Page 8 of All Fired Up

I groan, deciding I’m done with this. “For the record, I did now know he was coming. Now that he’s here, he’s more than welcome to stay.”

“Good. He’s your problem now.” Then she hangs up, leaving me holding the phone in shock with the abruptness of how she ended the connection. I scoff at that last word seeing as she and I never truly had one.

Jason, easily interpreting the outcome based upon my expression, merely wants to know as he indicates my hallway, “Spare bedroom down there?” I nod, words escaping me at how quickly things have changed since I woke up. He takes off in that direction, the sound of his suitcase being dropped on the bed as the frame squeaks letting me know he’s found it. I have no idea how old the latter is, but I do know the mattress is new as the owner of the rental property assured me it has been purchased but never used.

Needing to occupy my brain, I head to the kitchen and prepare a snack for the two of us. I haven’t eaten in hours and Jason is always hungry. The egg salad I’d made earlier should suffice, so I make sandwiches and add a few chips to go with them. He’d devour the entire bag if he thought he could get away with it.

“Was the dye job the final straw or the first?”

He smirks, not exactly the action of a kid experiencing remorse, and says neither. “It was more of a middle maneuver.” I wait, knowing he wants to get the rest out. “I might’ve stopped doing my chores.” Disrespectful yet not a big deal as they hire people to make sure the house is up to their standards. Which are exacting at the best of times. At the worst? Well, that’s neither here nor there at the moment. “And purposefully added more of a mess.”

“Jason!” I’m shocked as that is not like him at all.

At least he has the good sense to look ashamed at his actions. “I know,” he quietly admits. “I made sure I apologized to the staff before I left.” I nod, appreciating the gesture while wishing it hadn’t been necessary.

“What else?” He proceeds to explain, informing me of him skipping school, purposefully failing assignments, the hair, and finally, him begging them to send him to me and them refusing. Out of spite, in his opinion. He’s right and wrong, I’d say. They would’ve denied his request because agreeing would mean they’d failed – twice – in their eyes seeing as I’d also fled home. One thing there is a lot of in my family is pride. To our detriment the majority of the times. With too much of that and not nearly enough communication, situations that could be discussed and resolved escalate and come to head, leading to Jason and I feeling we had no choice but to walk away.

Even knowing it isn’t the case, that I didn’t cause nor push Jason to react thusly, nevertheless, I do feel guilty. If this is what parenting is like, even in a manner such as this involving siblings, I’m not sure I’m ready for it.

“Don’t make me go back, sis,” he pleads. “You were going to ask them to let me live with you anyway. I know you were. You promised.” I did. But I’d meant more of a summer visit, giving the three of them a chance at some space for sanity’s sake.

“You know you’re always welcome,” I remind him. Then, unable to resist going without another second, I hug him, relief filling me when he returns it. And lengthens it, unwilling to let go just yet.

“I’ve missed you so much,” he whispers. At seventeen, he’s closer than ever to manhood and has long since reached the age where he’s not as comfortable expressing his emotions, other than the negative ones that is, but it’s as if they’re pouring out of him now. I can feel his body trembling. Not out of fear of our parents, but from the idea of not being able to remain with me.

“I’ve missed you as well. I’m so glad you’re here. Where you belong.”

Now to tell the other man in my life.

**Grady**

Normally I’m counting down the hours until I can see Helen again. There was so much I’d hoped to accomplish that time flew by, so that wasn’t the case today. Doesn’t mean her absence wasn’t felt. For a man who kept to himself back in Montana aside from my parents and Emmett, I’m still a little shocked at how seamlessly I adapted to small-town life. Apparently, when I packed my things to move here, I left behind my usual reserve when it comes to letting others in. In more ways than one, this is a fresh start for me.

My appointments were important to my present and our future, so I didn’t want to put them off. It had taken some doing in the form of waiting for our schedules to mesh, but I met with Elvin and his wife, Buttercup, the owners of Sanders’ Lodge. It’s been in his family for generations, though it’s been closed for quite some time. They’re in the process of re-opening it, information I learned from Emmett, which means they’d need a company to handle the landscaping all year.

And I was right. Having recently fallen for my own soulmate, I can now easily see it in others. The constant touches, as if unable to go too long without some form of contact, the lingering looks. The sheer happiness emanating from them.

I assumed I’d have to sell myself, convince them to use me, so I’d gone in prepared. Unnecessarily, it seemed. Word had already spread regarding my business, as well as the fact it was already established and this was a second location, and others I’ve dealt with since moving here have been impressed with my professionalism, leading them to talk me up to anyone who might need my skillset. Or possibly a job.

Once we’d come to an agreement beneficial to all of us, we’d shaken hands and scheduled a meeting next week to finalize it. I’d left there with a smile on my face and a proud swagger. Next I’d gone to see Kellan Pace, the chief of the volunteer fire department. He’s younger than I assumed, in his late thirties to early forties. Kellan is a big bear of a man, and I’m sure upon first impression, his demeanor would warn others away, yet that couldn’t be further from the truth. I mean, yes, he definitely is not a people person, ironic considering he’s essentially the face and mouthpiece for the crew, but he can hold his own when need be. He just tends to be a bit curt while doing so.

He’d not only warned me that there’d been a few fires the past month that were concerning and might lead to outside help being called in, but had given me a few names of those I’d meet, men and women that had been around a while and would gladly show me the ropes as I acclimated to this new role. I’d almost bumped into one of them as I was leaving. Leo, a former MMA fighter, strikes me as a loner, but he stopped and took the time to give me a few tips. I thought Kellan was a bit standoffish, but Leo made him seem like a greeter at a big chain store.

With the office now being set up and some employees hired, it’s time to start bringing in the equipment, along with the company vehicles and trailers we’ll need to haul it to and from jobs. As I knew that would need to happen, I’d already begun acquiring a few pieces here and there. They’re currently waiting in the fenced in grounds of the Sow and Grow in Briarwood. I’ll have to purchase more as we go, but what I have is a nice start.

Of course, my dad will offer to bring them here, using it as an excuse to visit, not that he needs one. Mom will tag along, seeing it as her chance to officially meet Helen. And probably plan our wedding.

I’m all for that last part, wanting Helen to have my last name as soon as possible. Which is where my final destination came in and why I drove an hour to get there. My gut was telling me I’d find what I wanted there, and it was right. The engagement ring has strands of small pink gems spreading out from the band. To me, they resemble wings which is fitting as Helen has said that she feels as if hers were unfurled when she moved here, having escaped what sounds like a prison. It may not have been an actual one, but there are different versions depending on the circumstances. The wedding band is a single diamond that perfectly nestles inside it, as if the two were meant to be paired together, just as Helen and I were.

When I propose, I want it to be special. Then again, according to Helen, as long as it involves me and her, it always is. We haven’t exchanged I love yous, despite the fact I’m sure we’re both at that point, but that’s okay. Feeling them is what matters, saying them is secondary.

Reaching her place, I make a mental note that we need to choose where we’re going to live. The contracts on each of our rentals are still new, but something tells me breaking them won’t be a big deal here. That the owners will gladly work with us to allow us to start our lives together even if that means they lose money. Perhaps that’s idealistic, but I don’t think so.

I knock, debating getting on one knee and asking her to be mine. Our relationship thus far has been anything but traditional, so I start to do it, though the door opens, stopping me from fully completing my goal.

“Who the hell are you?” His stance is protective, his tone that of a kid ready to fight at a moment’s notice.

“Language, Jason,” I hear Helen scold from inside seconds before her face appears. His light hair throws me for a bit, but the resemblance is there when you look past it. This is her little brother, and seeing as how she didn’t mention he was coming; I deduce that she didn’t know.

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