by Ashlyn Chase
“I wanted to apologize for firing you. I realize I may have overreacted…and…and I want you back.”
Gabe was making so much noise, she wasn’t sure she heard Adam right. “Huh?”
“You know. Back at work. At the bank. I miss your…people skills.”
Well, that part could be true. The guy has no people skills at all. “You have plenty of tellers who are friendly and nice to the customers. You don’t need me.”
Gabe was starting to calm down. Until Adam reached for her hand, and then he went nuts, squawking and flying around as much as the cage allowed.
“I’m sorry, Adam. I’m not coming back to work. I don’t know if you noticed, but I’m almost five months pregnant.” She smoothed the sundress over her belly, revealing the infant growing there.
“Oh. Well, you can have maternity leave, you know. Then you’ll be able to keep your insurance benefits and—”
Before Gabe reacted to that, she held up one hand. “Stop, Adam. Just stop. I’m not coming back.” She flipped her hand over so he could see her rings. “I’m married now, and I have insurance through the fire department.”
“But—”
“No. Your apology is accepted, but our business is concluded.” She shut the door and locked it. Spinning toward Gabe’s cage, she said, “You didn’t have to make such a ruckus. I won’t be going back to work for him now or in the future.”
Gabe quieted but still seemed tense. She approached the cage slowly.
“I love you, you know. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you. Not now or ever.” He seemed to relax and smooth his ruffled feathers. “That doesn’t mean you can tell me what to do. It just means I’ll do my best to communicate with you about all major decisions before making any. That’s what any married couple should do.”
He bobbed his head in agreement. Then he tipped his head, meaning he had a question.
Oh, goody. We get to play twenty questions or however many I have to ask before I hit on the right one. What could he want to know?
“Are you wondering how he found me here?”
He bobbed his head.
Oh, good. Got it in one. “I had to give him a forwarding address so he’d know where to send my last check.”
He righted his head in the neutral position, neither looking right nor left. She interpreted that as his being satisfied with her answer.
“Do you want me to read to you for a while?”
He looked at her with his left eye.
“So, that’s a no. Okay. Do you mind if I read to myself?”
He also gave her a no. So she picked up the novel she doubted he’d be interested in and put her feet up. She was just getting into it when Antonio and Gabriella returned home.
“Who was that at the door a few minutes ago?” Antonio asked. “We were still parking the car when he left.”
“Just my old boss. He wanted me to come back to work.”
“After firing you?” Gabriella asked.
“Yeah. He apologized, saying he’d overreacted.”
“So, are you going back to work?” Antonio glanced over toward Gabe—probably asking more for his benefit than hers. He didn’t know they’d already “discussed” the matter.
“I’m not.” She almost felt the need to defend her refusal since just sitting around on their couch and reading made her feel like a lazy, good-for-nothing squatter anyway.
He simply nodded. Gabriella let out a deep breath as if she’d been holding it.
“Are you interested in taking a walk? It’s a beautiful day out there.”
“Sure.” Misty needed some air to clear her head and was grateful for the opportunity to talk with Gabriella alone. Her new mother-in-law had become a good friend. She was always sunny and positive but would listen whenever Misty was down in the dumps.
She found that taking walks around the neighborhood was helpful too. Getting some sunshine and letting the warmth sink into her skin helped Misty’s hormonal moods immensely. “I’ll just visit the little girls’ room and be right with you.”
As soon as they were both ready, they set off.
“So, how did you feel about your old boss’s visit?” Gabriella didn’t waste any time, and Misty was fine with that. She wanted to talk but wouldn’t really know how to bring it up.
“I was okay, but Gabe… He went nuts! He acted like he was trying to beat his way out of the cage.”
“Oh, well, he’s a bird of prey. He must have felt a threat was near.”
“A bird of prey,” she said, shocked.
“If you were thinking he’d eat birdseed and tweet happily from a tree branch, well, you must have been thinking of a chickadee. He’s no chickadee, dearest.
“But one thing is good,” Gabriella continued. “He’s happy to be with you and delighted to see the baby growing. When he was a smaller bird, any time you were taking a nap, he hopped onto your thigh and laid his head on your baby bump. He may have been listening to the heartbeat…or just expressing his love.”
Misty smiled, knowing her baby’s father would protect them both. As a bird or a man.
“Are you going to find out the sex of the baby soon?”
“We agreed to keep the baby’s sex a surprise. He’ll be back long before the birth. If we change our minds, we’ll do it together.” Meanwhile, Misty periodically wondered if she was carrying a little Gabe or a little Misty. They hadn’t discussed names yet, but that’s how she thought of their child in the meantime.
They were passing by the fire station where Gabe had worked. Of course, no one at the fire station knew Gabe was at home, least of all in bird form. They thought he had gone to Brazil to a plastic surgeon who specialized in skin transplants and some cutting-edge methods to restore the healing and self-image of severe burn victims in record time.
The captain recognized Gabriella and waved as he walked toward them. A moment later, his eyes lit up as he recognized Misty. “You’re Gabe’s wife, aren’t you?”
“Yes. Misty Fierro,” she said and extended her hand when he extended his. They shook hands, and he grinned.
“I was there when he proposed to you. He must have said the right words, because here you are, out walking with your mother-in-law.”
“And I’m going to be a grandma,” Gabriella said.
“I’m sure you’re happy about that.”
“Beyond thrilled,” she said.
“Is Gabe home yet?”
“Not yet.” Gabriella explained that because of Misty’s pregnancy, she’d decided to stay in Boston. If anything came up, Gabe wouldn’t be in any shape to help her, and Misty spoke neither Portuguese nor Spanish. So Gabriella and Antonio were looking after her.
“Double congratulations, then. Boy, when that man decides to do something, he does it up right. Tell him we miss him. He’s one of my best firefighters. Well, don’t tell him that. We don’t want him to get a swelled head.” The captain laughed.
Misty thought about making some kind of joke about the surgery and how his head might be swollen from that but decided against it. Sure, it would be going along with the fiction, but it wouldn’t sound very respectful. She’d leave the joking to Antonio.
“I hope you found someone to cover his shifts,” she finally said.
“Oh, sure. We took on a probie. He’s a little wild behind the wheel, but he just needs practice. Believe me, he’s getting plenty.”
“Oh? Has it been busier than normal?” Gabriella asked.
“Yeah. It usually slows down when the students leave for the summer. Not this year. We’re as busy as ever.”
“Really? With fires?” Misty asked.
“Drug overdoses mostly,” the captain said.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Gabriella said. “Is the problem getting worse?”
“It seems so. Hopefully, the state will put a
little more funding into rehab and prevention. When we get the call, we do what we can to save the person’s life, but most of the time, as soon as they’re able, they go looking for their next fix.”
Misty was truly struck by this. “I wish there was something more that could be done.”
The captain set a fatherly hand on her shoulder. “Just raise your children right. A lot of addicts never had a chance. It doesn’t matter if they’re from affluent homes or the slums. If they’re neglected and allowed to run wild, they’re going to get into trouble. You can impress on them the dangers of drugs at an early age.”
Gabriella looked like she wanted to say something, but she stayed quiet until they’d said their goodbyes.
Continuing their walk, Misty said, “What is it? You looked uncomfortable back there.”
“Not at all, but he brought up something I’ve been meaning to talk with you about. I know it’s none of my business, but I hope you’ll consider being a stay-at-home mom. At least until the child goes to school.”
Misty opened her mouth to respond, but something caught her attention. A man in a hoodie, who didn’t look right wearing one. Is that Adam? The figure faded back into an alley, and by the time they pulled up even with it, he was gone.
When she was able to focus on what Gabriella had said, she mumbled, “I’ll need to talk to Gabe about it.”
Her mother-in-law nodded and seemed satisfied with her answer. Misty wondered if she should mention the guy she’d seen. Finally, she decided not to. She was probably being paranoid.
Chapter 20
A couple of weeks later, Gabriella had caught a rare summer cold, and Misty had to avoid her. She missed walking with her and having someone to comment to when she saw a beautiful rosebush exploding into bloom or recognized one of the firefighters on Engine 22 as they cruised by.
“Aren’t you going for your walk?” Antonio asked as he entered the living room one day.
She looked up from her book. Gabe had been sitting next to her but hopped a few feet away in case she wanted to push herself up off the couch. “I’d really like to, but…” She didn’t know how to follow that up. I think I might have a stalker? I’d feel safer with another person around? Suddenly, she felt silly. “You know what? I do want to walk. I could really use the exercise.”
Antonio grinned. “Yeah, wow. You look like you’ve put on a few pounds, girl. That’s quite the spare tire you’ve got there.”
“Oh, thanks,” she said, deadpan. Planting her hands on the sofa, she heaved herself to her feet. “I would ask you to go with me, but not after that crack.”
Antonio laughed. “Good. I’m tired. And you don’t need an escort in the middle of a beautiful Saturday afternoon.”
She realized he was right. It had been two weeks since she’d seen Adam—even if the guy in the hoodie, lurking, was him, she hadn’t seen anything else suspicious. She figured he’d gotten the hint.
“Okay. In that case, I’ll be back in a few.” She turned to blow a kiss to Gabe, but he flew up onto her shoulder.
“Oh, you want to come too?”
He bobbed his head.
“No can do, Son,” Antonio said. “You know the rules.”
Misty felt bad for him. She got the exercise she needed, but did he? “Is that only because of the tail feathers getting attention from passersby?”
“Yes. Getting unwanted attention,” Antonio stressed.
“Can’t he do something to cover them up?”
Antonio smirked. “I’d say no, but you’re not stupid. The boys have found ways… Jayce does ‘the chimney sweep,’ he calls it. I think he got that from Ryan. And… Never mind. I shouldn’t be giving anyone ideas.” He tipped his head toward Gabe. “Remember, it’s only temporary. I’m going downstairs to watch the BU vs. BC game.”
“Have fun,” Misty called out as she moved toward the front door.
As soon as Antonio had shut the door to the man cave, she returned to Gabe. “I have an idea,” she said excitedly.
He cocked his head.
“How would you like to go for a walk with me? You must be dying to get outside in this beautiful weather.”
He swiftly turned his right eye toward her.
“I thought so. Listen. Your mom keeps a big tin of cocoa in the pantry. Could you still fly if I coat your tail feathers in cocoa?”
He squawked as he bobbed his head, which she took as an excited yes.
“Awesome. Let’s hope your mom is still lying down upstairs and we can have the kitchen to ourselves for a few minutes.”
Gabe sailed into the kitchen and returned, bobbing his head as if to say the coast was clear.
Misty giggled, feeling like a naughty girl about to get away with some forbidden fun. What could go wrong? Famous last words…
Misty quickly coated the butcher-block counter with a generous amount of cocoa, and after Gabe landed nearby, she took a handful of powder and smoothed it down his tail feathers, hoping that would work.
“Should I add some water to make it muddy? Would that help it stick better?”
Gabe showed her his left eye for no, so she just smoothed the chocolate powder down his tail feathers again. He made a cooing sound that she’d never heard before. He must’ve enjoyed it. At least she hoped so.
She cleaned up the mess and let him perch on her finger as she walked out the front door, locking it behind her.
“Go, honey. Fly. Be free.” Gabe took off and soared several feet above her, circling as she walked. She glanced upward a few times to see that he was still there. He obviously wanted to stay close by. It warmed her heart.
A familiar face was coming toward her. Adam? Again? Really?
“Misty! I was just coming to see you.”
Suddenly, Gabe was dive-bombing her visitor. Even though he was an unwanted visitor, she didn’t want anything to happen to him…or Gabe. “No! Stop, Ga—”
Adam ducked. Gabe veered away from his face and instead circled around, beating the back of his head with his wings as he swooped by. Some of the chocolate was dislodged, and a bit of bright color showed through.
“Jesus, Misty! Call off your bird.”
“Please, stop!” Misty cried. “Let me handle this.”
Gabe flew up to perch on a wire overhead.
“What the hell is that thing? An attack bird?”
Misty smiled slyly. Crossing her arms, she said, “Yes. It’s my Amazon attack bird.”
“And you named it Gay?”
“Yeah. She’s usually quite happy. I guess she thought I was in danger. Am I? In danger, I mean?”
“Christ, no. I was just coming to tell you I’m seeing Terri now. I won’t be bothering you again.”
Misty remembered Terri saying that he wasn’t a bad guy and she would go out with him if he asked her. Plus, as a single mother, Terri could use the kind of financial help Adam seemed happy to provide.
“I’m glad to hear that. Terri is a sweetheart. I hope you two hit it off, and I wish you both the best.”
Adam glanced up at the bird a couple of times. “Well, I’ll be on my way now. If that’s the kind of thing they have in the Amazon rain forest, I guess I don’t mind people cutting it down.”
As he walked away, Gabe swooped over him and crapped on his head.
“Jesus!” He shot a glare at Misty. “Get your damn bird under control.”
Misty giggled. “In some cultures, getting hit with bird poop is considered good luck.”
“Well, in that case, good luck to you too.”
* * *
The last few weeks of Gabe’s confinement were without incident. They had set July 4 as his return date. Independence Day. Completely fitting, he thought. The entire family was gathered to celebrate the holiday. Two holidays, actually. The Fourth of July, and New Gabe Day, as his mother was calling it.<
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Misty had been excitedly chattering with Gabriella and helping her prepare food all morning. She was wearing an adorable pink high-waisted sundress that she had made, telling him sewing would keep her out of trouble. He suspected she wanted something special for the occasion—and having a hobby was never a bad thing.
He was excited too. It was all he could do to wait until everyone had arrived and Gabriella announced everything was ready.
Misty ran upstairs to their bedroom. She laid out some clothes for him and said she’d wait downstairs with everyone else. Blowing him a kiss, she closed the bedroom door behind her, and he heard her footsteps running down the stairs. She hadn’t fallen in months. He hoped, for her sake, the reprieve from her MS symptoms would last.
He couldn’t wait another second. He concentrated on his human form and felt himself growing and shifting. At last, he glanced down and saw his feet and legs and, well, the stiffy, courtesy of Misty and her adorableness. He looked in the mirror over his dresser and saw his flawless face. No scars. No discoloring. Just the same old face he was used to. Breathing a sigh of relief, he grinned and put on the jeans she had chosen for him.
Before he pulled the fire department T-shirt over his head, he checked the spot on his ribs where he’d branded himself with Buddy’s dog tag. It was as smooth as the skin he was born with. He wasn’t sad to see it had disappeared. The reason for it being there wasn’t to remember his dog. It was to punish himself. It seemed as if he had finally conquered the need to do that.
Now…how to make an appropriate entrance?
He wished he had a dozen roses to give Misty, but it was pretty hard arranging something like that without the ability to speak. Then he remembered something from his younger years that he’d hidden away. The piece had always carried sad memories, but he couldn’t get rid of it. It was another reminder that he shouldn’t get involved with a woman. Or in this case a girl who distracted him from his responsibilities.
He fished a small box out of the back of his closet, opened it, and was happy to see the necklace hadn’t tarnished even a dozen years later. It was a tiny gold heart on a thin gold chain. He had been planning to give it to the girl who’d taken his virginity. But when his dog died, he pushed her away rather than let her see him cry. She thought it was because she wasn’t good enough in bed. Then she set about to prove she was—with half the football team.