodded my approval and he did the same gesture Manley did outside; bowing and directing me to precede him down a long corridor. I followed his direction and when I turned around, I found Paul loo
king at my ass.

  “Hey Wolf, you better come and get some of this before it’s gone?” I heard someone say.

  “Nah, I’m good,” he replied over his shoulder, never taking his eyes off me.

  When we got away from the crowd, Paul reached for my hand and escorted me to a corner away from ear and eye shot of everyone. He then came up to me wrapped his arms around me and correctly greeted me with a kiss that made my knees buckle and toes curl. I wrapped my arms around his neck and sighed appreciatively into his mouth. Damn, I missed him.

  “Wolf huh?” I asked as we parted.

  Paul smiled down at me and kissed my forehead then placed a light kiss to my nose.

  “It’s an inside joke. You know who Wolverine is right? They came up with the name based off of the character’s name being Logan. Only the young guys call me that, and sometimes the chief when he wants to be funny.” His hands moved to my ass and he squeezed. “I’m so glad you came by today, I was really missing you.”

  “You were?”

  He nodded and kissed me again, pushing his tongue into my mouth, deepening the kiss. When I felt my dress being hiked up my legs, I pulled my lips from his and smirked up at him. I smacked his hands and tried to free myself from his grasp.

  “This is not a conjugal visit, sir.” I laughed.

  He groaned and buried his head in my neck. “You are such a tease.”

  I laughed again. “Don’t worry. I’ll be home when you get off. You are getting off tomorrow right? If not, we might as well make this visit last.”

  “Yesss!” He grinned and went to pull up my dress again. I laughed and let him feel me up until he was interrupted by the bell.

  “Ugh!” He kissed me quickly. “I gotta go, baby. I’ll call you later, okay?”

  I nodded. “Be careful.”

  He turned back to me, a gleam of mischief in his eyes. “Goes without saying, baby.”

  I followed him out and watched as he and his team grabbed their gear, step into their turnout pants and boots and got into their trucks.

  As he drove away, he met my gaze and waived slightly. I waved back and sighed.

  I’m in so much trouble!

  Paul

  “Hey, Wolf, you married right?” Manley asked me.

  We had just gotten back from putting out a fire that was started by the main culprit of most summer fires, bad grillers. We were all settling down in the house when Manley came up to me as I was cutting a slice of pie.

  “Yeah. Why?”

  I placed a huge piece of apple pie on a plastic plate, trapped a fork and made my way to our very large, handmade wooden dining table. I pulled out a chair and sat down ready to dig into the pie. Manley sat across from me.

  “Well I was wondering about that fine ass shorty that was here earlier. Since you married and all and clearly she was interested in yours truly, you wouldn’t mind if I jumped on that?”

  I sighed and looked up at the young man. I knew people would ask me about Lauren, and I didn’t have an answer for them but that she was a friend. I had to play this coolly. The chief was already itching to get into my shit, I didn’t need anyone else in my personal business.

  Manley grinned at me expectantly, with hope and lust in his eyes. Larry “Manley” Moses was working with us on a temporary basis while a few fire fighters were on vacation. So far, he had been with us for about a week now and next week he would be moving on.

  I gave Manley a hard look. I didn’t miss the way he salivated over Lauren. It took everything in me not to kiss her right there in front of everyone. I wanted to, fuck knows I did. But the look of panic on Lauren's face made me pause. I placed my hands in my pockets so I wouldn’t be tempted to touch her.

  I had missed the fuck out of her. I couldn’t wait to see her, to be with her. I was like a kid in the candy store and your mom gave you a dollar for the penny candy and told you to get whatever you wanted. But seeing Manley and even a few of the others gawk at my woman made my blood boil.

  However, to these idiots I was married. Hell, I still am. I couldn’t stick my tongue down Lauren’s throat in front of everyone and it wouldn’t be right for me to tell Manley to back off. I could tell him that she’s married but what was fun in that.

  I smiled at the eager beaver and told him, “Go for it, brother.”

  “Really!” his face lit up.

  I nodded. “Yup, keep me posted you know, let me know what she says.”

  “Aw you know what the outcome will be. She'll be mine before long.” Manley backed up smiling at me before he turned and disappeared down the hallway toward our bunks.

  “What are you doing?”

  I looked to my right and found Samson staring disapprovingly at me. He sat down next to me.

  I shrugged and brought my attention back to my slice of pie.

  “I’m trying to enjoy this piece of delicious apple pie before we get another call.”

  “You know damn well I’m not talking about that.”

  “What? Larry?”

  I knew what Samson was speaking about and I smiled at him to let him know I was jarring with him.

  “Don’t play games, Logan. What’s going on with you two?” Samson leaned close to me and whispered, “I thought you were waiting until this shit with Sabrina was over?”

  I forked a helping of pie into my mouth and groaned. The woman was completely gifted when it came to desserts. Actually cooking meals, not so much.

  I swallowed then forked more pie into my mouth before I regarded my friend.

  “Look, I get the point you're trying to make.” I said to him after I swallowed. “I just can’t help myself. She’s just…” I shook my head.

  Samson smiled. “You got it bad, man!”

  I nodded. “Yeah, I do. Whatever that means. She’s amazing, Tank; sexy as hell, funny and beautiful. I can’t stay away from her.”

  “You tell her yet?”

  I frowned, put my fork down and looked at my friend. “Tell her what?”

  “Come on man, you know what.”

  It took me a minute to get what he was hinting at and the conversation we previously shared about the emotion that would remain nameless. I shook my head at him frowning.

  “I can’t tell her that shit! What do I look like? Besides, she doesn’t feel the same way so…”

  “Is that what you think?”

  I shrugged a shoulder. “That’s what I know. Come on man, what are the odds she would feel the same way as I do?”

  “Are you kidding me? Do you think she would do all that baking for nothing? Listen, I know you’re not used to being around sistahs so let me break this down for you. Regardless if you ate all those pies or none of them you know she has one at home especially for you. Man, you know you are the reason why she baked those pies in the first place.”

  I dug into my pie, placing a few large helpings into my mouth before I nodded at Samson.

  “I know,” I admitted after a beat. “I just can’t bring myself to believe it I guess.”

  “Well you better start believing it and figure out what you’re going to do about it. You two both may not want to start a new chapter if the old ones haven’t been laid to rest.”

  I leaned back from Samson and smirked at him. “What are you fucking Yoda now?”

  We both started laughing just as the bell sounded for yet another call.

  23

  Lauren

  I laid across my couch with a glass of wine in my hand, wishing I had something stronger to help make me forget. My lights were dim, music played softly next to me and my regrets were laid out before me. I was feeling depressed as hell allowing the mistakes in my life to drown my soul. I had been like this for a few hours now with no end in sight. Well, maybe there would be an end as soon as I finish this full bottle of wine. I was on my second glass so I had ways to go. I was up for the challenge though. I had a lot of regrets and mistakes to list out at that should take all night to complete. Bring it on… regret number one…


  The sound of a ringing phone broke through the thick fog in my head and I reached over to grab my cell. I looked at the screen and smiled at the caller in spite of my depressive mood.

  “Hey, you,” I sighed into the phone, not wanting to show the relief I felt from hearing his voice. I had noticed I missed a couple of his calls, which was strange. I was sitting here the other times he called and I didn’t hear the phone.

  “Hey, baby, you home?” God, I loved hearing him call me baby.

  “Yeah, I’m here. Sorry I missed your calls. The phone was on vibrate and I was in the restroom.” The lie I just gave him made my chest ache but telling him what was really bothering me wasn’t something I wanted to do.

  “Are you okay?” he asked me.

  No…was what I wanted to say, but I was feeling sorry for myself and I didn’t want anyone to witness it. So, instead I smiled into the phone and said as clearly and confidently as I could, “Yeah, of course. I’m fine. Tired but good.”

  “Okay,” was all he said.

  I swiftly changed the subject and asked him how his shift went. He filled me in on a few of the calls he got and I held on for as long as I could. I was getting more and more emotional and before long I knew I would be crying on the phone and he would know something was wrong. I quickly ended the call, feeding him a line about me being exhausted and wanting to finish grading papers before I called it a night.

  I hung the phone up and a few seconds later, heard a knock at my back door. I sighed knowing who it was. I guess my deflection tactics didn’t work. I rose from the couch and headed to the kitchen to let Paul inside. There was no use in trying to ignore him or faking the funk. I knew the second his eyes fell on me, he’d know something was up.