30. Jensen
THIRTY
JENSEN
It was the final day before A Place for All opened.
I pulled into the parking lot and was going to park near the atrium entry, but all the windows were blacked out by a swath of black fabric.
There were a lot of cars for ten in the morning on a weekday. I slammed my door and went to the Trick or Treat side. The same black curtain fell under the archway for A Place for All.
Lookie loos were still trying to catch a glimpse in the guise of candy shopping.
One of the new employees was set as a guard. I grinned at her. “Hey, Shauna.”
“Do you have a password,” she asked in a conspiratorial whisper.
I laughed. “Sheba.”
“Hey, good one. You may enter.”
I ducked through the curtain, staggered by the sheer number of people in the space. It seemed as if all the vendors had come in to do a final check-through.
In the middle of it all was Lyric.
She was wearing a T-shirt with the new logo and her favorite jeans. They were worn in all the right spots, and I knew firsthand how soft they were. She had all her curls pinned up with one of the monster clips that kept it off her neck.
So damn beautiful.
And she was the right choice.
My only choice.
I rubbed the middle of my chest. I had an appointment to talk to Captain Mills, but I wanted Lyric to be the first one to know.
She turned as if she knew I was staring at her.
Her face was makeup free, and she looked tired.
I’d done that to her.
Hurt her because I was a thoughtless ass.
And I was going to fix it today.
I didn’t want it hanging over her any longer.
I crossed the room to her. She was speaking with Hadley. As I got closer, I caught the excited chatter about a giveaway. Hadley and the other vendors were doing a basket overflowing with products in honor of the first group of artisans.
Hadley glanced at me, then to Lyric and gave us a bright smile. “I’ll just let you guys chat. Your illustration was so perfect, Jensen. When I finally get my own store, I want to hire you to do a mural.”
“That would be amazing. I hope you do.”
Hadley tucked a red curl around her ear. “This whole space is amazing. You two make an amazing team.”
I waited for her to go back to her table before I turned to Lyric. “Hey.”
She licked her lips. “Hi, yourself. What are you doing here?”
“I need to talk to you for a minute.”
“Jensen, I don’t know. I have so much to do. Can’t we do this after the opening?”
“No.”
She looked down at her feet. “Fine.”
“I don’t want to wait that long to tell you I heard you.” I stepped forward to take her hand. She tried to shake me off, but I held firm. “I heard you and I’ll always choose you, Lyric.”
Her head snapped up, her eyes wet. “What?”
“I’m going to meet with Captain Mills right now to tell him I can’t join the CCFD.”
“But you said it was what you needed.”
“I need you more. We’ll talk more when I get back and then you can order me around all day so we can finish up getting ready for tomorrow.” I cupped her face. “Everything is going to work out now, I promise.” I brushed a kiss over her shocked mouth.
“Wait. Jensen, I have to tell you something.”
“After.” I smiled down at her, then at Sheba, who was by her side, as always. I crouched down to give her a quick rub. “You watch your mama for me.” I smiled up at Lyric. “It won’t take long and we can celebrate, all right?”
“Jensen, wait.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but I need your help, Lyric.” Judy Bell was twisting her fingers, worry on her sweet face. “I lost my connection with the internet.”
I stood up. “You take care of Mrs. Bell. I’ll be back before you know it.”
At a loss, Lyric nodded and followed Judy back to Bell Flower Soaps’ booth.
I crossed the room and ran into Nolan. “Thanks for the talk yesterday.”
“You listened?”
I laughed. “I did. I’m going to go talk to the captain right now.”
Nolan frowned. “You sure about this?”
I nodded. “You were right. I can’t make her live with that kind of fear.”
“It doesn’t have to be all or nothing, you know.”
“It does for her.” I knew the rightness of it in my bones.
I jogged to the archway that led into Trick or Treat and out the door. The drive to the station was a short one. The firehouse was on a back road toward the end of Main Street. Two large bays were open and a half dozen firefighters were doing daily maintenance on the trucks and gear.
It was a sunny almost spring day. March had finally arrived, and with it, the temperatures were starting to rise.
“Hey, probie! You’re just in time. Get over here and help out.” Adam’s deep voice carried over to where I parked.
“Sorry, I have a meeting with the captain.”
Adam rolled his eyes. “You’re sucking up already?”
“Something like that.” The pang of knowing I wouldn’t be a part of that crew sucked, but it still wasn’t anywhere close to the blow of seeing Lyric’s fear.
I’d learn to live without it.
Maybe the A Place for All murals would get my name around and I could focus on that. It would be nice not to have to work late at the bar. Maybe not go home smelling like spilled beer for the rest of my life.
I sneaked through the open garage and ran into Ben Sullivan.
“Hey, what are you doing here?”
“Gotta talk to the captain.”
He whistled. “Did you get in trouble already?”
I laughed. “No. Surprisingly, it’s for something else.”
Ben’s usual easy smile faded. “Everything good?”
I nodded. “It will be. Thanks for all your help while I was getting through the academy.”
“I don’t like the sound of this.”
“Sometimes life throws a roadblock.” I slapped his arm. “Things are good, man. I’ll see ya.”
“Jensen, what’s going on?” he called after me.
I just kept walking. The firehouse was a large, open plan space, lots of brick and big drafty windows that looked out on Crescent Lake. The main space was full of comfortable recliners and sectionals, three massive televisions hooked to the walls, and a bookcase full of boardgames.
Three guys and a female firefighter were playing a game of Uno as they watched a game of soccer.
The kitchen took up a full wall and Big Mike was manning the stove with what smelled like chili cooking. I’d met him right after my interview and he’d put me on the cooking schedule followed directly by the cleaning schedule.
Everyone chipped in at the Crescent Cove Fire Department.
Including Captain Jacob Mills. He had on a white apron as he stirred some sort of batter.
“Hey, probie. How’s it going?” Big Mike spotted me first.
You really didn’t get a name in this firehouse until you were out of probation.
“Good.” I glanced to Captain Mills. “Sir.”
“You wanted to see me?” Jacob Mills was a tall man with dark hair and a thick beard to match with just the start of a few strands of salt and pepper coloring at his chin.
“Yes, sir. Can we go into your office?”
He tucked the big mixing bowl in his arm. “Okay. We can do that if you need privacy.”
Mike wore a similar white apron, only his had Big Mike embroidered across his chest. He had wispy gray hair and a well lived-in face with sharp gray eyes. He’d transitioned from fireman to cook when he’d aged out.
Mike glanced over at me. “All good, kid?”
I must have looked like a kicked puppy if everyone kept asking me that. “Yeah. Will be.”
A murmur in the garage had all of us looking over.
Captain Mills set down his bowl. “Did a call come in?”
“That stupid bell is fixed. You’d know it if we had one.” Mike said dryly.
“Where’s Captain Mills’ office?”
“You can’t be in here, ma’am.” A voice said from the doorway to the garage.
“I just need to talk to Captain Mills for a second.”
Was that Lyric? I crossed the living space and spotted her trying to get past another firefighter I hadn’t met yet.
“Who is that?” Mills asked from behind me.
“Sorry, Captain. That’s my girlfriend. I’m not sure what she’s doing here.” I jogged over to the door. “She’s with me.” I glanced at his T-shirt. “Thanks, Denny.”
The guy narrowed his gaze at me, then looked over my shoulder. He held up his hands. “Fine by me. Hysterical females are my least favorite ever.”
“Denny, attempt to curb your asshole gene, huh?” Mills said from behind me.
“Sorry, Cap.”
Lyric pushed through and past me to my captain. “He didn’t quit yet, did he?”
Mills shot me a look. “Not yet. Guess that’s why you’re here, kid?”
Hell. This was not going at all like I figured. “Lyric, we can talk about this later, okay? I haven’t talked to Captain Mills yet.”
“Good. I don’t want to be the reason you quit.” She turned to face me. “I couldn’t have you hate me in a few months or a few years.”
“If you’re worried about his safety, Lyric, was it?”
I pulled her into my side. She gripped my shirt and turned to face my captain. “Yes, Lyric Bledsoe.”
“This station has one of the lowest rates of injury. I make sure my guys are well-trained before they’re ready to go into an active fire.”
“I know. And I’m sure you are.” She placed her hand on my chest, showing her burn scars.
Captain Mills’ gaze dropped to her hand, and then he raised his chin a fraction.
“Your team was amazing when they rescued me from the Trick or Treat fire.”
“Ahh.” He blew out a slow breath. “I’m sorry, Lyric. Surviving a fire is one of the hardest things for a person to do.”
“When I went into the Fire Academy, it was because I wanted to learn how to understand fires. I was there too and felt helpless as hell.”
“Well, that makes sense why your scores were so good. Maybe too good, honestly.”
I was speechless for a second. I’d never been good at any sort of education program in my life. “Thank you, sir..”
“Quit with the sir.” He shook his head. “Look, Turner, there are other options in the firehouse. The district is looking for fire investigators, as well. You were my top choice for the new class and I planned to push you toward being an investigator in a few years.”
Lyric twisted her fingers into my shirt.
“If you want to look into doing that, we can talk about it. It’s not an easy program, and you’re going to work your ass off.”
Hope bloomed in my chest, but I was afraid to grab for it.
“He wouldn’t have to fight fires?” Lyric asked tentatively.
“Some guys don’t. A lot start as firefighters and transition into it.” Mills folded his arms across his chest. “One of my best friends does it if you want to talk to him. Look, Miss Bledsoe?—”
“Lyric,” she said quietly.
“Lyric, even in the arson and investigator unit, there is a level of danger. And it’s long hours and a lot of studying to get through the program.”
“I don’t care. I understand fire and I did excel at those courses. Who knew I’d be into that kind of science? I’ll talk it over with Lyric before I make any decisions, of course.”
Mills nodded. “Good. I’ll be here if you have questions. I have a wife and kids myself.”
Lyric stiffened next to me, and I glanced down at her.
“Freckles worries about me even when I’m not on the trucks much anymore. Loving a cop or a firefighter isn’t for the faint of heart. Understanding that is important for both of you.”
She nodded.
I held out my hand to the captain. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
He shook it. “Good luck with the opening tomorrow. Once you said Trick or Treat, I realized who you were. My wife has been driving me crazy talking about your new market thing.”
Lyric smiled. “A Place for All.”
“More like a place to abuse my wallet,” Mills grumbled.
“That too.” Lyric laughed.
I slipped my hand around hers and we walked back through the doors to the garage. Once we were outside again, I led her to her Jeep. “I don’t know what to say, Lyric. You didn’t have to chase after me.”
“I did. Just knowing you were willing to give that up for me—for us.”
“Us?”
“I was trying to tell you before you left the store. Not exactly where I wanted to do this. I don’t even know how to do it.”
“Do what? You mean you and Sheba? Is she my honorary fur baby now?” I drew her in front of me to link my hands along her lower back.
“No. I mean, yes, she loves you as much as I do, but…” She reached behind her to unlock my hands and then lay one against her middle. “A human baby too.”
I sucked in a shocked breath. “What?” I looked down at her stomach and my fingers shook. “A baby?”
“I went to get birth control and found out. It was what I was trying to tell you when I went to your apartment.”
“And saw my place.” I lowered my head to press my forehead to hers. My chest tightened. “You weren’t going to tell me?”
“I was. I would never keep something like that from you. Even if we couldn’t be together, I wouldn’t keep you away from your child.”
“Well, that’s never happening,” I said darkly.
“When I saw you come into A Place for All, I wanted to run right over to you. I don’t know if I can live with you being a firefighter, Jensen, but I’d try for you.”
“You don’t have to. Especially if we have a baby now. I can’t believe it. We were always so careful.”
“I think the only reason I didn’t get an I-told-you-so from my sister was because I was so upset about us. She’s forever talking about the baby curse in the Cove.”
“Maybe it’s a curse to her, but it sounds like a gift to me.”
“Oh, Jensen.” She went up on her toes and I met her halfway.
The kiss was sweet and the tightness in my chest dissolved. I pulled her into my arms and looked at the firehouse over her shoulder.
Some dreams changed when you least expected them to.
“You know this means you have to marry me, right?” I lifted her off her feet and grinned when she grabbed onto my shoulders.
“Are you asking?”
“Not yet. Just letting you know where I’m headed.”
“I really like that direction.”
“When?”
“When are you going to ask me?” She laughed. “Think that’s up to you. I’m probably going to say yes, though.”
“Probably?” I swung her around and her delighted laugh triggered my own. “I mean, when is the baby due?”
“Oh. Well, we’ll find out when we go see Dr. Jaffe in three weeks. But the office said probably October.”
“And I can go with you?”
“Damn right. You’ll be going to all the appointments.”
“I can’t wait.” Gently, I set her down. “I painted over the mural in my apartment, by the way.”
She held onto my arms. “You did?”
“It’s our past, and I’m very interested in looking to our future.” I covered her belly. “And our little music note.”
She lowered her hand to cover mine again. “You’re happy? I know it’s fast.”
“Nah, not too fast. We just finally got our timing right.”