Chapter Two
Blayze’s phone rang just as she was pulling into the parking spot outside of her apartment.
Normally, she would’ve let the call go to voicemail but seeing her momma’s name light up on the screen, she couldn’t wait to hear her voice.
She was pretty sure Louise Jenson kept her daughter’s schedule written down on the calendar right alongside her husband’s.
Knowing her, she’d been sitting by the phone, patiently giving Blayze enough time to make it home.
“Hi, momma,” Blayze greeted her cheerfully.
“Did I catch you at a bad time?” she asked. “Have you made it home yet?”
“I’m just walking in the door,” she told her. Then she slung her backpack over her shoulder and turned around to click the alarm on her car. “Are you and daddy doing okay?”
“We’re doing just fine, sweetheart. Your daddy has been doing some training classes at the YMCA. Those kids in the after-school program sure do enjoy him coming by to talk with them about fire safety. Lots of future firefighters he claims.”
She could hear the proud tone in her mother’s voice. Though she’d never worked outside the home, she’d been a supporter of Wayne Jenson’s career since the day he’d taken his oath as a fireman. As he’d moved up in rank, her mom was right there with him every step of the way.
“How much longer is he going to keep it up?” Blayze asked, knowing her own work ethic had totally come from him.
“Well, that’s what I’m calling you about,” Louise Jenson said before allowing her voice to trail off.
“Mom?” She could detect something was heavily weighing on her mother’s mind just from the tone she used.
Louise sniffed and pulled the phone away from her ear. The TV was on with the music from the game show Jeopardy playing in the background.
“Mom? Is everything okay?”
After a couple of sniffles she finally replied. “Your daddy’s finally made a decision.”
To say that she was confused was an understatement. “What are you talking about? A decision about what?”
“Your daddy’s finally decided to retire. You know we’ve always wanted to travel, and with his schedule we’ve never really been able to go very far from home. Now, we’ll be able to…”
Blayze interrupted, not certain if she’d heard her correctly. “Retiring? Are you serious? Daddy’s finally going to retire?”
“Yep, he’s calling it quits,” she said between sobs. “After thirty-eight years, he’s finally giving it up.” If Louise Jenson was this emotional now, she hated to see what her mother would be like his final day on the job.
“Mom, I’m so happy for him. For both of you.” It was certainly news that she hadn’t been expecting, but she couldn’t be prouder of her father. If she could only be half the firefighter he’d been throughout his career.
“You should be receiving an invitation in the mail soon,” Louise went on to say. “The city is planning a big ceremony and you know we want you to be right there alongside us.”
Blayze’s visits back home had been less and less throughout the years and she cringed at the thought of going back to Keebler Hills again. Despite her personal issues with a certain someone—Colton Burns—this was about her father and all of his accomplishments.
“Mom, I can’t wait. I’ll get with the chief first thing and let him know I’m going to need the time off.”
She ended the call with her mom and headed straight to the bathroom to fill the tub.
Her heart was bursting with pride for her father, yet she dreaded knowing she’d have to see the same people who’d laughed at her on graduation night.
She’d taken it personal—who wouldn’t have—with their snide remarks and whispers behind her back.
More importantly, she hoped and prayed she could avoid any kind of confrontations with Colton Burns.
His father was still the mayor of Keebler Hills and if memory served her correctly, Colton sat on the city council committee.
She was certain that both would have a part in her father’s retirement ceremony.
She poured herself a glass of wine then climbed inside the bubble-filled tub. The citrus and lavender aroma filled her nostrils as she rested her head against the rolled-up towel.
Images of Colton flashed through her head. She’d be ready for him this time if he tried to intimidate her again. Blayze Jenson was coming home and nothing was going to stop her from enjoying her father’s successes.