Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
MORGAN
That night after work, Morgan didn't have any interest in going home to an empty apartment. When she started driving, she recognized a few street names that sounded vaguely familiar from the map she'd studied, so she took a chance and found herself at Station Seven.
She slowed down as she neared the entrance to the parking lot and looked for the truck that Palmer was assigned to.
It wasn't in the fire station.
Just as she was about to head on home, a woman came out onto the apron of Station Seven and waved at her.
Unsure of what to do, Morgan waved back.
The other woman waved again, but this time it was a 'COME HERE' gesture.
Another woman stepped into view from the station house.
Deciding she was more curious than hesitant, Morgan turned her car into the parking lot and found an open spot.
Before she was even out of her car, one of the two women was already walking up to her.
"Hey! I bet you're Morgan!"
Wow. Okay.
"Yeah, is it written on my forehead?"
The other woman laughed out loud and gestured to the car. "This car is pretty unique."
Morgan got out, bringing her bag out with her, before she gave the roof of her car a pat. "This is Claude." She saw the other woman smile. "And Claude, this is..."
"Kylie." She touched her hand to her chest. "Sorry, I got a little ahead of myself and should have started with introducing myself."
Morgan closed her door and locked it with her key while she talked. "I forget to do that all the time and start asking questions. It makes it a little awkward sometimes." Her lips pursed a little before she spoke again. "That's probably why I can talk to high school kids. I think I'm as scattered as they are."
Kylie started walking toward the firehouse. "I teach at the community college. Most of the ki- I mean, students, there are so eager to prove what adults they are it's sometimes hard to get them to talk about anything without direct questions or prompting them over and over."
"Oh," Morgan felt some of her worries bleed away, "I guess I didn't expect to see another teacher at the firehouse."
Kylie's face blushed prettily. "I'm married to Peace." She paused and then sighed. "I'm probably speaking gibberish considering that you just got here a few days ago. Word is that you stopped here first and then went to Rhett's place."
"I'm not sure about gibberish," she laughed, "but I feel like you're speaking in code and the only thing I understood was Rhett, since that's what he's called around here."
Kylie reached out and opened the door into the station. "So you call him Palmer?"
She held the door for Morgan and Morgan murmured her thanks before stepping inside.
The heat of the sun was gone in an instant and Morgan closed her eyes to take in a deep breath of air-conditioned air. "It's so nice in here. My classroom's air conditioning was a little touchy at first, but a couple of the guys at the back of the class adjusted it for me. I'm not sure where they learned how to fix it and boost the cool air, but I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth."
"I haven't heard that phrase in a long time."
Morgan opened her eyes and saw the other woman who'd waved at her. "Hi." She moved closer, lowering her voice when she saw that there were two little ones in the room. The toddler was busy with a texture book on a blanket and the baby was focused on the bottle that mom was holding.
"Sorry. I didn't know that there were babies here."
Kylie sat down on one of the sofas and gestured at the other woman.
"That's Thora. Her sweet little girl is Gia, and that adorable baby is Pax. She's married to Rush. Oliver Quintero."
Morgan took a seat near Kylie. "Is there a chart I can study? I'm going to be so lost with all of the people I'm meeting. My brain is already taxed with my students."
Thora laughed and the baby in her arms smiled around his bottle. "I know, it's a lot, but believe me. You'll come to a few events with the firefighters and before long you'll be swimming along just fine. It's a bit of crazy but it's a good crazy. The people here are the best of the best."
Thora's little girl looked up and grinned at her. "Book!" She pointed at the book in her lap.
"That's a lovely book, Gia."
Morgan looked up and saw Thora smiling at her. "She's gorgeous."
"Thank you," Thora adjusted the baby in her arms. "I'm truly blessed." She turned to look at Kylie before turning her attention to Morgan again. "We're glad you drove by. We were going to ask when we were going to welcome you to San Antonio."
"Me?" Morgan found the idea tickled her. "Does this qualify as a welcome?"
"No." Kylie shook her head. "It's definitely not enough. We've been trying to get Rhett to come to more events and now I think we'll have more of a chance now that you're here."
"Now that I'm here?" She looked between the two women and saw their expectant looks. "I don't know if something got twisted around, but I'm just rooming with Palmer, I mean, Rhett, until I can find a place of my own."
"Sure." Kylie bit into her bottom lip, her eyes almost glittering with something like glee.
Thora tapped her fingertip on her baby's nose. "Of course."
"I feel like I'm missing the joke here."
"No joke," Kylie tried to reassure her. "It's just a feeling that Thora and I have. After she talked to Rush and I talked to Peace, we called each other, and we both had the same feeling about the two of you."
"You both had a feeling about me."
The two women nodded at the same time.
"More specifically, you and Rhett." Kylie leaned back on the couch, smiling ear-to-ear. "We think that the two of you are going to be a great match."
Morgan got up and moved a couple of steps away from the couch. "Do they have a carbon monoxide alarm here in the fire house?"
The two women looked at each other and Morgan continued on. "I'm worried that there might be a gas leak or something in here that's making you both a little... confused. I'm just the little sister of one of Palmer's friends from Center City.
"Palmer didn't even remember me from before. He told me he thought that Jacob had been asking for his younger brother to sofa surf for a bit. A guy." Thinking the words had been more than a little painful. Saying it out loud in front of strangers... his friends, she felt that cut deep.
"Oh, that's... that's horrible!"
Thora nodded at Kylie. "But that's a thing that some guys do. They don't necessarily look around them. Rhett's focused when they're on calls. He's super at what he does."
"He was a firefighter in Center City when I first met him," Morgan couldn't help the rising tide of energy that rushed forward when she thought about him. "My brother works for the Police Department," she held up her hands, "please don't throw things."
The ladies laughed, but it was Thora who spoke as she gently removed the bottle from her baby’s mouth and hands. "No need to throw anything. It sounds like you’re mostly joking, but I should let you know that the majority of folks working in the First Responder community here in San Antonio are amazing."
"Okay, I wasn't all that sure. When I talk to Palmer about work, I get mostly two- or three-word answers."
She wanted to tell them that it was the quiet between those words that made a real impact on her, where she could look her fill at his face without feeling like she had to speak and not completely embarrass herself blurting out words like 'You're Amazing.' or 'I'd love to kiss you.'
"I have a feeling that you see a completely different guy at home than we see here."
Morgan smiled at Kylie. "I guess?"
Thora gave Kylie a playfully reproachful look. "Careful, she's going to know that we're too curious to play it cool."
Morgan blushed at that. "There's nothing really to tell. I barely knew him before coming to San Antonio. And he certainly didn't know me."
Thora and Kylie shared a look and Morgan knew she hadn't really hidden the slightly pained tone in her voice.
Gia, Thora's little girl set aside her book and crawled across the blanket to the couch that Morgan was sitting on. She put a hand on Kylie's knee and pulled herself up to her feet.
Kylie's hand hovered behind Gia's back in case she stumbled or lost hold of the couch.
Then Gia looked up at Morgan and smiled.
Oh...
"Hey, sweet girl."
Gia's grin opened wider, and she reached out a hand.
Morgan looked at Thora first. "I can go wash my hands."
"No need." Thora smiled. "Go ahead."
Morgan took Gia's hand and the little girl stepped over to her, her legs stiff and her body swaying, but she was getting very close to walking. "Come on, sweet girl! Come here."
Gia's mouth was open and curved in a big grin and her other arm was reaching for Morgan. "Mama Mama."
Morgan gave Thora a worried look. "Umm..."
Gia was trying to climb up onto the sofa seat, so Morgan picked her up and held her gently against her chest. The little girl gently grabbed a handful of Morgan's hair. "Mama Hay-rrr."
Thora was giggling as she wiped off her son's mouth. "She thinks we have the same hair."
Morgan looked down at her hair and then over at Thora. "You have beautiful hair. Mine is more of a dirty blonde."
Thora and Kylie shared a look that said they didn't agree, and Morgan secretly enjoyed the fact that they thought her hair was like Thora's. As the two other women talked quietly to each other, Morgan was talking to Gia.
"Hey, pretty girl."
Gia's eyes were alight with intelligence, her eyes moving around the room and up to Morgan's face. "Mama Hay-rrr."
"I'm glad you think my hair is like your mama's, Gia. It's also kind of like yours, too."
Gia turned her hand, tightening her grip on that handful of Morgan's hair.
"Oohh... Ouch. Gentle. Gentle, please."
Almost right on cue, Gia let go of her hair and yawned.
"Uh oh." Morgan yawned in reaction. And then smoothed her free hand over Gia's face. "Yawns are contagious."
Gia looked at her and touched her face much like Morgan had just done to her and then she yawned again.
"Oh boy." Morgan leaned back and gently pressed Gia's head high against her chest where Morgan could feel Gia's fine hair touching her chin. "How about we just relax a little, hmm? You can close your eyes and I," Morgan yawned and felt her jaw stretch and click before she was able to close it again, "I'll do the same for a few minutes, okay?"
Morgan knew that Gia still held a handful of her hair, but she felt the other tiny hand touch her chest over her heart and give her a few little pats.
It was strangely soothing.
Morgan made sure that she had a secure hold on Gia and shifted her arms so that she could rub the little girl's back in what she hoped was a soothing rhythm.
It wasn't that long before her eyes were drifting closed.
The warmth of Gia's little body held against hers. The soft, even sighs of childlike sleep. Even the lively conversation of Thora and Kylie acted like a big, warm, cuddly blanket.
"I just have to stay awake for a little while..."
RHETT
The firetruck was pulling into the driveway when Cowboy chuckled. "That car is awesome."
"Which car?" Abe was driving and probably hadn't seen the car while he was keeping his eyes on the path they were taking.
"The camo painted car."
Claude?
Rhett sat up and craned his neck to look through the windshield.
It was Claude.
"Morgan's here."
He hadn't said it out loud to get a reaction. He was just surprised.
And... pleased.
Knowing they were just about to pull into the station, Rhett leaned forward and tapped his lieutenant on his shoulder. "Cowboy? I think my roommate, Morgan, is here. Do you mind if I check in and see if she's okay?"
Cowboy almost hid the curious look that turned in his direction, but not quite.
Still, his lieutenant didn't make a big deal about the request. "Sure. Go ahead."
Rhett wasn't someone who shirked duties. He was usually the first one to dig in and get things done, so he didn't think Cowboy would've had an issue, but he still asked.
Rhett did what he was supposed to do.
Always.
When the truck came to a stop and Rhett swung his door open and jumped down to the ground. He shrugged off his turnout coat and found it taken straight out of his hands.
Abe waved him off and headed into the gear room with Rhett's coat hung over his arm.
The interaction felt good.
Walking into the common room felt better.
Kylie touched her index finger to her lips to keep him quiet. Thora, who was holding Pax gestured at the couch against the wall.
Rhett turned and stopped short.
Morgan was sleeping, her legs curled up on the couch, but the most amazing part of the view was little Gia, Rush's daughter, fast asleep on Morgan's chest.
The sight before him did something to his heart, making it swell to what felt like twice its size. Gia had a handful of Morgan's hair held loosely in her grip. And Morgan? Even in sleep, she had a rock-solid hold on the little girl.
Kylie's voice reached him even though he felt like he was in a daze.
"She's wonderful, Rhett. We had a nice visit and then before we knew it, Gia pulled herself to her feet and walked along the couch. Morgan picked her right up."
Thora stepped into his line of sight just behind Kylie. Pax was nodding off against her shoulder. "Kylie and I were talking about something and then we looked over and they were just out like a light."
The two women were watching him, and he had a feeling that they were looking for some kind of reaction.
Part of the fun and the pain of having an extended family at Station Seven was that they all watched out for each other. Kylie and Thora had quickly become a part of that family and Rhett felt like they were as close to sisters as he'd ever had. Mainly because someone had explained that sisters were girls that, while you loved them, they felt the need to meddle in your life.
Rhett had a feeling that they were about to meddle in his life.
"So, we were thinking that we should organize a shift picnic or something like that."
Kylie easily picked up Thora's thread of thought as if they'd discussed it ahead of time. "We could have a barbecue at the house and get to know Morgan a little more."
Rhett looked at them and shook his head and fought off a smile, biting it back. "I can't speak for Morgan's schedule," he explained, "but I'll bring her if she wants to come with me."
The two women shared a knowing look and Rhett felt a moment of panic wondering what they were thinking about.
"Hey! How's my-"
The two women turned from him to Rush as he came into the room.
Oliver Quintero clamped his lips together in record speed. Thora moved to his side to explain the situation, but Kylie stayed beside him.
"Rhett?"
He dragged his gaze away from Morgan and Gia to look at Kylie.
"How are you doing? Sharing an apartment has to be a bit of an adjustment."
Rhett had to wonder how much his friends and their women were talking about him.
He had a feeling he might have been really irritated by it before but seeing Kylie's radiant smile directed at him felt... good.
"I was worried about it before, but once she got there and she was in my space... it wasn't bad at all."
Kylie nodded and watched him carefully like she was trying to decipher some kind of code from his expression.
Instead of trying to hide his face from her, he let her look.
That alone surprised her, but she just looked even deeper. "It's good to see you smiling, Rhett. She's changed you even in just the short time that she's been here in San Antonio, but I hear it's just a short-term thing?"
Rhett raised an eyebrow. "Everyone's been talking?"
Kylie nudged his arm. "You know the family."
He nodded. He did in fact know their family. "I don't know how comfortable I am being the subject of discussion. I don't normally participate in the group chats."
She dropped her chin and gave him a half-smile. "You never participate in the chats unless someone asks you a direct question."
Apparently, even though he tried to keep a little apart from the group, they were keeping tabs on him anyway.
"So..."
She paused as Rush reached in and expertly freed Morgan's hair from Gia's grip before he picked her up.
Thora waved at them, and Rhett and Kylie waved back as Rush walked them out to their car.
Kylie turned back to look at him. "Here comes my direct question, Rhett."
He slowly lowered his head to look her in the eye. "Okay."
"What if this doesn't end up as temporary as it's supposed to be?"
Rhett felt his brow pinch above his nose. "Morgan can stay as long as she wants. She keeps trying to pay me rent, but I've told her I don't need the money."
"You-"
"I don't spend my money on anything, and I can easily make the rent on my own. If she wants to find a place on her own, she's going to need to save her money for first and last months on an apartment or really save her pennies if she wants to buy a-"
"Rhett?"
He looked down at her hand on his arm and then back up to her face.
He nodded instead of answering her.
"What I'm asking is... could there be a reason for her to stay?"
Rhett didn't have an answer to her question.
Not one he wanted to say aloud.
Not one that he was willing to admit to anyone.
"Rhett, I-"
"Hey, baby."
Rhett took a step back and saw Peace move in closer and give his wife a kiss.
Peace turned back to look at Rhett. "I hope you don't mind if I steal this beautiful woman away. I need a few hugs..." Peace wrapped his arms around Kylie. "And some kisses..." He placed a few kisses on her cheeks and then her lips. "Before we get another call."
Rhett lifted his hands in surrender. "It's nice to see you again, Kylie."
She gestured at him with her index finger. "We'll organize something and let you know, okay?"
"Okay."
As Peace walked here away to the other side of the room, Rhett could see his questioning look.
He'd leave it up to Kylie to explain that the women were playing cupid.
Rhett sat down beside Morgan.
He wasn't planning to wake her up.
She looked exhausted and the way she was sleeping, she needed it.
So he just sat there, watching her.
It was a completely unguarded moment. A moment when she wasn't moving around his apartment as if she couldn't contain her energy.
A moment when he could look his fill and not worry that she might turn and see him.
Morgan murmured in her sleep and her hands moved restlessly.
Rhett wondered if she was worried about Gia.
Her right hand lifted from where it had been on her chest, and he took her hand in his.
It was instinct. That's how he excused the impetuous act.
But he didn't let her go.
He held her hand in his, adjusting so that it didn't twist her arm or bother her in her sleep.
Morgan moved and he held still, holding his breath.
She turned toward him, leaning her head against his arm.
He continued to hold still as she lifted her other hand from her stomach and settled it on his thigh.
She had no idea what she was doing. She was sound asleep, but that didn't stop him from enjoying her unknowing touch. From the way she cuddled up against his side and relaxed even deeper into sleep.
It felt... good.
It felt better than good.
Knowing that she felt comfortable enough with him, trusted him in her sleep, made his heart beat harder in his chest and against his ribs.
He didn't want to think back to Kylie's question, but he couldn't seem to escape the thought.
With every day that she was with him. Every hour. Every minute. He found himself hoping that... That her time at his apartment wasn't going to come to an end.
It was confusing to him, but it also felt good.
Then again, he smiled to himself, he hadn't walked into the bathroom to find her lingerie hanging in the shower.
He'd heard about things like that from some of the other guys as they were getting used to sharing their space. He wasn't sure how comfortable Morgan would be hanging her private things up in his shower, but he wouldn't mind.
Although he didn't need to know what she wore under her clothes. Since that first night that she'd stayed with him, he'd been dreaming of her when he fell asleep. Rhett knew that if he saw what she was wearing under her clothes, those dreams might change, and he was trying to keep everything in his head as close to a friendly PG rating.
He smiled when he realized that he was thinking about it in a way that Morgan would appreciate with her almost encyclopedic knowledge of 'classic' TV.
She was working her way into all aspects of his life, and he wasn't fighting it all that hard.
The speakers flared to life with a new call and Rhett started to get up from the couch, but Morgan was leaning against him so he had to try and shift her to the side.
Just when he thought he had almost managed it, moving in a slow but steady pace, he saw Morgan's eyes open up.
"Hey, Palmer..."
"Morgan. I have to go out on a call."
Kylie spoke up, stepping closer so he could see her in his peripheral vision. "We'll make sure she's wide awake before she gets behind the wheel."
He gave Kylie a grateful nod. "Thank you."
Rhett felt a soft touch against his cheek.
Morgan was smiling at him, still half-asleep. "You be careful, okay?"
He saw the men rushing out the glass doors to the apparatus floor and he'd always been one of the first to get to the truck before.
Having Morgan there, he was hesitating.
"Palmer?"
"Yes?"
"Come home safe, okay?"
Leaning in, he placed a kiss on her forehead. When he stood up, she was already fast asleep. Rhett wasn't sure she would even remember the kiss and that might be a good thing.
He certainly hadn't intended to do it.
He wasn't a man given to impulse normally, but this was Morgan. It was different with her.
He was different with her.
"Come on, Rhett!" Cowboy stopped in the doorway and jerked a thumb over his shoulder.
"Yeah," Abe shouted as he caught up to their lieutenant. "Time to 'Go with the Wind.'"
Rhett ground his back teeth together. "It's 'Gone with the Wind.'"
And he was off running and jumping into his bunker gear by the side of the truck. They made it to the medical call before the EMTs.