Smoke

by Toye Lawson Brown

  “I’ll do it if Anthony and a date come along.”

  “No thanks,” Anthony said before Nick could answer. “I’m busy.”

  “What do you have planned already?” Jonathan asked with a skeptical voice.

  “I’m doing anything that doesn’t involve me being a part of Nick’s dumb ass scheme; I got work to do,” he said going inside the fire station.

  Jonathan turned to go after Anthony but the alarm dispatched. Getting into his turnout gear, he climbed on the fire truck shutting off his personal life to concentrate on the emergency at hand.

  *****

  Ladder 30 returned to the fire station two hours later. The fire at the tire warehouse yielded no casualties or injuries but took a while to extinguish the rubber material that kept smoldering in hot spots and reigniting.

  Jonathan hung his turnout and helmet on the hook. His face was covered in black residue, and he reeked of burned rubber, he headed to the dorm to take a shower before going home.

  His cellphone vibrated on the bed when he dumped his pockets. Looking at it, three missed calls registered and all the calls were from Gabrielle. Sitting on the bed he thumbed over the send button contemplating on returning her call or letting it go.

  She’d made her decision and he didn’t want to hear any more of her excuses or explanations.

  “Glad I caught you before you left. It’s all set for Friday night, Jon. Kate says her sister can’t wait to meet you. I’ll bet you two will hit it off,” Nick said grinning with smeared soot and dirt on his face.

  His head popped up at the sound of Nick’s voice. “I’ve been having second thoughts about that. I don’t wanna hurt this girl and you know why.”

  “You can’t drop out now! Look, Jon, why won’t you give her a shot? Are you scared you might like her and realize what you’ve been missing all these years?”

  “I haven’t been missing anything; women are women no matter what color the skin.”

  “Okay, then go with the skin that matches yours for a change. Dammit, man, you could have of crop of cute blonde-haired, blue-eyed babies with a beautiful wife that won’t give you smack, but help with the bills.”

  Jonathan got off the bed to go into the shower room saying, “I forgot how big an idiot you are. Gabrielle is a professional woman that owns her own home; I don’t even have that.”

  “Okay, she’s an exception but she doesn’t want you—Sarah does.”

  “How do you know that? Nick, I’m sticking with the date because you made it already but don’t expect anything to go further than Friday. I know what I want and what you’re pushing on me is not what I want.”

  “Sarah might change what you want. I’m just asking you to give her a chance to prove she can make you happy. Let me find you the right woman for a change.”

  Jonathan frowned. “Nick, are you trying to upstage Anthony? Because, if that’s what you’re doing you might as well stop now; Anthony doesn’t fix me up with women. He never has, and has never offered.”

  The incoming shift change filtered into the dormitory halting their conversation.

  Nick remained silent as Jonathan went to shower and Anthony crossed the room to sit on a bed to finish dressing; staring him down.

  Chapter Nine

  “Gabby, mind if I eat lunch with you?” Pam asked sliding her tray on the round table.

  Gabrielle looked up and smiled moving her stack of paperwork. “No not at all.

  I’m just getting some work done while I eat.”

  “You got stuck with a late shift again?”

  “I’m being too nice letting Laura con me into taking her shifts so she can attend her kid’s activities.”

  “I’m covering for Bill tonight. I’m just glad it has been quiet so far,” Pam said taking a forkful of salad in her mouth.

  “Yeah but it also makes for a long night.” Gabrielle tapped the end of the ink pen to her chin, asking, “Pam, remember firefighter Jonathan DeMinico that was a patient maybe a month ago?”

  Pam lifted her brow cheerfully. “Oh I remember him! God he was cute! Why are you bringing him up?”

  “He mentioned you talked to him about me; I’m just curious what you said.”

  “You did treat him the day Mille left early. Anyways, I mentioned how nice and quiet you are, and that you are very efficient. What did he say I said?”

  She twitched her lip. “Pretty much the same, but he added I had a hard shell to crack.”

  “Oh I did say that. What’s going on, Gabby? Has he asked you on a date?”

  “He’s a big flirt, Pam.”

  Pam looked sideways at Gabrielle. “Avoiding the question; won’t make eye contact and, I think I see a little sweat above your brow. That means he got under your skin in a good way,” she laughed.

  “I agree he is cute and has a body to drool over, but he is a big flirt. He probably flirted with every female nurse and tech he came in contact with while in the hospital.”

  Pam chewed slowly shaking her head. “He didn’t mention other nurses or techs to me, and he was not shy about not liking Millie. As a matter of fact, he seemed too normal to be as good-looking as he is. He didn’t come off as arrogant, but then again he was in a lot of pain.”

  Gabrielle nodded with a chuckle. “Extreme pain can curb or kill the mojo.”

  Pam shoved her half-eaten bowl of salad aside. “Gabby, if Jonathan has asked you for a date, why not go for him? I know Dr. Damien Hawke pulled a fast one on you, but you gotta let it go.”

  Gabrielle covered her face with her hands. “He made a complete fool of me, Pam.”

  “Only a handful of people know about that and those are people you can trust not to talk about what happened. Gabby, you handled it like a trooper and kept your head high.”

  “That may be so, but I’m not over it. It’s been almost a year and I’m still kicking myself.”

  “Dr. Hawke had us all fooled. He lived up to the reputation of being the best anesthesiologist in Ohio but hid the rest of his lifestyle very well. I feel bad for introducing him to you.”

  “You shouldn’t. You didn’t make me fall head over heels for him. I should have followed my instinct when it came to Damien. The biggest clue should have been the Village People’s YMCA and The Weather Girl’s Raining Men CDs I found in his car.

  Those were dead giveaways he was living a lie.”

  “Yeah, I kinda wondered what straight man in his thirties listened to that type of music, but hey, people have different tastes these days,” Pam said choking in the laugh.

  Gabrielle threw her head back laughing. “True, but when his boyfriend

  confronted me in the parking lot wearing neon pink skinny jeans and with a glittery fuchsia tank top—that was the glue to seal deal.”

  “Honey, you’re young and will make mistakes, but don’t let other men pay for Damien’s decision to live a lie. Jonathan DeMinico is very much a man. And trust me, he won’t be unattached long. Some woman will dig her claws into him and you will not be able to wrest him away.”

  Gabrielle tossed the ink pen on the table. “Confession time; I did spend a day with him, Pam. I invited him over to my place for a Sunday brunch.”

  “And, what happened?”

  “We had a great time together. I enjoyed his company a lot.”

  “What happened after you had sex with him?”

  Gabrielle peered at Pam asking, “What makes you think we had sex?”

  “I may be older than you, but not so far ahead that I don’t know what would happen between two pretty people alone in a house together. Now what did you do to mess up a possible good thing?”

  “Pam, it was amazing and I sent him away.”

  “Why in heaven’s name would you do that?”

  “Stupid! I was stupid and being freaking cautious! I spent six months with Damien for it to end with him wanting to know where I buy my shoes.”

  “Ugh! I cannot believe a man that fine idolized RuPaul. Is there any way to reverse the damage w
ith Jonathan before it’s too late?”

  “I tried calling Jonathan three times today. He wouldn’t or won’t answer his phone if my number pops up. Plus, he returned to work and I don’t know what his schedule is like.”

  “You gotta car and you know the fire station he deploys from, so take a little road trip to the fire station and see if he is around.”

  Gabrielle bit on the tip of her fingernail. “That’s a little impulsive don’t you think?”

  “Yeah it is, but, to your knowledge, is there or could there be another woman waiting in the wings to get with Mr. Hottie?”

  The remembrance of Sandra’s obnoxious perfume permeated Gabrielle’s nose before her vivacious image. Although she was supposedly dating Anthony, nothing was etched in stone. “Pam, there could be a troublesome woman waiting in the distance if word got around Jonathan is available.”

  Pam loaded the tray with her trash. “Honey, you do a lot of research to keep current with your career. I suggest you do a little research on how to be aggressive in getting the man you want. My dinner hour is almost over and I need a smoke.”

  “Pam, I’ll consider taking your advice if you come along with me. I don’t know if I can stalk Jonathan on my own.”

  “I would love to tag along. Just let me know when,” Pam said leaving the cafeteria.

  Gabrielle slouched her back against the hard chair. “I can’t believe I’m doing this!

  Damn you Jonathan for using sex to turn me into a crazy person.”

  *****

  Jonathan drank a cup of coffee and read the newspaper while waiting on his shift to begin. Anthony plopped in the chair across from him. “I messed up big time, Jon. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

  Jonathan lowered the paper. “What’d you do now?”

  “I hooked up with Melanie last night. I don’t know why I can’t stay away from that woman.”

  “Nothing wrong with seeing an old friend, if that’s all you did.” The smirk on Anthony’s face told it all. “You slept with her didn’t you?”

  “I had one too many tequila shots and I woke up in her bed this morning. I can’t say if we did or didn’t do something. There is no way I could have brought my best to the table, seeing how I can’t remember any of it.”

  “Hmm, that’s jacked up. Melanie could have done all the work while you were in a drunken stupor.”

  “I think she drugged me. I don’t ever pass out like that.”

  “What would be her purpose of drugging you?” Jonathan asked chuckling.

  “She’s been nagging me about marriage and having babies. That’s the main reason we broke up in the first place. Damn, Jon! What if she raped me and gets pregnant behind it….Oh hell nah!”

  “Wow, you really got the wheels rolling at a fast pace. I don’t think she would have to drug you to achieve that. She would simply poke holes in your condoms and pretend everything was normal until bam—she hits you with the paternity test.”

  “You’re not making this any better. How am I gonna tell Sandra? Not that she would care; she’s got it bad for you. All she talks about is you.”

  “It’s all one-sided. I’m not interested in Sandra Rhodes.”

  “You’re still refusing to call Gabrielle and try working it out, huh?”

  “There is nothing to work out. Although I would like my watch back; my

  granddad gave me that watch.”

  “That’s a legitimate reason to call her. You get your watch and say your final goodbyes and leave on a clean slate.”

  “I suppose. Damn, I bet that’s why she was calling; she wanted to let me know she had my watch.”

  “This is sad”

  “What is sad?”

  “You were the big time playa in the group. Nick and I did okay with the women but you would make women lose their minds over you.”

  “I’m growing older and want a more stable relationship.”

  “Gwen says I need the same but I’m not ready either. Who knows, maybe Nick’s girl will be the one for you.”

  “She won’t because I have no intention on keeping the date and, I won’t settle because Gabrielle refuses to remove the blinders from her eyes.”

  Anthony shook his head. “I’ve only talked to Gabrielle a few times on the telephone and I’m hesitant to believe race is her issue. The first time we chatted, we talked about you and her conservation did not lead me to believe race was an issue.

  Now that I think about it, it was what she said that convinced me she was into you more than me.”

  “Are you going to tell me what she said?”

  “She asked a lot of questions women ask before getting involved with a man.

  Then she said she was looking forward to getting to know you since we are boys. Why would she need to know you because we’re friends?”

  Jonathan shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know. Could be you told her we spend a lot of time together.”

  “She’s acting like Gwen when she and Kevin split before they got married. Gwen worked really hard to keep her distance from Kevin knowing good and well she wanted him back.”

  A grin crossed his face. “So you think she wants me?”

  “Would I be trying to get you back with her if I didn’t? She probably had a similar situation in the past burn her.”

  “I know she’s had a few failed relationships. But, she doesn’t know me well enough to lump me in with those guys.”

  “Think about it, Jon. A broken heart can make a person do dumb shit. We don’t know what happened in her life to make her iffy about men, but you have to show her you’re different.”

  “I’m sure I blew any credibility by sleeping with her on the first date.” He pointed a finger at Anthony. “She heard you and Nick call me a womanizer.”

  “She had to realize the source it was coming from. Look, man, I know you’re going to find a way to be with Gabrielle; I hear it in your voice. When you make up in your mind how you’re going to do that, don’t let her head-snapping or lip-smacking attitude block your efforts.”

  “I can’t see her doing that.”

  Anthony nodded his head, bucking his eyes. “Oh but she will! All black women have that trait and it’s what makes them unique and so damn sexy. But when you tame that trait, you know you have a woman that will love you forever.”

  Jonathan grinned straightening his back against the wooden chair. “You almost had me fooled for a minute. Anthony, I’m not in love with Gabrielle and I’m not thinking of ways to be with her. Anyhow, what do you know about taming a woman?

  You can’t even remember sleeping with Melanie.”

  Pouring a mug of coffee Anthony gulped down the hot liquid. “I’m serious. I’d bet my paycheck when you meet with Gabrielle, you will find a reason to have to keep her around longer than to do a simple watch exchange. And, when you two get back together, I want to know your secret.”

  “Obviously you’re still under the influence of the tequila.” Jonathan’s cellphone rang. Before answering it, he gave Anthony a jovial smirk, “Anthony, my secret wouldn’t work for you anyway.”

  “Why wouldn’t it?”

  “You can’t imitate me and all this,” he smirked.

  Anthony got up from the table taking his coffee and slapping Jonathan on the back. “Evidently I can’t, partner.”

  Jonathan shook his head returning to his call. “Hello.”

  “Hi Jonathan, it’s me, Amira.”

  “Hey, Amira; how are you, darling’?”

  “I’m okay. I got your number from my mom; I hope I’m not bothering you.”

  “No you’re not. Is everything all right or did you just want to talk to your favorite fireman?”

  “I had a question to ask and mom said it should come from me and not her.”

  He leaned his elbows on the table. “Well I’ll try my best to answer it. What do you want to ask me?”

  “Um, my school is having career day and I want you to be the person I bring.”

  �
��Wow, I’m flattered. But, your mom has a great job, wouldn’t you rather use her?”

  “I wanted my friends to meet a real hero. Some of them don’t believe you rescued me and we are friends.”

  Jonathan’s head dropped from the disappointment filling the little girl’s voice.

  “We’ll have to prove them wrong. What day do you need me?”

  “Friday morning at 10:00 and in the gym when it’s over, we will have snacks for all the guests.”

  “I will be there and thank you, Amira. Your classmates will see I’m not just a fireman but also your friend.”

  “Thank you, Jonathan.”

  “Not a problem, sweetheart; I’ll see you Friday morning,” he said clicking off the phone.

  “Jon boy, here you go.” Nick slid a piece of paper across the table to him.

  “What is this?”

  “Sarah’s number. I thought you might want to call her before Friday. Ya know, get to know her a little instead of jumping in with cold feet.”

  He folded the paper and stuffed it in his pocket. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it, Nick. I got another commitment on Friday.”

  Nick’s jaws filled with air as his eyes narrowed. “You dump out on this and we’re done, Jon. I’ve had enough of your bullshit and you treating me like a second-class citizen.”

  “Then I guess we’re done.” Leaving the table, Jonathan placed his coffee cup in the sink.

  “So it’s like that! You can drop a friendship just like that?”

  “I can when I don’t like how the friendship is going. We’ve been over this more than once, Nick, and I’m not in the mood to do it again. Man, if keeping our friendship was contingent on me getting with your girl’s sister and dumping Anthony, then we don’t have reason to continue talking about this because you know the outcome.”

  Nick slammed his hands on the table. “There’s an opening at station 26; I think I’ll ask for a transfer. This way both you and Anthony can kiss my ass as I’m walking away.”

  “Good luck with that. Station 26 is a solid unit and if you go there with your attitude and bullshit, I guarantee you won’t be a Cleveland Firefighter long.”

  *****

  Tired and exhausted, Gabrielle grabbed her backpack and headed to the parking lot. She promised herself this would be the last shift she would take for Laura unless it was a medical emergency involving her son. She smiled and waved to the security guard sitting at the desk reading the newspaper. “Goodnight, Kyle.”