Page 14 of Dear Mr. Firefighter
The next day
Iwas dead on my feet when I walked through the front door of the house and already looking forward to spending the day in bed. I tried to get some sleep the night before when things got quiet at the fire department, but we got a call less than an hour after I closed my eyes. The short nap didn’t do more than piss me off and make it impossible to fall asleep when I got back to the station after the call was done. I had hit the exhaustion point again though, so it was definitely time to close the blinds and get as much sleep as possible.
“Good morning, Uncle Cain!” Abby looked up from her bowl of cereal with a huge smile on her face.
“Morning…” I grumbled under my breath but tried to put a smile on my face for her. “Already forgiven me for not being here when you got home from school yesterday?”
“Yep!” She nodded quickly. “Especially since I know you’ll be here for the next two days!”
“I will.” I walked over and sat down at the table. “I guess you didn’t have any homework that needed my attention?”
“Nope, but I got another assignment yesterday that has to be done before Monday.” She pushed her spoon into her cereal.
“Jeez, I don’t remember having this much homework when I was in third grade.” I shook my head back and forth in disbelief.
“Well, things have changed since the stone ages, Uncle Cain.” She grinned and took a bite of cereal.
“Ouch…” I chuckled.
“How are things working out with your girlfriend? Mom said you got a letter.” Abby took her last bite of cereal and left her spoon in the bowl.
“She’s not my girlfriend.” I narrowed my eyes at Bridget as she walked into the room. “You told her about the letter?”
“Sorry, she was asking a million questions last night and you weren’t here to answer them.” Bridget shrugged and walked over to pour a cup of coffee.
“I set this whole thing up! I have a right to know!” Abby folded her arms across her chest. “I hope you wrote her back.”
“I did.” I nodded in confirmation.
“When do I get to meet her?” Abby’s grin widened.
“We’ll be exchanging a few letters before we decide to actually meet—if we do.” I sighed and shook my head. “Don’t get your hopes up. These things don’t always work out the way you’re hoping.”
“Abby, get your stuff. The bus is coming.” Bridget ran over to the door and pulled it open.
“See you tonight!” Abby hopped up, grabbed her book bag, and gave me a quick hug before running out the front door.
“Want some coffee or are you going to bed as soon as I leave for work?” Bridget closed the door and walked over to the table.
“No, I’m definitely going to bed.” I nodded quickly and started to stand.
I said goodbye to Bridget once she finished her coffee and made sure the front door was locked before heading to my bedroom. It felt like I had just closed my eyes when my phone buzzed and woke me up. I was ready to tear a telemarketer a new asshole, until I saw that it was the number for Grace’s matchmaking agency.
“Hello?” I pressed the phone to my ear.
“Good morning, Mr. Stevenson!” Grace’s cheerful tone echoed in my ear.
“It’s still morning, huh?” I looked at the clock and grumbled under my breath.
Fuck, I barely got four hours of sleep. I guess that’s better than the nap I got at the station.
“Yep!” Her tone seemed to get more cheerful if that was even possible. “I just wanted to let you know that I have a letter here waiting—from a certain someone named Chloe.”
“Oh?” I sat up and rubbed my eyes. “That was fast.”
“Eagerness is a good sign!” She laughed and I could hear her chair squeak as she shifted in it. “Will you be able to come by and pick it up today?”
“Yeah, I guess I’ll head your way in a little bit.” I sighed but tilted the phone so she wouldn’t hear it.
