Sarah was a bit taken aback at Mac’s response. “I don’t feel obliged. I’m here because I want to be here. Is that all right?”
Mac shrugged again. “Yeah.”
“You don’t sound convinced. Do you not want me to be here?”
Mac closed her eyes.
“Mac? What’s going on? Talk to me.”
Mac blew out a sigh. “I just don’t want you to feel like you have to be here. I don’t like being needy, and I don’t like the idea of you feeling like you have to stay out of some sort of…”
Sarah knelt in front of Mac. “Hey, hey, let me stop you right there. I don’t feel like I have to be here. I’m here because I want to be. When I told you I loved you, I meant it. I am not here because of some feeling of obligation, okay?”
Mac nodded sullenly.
“Mac, look at me.”
Mac did.
“Where has all this come from?”
“I just thought…I didn’t want you feeling obliged, or trapped into staying.”
“I’m not. Would you like me to go?”
“No.”
“Okay, so I’m happy to stay and you’re happy for me to stay. Is that right?”
“Yes.”
“All right then, that’s settled. How about we get you dressed for the day, then take a look at the bandages. Okay?”
“Thank you…I’m sorry.”
“For what, love?”
“For being miserable. I think the lack of sleep and drugs are messing with my head.”
Sarah kissed her on the top of the head. “Mm, you’re probably right. How about we just take one step at a time, and if something worries you, then just let me know and we’ll see what we can do. Okay?”
“Okay.”
Sarah pulled the chair out for Mac. “Besides, why would I want to pass up the opportunity to help you get undressed and to see you naked?”
“You are crazy, Sarah Macarthur.”
Sarah laughed softly. “Only for you.”
*
It took nearly an hour for Sarah to clean and dress Mac’s burns and stitches. The stitches were all nice and clean, and she managed to rewrap Mac’s hands so that the fingers were a bit more independent, rather than all wrapped up like a mummy.
The fresh white bandages adorning her newly wrapped legs stood out starkly against the shorts Mac opted to wear around the house, to avoid trouser legs brushing against the bandages. Sarah completed the ensemble with a fleecy hooded top and some soft, thick white socks.
Mac sat quietly on the edge of the bed, watching, while Sarah cleaned and wrapped her extremities. Sarah tried to be as gentle as she could, knowing it must hurt like crazy where the burns had exposed the nerve endings. Mac never made a sound the whole time Sarah attended the wounds. Having done all that she could, Sarah was packing up the wipes when she stole a look up to see how Mac was faring. Mac looked pale and wiped.
“Jean probably won’t be here for another hour or so. Why don’t you lie down and take a nap before she gets here?”
Mac nodded tiredly. “’Kay.”
Sarah quietly finished cleaning up. She had no sooner finished the dishes when a knock sounded at the front door. She opened the door to Jean and Thomas. “Well, hello, you two. What a lovely surprise. I wasn’t expecting you for a little bit.”
Jean stepped in, enveloping her in a hug. “Sorry. I told Thomas what had happened and that I was coming over to cut Mac’s hair. He said he couldn’t possibly go to school and wanted to come over to make sure his friend Mac was okay.”
Sarah knelt down in front of Thomas and gave him a hug. “Mac is having a nap at the minute, because she’s very tired. How about you come inside and do a drawing for her? I just know it would make her feel better if she had one of your beautiful pictures.”
Thomas nodded and patted his backpack, signing that he’d brought his pencils.
“That’s super, how about you come on through and I can set you up in the lounge room?”
Once Thomas was set up, Sarah and Jean retired to the dining table.
“How’s she doing?”
“Not too bad. We just finished replacing the dressings not that long ago. Between that and not sleeping much last night, she’s a bit wiped, so the nap will hopefully do her the world of good.”
Jean reached over and put her hand over Sarah’s. “And how are you doing?”
“I’m doing okay. Yesterday was pretty tough. It’ll probably take a while for some of the images to get out of my head, but I’m okay.” Sarah shook her head, frowning slightly. “I still can’t quite believe it, really.”
“This might help.” Jean pulled a newspaper from her bag.
The fire had made the front-page news. The headline read Hospital Heroes. There were pictures of the laundry on fire, the bucket line and the fire crew, and one of Mac being dragged out by John. There were also photos of the hospital staff attending the injured. The most eye-catching picture was at the bottom. It was a stunning close-up of Sarah, with her hand on Mac’s forehead, leaning down talking to her after she had put the oxygen mask on.
“Oh, my.”
“Oh, my indeed. Looks to me like the paper got it right with the headline. You all were heroes. It looks like an incredible team effort.”
Sarah stared at the paper and the images. Jean was right. What Mac did was amazing. But looking at the pictures, they all played a part. Jean rose from her chair and patted Sarah on the shoulder. “How about I make us a coffee?”
“That’d be great. Thanks.”
The doorbell sounded. Jean turned to Sarah. “Do you want me to get that?”
Sarah got up. “No, I’ve got it.”
It was John, Mac’s partner, with several big flower arrangements in his arms. “Hi. I feel like I’ve known you for ages after yesterday, but we’ve never been formally introduced. I’m John, Mac’s partner from the station.”
Sarah rescued one of the arrangements from the big man’s arms. “Sarah. Lovely to meet you. Come on in. You’re just in time for a cuppa.” They walked through to the kitchen.
John put the arrangements on the side counter. “These arrived at the station. They’re some of the flowers from the families of the two fellas Mac pulled out. There’s more at the station, but I figured she won’t want them all, so I just brought the nicest ones out.”
“They’re beautiful. Thank you for that. Mac will love them.”
John looked around.
Sarah guessed what he was thinking. “She’s just having a nap. She had a bit of a rough night.”
“She okay?”
“Yes, she’s doing well. We changed the dressings this morning and everything looks good. First nights home are usually a bit tricky.”
He nodded in understanding.
“John, I’d like you to meet my sister, Jean. Jean this is Mac’s partner at the fire station.”
Jean extended her hand. “Hello, John, it’s lovely to meet you.”
John blushed slightly as his big hand encircled Jean’s smaller one. “Hello, Jean, the pleasure is mine.”
Much to Sarah’s delight, she thought she detected a reciprocal faint colouring of Jean’s cheeks. They took their coffees into the dining room. Jean had made a hot chocolate for Thomas, who was introduced to John. Thomas looked at the newspaper on the table and back over at John. Thomas signed to Jean to translate.
“Thomas wants to say thank you for being Mac’s friend and for looking out for her.”
John turned to Jean. “Please show me how to say Thank you—that’s what friends do, we look after each other.”
Jean showed John how to sign. When he had finished, John held his hand out. Thomas took his hand, and they shook, nodding to each other each.
There was a gentle throat clearing from the doorway. Mac stood there, looking at the group gathered around the table. “Is this a private party, or can anyone join in?”
Thomas was the first to react. He rushed right over, stopping two feet dead in fr
ont of Mac, then carefully stepped forward to gently wrap his arms around Mac’s waist and set his head on her chest. Mac wrapped her arms around him in return. She looked over the top of his head to Jean. “Can you tell him that’s one of the nicest hellos I’ve ever had. Thank you.”
While Jean set up her hairdressing equipment, Sarah took Mac aside to ask if John had a wife or girlfriend.
“No, there’s no one that I’m aware of at the moment. Mind you, he would make an excellent catch for someone one day.”
Mac looked on as Sarah watched Jean. “Are you matchmaking, Dr. Macarthur?”
Displaying an almost believable innocent face, Sarah put her hand to her chest. “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Mac bumped her with her hip. “I’m sure you don’t.”
Meanwhile, John was inside drawing fire trucks with Thomas. From time to time John’s laughter could be heard filtering through the doorway.
Jean took great care, evening up Mac’s ragged ends and the lopsidedness at the back. By the time she had finished, Mac’s hair had lost several inches and now sat two inches below her collar, falling in gentle waves. Jean was brushing Mac off. “How long have you worked with John?”
“Um, about eight or nine years now.”
“He seems like a nice man.”
“He is. I still can’t figure out how he’s still on the market.”
“Oh?”
Mac chuckled. “You know, as firefighters, we’re pretty good at putting out fires, but when it comes to relationships, I think we might be a bit clueless. I reckon that’s why John and I make good partners. We think similarly and we’re both a bit shy, so being in each other’s company is easy.” Jean continued to brush away the loose hair from Mac’s shoulders in silence. Mac was secretly smiling. She could almost hear the cogs ticking over in Jean’s brain. “Speaking of relationships. I hope you don’t mind, but Sarah and I were talking about you and Thomas the other day. Sarah told me about Richard.”
Jean’s hands stilled.
Mac carefully reached into the pocket on her jumper and pulled out a piece of paper. She handed it to Jean.
Jean looked at the note. “What’s this?”
“That’s my home and mobile phone numbers. If ever you get stuck, or need a hand, please don’t be afraid to call.”
“That’s lovely of you. Thank you. We’ll be all right, though.”
Mac turned around to look at Jean. “You and Thomas mean the world to Sarah, which makes you both very special and important people. I have access to lights and sirens and can summon extra help pretty quickly if needed. If you never need to call those numbers, then that’s okay, but if you do, then you have them.”
Jean looked at the numbers, folded the note and put it safely into her pocket. She looked to Mac. “Thank you…for this.” She patted her pocket. “And for making Sarah so happy. I like you. I hope we get to spend more time together, getting to know each other.”
Mac got up and hugged Jean. “Sarah makes me happy too, and I would love to get to know you and Thomas better. And thank you for fixing my hair. Now I won’t have to walk around with my head on its side, trying to make the ends look even.”
They were both smiling when they headed back into the dining room. Sarah came over and turned Mac around, while looking at her hair. “Mm. Lovely.”
John, Jean, and Thomas ended up staying for lunch, with John leaving to go back to work shortly after. He didn’t leave empty handed though. Tucked under his arm was a drawing Thomas gave him from their combined artistic efforts of the morning. Jean and Thomas left not long after John, leaving Mac and Sarah alone in the house.
Sarah managed to convince Mac that it was okay to lie down on the bed in the afternoon. Mac agreed, on the condition that Sarah join her. Mac lay on her back, with Sarah lying alongside, her head propped up on one hand. “That was nice of John to drop the flowers off and check on you.”
“He’s a nice man. Jean could do worse—if she were looking, of course.”
Sarah smiled sadly with a slight shake of her head. “I don’t know if she’s even thought of another man since Richard. I think she’s a bit scarred, truth to tell. Can’t say I blame her. He was an arsehole. But you know”—Sarah leaned over and caressed Mac’s stomach—“nice firefighters have a way of sneaking up on you when you least expect it and steal your heart.”
Mac’s eyes darkened as Sarah’s caresses made their way up to encircle a breast. “Oh, do they now?”
“Uh-huh, they sure do.” Sarah leaned over Mac, greedily capturing her lips.
Mac broke off with a moan. She held up her bandaged hands. “That’s not fair.”
Sarah chuckled. “Well then, you’ll just have to get creative, won’t you?”
Mac’s moan was lost as Sarah proceeded to use her own imagination.
Chapter Twenty-two
Although still tender, Mac was managing well enough that she had been cleared to start back on light duties the following week. Sarah was running out of clothes to wear—not that she minded pinching Mac’s clothes, but she thought a change might be good and suggested that they spend Sunday night at her place in town. Sarah could drop Mac off at the station the next morning and one of the boys could drop Mac back to Sarah’s when she’d had enough.
On their way to Sarah’s place, they decided to call in at the refuge to see Maree and Terri.
Terri met them at the gate. “Hey there, you two. Mac, nice to see you’ve graduated to trousers. Not that looking at your pins is a chore, mind you. How’s everything feeling?”
“Hi, Ter. Not too bad. I just have to be a bit careful and, as Sarah keeps reminding me, slow down half a step.”
Terri put her arm around Sarah’s shoulders. “Good luck with that one, my friend.”
Sarah wrapped her arm around Terri’s waist as they walked ahead, laughing. “Oh yeah, tell me about it. Has she always been this bad?”
“Uh-huh, doesn’t do the whole sit-still-for-ten-minutes routine at all well. And if it’s an enforced layabout, look out—even worse.”
Maree came towards them with Nell trotting in tow on a lead. Nell pulled up excitedly beside Mac, who noticed Nell was wearing a new collar. “Hey, baby girl.”
Maree gave Nell the commands to sit and stay so she didn’t jump up on Mac’s burned legs. Mac knelt down gingerly next to the puppy, patting her and rubbing behind her ears. Nell licked Mac’s neck but stopped abruptly and curled against Mac’s hip.
Mac laughed. “She must have caught a taste of the burn cream.”
Maree gave Mac a kiss as she stood up. “How you doin’, babe?”
“Not too bad. Both of my bosses have said I can try going back to work tomorrow for a few hours each day, and build up from there.”
“Both of your bosses?”
“Yep the chief at work and the chief at home.”
“Two chiefs, huh? Well, my sympathies to both of them.”
Sarah and Terri burst out laughing. Mac stopped still and indignantly put her bandaged hands on her hips. “Hey, guys, I’m not that bad.”
They all burst out laughing again.
“Am I?”
They looked at each other, crowded in, and gave her a group hug.
Maree broke away from the group. “I’ll catch up with you in a minute. I’m just going to put Nell back. Mac, do you want to tag along so you can see how she’s doing?”
“Sure, love to.”
Terri said, “Okay, well, Sarah and I’ll rustle up something nice for when you two dog whisperers get back.” She and Sarah walked back to the house.
Back in the kitchen, Terri made a hot-chocolate base, while Sarah found a pie in the fridge. Sarah put the pie in the oven to warm and set the table. She leaned on the counter, watching while Terri stirred the pot on the stove.
“Wow, that smells nice.”
“Thanks. I must confess, I love hot chocolate when it’s made from scratch. It takes a bit more time, but it’s a favourite
old recipe, and I reckon it’s well worth it. So, how’s everything going with you guys? You both seem pretty happy.”
“You know, I was just thinking, as we came in, even though we haven’t known each other for a very long time, and we’re still getting to know each other, it just feels so right. It feels normal and comfortable and, well, it feels good.”
“Well, I’m glad. I have to thank you for being the person to bring the light back into Mac’s eyes. It’s nice to see her living again, instead of just existing.”
“Thank you. That means a lot. But I’ll be honest with you, Mac makes me feel the same way. I mean, I can’t say I was miserable before I knew Mac, but looking back, I’m not sure that I was really living either.” They were silent for a moment before Sarah took a deep breath. “Can I ask you something, about Mac? If you don’t want to answer, I’ll understand, but I was hoping to ask you two about Tina.”
“Hmm?”
“Mac doesn’t ever talk about her. I hope that one day she might be comfortable telling me about her, but I was kind of hoping that you might be able to fill me in on a few things.”
“Like what?”
“Well, are there things I should avoid—things that might upset Mac—to do with Tina?”
Terri stirred the pot for a while, thinking. “One of the big things with Mac is that she holds a lot inside. Too much, if you ask me. I think she’s been holding stuff tight inside right from when she lost her brother in the car accident. And then when Tina died, she just kind of stepped back from everybody, closing herself off from all emotions and expressions, keeping everyone at arm’s length. I suppose it’s her coping mechanism.”
“I think I know what you’re saying. The first morning home from hospital, after the fire, she more or less told me that I didn’t have to be there, and that I could go. When I pushed her for what was really going on, she had trouble finding the words. I just put it down to lack of sleep and the painkillers, and while I think, in all honesty, that contributed to it, there was more. What you said kind of makes sense.”
“Go on.”
“Well, normally she’s great. She’s funny, kind, thoughtful, and a very considerate and generous partner, but when it comes to really emotional things, she’s really knocked for six. Was it me, or was there other stuff going on? So I’m curious as to how she’s been since Tina.”
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