Page 38 of Where We Found Our Home
I checked all of her smoke alarms and conducted a general home hazard assessment, and Jenny, the nurse working with me on today’s shift, just finished checking Mrs. Townsend’s blood pressure, glucose, and pulse.
“Yes, well, Billy has been up my ass since the doctor said my blood pressure was high last time. He cleaned out all the good stuff from my house and ordered that damn Hello Fresh service to come weekly. Like I can’t prepare my own meals.”
“Well pasta Bolognese, meatball subs, and hushpuppies are not meals you should be preparing every day.”
“Bleh, you sound just like Billy.”
I shake my head trying to hold in my laughter. “You gotta give Billy a break.”
“Oh, you know he’s the apple of my eye, but he treats me like an invalid now. I am not too old to put him over my knee, you know.”
“Oh, you’ll never be too old for that.”
“Damn right. You know how in all the old movies the wives would say ‘wait until I tell your father’? Not me. My Harold used to say ‘wait until I tell your mother.’ I’d lay down the law, and he’d hand out the candy behind my back.”
I smile. I wish I would’ve met Harold. He seemed to be a good man, a great husband, and a fantastic father. Everything I once wanted to be. Everything I find myself imagining more these days. “Sounds like you two were the perfect team.”
“We sure were. Come on with me to the kitchen before you go. I got a fresh batch of cookies for you.”
I raise my eyebrows at that. “I thought Billy cleaned all the good stuff out of the house.”
“Ha. I have my ways. You think I wouldn’t have cookies ready for my favorite fireman? The day I don’t have cookies ready for guests will be the day I go to reunite with my Harold.”
“You sneaky woman. Lead the way.”
“Alrighty, dear. I’ve got chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin this time. A dozen each.”
“You’re too good to me, Mrs. Townsend.” I’m probably going to eat at least one in the car. No one makes cookies like she does. I’ll bring the rest to the fire station for the guys, so I don’t have to be the only one putting in work at the gym.
“Maybe you can share some of these with your lady friend,” she says as she wiggles her eyebrows.
“Who said anything about a lady friend?”
“Oh, please. You don’t get to be my age without learning a few things. Before my Harold I’d been around the block a few times, ya know.” She puts her hand on her hip, and I bite the inside of my cheek.
“Your smile was a little extra perfect today, and you whistled while checking the smoke detectors. I know the look of a smitten man, and you, my friend, are as smitten as they come. Now are you gonna share these cookies with your lady friend or am I taking a batch back?”
I can admit when I’ve lost. “I’ll make sure she gets some.”
“I knew it.” She smiles as she walks me to the door. “Thanks for visiting an old hag, Lincoln. Tell that lady friend I said hello, and keep that butt nice and tight. She’ll appreciate it too,” she says with a pinch on my ass. It never fails.
I’ve just gotten back to the station when I see my siblings have blown my phone up.
Reggie: Please tell me you invited Ciara to your birthday cookout on Friday? I’m the last one to meet her! Btw Malcolm said to tell you his favorite Golden Girl is Sophia
Sasha: Sophia will forever be that bitch
Isaiah: Blanche can get it
Sasha: *eye roll emoji* perv
Reggie: You do know Blanche is dead, right? #LongLiveBettyWhite
Isaiah: I said what I said
Reggie: So is Ciara coming or not?
Sasha: She said she’d be there
