9. Noah
Chapter 9
Noah
C alling the Lovewell Fire Department small would be a gross exaggeration. It consisted of a four-man crew, one dispatcher on shift at a time, and a handful of volunteers. The firehouse sat next to the police station off Main Street, and its facade was a deep red brick. When I pulled up, a few guys in blue work pants were milling around in front of the bay doors, washing the engine.
For a moment, I sat in the truck, giving myself a pep talk and digging deep for a little excitement. I was lucky I’d even scored a meeting, so I needed to make the most of it.
Chief Mitchell greeted me with a big smile. He was in his late forties with a thick mustache and stern dad energy that reminded me of my brother Gus.
“You’ve got quite the résumé.” He leaned back, making his desk chair creak. “A hotshot. Bureau of Land Management special operations, national forest certifications, squad leader of the Northern Tahoe region, specialized training in hot spotting, tree felling, and structure protection?”
I took a deep breath. I wasn’t the kind of guy who sat at a desk or did a lot of work using a computer. It had taken me all weekend and a lot of help from Jude to double-check my certifications and get it all typed up. It was strange, to distill all my experiences and hard work into typed words on a page.
He stood and reached out. “I want to shake your hand again. This is quite a record of service.”
I got to my feet. “Thank you, sir.”
“While I’m thrilled to meet you and would love to hear your war stories over a beer, I’m not sure I’ve got a job for you.”
Lips pressed into a line, I nodded. It had been a long shot at such a small department, but I wasn’t qualified for much else.
“We’ve got a limited budget and no open positions at the moment, but if something opens up.” He removed his hat and ran his fingers through his hair. “It would also be quite different for you. We’re first responders. We don’t fight overly complex fires or craft strategy here. What we handle is far more basic.”
“I understand,” I said, keeping my tone even. A routine, boring gig was precisely why I wanted it. “I’m a father now.” I shoved my hands into my pockets. “I can’t deploy to fires for weeks at a time. I can’t take the kind of risks I used to.”
“I get it. Wish I could help.”
Though I was disappointed, Tess and I would be okay if I didn’t find a job immediately. I had been living off the payout I received last year when Owen had sold the family timber company, and I wasn’t at risk of using it up anytime soon. It wasn’t a ton, but it was enough to keep us comfortable for now. Career-wise, I wasn’t sure where I’d land. I was proud of the specialized skills I’d obtained over the years. Unfortunately, they didn’t seem to be in demand up here, and I couldn’t go back to the West Coast.
Being a dad was my first priority. But I wasn’t used to not working. I preferred to be useful. To be of service in some way.
With a nod, I pulled my keys from my pocket. “Thank you for your time.”
“You know.” He scratched his chin. “My cousin runs the Katahdin search and rescue team. They’re always recruiting qualified talent.”
The Appalachian Trail ran through Maine, culminating at Mt. Katahdin, so this region attracted a great number of hikers, campers, backcountry skiers, and those looking for remote fly-fishing. Which was great for Finn, who had recently started a flight tourism company. It was booming, which meant the forests of Maine were seeing plenty of traffic. It made sense that the search and rescue team would be active and hiring.
I couldn’t be out in the wilderness away from Tess, and despite the résumé he’d complimented me on, few of my skills would translate.
“I’d love to learn more.” I might as well get the information, though I imagined emergency medical certifications would be a must, and I’d only had basic EMS training.
“Good man.” He slapped my back and walked me out.
I fought back a forlorn sigh. I’d made it another day, yet I was no closer to figuring out what I was doing.
From the firehouse, I turned left and headed for the diner. My mom had taken Tess to the playground and was planning to drop her off later, so while I had a little time to myself, I’d drown my sorrows in a slice of blueberry pie. Or maybe two.
I patted my stomach. Fitness used to define me. It was the first and most important requirement of my job. We trained relentlessly, hiking while wearing sixty-pound packs and having pull-up competitions in our spare time.
Anymore, hauling boxes of diapers was the closest thing I got to a workout. But I was feeling less like myself with each passing day. I needed a job, a routine, and to set a path for the future for Tess and me.
At the moment, it looked like that path would involve a dad bod, and I’d have to deal with that.
When I slid into a booth, Bernice greeted with her usual snarky charm.
“Where’s the cute baby?”
“With grandma,” I said, lacing my fingers on the tabletop. “Coffee, please. And pie.”
“Your girlfriend prefers apple.” Her tone was one of disbelief.
Apple pie was objectively delicious, but up here, it was heresy to acknowledge the deliciousness of any pie that wasn’t blueberry. Any pie that wasn’t Bernice’s blueberry, really.
“I don’t have a girlfriend.” I kept my tone polite. With the way gossip grew and spread around here when I was a kid, I figured there wasn’t much more I could do.
“Sure you do. Lou’s niece. Trust me, take her a slice of apple. She’ll be grateful.”
Eyes squeezed shut, I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Not my girlfriend. We’re just friends.”
Bernice clicked her tongue. “This isn’t a situationship, is it? You young people. Jesus.”
God, was it too much to ask to sit here and eat my feelings in peace?
“No.” Mrs. Dupont craned her neck from where she sat two tables over. Erica and Loraine were with her, each with a steaming mug. “That’s what the kids do now, on TikTok. They don’t date.”
And then, just as I thought this couldn’t get more embarrassing, Father Renee, the ancient priest who’d given me my first communion, stood and approached.
“Now, son, I know you’ve only just returned to town, but poor Victoria went through a very bad divorce. She’s a kind, helpful woman. And while I’d like it if she came to mass more often, I hope you do right by her.”
With a long exhale, I closed my eyes. In theory, moving back here with Tess was a wonderful idea. She’d grow up in the Maine wilderness, surrounded by family, running wild with her cousins, ensconced in the supportive embrace of an idyllic small town.
Despite how halcyon my misguided fantasy was, I’d conveniently forgotten how nosy and overbearing the locals could be. I barely opened up about my life to my siblings. I surely wouldn’t be broadcasting my relationship status to Father Renee and the local busybodies.
Even so, I smiled. I’d be Vic’s boyfriend this weekend.
Oh no. My stomach sank. The wedding. I had to find nice clothes. It was black-tie, whatever the hell that meant.
I picked up my phone. Though there were six of us, I only had one brother who knew anything about this.
Noah
I need a favor.
Owen
?
I appreciated my second-oldest brother. He never guilted me or interrogated me. He didn’t hound me about the reasoning behind my choices. He was a busy man, so I could count on him to get right to the point.
Noah
I’m going to a black-tie wedding at the Kennebunkport Yacht Club this weekend. What the hell do I wear?
Owen
A Tux
Noah
Thank you, Captain Obvious. How do I get one?
Owen
Hang on. I’ve got a guy.
Who invited you to a society wedding at the yacht club?
Noah
I’m going with Victoria. It’s her sister’s wedding.
Owen
Can you drive to Bangor?
I checked my watch. I was in and out of the fire station in under thirty minutes, and Tess was due to nap soon. An hour’s drive would be fine.
Noah
Yes
Within minutes, my brother had texted an address.
Owen
Tell him I sent you. My assistant is sending over a list of things you’ll need for the weekend.
Noah
Thank you. I owe you
Owen
Victoria’s a wonderful person. Don’t fuck up.
My instinct was to respond, to tell him we were friends, that I was doing her a favor, that she helped me with Tess. But I was too damn tired to try to convince yet another person.
I could only push the “just friends” rock up the hill so many times in one day.
I didn’t have time anyway. I had to haul ass to Bangor if I wanted to get what I needed and be back before Mom showed up with Tess.
“Bernice,” I said with a smile. “Can I grab that pie to go?”