Page 113 of Deck the Fire Halls

Taking the truck down to the park for the kids to see and play on was a highlight for me. These last few years, getting to see the whole town come out to celebrate their community was incredible.

How the community had turned up for Chuck and Delaney was incredible too. The last three days, people had dropped off food, gift cards to buy new clothing, brand-new kitchen utensils and containers, a new microwave, a coffee maker, gift cards, cash.

It was more than incredible.

Not that they had anywhere to move to, and they could use everything in my house as if it were their own. I was more than happy to stay with Rob.

More than happy.

Like I could get used to it permanently.

And if Chuck and Delaney needed to stay for a few weeks or months, then maybe we’d need to get them that new bed in my spare room, but until then...

Until Rob got sick of me, I was happy to keep staying over at his place. I already had my work gear in his wardrobe, some bathroom stuff in his cabinet, because it just made sense.

Made something in my belly warm too.

“Stop your mooning,” Doug snapped at me.

I startled, having spaced out for a minute. I was supposed to be polishing the truck. “What even is mooning?”

“Where you get a glazed-over, stupid look on your face.” Doug harrumphed. “Always thought you needed tomeet someone, and now look where that got us. Mooning instead of polishing. I’m already one man down with Chucky off this week and you’re as useless as a bucket under a bull. What did that doctor do to you anyway?” Then he stopped and put his hand up. “Don’t answer that. Just get the damn thing polished.”

Raf laughed from inside the truck. “No, Captain, please tell him what your boyfriend does to you. I wanna see his face.”

Doug pointed at him. “You’ll see the toilets cleaning roster for a month if you don’t shut up.”

Doug stormed off to his office and me and Raf laughed and laughed.

He really did love us.

And by the time we were in our gear and driving down to the park by the huge Christmas tree, I was in the best mood ever.

The street was closed off, the food stalls were getting ready, and the kids’ Christmas Winterland train was already in full swing.

It was nothing short of magical.

Colson came by, dressed in his full uniform, huge grin on his face, and he held his hand out for me to shake. “Merry Christmas,” he said.

“Same to you.”

He nodded to where his boss was talking to mine. Police Chief Ronnie and Fire Captain Doug and the mayor having a good old chinwag. “Who do you think wins when they play poker?” Colson asked.

“Dunno. Who do you think wins the moustache contest?”

Colson laughed. “So, Braithe tells me things with you and Rob have progressed.”

My face broke out in a grin. “Kinda crazy, huh.”

He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Do you think there’s any truth in that Hartbridge Cupid bullshit?”

Then of course, Rob and Braithe walked down toward us, smiling right at us, and my heart felt too big for my chest. “I dunno,” I whispered. “But it’s definitely something magical.”

“Good evening,” Rob said, his eyes locking with mine. “Have you ever seen anything so fantastic?”

I couldn’t help myself. I pulled him into my side, my arm around his shoulder. I knew he was talking about the Christmas festival, the families, the snow, the way the sunset was painting everything in a soft pink. But he was the most fantastic thing here. “No, I have not.”

He gave me a shove and we had a quick conversation, mostly about how Cliff Henderson as Santa was the best part of the whole show. Then Ren, Hamish, Jayden, Cass, and their parents arrived, and I was quick to hoist Cass’s boy up onto the firetruck, and then there was a never-ending supply of excited kids.

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