Page 28 of Controlled Burn

“I know, but anything could happen.” I sighed. “I think I’ll go clear out the return box. I need to keep busy.”

“Sounds good. I’ll man the desk.”

I spent the next hour or so putting away books and organizing the children’s section. We loved for the kids to touch the books and look at as many as they wanted, but that made for a rough time keeping things halfway in order.

I’d finished up the S section and was moving on to the T’s when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and checked it, relieved to see a text from Keith.

Keith: Headed back to the station. Everything’s fine. It was a garage fire, and we managed to put it out before it spread to the main house.

Me: Glad everyone is okay. I don’t know how you do it. I would be scared to death.

Keith: I won’t lie to you. It gets scary sometimes. But we train a lot, and I have a good crew that has my back. Knowing that helps.

Me: A good crew like my dad?

Keith: Exactly. He’s the best. Although truthfully, our whole team is.

Me: I’ll try not to worry.

Keith: I’m sure it takes time to get used to it.

Me: I need to get back to work, but I’m glad you’re safe.

I shoved my phone back in my pocket and took a deep breath. Maybe he was right, and over time, most people got used to it. My mother never did, though. Of course, that wasn’t anything I had to worry about. We weren’t actually a couple, and we wouldn’t be doing this thing, whatever it was, long enough for me to get used to it.

Keith

I’d finished putting away the groceries for today’s meal at the station when Caleb had returned my good morning text. I hadn’t seen him since we’d had our talk, but after days of texting back and forth, I was even more sure this was what he needed.

“What are you smiling about?” Ford tossed a grape in his mouth and looked at me expectantly.

I shoved my phone back into my pocket. “Just thinking about how much fun it’s going to be to hand your ass to you in training this morning.”

Any other time I would’ve been honest and taken my ribbing, but there was no way I was telling anyone at the fire station that I was smiling because Robert’s son just called me Daddy for the first time.

“Yeah, yeah, old man. We’ll see.” He opened the fridge and reached in, moving stuff around. “What are we eating today?”

“Baked ziti with salad and garlic bread.” I tried to swap things out, but without fail, my baked ziti was always a hit, so I made it fairly often.

“My favorite,” Ford said.

“Of course it’s your favorite,” my sister Becca said, walking in the room. “He uses our mother’s recipe.”

Samuel’s voice sounded over the PA system, letting us all know it was time to muster in the training room.

“Well, guess it’s time to get to work.” He tossed one more grape in his mouth as we headed from the kitchen to the training room.

“See y’all in a bit. I need to inventory the bus anyway,” Becca said. Ford turned in her direction and threw a grape at her, but she just ducked and laughed before heading toward the bay.

Physical training exercises were no one’s favorite, but they were a necessary evil. Muscle memory was such an important part of fighting fires, and the only way for us to be prepared was to practice.

We joined the other guys in the training area at the back of the firehouse. It was a large open room that was divided into stations. Many of which were total chaos compared to the rest of our station, but that disorder served a purpose. It was designed to simulate the dangerous environment we encounter at a scene.

Samuel was standing there looking all in charge with his clipboard and whistle, and our probie was standing off to the side with Kevin, Ronda, and Robert.

“Alright, Probie, let’s see what you’ve got,” Samuel called out.

The new guy gulped. “Yes, sir!” he responded nervously.

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