The Fireman Finds a Wife

by Felicia Mason

  But he needed a few minutes to get himself composed. The everyday sounds of a working firehouse were the sounds Mickey probably would never hear again.

  Mickey Flynn was a firefighter’s firefighter. And Cameron knew that if God willed it, healing would and could happen. There was, however, the doctor’s prognosis. If Mickey managed to get out of the hospital this time, he’d be headed not home but to a hospice center.

  It wasn’t fair. And that wasn’t his first complaint to God about Mickey.

  Intellectually, he knew that fairness had nothing to do with the progressive cancer that ravaged his friend and mentor’s body. The remission that had them both so hopeful had been all too brief, just a temporary reprieve. Spiritually, he knew that Mickey was a child of God and that his future in the Kingdom of God was secure. Emotionally, however, it was a different story for Cameron.

  He ran a hand across his face and then sighed.

  Maybe work would get his mind off the things he had no control over. This was his day to work a shift along with the crew at Station Number One.

  Fire chiefs in localities the size of Cedar Springs were usually administrators, long removed from the business of actively fighting fires and going on calls. But Cameron liked keeping his hand in active-duty firefighting and spent one shift each month at each of the fire stations.

  Suddenly, he heard a woman’s laughter from upstairs.

  Cameron’s brow furrowed even as his gut clenched. That wasn’t his assistant Shannon, and from what he remembered of the schedule he’d glanced at, there were no women on this shift today. Besides, the laughter sounded like it belonged to Summer Spencer. There was no reason she would be at a fire station, let alone whooping it up with his crews.

  She hadn’t responded to his text message and that irked him.

  Loud guffaws and more feminine laughter drifted down. That definitely was Summer Spencer in his fire station.

  He took the stairs two at a time and the scene that greeted him drew Cameron up short.

  There, as if she belonged in the company of his rough-house first shift crew, was indeed Summer. With her head thrown back laughing at something either Malik or Jose was saying.

  Cameron’s gut clenched again, this time jealousy hitting him full force.

  “Well, looks like you all are having a jolly good time.”

  The two rookies at the table jumped up at the sound of the fire chief’s voice and stood at attention. The others just turned.

  “At ease,” he told the rookies, who glanced nervously at each other. “The rest of you should take a few lessons from the neophytes.”

  Several gave him a salute and turned back to their lunch.

  Cameron shook his head. To the two rookies, he said, “Sit. Finish your meal.”

  “Hey, look who’s back,” one of the veterans called out, standing up and going for a straight-backed chair to add to the table for the fire chief. “And just in time for a great meal. You’ve got a nose for fires and good food, Chief.”

  Another firefighter got a bowl, spoon and a couple of napkins and set them on the table in the empty spot. Right next to Summer Spencer.

  She turned, a smile blossoming on her face, presumably at the sight of him since he was the only new addition to the room.

  The knot of tension in Cameron’s stomach eased.

  “Hello, Chief Cam.”

  He noted how easily she used the nickname just about everyone in town called him. Then again, it was either that or call him by his first name, which would signal to the firefighters a familiarity between them.

  “Ms. Spencer.”

  Cameron took the empty seat even while his men moved down on the trestle bench to give him more room.

  She gave him a quizzical look.

  “What brings you here today?” he asked, unable to keep the edge out of his voice.

  “A thank-you. To the crew,” she added. “We had a little incident over at Manna and these gentlemen, Jose, Malik and Rob, came to the rescue.”

  Alarm covered his face. “There was a fire? Why didn’t anyone call...”

  “No fire, Chief,” Jose said before Cameron could finish.

  “There was a cat,” Malik said, snickering.

  As the crew explained what happened, Summer took Cameron’s bowl.

  “I can get it,” he said.

  She waved him down. “I’m already up. And this is my treat. I served everyone, at least for the first go-round. You’re on your own for seconds and beyond.”

  He got up anyway and joined her at the buffet where a big pot and a napkin-covered basket sat.

  “I thought I would have heard from you,” he said, keeping his voice low so it didn’t carry to the table where the firefighters ate and joshed.

  “What would make you think that?”

  “Normally there’s some sort of acknowledgment when one party asks for a redo.”

  Summer paused while reaching for the ladle. “What are you talking about? What redo?”

  “The text message I sent you. I thought you would have responded, even if just to tell me to beat it.”

  Summer filled his bowl with chili, cut two large pieces of cornbread and placed them on a small plate. “I never got any message from you, Chief Jackson.”

  With that, she took the food and went back to the table.

  He ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

  She placed the bowl and plate at Cameron’s place at the table. When she retook her own seat, Cameron noticed that she’d moved several inches away from him.

  “A thank-you note didn’t seem quite sufficient,” she said. “I was off today and I baked last night, so early this morning I called to see when the three who came out to Manna at Common Ground were working again, and when the firefighters usually ate lunch. I thought a more tangible thank-you might be welcome.”

  “And we all thank you,” Jose said.

  Cameron tucked into the bowl. After the first spoonful, he rubbed his stomach. “You don’t know how much this is appreciated,” he told her. “I saw it was Malik’s turn to cook. We’re all pretty convinced that he should be on that Worst Cooks in America show.”

  “Hey, I resent that!”

  The laughter returned to the table at Malik’s remark.

  “So who got custody of the cat?” Cameron asked.

  “Jenny Grimsley. She’s a new volunteer for Manna at Common Ground.”

  “You all are going to be in steady need of new volunteers if that lady talks to everybody the way she was going on yesterday,” Jose said.

  Cameron’s spoon paused in midair. “What was that?”

  Jose and Malik filled him in on the incident at Manna.

  “I don’t believe this,” Cameron muttered. “That woman is a menace.”

  “That’s not a kind thing to say,” Summer said.

  “But it’s true,” Malik said. “But Ms. Spencer stood her ground, and that Allen Hayes gave that lady what for.”

  “Maybe I need to...” Cameron began.

  “Gentlemen,” Summer interjected. “All of you,” she added with a pointed look at Cameron. “I’m the one who will be handling this situation. I don’t need any of you to run interference. Okay?”

  Cameron nodded, but didn’t look happy about it.

  “It all ended happily,” Summer said. “Crevice has a new owner and the kitchen ended up with a new paint job.”

  “Crevice?”

  “That’s where he was found. The name fit. The poor thing didn’t have a collar or anything,” Summer told Cameron. “Jenny took it to a vet who said there wasn’t a microchip, either. The vet checked him out, deemed it a physically fit kitten despite his ordeal and suddenly Jenny has a new kitten to spoil.”

  “How long is it goin
g to take to get the kitchen repaired?”

  “Already done,” Summer said. “I am assured that when I walk in tomorrow morning it’ll be to wonder if the kitten-in-the-wall incident ever even happened.”

  Cameron nodded. “Allen Hayes has an army of volunteers on call and contractors on retainer to handle all of the facilities or maintenance issues that crop up at the Common Ground sites.”

  Conversation flowed around the table for a few additional minutes. Then Summer got up. A moment later she returned to the fire station crew with the wicker basket in hand.

  “Anyone save room for dessert?”

  * * *

  Not too much later, Cameron and Summer stood outside near her silver Mercedes-Benz with the Georgia license plate. It featured a hummingbird fluttering at two flowers and was in support of wildlife.

  “You need to get that taken care of,” he said nodding toward the license plate.

  “The personalized tag is on the way. I’m sorry to have to say farewell to my hummingbird, though.”

  “What did you get?”

  “The eagle that says ‘In God We Trust.’ I liked the message. Thanks for helping me carry things.”

  “It was an excuse to get you alone,” Cameron said. “Summer, I don’t know what happened to the message I sent you. I’ve been kind of distracted. I was up in Durham visiting with Mickey.”

  “How is he?”

  Cameron shook his head. “Okay when I left to come back this morning. But it’s kind of touch and go. He has good days and bad ones.”

  She touched his arm. “I’m sorry.”

  He nodded. Then, “And I owe you an apology,” he said. “About the other day. I unfairly labeled you with a broad brushstroke.”

  “Your ex-wife?”

  He nodded again. “Can we rewind? I do believe that there’s some missing ice cream that I owe you.”

  “I aim to collect,” she said.

  He smiled. “Good. How about tonight?”

  He held his breath, waiting for her response.

  Summer tapped her chin and then cocked her head—drawing out the suspense, whether deliberately or just because she really was weighing her options, he didn’t know.

  “I think that sounds like a date,” she said. “But you have to promise me one thing.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I fight my own battles. I don’t need a champion hopping in and saving me from every little slight or harsh word.”

  “What I saw, and what the guys described, is more than a little slight.”

  She cocked her head and folded her arms.

  “All right,” he said raising a hand as if swearing to a pledge. “If we happen to run into the Wicked...”

  She raised a brow and he backtracked.

  “If we happen to run into Ms. Keller, I’ll retreat.”

  “Thank you.”

  “And I’ll pick you up at six-thirty,” he said. Then, as Summer was about to step into the car he called her name.

  She turned back toward him. “Yes?”

  He smiled at her, then scuffed his shoe on the ground for a moment before meeting her gaze. “Thanks for giving me another chance. I’m really looking forward to seeing you again.”

  Chapter Eleven

  None of the nervousness that preceded her first date with Cameron plagued Summer this time. She thought it might be because of that hint of vulnerability she’d seen in him. At her car earlier, he’d almost seemed like a teen asking a girl out for the first time. If there was any uncertainty on her part, she attributed it to anticipation. She dressed casual, in walking shorts, a lime-green off-the-shoulder top and espadrilles. Dangling earrings with seashells and a small cross-body handbag completed the outfit.

  When Cameron picked her up at her house, he too, was dressed for comfort. Jeans, sneakers and a plaid button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

  They claimed a booth at Two Scoops & More after placing orders for hot fudge sundaes.

  “So, why did you move home to Cedar Springs?” Cameron asked her.

  “It was a pretty easy decision,” Summer said. “My family was here. Garrett, my husband, his practice was established in Macon. We actually met in South Carolina. My mother has a home there and he was visiting friends.” She paused. “Sorry, I’m rambling.”

  “No, you’re not,” Cameron assured her. “I’d like to know. Especially since I’m glad you decided to return to Cedar Springs.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. Despite all evidence to the contrary the other day.”

  She studied him for a moment and then smiled.

  “It was time for a change,” she said, finally answering his question. “Past time actually. I needed a new beginning. Of course, some of my friends in Macon said, ‘Well, if you’re going to have a new beginning, why are you going to small-town North Carolina?’ They all thought I should go to Atlanta or Charleston. I actually gave Atlanta some thought. It’s a city big enough to get lost in. But I missed my sisters. We’ve always been close. Texting and Facebook isn’t the same. Even talking on Skype isn’t the same as being able to hug someone. You know?”

  He smiled. “Yes, I know.”

  When their sundaes were put before them, Summer and Cameron enjoyed companionable silence for a few moments as they dug into the ice cream.

  “The house you bought is a good one,” he said. “It’s been well cared for and has good bones.”

  “Funny you mention the house,” Summer said, licking chocolate fudge off her spoon. “That was my big independent move.”

  “Buying a house?”

  She nodded. “I put the house in Georgia on the market. It sold much faster than I would have anticipated, especially given the way the market has been. I took the quick sale as a confirmation from the Lord that the move I planned was ordered in His steps. And then I found the house here on Hummingbird Lane. Even the street name seemed like a sign from the Lord. You saw that there was a hummingbird on my old license plate. The street was cheerful, and the house seemed to say, ‘Summer, I’m yours. Buy me.’ So I did. It’s just the right size. Not a McMansion. Not a historic place that needs a lot of care. It’s just a nice house on a nice street in a nice neighborhood.”

  Cameron plucked the cherry from his sundae and held it out for Summer.

  She didn’t hesitate in claiming the bite. But she knew the blush that grew up her cheeks as their gazes met probably told Cameron that the intimacy of eating from his fingers hadn’t been lost on her.

  “So why was buying a place considered an independent move? You needed a place to live after all.”

  Summer laughed and wiped her mouth with her napkin. “You’ve obviously not crossed paths with my mother. Lovie Darling is a force to be reckoned with. She—and for that matter, even my sisters—assumed I would move back to The Compound.”

  “Your family has a compound? Like the Kennedy family and the Bushes?”

  Summer waved a dismissive hand. “Nowhere near that scale,” she said. “And The Compound is just what my sisters and I have called it. It’s really just a big house with additions and some land.”

  “Some land? Do you mean like an acre or two, or a couple of thousand acres? There are lots of undeveloped parcels on the outskirts of town.”

  “Well, a lot of land not too far away,” Summer clarified. “More than two and far less than a couple of thousand acres, I would imagine. And an old farmhouse. I always loved it there more than the house at The Compound. Many years ago it was actually a working farm. That was before I was born. Spring claims to remember, but the rest of us think she just has vivid imaginings from hearing our parents talk about it. That’s the land that the city wants to gobble up for that new development.”

  Cameron sighed.


  “This is clearly a topic that we’re going to disagree on,” she said. Before he could say anything, she lifted a hand. “Let’s just, for now, talk about something else.”

  He regarded her quietly for a moment before nodding in agreement. “All right, then,” he said. “What are you going to do about Ilsa Keller?”

  She narrowed her eyes for a moment, not sure if he was deliberately goading her or if he really wanted to know. Then Summer smiled sweetly.

  “Did every conversation with your ex-wife include verbal fencing?”

  His mouth twitched. He raised his water glass to her in a salute. “Touché, Ms. Spencer. So, where are you in the lineup of the Darling sisters?”

  “Next to last,” Summer said, visibly relaxing again since the conversation had headed into territory that didn’t have land mines scattered across it. “Spring is the oldest, and hence the bossiest. She was born in the spring and got her name that way. When Winter came along, I think the parents thought it would be cute to have Spring and Winter as daughters. When I popped out as a girl, they were on a roll. And Autumn, who as Mom likes to say, arrived in the autumn of her life, was practically destined to have that name. It would have been a boy’s name if the fourth and last Darling offspring had been male. The whole thing is really kind of embarrassing.”

  “No,” Cameron said. “It’s actually quite endearing.”

  Hearing him say that made Summer’s heart flutter. She didn’t know what to make of that reaction. She ran hot and cold with Cameron. And this was one of those hot times.

  The moment passed in an awkward silence as they finished up their sundaes. The arrival of their check gave Summer a moment to gather herself.

  Cameron settled it, then rose and held his hand out to her to assist her from the booth.

  His hand was large and warm, and Summer enjoyed the security of the small embrace. She liked holding his hand.