Chapter 6
Quinn
God it’s good to be home. Not that I’ve seen any more of Jason than when I was away. Heck, at least if he comes to spend time with me in Wilmington, he won’t be so distracted.
I know his job is important to him. For years, post Corinne, he admitted he put all of his focus toward the fire department. It wasn’t intentionally so he’d be a standout amongst his brothers at station 12. It was more to keep his mind from wandering back to a darker time. In the time since his breakup, he’d climbed the ranks quickly. The brotherhood of firefighters had not betrayed him as the people he trusted in Magnolia Point had.
Yet, now that he had tried to open his heart to new possibilities, his job requirements were much more suffocating. At least I hope that’s all there is to it.
Our recent phone conversation comes to mind and I let out a pent up exhale, forcing myself to relax. Sure, we didn’t address how we’d manage our chaotic lives with kids and the like, but he said he’d give up being Captain of the fire department and leave this town he loves for me. If that didn’t reassure me that we’d find a way to make a future work nothing would. I need to enjoy the moments we have together when our schedule allows, and trust we’ll grow our family when the time is right. Luckily, my biological clock isn’t ticking as it might be if I was the older party in this May-December romance.
Looking through the pantry I huff in disgust. There’s nothing but cereal and protein bars in here. I already know the freezer and refrigerator will have even less options for dinner. With one of us constantly on the road and the other practically living out of the fire station, we rarely eat at home. I was constantly disposing of expired food, thus trimmed back each shopping list. Yet now it’s starting to look as if no one lives here.
Bzzz. Bzzz.
Grabbing my phone as it dances across the counter, I smile bright as Addison’s name flashes across the screen. “Hey. What are you up to?”
“Not much. Hadn’t heard your voice in so long I wanted to check in. Trevor said you were in Wilmington.”
“I was. Just got back, actually. I was rummaging through the kitchen trying to figure out what to make for dinner.”
A laugh that is so Addison tickles my ear through the phone. “Girl, you should get Jason to make something at the station for you if he’s working. That’s the least he could do if you’re driving all over for your job.”
Biting down on my lip, I consider her words for a moment before discarding the notion. I never want our relationship to turn into a tit-for-tat situation. I travel for work because I can. He doesn’t owe me anything. I chose to move here.
“Well forget about cooking yourself something just to eat all alone. Meet me at Ellie’s Hot Chicken. We’ll grab some dinner then head to Pour Decisions for a drink. You need a night out.”
I adore Addison. Just not certain I want to close out the evening at a bar. “Sure. I may not make it far into the evening before I have to call it a day. Between the long work day and the drive back from Wilmington, I have a feeling you’ll be talking to the back of my eyelids by nightfall.”
“Girl, you’re talking to a woman who lives with a whisk in her hand. I’m at the bakery by 5 a..m. most mornings. My eyelids will beat yours to the finish line.”
I snort. “Got it. We’re made for each other. See you at Ellie’s in thirty.”
* * *
Walking into Ellie’s restaurant honestly feels like coming home. Almost more so than my actual abode, given there I’m always yearning to see my boyfriend who’s always somewhere else. Here, on the other hand, I know I’ll find a friendly face.
“Quinn!” Ellie’s sweet voice floats above the sound of dishes and patrons talking over their food. “Addison said you were coming.” She pulls me into a tight embrace.
“Hi.” I laugh. “You’re hugging me like I didn’t just see you a few mornings ago. Heck, I think I’ve seen you more than Jason in that time.”
All of a sudden, the life feels as if it’s being squeezed out of me as a body collides with mine from behind. “Umph.”
“What took you so long?” Addison snarks.
“You know the traffic in this one-horse town.” I snicker.
“Yeah. I hate it when I get caught at practically the only stoplight in Sycamore Mountain,” Addison adds.
“You two sit. Do you even need menus?”
“No,” we answer in unison.
Pulling out a chair, I plop down beside Addy and take a deep inhale of the southern fried aromas floating in the air. “I’d love the chicken pot pie and a glass of sweet tea.”
“Oh, that sounds good,” Addison blurts. “I was going for the fried chicken, but I want that now.”
“Want a side salad with it?”
“Yes, I’m starving.” I rub my empty belly.
“No, not for me. I had a big salad for lunch. I’m done with rabbit food today.” This woman was literally an elite model until just before I arrived here. I don’t think she has an ounce of body fat on her. I don’t know how she does it working at Honey Bunz. I feel like I gain ten pounds every time I even look through their front window.
The two of us chat about everything and nothing at all until a server returns in no time with our dinner. I swear, moving here has been like finding three sisters I never knew I had. Ellie, Addison, and Tuesday have become such treasured friends.
Leaning back in my chair, I rub my stomach for an entirely different reason. “God, I’m stuffed. I can’t ever leave a morsel when I come here. It’s ridiculous. I mean, I can practically walk home my leftovers.”
“Ha. I know, right? I swear I think Ellie puts crack in her food. I’m so addicted.”
“Addy, I hope you won’t be too?—”
Her attention is suddenly stolen away from me as she retrieves her cell phone from her back pocket, her face scrunching in a pensive expression.
“What’s wrong?”
“Trevor…” She continues to look down at her phone screen and my stomach starts doing somersaults. Sitting up taller in my chair, I try to calm my breathing. They’re okay. I’m sure everything is okay. “He says they’re on scene of a big one. He said it’s close enough we can probably see it lit up from here.”
My hand flies to my mouth. I know Jason would get called to come to a scene like that. He hadn’t been on duty today, just doing administrative work. But Trevor, Matt, and Alex were at the station. Heck, these boys are all so tight, if a large fire broke out, they’d likely respond from home to see how they could help each other out.
Ellie stops by our table holding her phone. “I see you must have gotten the same message.”
Addison shakes her head in response. Biting the inside of my cheek, I try to quell the worry that Jason doesn’t think I’d care to know such details. I’m sure he’s simply in Captain mode.
“I’m going to walk down the sidewalk and see if we really can see the glow from here,” Ellie says. “Jonathan, can you cover the place for a bit? I’m just going to go out for a bit of evening air.”
“Sure, Ellie. The dinner crowd has died down anyway.”
Glancing at my watch, I realize it’s later than I thought. This is confirmed once we reach the front doors and discover the sun has set. I follow along behind Ellie and Addison, a huge lump lodged in my throat. I’d been so relaxed just moments ago. Now I was both worried and a little concerned by the lack of attention from Jason. I need to stress how important it is that he share things like this with me so I don’t worry any more than I already do.
We’ve barely made it two blocks when the shiny red fire engine, ladder truck, ambulance, and the quick response vehicle Jason frequently drives come into view. I don’t see any flames per se, but then again, I don’t see any firefighters either.
As we approach, Ellie and Addison continue to move toward the scene without slowing down. Rotating my head left and right, I’m surprised when no one stops them. I mean, sure, it’s a small town. So the rules might not be quite as stringent here. But I wouldn’t think someone as fierce about fire safety as Jason is would want innocent bystanders walking up onto a fire scene.
The thought has barely left my mind before Addy and Ellie stop and turn to me, wearing the oddest expressions. What the ? —
Then I see it. The uneven ground at the far side of the intersection is covered in flowers and luminaries. My mind instantly recognizes Tuesday’s handiwork here. But it takes untold moments for my brain to change gears and decipher what’s happening before me. Then gradually my eyes trail from one paper lantern to the next, the light flickering within each of them illuminating one letter.
W I L L Y O U M A R R Y M E
My hands fly to my face once I realize why my friends are staring at me in wonder. This is all for me.
A gentle hand to my back propels me forward and Jason comes in to view. He’s dressed, not in turn out gear, but his formal Captain’s dress uniform. Once his eyes connect with mine, he drops down on one knee prompting the waterworks.
“Quinn, thank you for coming into my life when you did. Never in a million years would I have thought I’d be grateful for the way my life has unfolded. I thought those days long ago were dark, but they would’ve been darker still had I not waited for you. There’s no doubt, you were made for me.”
Dropping to my knees in front of him, I reach for his arms to ground me. This doesn’t feel real.
Jason opens his palm and reveals a beautiful solitaire. “It was my mother’s. We can get one you prefer if?—”
“What? No. Why on earth would I want a different ring?” Then it dawns on me. She probably didn’t want an heirloom. She wanted a big shiny rock. This poor man. My heart has swollen so large with love for him, I’m afraid my chest will burst. I can’t stand it any longer. I need to be closer. Flinging myself at him, I bury my face in his neck as uproarious applause surrounds us. I’d almost forgotten we were in the middle of downtown Sycamore.
That deep rumble of laughter I love tickles my ear. “So, is that a yes?”
Now that I remember we have an audience, I decide to go all in.
“Yes! Yes! Yes! A million times yes!”