Page 19 of My Off-limits Firefighter Next Door
That looked like Roger.
Fear slid through me. There were other outlets to get to the parking lot and I thought I’d better get out of there right at that moment. Just in case. Maybe it wasn’t Roger.
But that didn’t matter to me. I needed to get away from that man. My nerves were on high alert, buzzing with energy.
At the same time, I didn’t want to scare Alana. I had to act normal for her. How would I tell her we had to leave when we had essentially just got there?
We’d only been able to play in the water one time for about five minutes. Alana was not the kind of child who threw fits. But fifteen minutes at the lake?
“Sweetie, we need to pack up. I just remembered something we have to do.” I tried to sound casual, lifting her from the blanket. Her puzzled frown made my chest ache, but she obeyed, slipping on her sandals.
“Do we have to go?” Her little voice was clear, tinged with disappointment that made her seem older.
“I’m sorry, honey. We’ll come back next weekend, okay?”
I hoped we’d be able to do that. My heart went from overwhelmed with love to packed with fear that I would lose my little girl even for a few weekends a month. Maybe Roger diddeserve time with her. And she needed to know her father, didn’t she?
But what if he abused her? What if he couldn’t control his temper because he was a young man and had never been a father before? How would he punish her if she spilled milk on his kitchen floor or made a mess in the bathroom?
The thought of her innocent face caught in his volatile grip made my vision blur with dread. A tug at my hand brought me back. Alana watched me with wide, trusting eyes.
I had the blanket and the handle of the cooler in one hand and gripped onto Alana’s with the other. I pulled her close and started toward the parking lot, turning slightly to shield her from the man’s view.
He hadn’t moved at all, except to lean casually, arms draped over the railing, face obscured in shadow. But he was the right height and built.
His head was shaved so I couldn’t tell what color hair he had or if he had any. It wouldn’t surprise me if Roger had shaved his head in prison.
I quickened our pace, my breaths shallow, toward the snack bar to go around it and head into the parking lot from that end when I once again halted.
My little girl was going to start thinking her mother was crazy. I glanced down at her, a smile coming to my face. She looked up at me and moved her eyes to look where I’d been looking as if she read my mind.
Suddenly, Alana’s eyes lit up. She yanked her hand from mine and clapped her hands together, running away from me.
I laughed, though, saying, “Alana, Alana, wait for mommy!”
But she didn’t wait.“Mr. Fireman! Mr. Jackson, Fireman!” she yelled, her voice ringing with joy.
A smile broke over my face as Jackson appeared, scooping her up with ease. Relief flooded me, warming me from the inside out. I even surprised myself.
Jackson had crouched down to grab Alana up and hold her in his arms. I really liked the way that looked. He was very comfortable with her and she clearly trusted him completely.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, unable to hide the gratitude in my voice. “I didn’t expect to see you. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you here before.”
“I heard you’d be here and thought I’d drop by. Make sure you two are safe.” he said.
Emotion tightened my throat. “Thank you.”
“It’s okay, Mommy,” Alana said, tilting her head with a serious expression. “Mr. Fireman will protect us.”
Jackson chuckled, the sound low and comforting, looking at Alana and tapping her on the nose.
“That’s right, sweetheart, always. and how are you today baby girl. ?”
“Good!” Alana exclaimed, She held up a bag of crackers, which were nearly gone, “I have crackers.”
Jackson nodded. “I see that. I bet they’re good, too.”
“You want one?” Without asking permission, Alana shoved one of the small crackers in his mouth. He made a sound and caught it between his lips, maneuvering them and rotating them so the cracker eventually went in.
