Laurie's Time (The Fairfield Series)

by Maryann Jordan

  Emma sighed, choosing her words carefully. “Laurie, you can’t control what he did before he met you. You have to decide what kind of man he is now. And sweetie, you cannot judge every man by your father.”

  “My father? I never even think of my father. I never knew him, so how could I judge any man against him?”

  Emma could hear Laurie’s anger searing through her words. “Laurie, you’ve always said that you never think of him, but do you realize that every time you have gotten close to someone, you always pull back. You’ve never had sex because you are afraid of being someone’s one-night stand. You’ve never made that step into an adult relationship, fearing hurt and eventually being left behind. Stop living in your mom’s time or your dad’s time. If you don’t take a chance, you’ll never find your time.”

  Emma’s words poured over Laurie slowly, dripping into the corners of her mind. The corners where she did not like to look. Those words from anyone else would have brought immediate denial, but from Emma? She knew Laurie’s every thought, feeling, heartbeat.

  Sighing heavily, she knew Emma was right. She did hold herself back. Doing so kept her from being hurt. It also kept her from finding love.

  Hanging up the phone with new resolve, she decided it was time to give Rob a chance.

  *

  “Miss Dodd, Miss Dodd!” The kids, jazzed up on Halloween candy, were the most unruly she had ever seen. Another teacher popped her head into the classroom to let Laurie know that they were going to the cafeteria about fifteen minutes later than usual.

  “Why?” she asked in frustration. “These kids are about ready to chomp on each other if they can’t get to lunch and eat something besides candy,” she moaned. “And quite frankly, I’m hungry too!”

  “I hear you,” the other teacher agreed. “Rumor is, something is wrong with the ovens in the kitchen. My kids have headed on down to the music room.

  Forcing a smile on her face, she turned back to her class to give them an activity to last until lunch. Several minutes later a loud blast roared through the building, shaking the entire room like an earthquake. Ceiling tiles fell, books tumbled from shelves, chairs knocked over, and the lights overhead went out. The children, in a panic, began to scream, and she frantically tried to calm them. The fire alarm sounded, and Laurie rushed to get the children lined up to go outside. As she opened the door, the smoke billowing down the hall had her shutting the door quickly.

  Oh god. The stairs are blocked. Shit, shit, shit!

  Grabbing the phone in the room to check for directions, she found there was no dial tone. Running to the door one more time to ascertain the condition of the hall, she could tell the smoke was right outside the door. Slamming the door again, she turned to the windows.

  The windows. It has to be the windows!

  *

  The school’s fire alarms were tied in directly to the fire station just down the road. As soon as the alarm sounded, the men jumped into action not knowing initially where the fire was located. The dispatcher came over the speaker announcing the location of the fire being at Fairfield Elementary School, and the firemen quickly and efficiently rolled out.

  Rob’s heart pounded with fear upon hearing their location. Never had he headed out to a fire located where he knew someone. Mac glanced over at his son, knowing full well the emotions that were overwhelming him. A fireman who cannot concentrate on his job could put others at risk and Mac was too good a chief to allow that to happen.

  “Son, you gotta stay focused. Can you do this?”

  Rob’s eyes cut over to his dad’s. Giving him a curt nod, he forced his heartbeat to slow, going over the elementary school’s fire plans in his mind. Oh Jesus, keep her safe.

  *

  Laurie could already hear the sirens of fire trucks pulling next to the school, and running over to the windows, she could see that most of the teachers and students were getting out of the building. If the classroom next to hers was already emptied, that only left her classroom trapped on this end of the building where the fire was closest.

  Pulling open the small window, she leaned her head out and began to yell. Torn between trying to calm the children and making enough noise that someone would see them warred inside. She could see Ms. Darby, running around the corner with a crew of firemen. Looking up, they motioned for one of the fire trucks to pull closer to the building. Turning back around, she squatted down momentarily to reassure the students. Gathering them quickly around her, she spoke calmly.

  “Okay, guys, we are getting ready for an adventure, but we have to be careful; we have to stay calm and quiet so you can hear my instructions. Okay?”

  The children, frightened and most crying, nodded in understanding. Right then, she heard a man’s voice calling to her. “Laurie.”

  Rob. He came. His voice washed over her, sliding deep inside, soothing her fear, calming her nerves. Whirling around, her eyes immediately found his.

  “What do I need to do?” she asked running over to the window, seeing him standing on a ladder coming from the fire truck below. She could see fire hoses spraying off to her right where the flames were coming from the kitchen.

  “Laurie, look at me. Babe. Look. At. Me,” he ordered. Her eyes, large in fear, cut back over to his. “Stay with me, Laurie. Got me?”

  Focusing, she nodded. “Okay. What do I do?”

  “Line the children up and start helping them through the window. It’s a small window, but these kids will fit through. Let me know if there are any injuries or special needs. We’ve got plenty of help as soon as we get them through the window.”

  She turned and clapped her hands to get the children’s attention. Twenty-four little faces looked up, fearful but sure in the knowledge that she would take care of them. She picked up the first child closest to her and held her to the window. Helping the child to sit on the windowsill, holding them tightly, she supported them until Rob took the little girl and handed her to the next man in the chain. The window was small, but the children fit through easily, and the firemen worked quickly and efficiently. Eyes stinging and arms aching, she continued helping the children out of the window into the waiting arms of the heroes.

  “Rob, this is Sammie. He is partially deaf but has a hearing aid.”

  Rob’s calm voice continued to encourage and sooth, as though he knew exactly what she needed each moment. Glancing down to the ground, she could see her children being cared for by a community of firemen, volunteers, teachers, parents, and rescue workers.

  “Rob, this is my very special friend, Carla.”

  He noticed the little girl, with down’s syndrome looking terrified. He held her gently and carefully, talking to her calmly as he passed her to the next fireman.

  Rob turned back to Laurie. His eyes were constantly on her, measuring her emotions and physical strain. Do the job. Do the job, he kept telling himself. In all of his years as a fireman, he had never been so personally involved in a rescue. Heart pounding, he continually handed down each child to the next man on the team.

  “That’s it. That’s all,” she announced, unsure what to do next.

  “Baby, I want you to back away from the window. I’m going to break several windows to make a larger space for you to get out.”

  Nodding in shock, she ran to the other side of the room. She watched in silent fear as Rob and another fireman on a separate ladder smashed several windows and the metal panes between them.

  “Laurie, come on babe.”

  She ran over to the window, dubiously looking at the shards of glass. Turning back to the classroom, she ran to the rubber mats in the reading corner. Grabbing a couple of them she ran back to the window.

  “Good thinking, babe,” he said with pride as he watched her lay them over the window sill to protected herself from the broken glass. “I want you to get up on the bookcase and then stick one leg out of the window. I will get you and then we will slide you out.”

  After assisting in the rescue of all of her children, she he
sitated. Heart pounding, sweating, stomach churning. Rob looked up questioningly.

  “I’m afraid. I’m afraid of heights,” she confessed tearfully.

  He knew the adrenaline rush was fading, and exhaustion paired with fear was going to make her rescue more difficult. “Come on, baby. Just come to me.”

  She focused on his beautiful face and just nodded. She climbed up on the mat covered bookcase and sat on the window sill, hiking her long skirt up as far as she could.

  “Don’t look down, Laurie,” he ordered. “Keep your eyes on me.”

  Breathing deeply, she swung her leg over the window sill and put her tiny hand in his much larger one. At his touch, she felt warmth slide over her skin, easing her fear. She felt his fierce grip holding firm as he gently attempted to pull her from the building. Oh Jesus, Oh Jesus, Oh Jesus. No! I can’t!

  He could feel her body trembling and knew the instant that panic set in. Arms clawed their way toward him, grasping at air as her eyes were tightly shut.

  “Babe, eyes on me. Eyes. On. Me,” he ordered. She snapped her eyes open wide, staring straight into his. “Just look at me. Only me.” Her body stilled as her eyes never left his.

  Continuing to pull her away from the building, he cradled her body close to his, motioning for the truck lowering them.

  The bulky fireman’s uniform kept Laurie from feeling his skin, but being nestled in his arms, she never felt more sheltered. What she couldn’t feel was how his arms were shaking. As they were lowered to the ground, she raised her head to look into his eyes. Seeing an emotion in them she could not identify, his piercing stare reached into her and wrapped around her heart as much as his arms surrounded her body.

  Landing on the ground, the EMTs tried to take her from Rob, but he wouldn’t let go. Tugging on the hem of her skirt to make sure she was well covered, he carried her away from the building over to the waiting ambulance. Tossing his hat to the side, he set her carefully down on the edge of the ambulance. Jerking his coat off, he swept her back into his arms, firmly setting her in his lap while the EMTs came over to assess her injuries.

  “I’m fine. Really, I’m fine,” she protested, trying weakly to push off of him. “I have to see about my kids.”

  Rob, not yielding, barked orders to the EMTs before gently speaking to her. “Laurie, each of those kids are well taken care of now. You sit here and get checked out.” He felt the resistance leave her body, and he tightened his grip. Several minutes later, the EMTs declared that she did not need to go to the hospital. Ms. Darby came around to check on her, letting her know that she was released for the day, assuring her that all of the children had been picked up by their parents. The large fireman she had noticed earlier came around next. She looked up into the twinkling eyes of the fire chief, noting the resemblance to Rob.

  “Well, Miss Dodd, you are the hero of the hour little missy,” he boomed. Eyes wide, she just smiled at his commanding voice. Mac looked at his son, holding her firmly in his arms. Grinning broadly, Mac clapped his hand on Rob’s back, “Looks like she is a keeper, son.”

  Giving his dad a head nod, he just tightened his arms securely around her.

  Chapter 8

  Driving home, Rob called Tom to fill him in, knowing Carol would be concerned. “Tell Carol she’s fine. She’s with me. Yeah, going home. Yeah. Will do. Later.”

  Laurie looked wearily over at Rob, not understanding any of the conversation he just had with Tom. He had been so quiet since they left the school. Too tired to ask, too tired to care, she just laid her head back on the truck headrest. The truck came to a stop, and he walked around to help her out. Reaching in, he pulled her into his arms. She knew it was useless to protest and found that she really didn’t mind being pampered at the moment.

  “Where are we?” she asked, realizing he had not taken her home.

  “My apartment,” he answered. Looking down at her exhausted face, he kissed her forehead as he entered his place. Setting her feet gently down on the floor, he held her until he felt sure she was steady. Eyes reaching hers, he queried, “Hungry?”

  “Kinda,” she answered back truthfully. “We didn’t get lunch. But I’m almost too tired to eat.”

  Nodding, he led her to the kitchen, setting her on one of his stools. Getting out a couple of eggs and a frying pan, he quickly made scrambled eggs and toast. Serving it with a glass of milk, he set the plate in front of her.

  She managed to get several bites of food in before the exhaustion overtook her. She could feel her chin begin to quiver. Eyes swimming in tears, she looked up at his strong profile. He circled around the kitchen bar and grasped her in his massive arms once again.

  “Oh Rob, what if you weren’t there? What if I couldn’t have gotten the kids out?” She began to cry. “You saved me. You came for me.”

  He held her closely, slowly rubbing circles on her back, kissing the top of her head, allowing her the release of pent up fear and anxiety. “Baby,” he said softly, “scared the shit out of me today. No lying. We got the call about the school, and my heart stopped. We pulled up outside, and I saw you hangin’ out of the window yellin’ – girl, I couldn’t breathe. The whole time all I wanted to do was get you in my arms.”

  “But Rob, you’re a hero. You got all those kids out and saved all of us. What you are and what you do is amazing,” she said, looking up.

  Leaning down so his lips were near hers, he could feel his breath mingling with hers. “Darlin’, you got those kids out. You kept calm, and you’re the reason every one of those families tonight can tuck their kids in bed knowin’ they are safe.”

  At those words, tears began to fall freely and sobs began to shake her whole body. He scooped her up and carried her back to his bedroom, crossing through it towards the bathroom. He set her down gently and turned on the water in the bathtub.

  “Baby, you’re exhausted. I want you to take a hot bath and relax. I’ll be back with something for you to wear.”

  Pulling off her sooty, sweaty clothes, she climbed into the tub. Sinking into the water, she allowed the soothing warmth to lull her to sleep. Waking as the water cooled, she got out, cracking open the door to the bedroom, seeing clean boxers and an FFD T-shirt lying on the bed. Quickly snatching them, she ran back to the bathroom and put them on. Self-conscious, she didn’t know what she was supposed to do. Sneaking back out into the bedroom, she heard noises coming from the kitchen. She walked to the door and looked down the hall, just as he was coming around the corner.

  He halted in mid-step, his eyes doing a body sweep then coming back to settle on her eyes. Never wanted a woman in my shirt before. Jesus, I want her in nothing but my shirts!

  “Thanks for the clothes,” she said, not knowing what else to say.

  He took three steps to get to her, took her face in his large hands and brought his lips down on hers. The kiss seared her down to her toes. She immediately threw her arms around his neck to pull him down closer. He responded by lifting her up, never releasing the torturous kiss. She granted him access on a moan, and he plunged his tongue into her mouth. Desperate, needy, his tongue plundered every crevice of her mouth as though longing to memorize the feelings.

  Laurie, emotionally drained from the day’s traumatic events, no longer cared if she was going to be his next conquest. She only cared that his mouth never leave hers, his body stay pressed up to her breasts, his hand continue to knead her ass. To hell with guarding her heart, she wanted all that he had to give at that moment.

  He slowly let her body slip down his until she could reach the floor, while continuing to keep his arms wound tightly around her. He began to lift his head, separating their lips. She felt the loss immediately and tried to reach back up to pull him in. He continued to lean away from her, and the realization that he was distancing himself finally made its way through her lust filled mind.

  “Babe, we can’t,” he said with such regret she could have sworn there were tears in his words. “We have to stop now.”

  �
��Why?” she asked, not understanding his rejection.

  He looked into her expressive eyes, seeing her pain. “No, babe. I’m not sayin’ no to us. I’m sayin’ no to us tonight.” Seeing the confusion in her expression, he continued. “Laurie, you’ve had an ass kickin’ day. You’re tired and vulnerable right now. When we do this, it’s gonna mean something to me. And when we do, you’re gonna know exactly what it means to me, so you don’t walk away with any doubts about us.”

  Placing his hand on the back of her head, he pulled her back against his chest. She felt his heart beating next to her face, its tempo, keeping time with hers. Care. He’s taking care of me. He cares for me. Closing her eyes, doubts slipping away, she gave in to the moment. Feeling herself being picked up, cradled in his arms, she was carried over to the turned-down bed, and tucked in.

  He leaned down to place a light kiss on her lips before backing out of the room.

  “Rob,” she called softly. She lifted the covers next to her, eyes beckoning. Grinning, he dropped his jeans and slid under the covers next to her. Pulling her back up against his chest, he blanketed her with his embrace. Secure, safe, protected, cared for. Laurie had never slept with a man, but was totally at ease with Rob. Eyes heavy, she drifted off to sleep, resting in the arms of the man she was falling in love with.

  He lay there watching her sleep for hours. Her beauty and courage seeped through him, slipping into the cracks of his soul. Thoughts racing, he knew this was different. She was different. For a moment, he allowed a parade of faceless fucks to pass through his mind. He had never brought a woman to his apartment. He never slept through the night with a woman. He always made sure they knew the score. Once the deed was done and both were satisfied, he left with a smile, thinking how great it was to be free.