In her van, Bianca held her phone and stared at the screen for a few seconds, then said a prayer, something she did whenever she had to make this kind of call. Making a decision to euthanize a pet felt gut wrenching, but it was also hard to watch an animal suffer with excruciating pain.
The screen showed 1:45 when she punched in the numbers.
“Is Pixie okay?!” were the woman’s first words when she responded after the second ring.
Bianca had to be honest. “I have bad news.”
Bianca explained to her client about a tumor they’d discovered. The little spaniel was twelve years old and had undergone a spinal surgery last year, and a belly surgery six months ago.
“How...how much time do you think she has left?” The owner’s voice broke.
“It's hard to tell.” The spaniel was in pain, but it was left to the owner to decide when to put their pet to sleep.
Bianca leaned her head into the steering wheel, and her heart ripped to pieces as she listened to her client’s soft sobs. She stayed that way for as long as her client felt the need to stay on the line. The woman blew her nose and let out a shuddering sigh. It was Bianca’s cue to continue.
“We will walk you through the process,” Bianca promised before offering condolences and hanging up.
This was the worst part of her job.
Digging her keys from her handbag, she started her van, finally glanced at the dashboard, then suddenly blinked when she stared at the time. “Oh, no!”
She needed to be at Daisy’s school in five minutes.
Even if she flew a plane, there was no way she was going to make thirty miles in that span of time. Not even Leila could pull it off on time, even if her baby was awake and already fed.
Her mind scrambled as she browsed through her phone to call the school and let them know that she would be late. Showing up that late would cost her $100—it was a penalty to discourage parents from taking advantage by showing up late each time.
Her eyes widened when she caught Andrew’s name in her contacts. An idea formed. The fire station was right next to the school, but what were the chances that Andrew was not off somewhere fighting a fire?
It wouldn’t hurt to try. She pressed the green call symbol and lifted her phone to her ear.
“Oh, hi, Bianca.” His deep voice stirred the butterflies in her stomach, but now was not the time to daydream.
“Uh... I’m ...is there any chance you’re not too busy right now?.”
“We just got back from a house fire. Everything okay?”
He was probably busy, but she asked anyway. “I’m running late and was wondering if you can help me pick up Daisy from school?”
Without hesitation, he asked, “What’s the procedure?”
She told him how to get to the office. “I’ll call the school and let them know.”
“Got you covered.”
“I’ll pick her up from the fire station on my way to the cafe.” Maybe she could see him, and talk about the kiss.
“Don’t worry, I will get her to Leila’s if it helps.”
She didn’t want to bother him any more, but one less stop would keep her from being late to the cafe. “Are you sure?”
He chuckled. “I wouldn’t have offered if it was inconvenient. Glad you called.”
“Thank you so much!”
“Anytime, Bianca. Anytime.”
She hung up and dialed the school.
If Andrew was dropping Daisy off at Leila’s, that meant she wouldn’t need to stop by the fire station, and it also meant that she wouldn’t be seeing him tonight. She felt a slight pang of disappointment at the thought.
STANDING ON THE GRASSY open space behind the firehouse, Andrew divided his attention between Daisy’s chatter about the tooth she’d lost and his men, who were doing drills.
They’d roped off a space from the back parking lot to the open field with yellow tape so they could practice in-house drills for at least an hour.
Andrew noticed the untouched cheeseburger in Daisy’s hand. He’d stopped by Burger King after school when Daisy said she was hungry. “Thought you were starving!”
“Oh...” She lifted her hamburger and took the first bite, then mumbled over her mouthful, “What are they doing now?”
Andrew peered at the group manning the heavy, two-length hose which snaked from the hydrant below the path where he stood. The roar of the water gushing through it echoed in their otherwise peaceful surroundings as it shot a steady stream into the open field. Three extra lengths of hose in varying sizes were draped on the fire engine several yards away.
Andrew had split the ten firefighters into two teams, and the first team had done a good job of rearranging the hoses and nozzles to make the drill harder for the second team.
“They’re going to see who’s fastest at connecting more hoses to that first one.”
“Why?” Daisy asked with a child’s typical curiosity.
“They might need a longer hose in case there’s not a hydrant close enough to the house that’s on fire, or if they need to spray water higher up for a tall building.”
Daisy nodded, nibbling another bite of her cheeseburger. Andrew took advantage of her silence to signal the pump operator. The moment he hit his stopwatch, the water flow died to a trickle and several firefighters scrambled to grab another length of hose from the truck. The remaining team members quickly worked to remove the nozzle in preparation for the next hose to be added.
“They’re moving so fast!” Daisy giggled, watching the firefighters advance on their knees carrying the hose, simulating the difficult conditions they might face during an actual fire.
Andrew looked down at the stopwatch on his iPad—four minutes and twenty seconds had already ticked away as the men worked to attach a third length of hose to the dripping line. “We’ll see which team can do it faster.”
As soon as the hose was connected, the water was turned back on, bursting through the nozzle in a powerful stream. Andrew tapped a finger on his iPad to stop the timer. Five minutes and ten seconds, much slower than their first attempt.
Andrew sighed. There was never enough practice for working with the hoses, one of the most needed skills to maintain.
“Nozzle team!” Andrew called, and the team with the hose whipped their heads toward him. “Let’s practice that second technique again.”
After a few more minutes of the team stretching the hose from the engine, Andrew called, “That’s enough.” He had the teams switch positions until every person had worked at connecting the extra hose lengths.
“Which group won?” Daisy asked, still holding her half eaten hamburger.
“They weren’t competing," Andrew explained. “The teams performed two different techniques. The first group used a hose clamp. The second one had to stretch the extra length from the engine, disconnect the working hose from the engine, and attach it to the extra length.”
“Okay. Where can I throw this?” She held the wrapper from the hamburger out to Andrew. She’d obviously had her fill of both food and of technical explanations.
Andrew accepted the wrapper, amused and disappointed.
“Looks like the first method was much faster,” Levi Galinksy yelled from a distance.
Andrew beckoned to Daisy to walk with him to his workmates.
“We had to pull a lot of hose before the new length was stretched,” said Mason, who’d been a part of the nozzle crew.
“Whereas in the first method....” Zeb wiped perspiration from his balding head. “Since the extra length was closer to the nozzle, the hose between it and the engine had already been stretched, and was not acting as dead weight.”
Although he was certain they knew the answer, Andrew quizzed them. “When should you start thinking about adding hose lengths?”
“Any structure fire involving large or set back buildings,” Mason, the junior firefighter, said.
“And any garden apartment complex fire with deep courtyards,” another firefight
er offered.
“Or any fire where you find yourself using fifty feet of hose just to reach the building,” Levi added, shrugging. “When in doubt, add hose.”
“This was so fun!” Daisy said as the team scattered around to clean up.
“I know, right?” Andrew glanced around the residential brick homes on the east side of the open space. A couple of kids were watching the guys pulling back the hoses. “Let’s help clean up!”
After working alongside his team to gather up the equipment, and getting everything safely inside, he and Daisy sat on the grass for a few minutes. Her conversation bounced from school friends, to her grandma and mom. “She loves chocolate.”
Andrew made a mental note, to get Bianca some more chocolates the next time he got the opportunity to see her.
Daisy then insisted on teaching Andrew a hand-clapping game.
He realized quickly that he wasn’t as good at hand coordination as Daisy. “How about we work on unique handshakes?”
“Okay.”
Andrew reached his hand out to Daisy, palm out. “It all starts with a quick high-five...”
They traded a high five, then flipped their palms over and slapped the backs of their hands together.
“...and shake,” Andrew instructed, which Daisy did with enthusiasm. “Then we end with a knuckle bump.”
“Let’s do it again!” Daisy said excitedly, and they repeated the moves with Daisy calling them out. “High five, back hand, shake, and a fist!”
They bumped fists, then repeated the process two more times.
“I love this!” she exclaimed. “That will be our secret handshake.”
“I think that’s a great idea,” Andrew agreed.
Daisy was distracted by something else.
“Whose bikes are those?" she asked, pointing to kids’ bikes that were propped against the wall.
“Gilinskey’s kids. They ride their bikes around this trail when they stop by.” The weather wasn’t bad. Maybe she wanted to have a bike ride? “If you want to take the purple one for a spin, I’m sure it would be...”
"I don't know how to ride a bike,” she interrupted. “Uncle Ez said he would teach me this summer."
Every child deserved to experience the joy of biking. He’d ridden his bike for as long as he could remember; perhaps he’d learned the moment he started walking. Each time Andrew thought of his childhood, biking through their neighborhood always came to mind.
He doubted Ezra had the time to do anything else besides catching up on sleep whenever he wasn't working or taking care of his family. “The next time I have a Saturday off, I'll teach you how to bike.” Except he already had plans tomorrow, plans to give her mom a day off from work.
“I don't have a bike.”
"Don't worry about it." They’d make a day out of it. “But I’ll have to talk to your mom first.”
“What if she says no... like she refuses to let me take the bus with Uncle?”
“Your mom knows what’s best for you. If she says no, we can just stick to walks at the park.”
“Walks are so boring.”
Andrew chuckled and stood, then brushed the grass residue from the back of his pants. “I better drop you off at your aunt’s house.”
“Can I stay?” Daisy stood up and slumped her shoulders. “Please?”
That pleading face! One look at the deep brown eyes that mirrored her mom’s, and Andrew knew his response. He breathed in a defeated sigh, wondering how he was going to keep her entertained.
Andrew glanced at his watch. It had been a little over an hour since he’d picked her up from school, and he’d texted Leila to let her know that he would be running late to drop Daisy off.
“Let the kid stay.” This from Levi, stepping toward them with a glass of something orange. “I could use someone to taste-test my new invention.”
“I loved the lemonade drink.” Daisy smiled at Levi, whose face lit up at the child’s compliment.
“That qualifies you to sample all my beverages. Wait till you try this orange-mango mix I made.”
Daisy took the glass from Levi and tilted it to her lips. “Yum!” she said, smacking her lips.
“I told your mom that I would take you to your aunt’s house.”
“Pretty please!” She put her hands together in a pleading gesture, and Andrew wouldn’t argue anymore with her. If they got called out on a serious call, Anna, a motherly woman in her late forties who helped the chief with clerical work, was always there at the station and she could watch Daisy.
He patted his navy cargo pockets for his cell phone, but they were empty. He nodded toward the firehouse. “Let’s go back inside so I can text your mom and your aunt.”
“Yay!” Daisy squealed. “I get to drink more juice!”
“I got a few ideas for my new drinks.” Levi walked beside Daisy as if she were the beverage critic, as he explained the various flavors of whatever juices he had.
“Not too much sugar for her,” Andrew warned.
“Kids love sugar,” Levi responded as they walked past Andrew.
She’d already gulped two glasses of Levi’s juice that he’d given her the instant Daisy arrived at the firehouse. A smile curved Andrew’s lips when he caught himself in his concern for Daisy’s eating habits. He slowed, joy radiating through him, as he watched Daisy happily skipping beside Levi, approaching the back door to the firehouse. She was a child, really—forget healthy eating for this one afternoon and let her drink however much juice she wanted.
BIANCA’S PHONE VIBRATED in her pocket just as she set down beverages for a table of three. The woman’s two boys, who didn’t seem much older than Daisy, were ripping open the sugar packets and pouring them in their mouth.
On her way back to the kitchen, Pascal waved her over to the counter. She breathed in the smell of pastries through the clear glass counter where her boss rested his thick arms.
“I don’t need you to come in tomorrow.”
Bianca frowned, wondering why she wasn’t needed to work on a Saturday. She was counting on that money.
As if reading her mind, he continued, “You will still get paid. This one time, take tomorrow off and take care of your family.”
“My family is fine.”
“Just consider it an early Mother’s Day gift, then,” he insisted in his French accent.
Was it something he did often for his employees?
“Thanks?” she said with a question mark, since the gesture caught her off guard. Questions buzzed in her mind as she headed for the kitchen. Had she done something wrong? No, he would have said she’d been fired. And he was paying her to take a day off, too? It was too good to be true.
She tossed the tray down on the table in the kitchen, then pulled her phone out of the pocket of her apron.
Her heart immediately skipped when she saw a text message from Andrew.
She slid her thumb across the screen to read it.
Andrew: Can Daisy hang out at the fire station until you get off work?
She hoped that Daisy hadn’t pleaded and guilted him into keeping her there. She typed her response with shaky fingers.
Bianca: You have to work, and she will be in your way.
Andrew: I wouldn’t have asked if she’s in the way.
Bianca: Okay, I will text Leila and let her know.
Andrew: I’ll text her.
Bianca: Thanks
Andrew responded with a clapping hands emoji.
She shoved her phone back into her pocket and inhaled as if she’d just seen him again—she was going to see him tonight, after all.
Her mind got busy working. She was going to reek of hamburgers and fries. Perhaps she would stop by Leila’s house and take a shower. She frowned at the thought of having to explain to her friend why she needed to shower before going after Daisy.
Oh, wait a minute! She put a finger on her chin as she formulated a plan. I could just go back to the house and shower there, then change before I pick up Daisy. That
made sense, anyway. The fire station was in her community and she was not showing up to speak to Andrew while smelling like fries and grease and smoke from the restaurant.
Satisfied with her plan, she sped home when her shift ended at eight. Thankfully, rush hour traffic was way past, and she got home in less than twenty minutes.
After a fast shower, she changed into a black v-neck sweater and dark leggings and stepped out of her room.
Carmen paused her scissors from clipping coupons and eyed her distastefully. “Black’s like you’re going to a funeral.”
She waved her mom off with her hand and clutched her purse. “I gotta go.”
“Take him some dinner!” Carmen called.
Bianca strode to the door. “Not tonight, Mama!”
She didn't want to give him the impression that she’d gone back home and showered, even though he’d probably know, because she wouldn’t be in her restaurant uniform.
In less than ten minutes, Bianca was walking through the wide open bay doors of the fire station. Laughter erupted from the room she hadn’t entered yet, and the smell of comfort food mingled with water, and maybe firehouse, filled her nostrils. She took a deep breath before she walked into what appeared to be a kitchen. Three slow cookers stood on a marble counter, emanating the smell of their dinner, she assumed.
Laughter died down from the west side of the kitchen when all eyes from the long table stared back at her. They said mixed hellos, then the conversation at the table resumed.
Everyone had a dinner plate in front of them. Some of them were familiar faces she’d served at the cafe before.
“Mom!” Daisy pushed her chair back from between Andrew and an older gentleman, then darted toward her.
Rocky ran past Daisy, all but leaping onto Bianca.
She bent to greet the Dane. “Hi, big guy.”
Rocky licked her arm, wagging his tail furiously. After a few moments of sniffing Bianca’s handbag, he realized that she had nothing for him and wandered back to the dining table.
“We’re having dinner!” Daisy announced.
She waved Daisy back. “Don’t let me stop you.”
“I wasn’t hungry. Mr. Drew bought me a cheeseburger after school. He said it's good to try new things.”
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