“I sent my assistant Sally to take notes. After last night’s debate, I’ve had more than enough work to catch up on this morning.
“Yeah, that had disaster written all over it, but it makes for great television, and our ratings are up with the coverage Carter did while in New York.”
“I know, the latest ratings are sitting right here on my desk. Stan, will you ever learn that I produce a solid show, and Carter will never let you down?”
“Oh, I know, Thea, but even you know that you are not 100% safe from my scrutiny from time to time.”
“I guess, but don’t make it a habit.”
“How’s your mother doing? Did she receive the flowers we sent?”
“Yes, she did, and she is probably writing her thank you notes as we speak.”
“What? No e-mail?”
“Not my mother. She is all about personal attention. She didn’t even have an answering machine until I finally set one up for her through the phone company. You don’t know how frustrating it is being so far away from her and not be able to leave a message.”
“My mom was like that too! But they get over it quickly.”
“Let us hope. So where are we with Carter’s next few weeks’ assignments?”
“Well, you win again, Thea, and so does he. The powers at be have voted for Carter to go live from the campus on the night of the debate. He will have his own area to report from, and then Carter and the rest of our team will immediately go down to the spin room following the live debate. It should be very interesting.”
“I’ll say, and I am sure everyone will do great.”
“Especially me, right, babe?” my devilishly handsome fiancé announced as he made his way into my office.
“Eavesdropping again?” I asked.
“Not this time, love. Your voice carries. Stan, how are you?”
“Happy you’re back. What else do I have to say?”
“Works for me, boss. Now, you have occupied enough of Thea’s time this morning, so let someone else have a turn.”
“Okay, since I am in a good mood, I will let you have that one. Thea, one more thing we need to address, and that is some firefighter’s thing that our city is hosting. It’s on the same weekend as the debate. I assigned a few junior reporters, but we are shorthanded because of all the election coverage that is taking front and center. I will need you around to produce.”
Before answering, I looked over to Carter, whose face hardened a little at the reminder of what I promised was in the past.
“Stan, I am the lead producer on Primetime. I don’t produce local events such as an ironman competition. You will just have to find someone else to cover it.”
“First off, I never said it was an ironman competition, and secondly, do you want to say that again to me? Because the last time I checked, Thea, you work for me.”
“Stan, I need to be with Carter in Las Vegas.”
“And I need you down at the Santa Monica Pier. End of discussion,” he hissed as he shrugged past Carter and slammed his way out of my office.
Fucking great! Now I have pissed off my boss and my fiancé all in the last ten minutes. Happy Monday to me.
Carter was still quiet, twirling a pen in his hand, totally focusing on the pen, and not me.
“Okay, let’s hear it,” I said to him.
“Pardon?”
“Don’t pretend to sit there and act as if you don’t know what I am talking about. I saw your face, and how you reacted at the mere mention of the word ‘firefighter.’ What, Carter? Did you think my mind automatically drifted to Nick?”
“The thought did cross my mind, Thea. You just happened to guess this was the Annual Firefighter Ironman Competition. Did you also know this event was originated one year after September 11th? It began as an event benefitting the survivors and their families, but since it has grown so much over the past decade, it’s now an annual event. Did you know that? You see, I had to research these facts, but I guess all I had to do was ask you and save myself a great deal of time. You asked why I assumed you were thinking of Nick. How can I not? Your eyes sparkle at the mere mention of the word ‘firefighter,’ and he is your ex.”
“So you are a mind reader now?”
“When it comes to you, yeah, I most certainly am.”
“You don’t know what I am thinking at the moment, and why are you looking at me like that?” I snapped at him.
“How am I looking at you?”
“Okay, yes Carter, I am very aware of this event. It’s one that is very close to my other family, the firefighter one. Remember my dad? When Stan mentioned the ‘firefighter thing,’ my mind went to the event because I had seen it come across my desk a few weeks back, and I knew it would be held here in Los Angeles.”
“And, you didn’t think of telling me then, especially after you returned home and it was all about being up front and honest with each other?”
“Okay, I am terminating this conversation. I have work to do. And no thank you to lunch, I have lost my appetite.”
He didn’t say anything more and followed Stan’s lead by storming out of my office. Thank goodness my door was not made out of glass, or it would have shattered by now.
Damn my life! Why did Carter have to be here when Stan mentioned the competition? Of course I knew about it. The few times I did go home, one year it was held at Jones Beach, and I remember my mom and a group of friends going. Firefighters from all over the country came together in a brotherhood, and although they were competing against one another, they had a great time as well. It’s the camaraderie of the firefighters that made the event so special.
I looked at my watch and called Trudie. I needed to hear a friendly voice, or a friendly voice who would at least tell me the truth and make me feel better. I was dying to call her office number just to hear her assistant use her last name. I really needed a laugh right now but held off and called her private line instead.
“Trudie Birkenstock.”
“Ha! I thought you were just going to say hello. Oh Tru, that was just as good as calling your assistant’s line.”
I wiped away my tears on account on how much I was laughing. She loved her husband but her last name, not so much. People would ask her: “Birkenstock, as in the shoe company?”
“Fuck you, bitch! Do you harass all of your friends during their work-day, or am I the only one that gets that honor?” she said.
“You know you are the only one. We talked about this how many times already? You’re special.”
“Again, fuck you. Now, what do you want?”
“I love you too, Tru.”
“Yeah, me too. So, what up girl? How’s mama Frannie doing? Has she fired the nurse yet?”
“I hope not. Don’t even joke about that. I need to know mama is being cared for.”
“I was only joking. I’m sure she is fine. I can stop in to see her over the weekend,” she suggested.
“That would be great, but give her a call first. You know how she gets if she doesn’t have something prepared beforehand.”
“I know. I’ll make sure I skip breakfast. Now, how are you?”
“Up shit’s creek, that’s how I am. Carter is mad at me.”
“Again? Man, you two fight a lot. You sure you want to marry him?”
“Don’t even joke about something like that. Of course, I want to marry Carter. I love him very much.”
“So what’s the problem then?”
“What’s always his problem? My past, Tru, and where Nick fits into it, which I told him is no longer existent.”
“Thea, he has to get over it. I know he’s sexy, charming, and his possessive side turns you on, but he also needs to man up and trust you.”
“He says he does.”
“Good, that’s a start, but maybe he needs reminding. By the way…you okay with Nick moving on with Karen? I happened to see them at the zoo when I was there with my kids. They looked awfully cozy, an instant family if you add the girls to the mix.”<
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“Trudie, I am happy for him. He says he cares about Karen, and you know how he loves kids, so they are perfect for him. Listen, I…”
“Thea, are you still there?”
“I have to run, Tru, I’m late for a meeting. Call me after you see mama, okay?”
“You got it, babe. Love you, friend, and please focus on your hot man. Forget about what’s his name, okay?”
“I promise, already forgotten.”
I hit end on my phone call with Trudie, and met Carter’s regretful eyes. I wasn’t doing this again with him. Trudie was right. He had to trust me. I mean, we had this conversation repeatedly, and it was not one I wished to start up again.
“I’m sorry,” he said with his hands thrusted in his pockets, hardly looking at me. Damn, he is so adorable when he’s pouting. “I overreacted, and I shouldn’t have left and in the manner I did. I’m sorry.”
“You’ve said that.”
“Yeah, I’m saying it twice. I promise I am working it out in my head. I want one day when I don’t have to think about him…kissing you…touching you. Fuck! Thea, you are mine, and the thought of anyone putting their hands on you just makes me see red. I still think I should have confronted him, but I allowed you to talk me out of it, which I am still pissed about.”
That was my cue to go to him. Carter was not angry at the fact that he didn’t go after Nick, it’s that I asked him not to. I walked around my desk and put my arms through his, after he removed them from his pockets and put them around me.
I said, “We agreed to keep what happened in the past. You promised, Carter.”
“I did, and I remember. Just the thought of him in the same city with you, and of course, I’m not going to be here. Will you see him?”
“Carter, not sure if you are aware on just how big this event is. Firefighters from all over the country participate. It’s a run. A swim. I think even an obstacle course. It changes every year. It’s all for charity, which is awesome and amazing.”
“I’m sure it is, but Stan is still a dirty fucker for assigning you. Don’t you see that he uses you because of your connection to 9/11? It’s not fair, Thea, and I think you should tell him no and to find someone else to cover it.”
“I tried, Carter. You were there, remember?”
“I’ll do it. He will listen to me.”
“No, you will not. Carter, I cannot have the talent going after our boss. I haven’t even talked to Stan about it yet, not really. Let me have my meeting, and then we can discuss it again.”
“Fine! I have to get ready for tonight’s broadcast.”
“I love you.”
“I love you more. Please don’t leave me because I’m an asshole sometimes.”
“Never, and don’t call my fiancé names. He’s tough and will kick your ass.”
“I only desire one ass kicking, and it better be by you wearing…” he looked down to my shoes and then said, “…yes, these Manolos will do the trick.”
“Go to work, and have a great show. I’ll be talking to you from the booth.”
“You going to talk dirty to me?”
“Sure, I will.”
“Liar! Save it for our bedroom tonight.”
“Deal. Now kiss me.”
Oh, he did alright. And he left me with a promise.
“Until tonight, Thea. I’m going to tie you to my bed and not let you come for hours.”
“I look forward to it,” I said as I leaned up on my tiptoes to kiss him.
The last few weeks getting closer to Karen and the girls have been amazing. The ice had definitely melted with Gigi and me. We spent a fantastic day at the zoo. We tried to see as many exhibits as we could, but then Trinity got tired and she found her way on top of my shoulders. I wasn’t complaining; I actually loved it.
Ultimately it was up to Karen and what she wanted to do in terms of allowing her ex-husband, Alex, to see the girls. I was completely against it and so was her mom. Veronica actually became a strong ally and was on board with my pursuing Karen. They had a rough go at it for a while, but the ice thawed on that relationship as well, and now they are closer than ever before.
I arranged for Karen to have a new lawyer, one who specialized in family law. After taking a few days to mull it over, Karen told Alex that this time around was not good for seeing the girls. He would have to prove to her that he could be deemed trustworthy with the girls and follow through with the financial commitments he promised. He had already relinquished his rights to the children when he abandoned them. Karen took the reasonable amount of time and waited for him to return, and when he didn’t, she filed for sole custody in her divorce filings. She didn’t care about the money he stole. All she cared about was her girls, who were irreplaceable.
My mom stayed in town to help Frannie with her recovery. They were thick as thieves, with mom spending so much time there that I ended up sending her things over to Frannie’s house.
Karen was working with her realtor on the property she acquired for her salon and living residence. It was pretty cool. The building she bought was actually an old recording studio with a huge, blown out loft on top which she could use as their living quarters. The downstairs would be the salon. The entire upstairs was soundproofed and also had a separate entrance, which was perfect. You wouldn’t have to go through the salon to get upstairs. It made me happy knowing that, because it would be more of a headache with the renovation if there were not another exit. I of course was concerned with any fire hazards, but Karen knew that already before even asking me to look at it. She was so excited to close, which would be happening at the end of the week.
I was sitting at my desk thinking of a way we could celebrate when there was a knock at my door.
“Come in,” I called out, and it was Tony, not looking all that happy.
“Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?” he asked.
“Sure, have a seat,” I closed my laptop and gave him my attention. “What can I do for you?”
“I owe you apology.”
“For?”
“You going to make me say it? It’s hard enough being in here as it is.”
“I am, because I have no idea as to why you are apologizing,” I said.
“I guess it is a number of things. I shouldn’t have come at you on the day of the warehouse fire. You are the chief of this house, and I was out of line to question your actions.”
I pushed off my chair and walked around to stand directly in front of where Tony was seated.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I then asked him point blank, “Were you the one that went over my head to Michaelson? Because if you say that you did, then we have a bigger problem here, my brother.”
“Yes, it was me.”
Fuck! I never thought I would ever see the day when a trusted friend didn’t have my back. I moved away from Tony and took my seat behind my desk, effectively distancing myself from him.
I asked, “Why? Why would you do such a thing? You basically told Michaelson that I broke the chain of command and recklessly ran into a burning building without any concern for my team.”
“No, Nick, you got it all wrong. He twisted my words. I would never knowingly hurt you, but when you charged into that building, you put your life at risk and left the rest of us out to dry.”
“You actually see it that way? All but one of the teams were out, and that one was not responding to my call. I had no choice, Tony, and my decision not only saved members of this house but also the victim. When Michaelson came to me, I assured him that my house is just fine. Is it not? Because if we have a problem here, then you better man the fuck up and tell me.”
“We don’t, and I am sorry for reacting the way that I did. I am your lieutenant, and I have to have the backs of the men I send into those buildings. You are supposed to have mine, but you didn’t trust me that day.”
“Tony, there has never been a day in my life that I can ever recall not trusting you, both in friendship and as fellow firefighter brothe
rs…well, up until today. You didn’t have to go to Michaelson. You could have easily walked in this office just like you are doing now and talked to me.”
“I made a judgment call,” he responded.
“It was the wrong one.”
“Yeah, and that is something that I am going to have to live with.”
“Are you through?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Good. Get the hell out of my office, and get back to work.”
“Yes, sir.”
His tone had shifted but said nothing more. Tony, of all people to fucking throw me under the bus. I tried my best to shrug it off and not allow it to bother me, but I was pissed off and needed to run. I had been here for hours without any break, but I knew I couldn’t leave. I put the gloves on and hit the bag a few hundred times until I felt somewhat better. Tony avoided me for the rest of shift, which was fine by me.
My mood had not improved by the time I got home. I couldn’t get Tony off my mind. He never once questioned my authority since I became chief, so why now? The decision not to confront him of what Thea told me still ate away at me. Another thing he never told me about and didn’t just throw me under the bus, but literally ran over me with it. I ultimately made the decision not to remind him of the drunken night when he betrayed my secret to Thea. It would serve me no purpose to yet again relive a time that is in my past, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t bothered by it.
I was banging around pots and pans trying to figure out what to cook, and then I threw them back into my pantry. I had a huge freezer filled with dishes my mom had made. I found some ziti when the doorbell rang. I started the oven and then answered the door. I let out a breath, and for the first time since talking with Tony, my mood improved.
“Hi, Nick!”
I bent down to be eye level with Trinity, and I knew what was coming next. She revved up and gave me the biggest hug, knocking me over. Gigi came running in after her and shouted, “Pile Driver!” There was no way I was getting up after that.
“Girls! Oh my goodness, get off of Nick before you break his back. Here, let me help you,” Karen said, standing over me with a bag of groceries with wine sticking out from the top.
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