“I can’t believe you’re actually wearing this thing,” I teased, glancing down at his ugly Christmas sweater. I gently flicked one of the jinglebells and it rattled softly.
“Hey, you picked it out,” he reminded me.
“I know,” I said. “But I didn’t think you’d actually wear it.”
“Everyone else is wearing them…”
“Exactly!” I grinned. “Since when does Rory McAlister care about fitting in?”
“I was getting kind of bored with being the odd man out all the time,” he shrugged. “Turns out fitting in ain’t so bad…”
I smiled, then popped up on my tip-toes so I could kiss him on the lips.
“Hey,” he whispered, kissing me again. “There’s something I want to tell you…”
“Oh really?” I gulped. “There’s something I want to tell you, too.”
“Ladies first,” he said.
“No way,” I shook my head. “I want to hear yours first.”
He chuckled softly as he exhaled, then he relented,
“It’s about that job offer,” he said. “I finally got a call back from the department chief in Albany, and they’ve made their decision…”
My heart swelled in my chest and my eyes widened.
About a month ago, Rory had gotten an offer to interview for a position on the fire department in Albany, New York. The job up for grabs wasn’t just an entry-level spot on the crew; it was for the coveted position of Assistant Chief.
The title would be a huge promotion and an amazing opportunity… but Rory was reluctant to uproot Charlotte again. After lots of discussion, the three of us had agreed to give Albany a trial run by spending a long weekend in the city. We had fallen in love within the first twenty-four hours, and Rory agreed to interview for the position.
That was a few weeks ago. Once Rory had completed the interview process, all we could do was wait for the Albany Fire Department to make their decision.
“So?” I asked, feeling my heart race through my chest. “What did they say?”
“Well,” Rory sighed heavily, staring down at the ground. “They said that we should probably pack our bags, because we’re moving to Albany!”
“Holy shit!” I jumped up, wrapping my arms around Rory’s neck. “That’s incredible! You got the job?!”
“I got the job!”
“I’m so proud of you, Assistant Chief McAlister!” I held his face close to mine, kissing him over and over again.
“It’s not me,” he said. “It’s us. It’s always us.”
He kissed me again, then I settled back down on my own two feet.
“Ok… now it’s your turn,” he reminded me. “What were you going to say?”
A lump immediately wedged itself in the back of my throat. I didn’t know what to say, or how to say it… so instead, I slid my hand down into my pocket and pulled out the pregnancy test.
For a few seconds, his face remained totally blank as he studied the test. Then he glanced up at me,
“We’re having a baby?”
I swallowed heavily, then nodded my head.
“We’re having a baby,” I whispered.
“We’re having a baby!” he lifted me up in his arms and spun me around, pressing his lips into mine over and over again until we heard footsteps and voices wandering towards us.
“Hey,” a voice called out. “Are you guys going to come inside and join the party, or are you just going to hide out here and make out all night?!”
“We’re coming,” Rory called over his shoulder. He kissed me one last time, then he led me into the station.
Tonight was my first time attending an official Firehouse 56 function as Rory’s date, and the firehouse was packed with faces -- some familiar, but most I’d never seen before.
Rory led me around the room and made introductions, but there were too many names and faces to keep track of, and they all started to blur together.
We were on our second lap of the room when I heard a fork tink against a beer bottle. Everyone went silent and turned to see the fire chief, raising his bottle of beer to initiate a toast.
“If you’ve spent any time around Firehouse 56, then you know I’m not the kind of guy who gives long-winded speeches,” he said. There was some laughter around the room, and he paused before continuing, “But… since I have you all here tonight, I figured I would use this opportunity to say a few words.”
He cleared his throat and glanced around the room, raising his beer bottle to each of the twelve Firehouse 56 crew members.
“It’s my professional opinion that Firehouse 56 is the best damn fire crew in state of Connecticut,” he said. There were cheers through the station, and he continued, “But that’s not all we are. I believe that when you’re part of a crew like this, the people you work with aren’t just colleagues… they’re your family.”
There was more cheering, and even Rory clapped his hands together in agreement.
“Firehouse 56 has always been one big family,” the chief continued. “Sometimes families can be dysfunctional or chaotic, but they’re always held together by mutual love and respect. I know the twelve men on this crew feel that love and respect for each other, and I know that even if their time at Firehouse 56 comes to an end, they’ll always regard each other as brothers for life.”
The firehouse was filled with the sound of clapping, and the chief waited until it had quieted down before he continued,
“So now that I’ve gotten that sappy bullshit out of the way, I hope you’ll all join me in congratulating one of our brothers tonight,” he cleared his throat, then turned to look straight at Rory. “His time at Firehouse 56 may be coming to an end, but he’ll always be our brother. Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together for the Albany Fire Department’s new Assistant Chief, Rory McAlister!”
The entire room rattled with the sound of applause, and Rory’s face lit up with a giant smile.
The applause slowly died down, and then a chorus of voices began chanting, “SPEECH! SPEECH! SPEECH! SPEECH!”
“Ok, ok!” Rory held up his hands until the room slowly went silent.
I watched Rory as he glanced around the firehouse. Then he took a deep breath and said “You may not get this from looking at me, but I’ve always been a bit of an outsider.” There was a ripple of laughter, and he smiled as he chuckled at himself.
“Growing up in Hartford, I had a rough childhood,” he continued. “I couldn’t wait to get away from here and never look back. I always thought that when I left, I would be out where I truly belonged. Ironically, it took coming right back to where I started to realize that I had been right where I belonged all along.”
His eyes landed on me and he winked. I smiled back.
“In the months I’ve spent at Firehouse 56, I’ve found things I never thought I would find, friendship, brotherhood, loyalty, love…” he paused, glancing around the room again, and then he continued, “It’s time for me to move on now, but this time when I leave Hartford, I’ll know that I’m not leaving behind a town full of strangers or bad memories.”
The firehouse erupted with applause, and several members of the Firehouse 56 crew emerged from the crowd to slap Rory on the back and jostle him into a hug.
“Hold on, hold on!” Rory said, shouting over the commotion. Everyone went silent again. “Before I can leave Hartford, there’s still one thing left that I gotta do.”
He strode across the room, walking straight towards me.
“Rory--” I frowned, confused. Then he bowed down onto one knee, and I felt the wind rush out of my lungs. My hands shot up to my mouth and my eyes went wide.
“Desiree Leduc,” he said, pulling a black velvet ring box from his pocket. “You’re the love of my fucking life, and there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you since I was about nine years old…”
He popped the ring box open and the sparkly flash of a diamond ring caught my eye.
“Will
you marry me?”
I was rendered momentarily incapable of saying anything, so I just nodded my head up and down until my voice returned and I finally managed to squeak out the word “yes!”
As Rory slid the ring over my finger, Charlotte scampered out of the crowd and wedged herself between us. The three of us shared one giant hug right there in the middle of Firehouse 56.
We were a family.
***
Hi Beautiful,
Thanks for reading April Embers, my fourth romance novel and the final book of Firehouse 56. If you want to know more about me, you can join my publisher’s fan group on Facebook here. I stop in sometimes and visit.
You should also sign up for my newsletter to get a preview of what I’m working on next. It’s grittier than firefighters, but I think these next guys will still set your skin ablaze. I won’t email you about anyone else’s books ever. Just me and you. I can’t wait to show you more.
Until our next happily ever after,
Chase
Turn the page for a preview of Nicole Elliot’s Falling Into You; The Complete Naughty Tales Series
Chapter One
Tristan
All this legal crap was just not my scene. Divorce papers were more complicated than the legalese behind building a tech company from the ground up. First, the consent for uncontested and no-fault divorce was the biggest load of shit out of all of them, this was all her fault. Every piece of it. I already got through the petition to dissolve the marriage, why would I stay with someone who betrayed me in the worst way imaginable? And then tried to hide it.
And the alimony. I knew she was going to try to get her piece. I told my lawyers to do what was fair for someone married for ten years, and nothing more. I skipped the motion for modifying spousal support, she wouldn’t be getting anything else out of me. No kids, so that made this process a whole lot faster. The only thing holding me up wasn’t even the financial statements, it was the damned answer to divorce petition. I should have known she would try and drag this out, just to get to me. She seemed awfully content underneath the man she left me for. She just wanted to torture me.
I sat behind my desk at home, selling a billion-dollar tech start up meant I never have to step foot in an office building again. Or wear a suit.
I called my lawyer, to see if he had any news.
“It’s been almost three weeks, Levi. What the hell is the hold up?” Frustration seeped through my voice. I hated to take it out on the guy, but something had to give.
Levi was a friend from way back in college. He cared about his grades, while I just went through the motions, graduated with the ‘C’s get Degrees’ motto.
“I know man, I’m sorry. Vivian’s lawyers are giving me a shit storm of demands. I have to play around with them, I know this game a little too well, I’m afraid.”
I sighed, not hiding my complete annoyance with the entire situation.
“Fine. As long as you aren’t giving them any more of my money.” I grumbled. My hand combed through my hair in frustration before I rubbed my eyes. All this lawyer shit had me stressed, I needed a haircut and a shave. The gateman barely recognized me last night.
“Nope. Standard eight million. Uh, it might help if you pay her lawyer fees.”
Blood rose to my face in anger. My fist balled up on the desk, the other almost broke my phone.
“Hell no. You think I’m going to pay her for fucking that gardener?”
“Uh, it was her optometrist.”
“Whatever.”
He cleared his throat nervously. Again, I didn’t mean to yell at the guy, but this was damned ridiculous.
“I’ll take that as a no. I’ll push her tomorrow. I hope I can get her to make her answer to the divorce petition by Monday. I know you don’t want to drag this out.”
“Obviously.”
He cleared his throat and I heard the ruffling of papers on his line.
“Look, I know we didn’t really talk about all this. But I’m sorry, man.”
I kind of froze as I blinked in surprise. Levi wasn’t evil, no. But we were not as close as we used to be. In college, we were close. Not just partying but talking about shit. He was my best man when I married Vivian. We just got busy with work and didn’t get to talk much anymore. When I called, and asked him to help me out with this, we hadn’t spoken for about a year before that.
So, I never really talked about anything besides, ‘I know you’re a criminal litigator, but my wife cheated on me and I need to take her down without going to court.’ The media would have a field day if we did, and I was still a decent guy. Couldn’t do that to her, even still.
“Thanks. We can meet up soon, I know life got ahead of us.” I said. He chuckled in response.
“Yeah, that’s for sure. Hopefully I can call you in on Monday with good news. Once the papers are signed, we can get financial in here and theoretically, you’ll be done with her.” He said, I heard the slight smile in his voice.
“Hopefully. Thanks again, I know you’re busy.”
“Don’t sweat it. This is better than almost getting shot every day I walk into court. Speaking of, I have a hearing in ten.”
“Oh, of course. Thanks.”
“No problem, see you.” The line went dead.
I swung back in my chair. Maybe I would feel better once I got out of my pajamas. Maybe eat something or see some sunlight for once in a blue moon, well, three days. I checked emails, nothing was dire, so I went ahead and left my den and set off for the kitchen.
Of course, I didn’t have any food. I shook my head in disappointment, mostly at myself. I took a shower and got dressed in some jeans and a polo, so I could run to the café around the block. I went there so much; the cashier knew my order. She stopped writing her number on my cup a few weeks ago.
“You look awful tired today, Tristan.” We got on a first name basis a few months back.
She was very young, college-age tops. And a typical one at that. Trendy dirty blonde hair, blue contacts, and a leaf tattoo on her wrist.
“Little bit, thanks for noticing.” I paid her and stepped to the side, feeling her eyes follow me as I did.
Things were different now. In my mind, I wasn’t married anymore; I’ve done my signing. It wouldn’t hurt anyone to show that girl a good time, maybe I would feel better. Maybe not better, but far from not having had sex in the past two months.
But instead of making a move I sat down at a table alone and ate. I could still feel her eyes on me. This wasn’t the time, or the place.
Maybe one day.
On the way home I stopped at my usual barber and got my haircut and wet shave.
“Haven’t seen you in a while, you make my job harder you know.” Tony, my barber who probably faked his Mediterranean accent, pretended to be pissed.
“Sorry. I’ve been busy.” He draped the cloth over me and I relaxed into the chair for a much-needed grooming session.
Perhaps I shouldn’t let myself go too much, but the shit I’ve been under for the past few months was enough for anyone to let themselves go.
“Maybe I do something new, what do you think?” He asked.
I chuckled softly, “Sure. Why not?”
I walked out of there with a new haircut and decided to keep my beard as a low fade. Made me look wiser, and less like a divorced man at thirty. Maybe that was all in my head.
I got back to my penthouse and settled in the theatre room, prepared to do absolutely nothing for the rest of the day. Then my sister called.
“What do you want, Natalie?” I gruffed.
“Ugh,” she scoffed, “I can’t check on my kid brother?”
I sighed heavily, muting the action movie from blaring through the speakers.
“Sure, you can.”
“Whatever. I worry about you, you know? How are you doing?”
I winced. I knew she meant well, but I didn’t like talking about myself very much. I never have, and I probably never will. Yeah, she’s my
big sister. She was family. But I didn’t like talking with them about it especially.
“I’m fine. Got a haircut today. How are you?” I tried to turn the conversation away from myself, but she wasn’t having it.
“So, you don’t look like a bum anymore? That’s good. How is the divorce going? Did that twat finally sign the papers?”
I cracked a smile. Natalie probably hated Vivian more than I did. Natalie was always like my protector anyway. She was only three years older than me, but she used to beat up the school yard bullies for me. Until junior high when I surpassed her in height and wasn’t the kid brother anymore. Still, she went to bat for me all the time. Especially with this Vivian situation.
“No, she hasn’t. Levi is hoping to get her on board by Monday though.”
“Good. So, you’ll be at the gala this weekend?” I reclined in my chair, settling in for what seemed to be a long conversation.
“What gala?”
“You know Sasha and Bryan always have their gala this time of year. It’s on Saturday.”
Sasha was arguably the city’s most influential woman. She had been at the head of numerous charities, scholarship funds, and boys’ and girls’ clubs. Her success came from her ability to dig deep into the pockets of the wealthy. Including mine.
“Can’t I just write a check?”
Natalie laughed aloud.
“No, asshole. You should come. Besides, it would look worse if you don’t show. You know the gossip in this circle, everyone knows about you and Vivian.” I let out a long sigh. As much as I hated to admit it, my sister was right. I was sick of everyone in town giving me a pitiful look, as if they understood everything I was going through.
“I know. I guess I’ll go. Just don’t really want to.”
There was silence on her end for a bit, she only got like that if she had to say something she would rather keep to herself.
“What is it, Nat?”
She sighed.
“Why don’t you just tell everyone the truth? People think you got divorced because you were running around on her.”
The Complete Firehouse 56 Series Page 79