Forged by Fire: A Small Town Second Chance Romance

by Cleveland, Eddie

  I remember how he’d push me on the swings at the park, back when he was the only dad there. How he’d always carry me on his shoulders when a walk got too long for my little legs. Or how gently he used to brush my hair out before I went to bed at night.

  “She’s great.” Rebecca gives me a quick squeeze, jumping in for me. I’m too choked up and misty-eyed to speak for myself and she knows it.

  “Of course she is.” Dad puffs up, although with his sunken chest and big belly, it just makes him look more like a human bowling ball. “She’s a Baker. I don’t care how tough those people in New York think they are, we’re tougher.”

  He pulls me in and claps my back as he squeezes me in a huge hug. Mom moves in and I can feel the tears she’s been trying to hide fall in my hair. Next thing you know I’m surrounded by a huge family hug. My three older brothers, Rebecca and my parents are on all sides of me, holding me tight. Protecting me. Like they’ve been doing my entire life. I’m not sure why it took until now to realize it.

  “Ahem.” Dad clears his throat, coughing away the emotions rising up in him. “Well, we should let you get through security. We’ll see you in a week, Becky.” He grabs my sister’s hand and gives it a quick squeeze.

  “Make sure you have one of these goons pick me up on time when I get back.” She jerks her thumb at our brothers.

  “Will do,” Dad answers. He turns and faces Mom. She’s barely holding it together. Her chin is quivering, and her eyes are lined with tears. “Okay, let’s get you out of here before your face starts melting off,” he quips.

  I’m not sure why, but he’s always called her caked on makeup her “face.” Like, “How long is it gonna take you to get your face on?”

  Mom nods and gives me another hug. The smell of her perfume is almost as soothing as her warmth. It reminds me of when I was standing on the front step of the school on the first day of kindergarten. The way she held me so tight, like somehow the school was going to swallow up her baby and never let her come back to her. In a way, I guess it did. Every year I spent learning made me want to know more. To do more. To be more. Until Pine Grove and even Oregon weren’t enough. Until I decided the only way I could really live my life was to leave the only one I’ve ever known behind.

  “Come on, Mom. Parking here isn’t cheap.” Todd guides her away from me. “Stay outta trouble, kid.” He gives me a quick noogie and I slap him on the arm.

  “Mess off, Todd.” I still tell him off like a little kid, not daring to swear in front of my parents.

  “See you at Christmas.” Kirk wraps one arm over my shoulders and gives me a fast squeeze.

  “Yeah, don’t forget the presents, either,” Joshua chimes in with a goofy grin.

  “Sure, I’ll wrap up some ramen noodles for ya.” I laugh.

  “Hey, I’ll take it.” He shrugs.

  With one last look over her shoulder, Mom is finally dragged away by my family. Rebecca grabs my arm hard and starts yanking me down the hallway.

  “Ouch, what gives?” I tug back from her.

  “Let’s go. If she turns around and comes back here before we get through security, we’re never getting out of this state,” she hisses. I follow her as she speedily makes her way toward the line.

  Now that my family is gone, it hits me. Luke isn’t here. I haven’t spoken to him at all since our fight. I tried to call him a couple times, but he never answered. My nose tingles as I try not to cry, his words echoing in my head for the millionth time. “You’re not worth it.”

  I wipe the tears falling down my cheeks with the back of my hand, but Rebecca sees them.

  “Don’t think about him, Karen. He’s an asshole.” She knows immediately what’s on my mind.

  “What if he was just trying to get me to go? Like for the right reasons? What if he didn’t mean it? He just lost his father. He’s hurting.” My voice breaks.

  “Karen! Karen Baker, wait up!”

  It’s him.

  His voice fills the air around us and my sister and I stop dead in our tracks. He didn't mean it! He was just lashing out and he’s coming with me after all. I know I shouldn’t be this excited, not after the nasty things he said to me, but I know we can overcome this. Together we can overcome anything.

  I whirl around, my heart soaring and my skin tingling with excitement. I don’t mean to smile. He doesn’t deserve this happiness. Still, I can’t hide it. I sweep my head back and forth, searching. Where is he?

  “Karen! Ms. Baker. Oh, thank goodness I caught you.” A man I vaguely recognize jogs up to me. He’s wearing an airline uniform and a nametag with Derek printed on it. He was the one who checked my luggage at the counter.

  “You left your ID.” He flashes it at me.

  My face crumples. My chest feels like it just caved in. There isn’t enough air in this room to save me. Hot tears stream down my face and snot starts running from my nose. It’s a full-on ugly cry and I can’t even hide it. I wanted to see Luke, not this guy.

  Where is he? Why doesn’t he love me? Why did he abandon me?

  My thoughts spin so fast it takes the room with them. I can’t stand straight. I fall into my sister and she grabs onto me tightly.

  “Is she okay?” he asks her.

  “She’s fine. Grieving,” she explains and takes my card from him. It must be a good enough explanation because he leaves us alone.

  Rebecca holds me tight and I can’t stop sobbing. I cry until my throat aches and her shirt is stained with my tears. I cry until my nose is full and my mind is empty. I cry until my head is throbbing and no more tears will come. Only then does she pull back.

  “You good?” She looks into my strained eyes.

  “No.” I shake my head.

  “Yes, you are.” She doesn’t break eye contact. “You’re more than good. You’re fucking amazing. Listen, I understand he broke your heart, but we’re not going to let Luke ruin this for you. Got it?” The way she says it is like a commander giving orders, not like it’s a choice she’s offering up.

  “But …”

  “No buts. No ifs. No ands. If Luke Murphy doesn’t love you, that’s okay.”

  “How can you say that?” My chin trembles and tears I didn’t think I had left spring to my eyes.

  “Nope. No more. You don’t dare shed another tear on him. You’ve got this, Karen. You’re literally at the gateway to the life you’ve always wanted. The one you’ve spent your entire fucking life dreaming of. And if you let some guy ruin that for you, you’ll never forgive yourself. So, you cried it out. You’re better now. Take a deep breath, hold your head high and let’s get our asses to New York.”

  “I don’t know if I can go. I’m not brave like you. If you hadn’t agreed to come out this week and help me get set up, I would’ve backed out.”

  “Well, I guess you’re lucky I’m coming with you then. And you are brave, Karen. Not to mention smart. Hell, you think just anyone gets into NYU? I wish I had half the brains in my head that you do. I’ll tell you what, you just keep being the smart one, okay? You can lean on me for the bravery. And, if it takes more than a week for it to rub off on you, so be it. I’ll stay with you as long as it takes. But you are getting your ass on that plane and you are going to go live your dream, got it?”

  “Got it.” I sniffle.

  “Good, now, go get yourself cleaned up in the bathroom. I’ll wait.” She points to the women’s restroom sign across the hall.

  Nodding, I make my way over and disappear inside. I splash some cold water on my face and towel it off, finally looking at my puffy eyes in the mirror. I stare at my reflection, looking into my eyes the same way my sister just did, looking deep inside. Past the bloodshot streaks. Past the fear. I look until I see the girl with the big dream. I look until I find myself again. Not a Baker girl. Not the baby of the family. And not Luke’s girlfriend. No. I see me. Karen Baker. Soon-to-be-famous interior designer and New York socialite.

  I am enough.

  Pulling my phone free from my p
urse, I open the texts to Luke. My thumbs hover over the keyboard as I try to think of the perfect thing to say. Clicking down, I type it out. It’s simple. It’s painful, but it’s what I need to say: Goodbye.

  I know he won’t answer, but I didn’t send it for him. I needed closure. Before I have a chance to chicken out, I delete his contact information from my phone and shut it off, stuffing it in my purse. Then I march out of the bathroom, with my shoulders back and head held high, over to my sister, and we walk toward the gateway to my new life.

  12

  Luke

  Present Day

  Uncle Byron plods heavily over the concrete floor to the front of the room. It’s quiet in the firehouse despite it being packed wall-to-wall. With the new chief and deputy about to be announced, all eyes are on the ballot box in Byron’s huge hands. Even though my uncle dwarfed my father, I can still see the similarities between them and it makes me miss the old man. Even four years after Dad went into a fiery building and never made it out, there are days when losing him is a fresh wound that never heals.

  The flames burn bright in front of my eyes. My life changed forever that night. This whole town changed. The only one who made it out of that fire undamaged was Karen. The love of my life. A brilliant streak of her golden hair twirls through my mind as my heart wrenches in my chest. After so long, you’d think I’d be over losing her. At least I know that when I broke up with her, I spared her the stench that still lingers in this town.

  After a fire, even if the building isn’t destroyed by flames or water, it’s the smoke you can never get rid of. The putrid tendrils burn deep inside the walls, leaving a fragrant reminder of how vulnerable we all are. The night the fire took Dad, the smoke twisted and turned inside each of us, snaking into our bodies and permeating our souls. When I was a kid, the smell of smoke meant fun flashing fire truck lights, adventures at the cottage or the cozy crackle of heat in the fireplace on a frosty night. Now that fragrant haze just reminds me we’re all here on borrowed time and death will eventually take us all.

  Blinking, I focus on Byron, the man who kept my mother from losing her mind and me from losing my way. It’s fitting that his broad hands envelop everything he holds, because for years he’s been holding our entire family together with his strength alone.

  I scan the room, but all eyes are on my uncle. We’ve got the old guard here tonight. The guys who started this volunteer fire department with my dad, way back in the day. Then we’ve got a lot of new blood coursing through these veins too. It’s good to see fresh, eager faces, excited to take on such a humbling responsibility.

  Byron clears his throat loudly and it makes me take notice of the burn marks down the side of his neck. He earned himself those scars the same night Dad died. In the same fire, he managed to get a little boy out before the entire building became an inferno, spitting angry orange cinders up into the night sky as my father burned inside like a Viking warrior being incinerated inside his boat.

  “Now, I don’t want no trouble. Remember that we’ve got a lot of new people here tonight and we don’t need any dramatics scaring them off.” Byron’s voice booms even though he speaks softly. He just has that way about him. He can’t help but fill a space. Not just physically, but his personality can take up twice as much room as his bulging body does.

  A rumble slithers through the crowd as people try to decipher what’s about to happen. The Baker boys all seem to be glaring at me. They never did like me much to start with, but when I broke their sister’s heart and shooed her off to New York City to pursue her dreams, well, that dislike grew into pure disgust.

  I know better than anyone how bad their tempers are. Karen’s father, Clyde, has the ruddy complexion of a man who’s always half a shot of whiskey away from a fight. Her oldest brother, Todd, didn’t fall far from the same mutated apple tree. Either that or he smacked up against every single branch on his fall down. He’s exactly what I picture Clyde must have looked like before the world rounded his shoulders permanently and his love of liquor sucked the vibrancy from his face.

  Maybe I’m just in a mood, or maybe I’m sick of those two thinking they own this place, but I give them a pointed nod. There are a couple kinds of nods you see a lot in this small town. The first is the friendly little drop of the chin that means hi. People greet each other all the time on the sidewalks that way. Instead of waving or saying “hello” every three minutes, you just give the nod.

  That’s not the one I just gave.

  The other nod is when you jerk your chin up and narrow your eyes into little slits. To someone who didn’t know the difference, maybe they wouldn’t even see how one is a greeting and the one I just gave is a silent way of telling someone to fuck right off.

  “We’ve got a few new members to welcome. Everyone, please give a hand to Dan Riker. He’s new to Pine Grove and is generously volunteering his time here with us. Dan, stand up and introduce yourself.” Byron holds out his hand, palm up like he’s lifting the new guy out of his seat with just the power of his mind.

  I turn in my seat and look toward the new firefighter. He’s got a medium build, with dark hair and blue eyes. I wonder if he’s going to try to keep his beard. I wouldn’t blame him, it’s very striking and obviously well cared for. However, it’s unlikely that he’ll get through his level one training without needing to shave it off.

  “Hey, I’m Dan Riker. Like Byron said, I’m new to town. Let’s see, what can I tell ya?” He claps his hands together nervously and clears his throat. “I did about twelve years in the military before releasing to pursue my new career in writing. I’ve got plenty of experience with firefighting. We trained for it in the navy. And I’m up to date on all my medical training …” He trails off as some of the people around him shuffle in their seats to scrutinize him.

  “Did he say writer? What kind of writing do ya do?” someone calls out from the back.

  Most of Dan’s cheeks are covered by his facial hair, but the ridge just above deepens to a shade of pink. “Oh, um, well … I write romance books.” He pauses and waits for the room to react.

  “Pffft, that ain’t nothing. We already got one of them dirty book writers in this town, don’t we, Samantha?” the man calls out. “Her grandmother writes some of the trashiest smut you ever laid eyes on.”

  Sam sits up straighter and snaps around in her chair. “Well, it sounds like you must be her number one fan, there, Karl. Now, why don’t you quit gossiping and let the new guy introduce himself!” Her eyes flicker over to Dan. “Go on.”

  “That’s pretty much it.” Dan sits slowly back in his chair and looks like he’s hoping the crowd might swallow him up. I can’t say I blame him. In every small town there’s a lot of politics. This poor guy is going to have a lot of that to navigate, especially with all the bad blood between the old firefighters like the Bakers and, well, just about everyone else.

  “And, I’m very proud to announce that my beautiful daughter, Hannah, is finally joining the family tradition and coming aboard too. Hannah, stand up and say hi,” Byron instructs my cousin.

  Hannah pops out of her seat quickly like a jack-in-the-box and gives a cutesy wave before taking her seat again. I’ve known my cousin my entire life and she’s always been a bit of a girly-girl. Even tonight, almost everyone is dressed in jeans and work boots with a T-shirt or plaid jacket on.

  Not Hannah.

  She’s got her pastel pink hair in two long French braids and she’s wearing leather ankle boots over her skinny jeans. And I don’t know much about makeup, but since her eyelashes look like butterflies slowly flapping their wings each time she blinks, I think she’s wearing a bunch. Not exactly practical. For her, fashion always comes first. We’ll see how that works out the first time she has to get messy.

  “Finally,” Byron calls the attention back to the front of the room, “let’s get to the real reason we’re here. The votes have been counted up twice, so there’s no mistaking that Clyde Baker…” My uncle has to pause as a few peo
ple whoop and holler for our Chief. Of course, no one is making nearly as much noise as Clyde and Todd. Even his other son, Josh, isn’t causing a commotion like them.

  Byron holds up his hands and puts an end to the early celebration. “As I was saying, Clyde Baker, you’re no longer the chief of the firehouse.” A gasp pierces the air.

  “What’d you say?” The smile slowly fades from Clyde’s face as his cheeks flush and his teeth set on edge.

  “Not only that but Todd Baker, you’re no longer the deputy,” Byron continues unfazed. He doesn’t seem to notice that Todd and Clyde are looking at him like a couple rabid junkyard dogs, snarling and lowering their heads.

  “This is fuckin’ bullshit!” Todd jumps up so quickly he knocks over his chair. Of course the Baker boys aren’t going to lose the only paid positions in our fire department without a fight.

  “Shut up and let him finish,” I boom, my voice taking even me by surprise. I don’t remember standing up or facing off with Todd, but here I am. A tremor of rage vibrates through me and my fists are cocked.

  “Oh, what ya gonna do about it, little man?” Deep folds from the corners of Todd’s mouth curl up around his lip and tug his nose down.

  “Well, you might want to cool your jets and listen to him,” Byron talks over us, “because Blake Pierce is the new chief of the station and my nephew, Luke Murphy, he’s your new deputy.”

  Well, well, well. Looks like I won’t be needing to scrape by with part time road work anymore. Looks like this “little man” just took Todd’s job and his paycheque along with it. I know better than to let this smug smirk spill up over my lips. I’m not doing anything to defuse the anger radiating off the Baker boys, but I don’t care. Just like everyone else in this station, I wouldn’t be sad to see the door hit them where the good Lord split them and never come back.