Chapter 33 #2
My eyes widened. I hadn’t even considered something like that.
A lot of fire inspectors would go freelance after they retired.
They’d work with insurance companies, assessing properties before issuing or renewing policies, or after a fire loss to determine cause and origin most of the time.
But there were other opportunities, too.
Like with Real Estate Brokers and legal cases where an expert is needed for inspections and as an expert witness.
“Would… Would that even be possible?” I asked.
“I mean, I’ve never seen a freelance inspector that was…
” I hesitated, “younger than you.” I gave him a sheepish smile.
“Why not?” Dad countered, ignoring the comment about his age. “You’re smart, dedicated, and Lou and I both agreed that you wouldn’t have any trouble running a business for yourself.”
“Then you’d be able to work your schedule around however you need,” Mom added.
“You could do a lot of the work from home,” Dad said. “And schedule appointments with clients during times that work for you.”
“What did Lou say?” I asked.
“He’s all for it. He knows that means you’d be leaving the station, but you know how fond of you he is. We all just want what’s best for you, Honey,” Dad told me. “If you’re not interested, that’s fine, but it occurred to me the other night and I just thought I’d throw it out there.”
It was the perfect solution. It really did mean I could spend as much time with my son as I wanted.
I really didn’t plan on running into burning buildings again anyway.
Being the inspector was my only focus. So why not go freelance?
I got to basically do the same exact job, just with setting my own hours. It was a win, win.
I’d have a never ending supply of baby sitters between my parents, Bolo’s parents, my sisters, and the other old ladies. Not to mention Bolo and I could arrange our schedules to where one of us would always be around. I wouldn’t need to worry about leave or whether I was running out of it.
“Do you think I’d be able to find enough business?” I asked.
Sophie made a scoffing sound. It was the first time my sisters were joining in. They’d even stopped the game to listen in and Audrey wasn’t complaining anymore. “There would be a ton of business here. It’s a big city.”
“And you know Lou and the other station chiefs would recommend you anytime someone asked,” Mom told me.
“I could help you with your website,” Shay offered.
“And I’ll run your socials,” Audrey added. “We’ll brand you as the sexy inspector.”
“No,” I said with a slightly horrified laugh. I pointed at her. “That is not how we’re going to brand me. I don’t even know if something like that would do well on social media. A freelance fire inspector, I mean. Absolutely no sexiness in there,” I reiterated.
Audrey rolled her eyes, but shrugged in a manner that I took as agreement.
“Sure it would,” Vivian replied. “Everyone is using social media to sell their businesses these days. I ended up watching videos of farriers last night for over two hours.”
“You don’t even like horses,” Dad said with a frown.
“No, but I’ve decided I like farriers,” Vivian replied with a dreamy smile.
“Most of them are old cranky guys in real life,” Sophie told her in a dry tone.
“Not the ones who put out videos while they work on their clients’ hooves,” Vivian shot back. “Shirtless.”
“Would the horses be the clients?” Shay asked. “Or the people who own the horses?”
“I think we’re getting off track here,” Dad said with a sigh as he rubbed his eyes. Hearing his daughters talk about men being shirtless was clearly giving him a headache. “The point is, we’ll do everything we can to help if that’s the route you choose to go.”
“Thanks, Dad,” I said, reaching out and squeezing his hand. “I really appreciate it.”
“Give it some thought, Sweetie,” Mom urged.
“I will. I promise.” My mind was already whirling with ideas and the things I’d need to research to make this happen. It really could be exactly what I needed.
We got back to the game and a few more hours passed as Audrey won two consecutive rounds of Monopoly and we all called it quits after that. Our parents and sisters went home and now Sophie was sitting on the toilet lid in her guest bathroom as I brushed my teeth before bed.
“What a great idea Dad came up with,” she said, watching me closely.
“I’m actually excited about it,” I mumbled around the tooth brush.
“Good! I am too. I’m sure Bolo will do whatever he can to help out.”
“He’d be fine with me not working at all,” I told her.
“That’s not a bad thing. He’s offering right, not demanding?”
“No, he’s not demanding anything. He’s supportive of whatever I choose. It’s not bad either, the not working part,” I spit in the sink, washed off the brush, and put it away in the holder, “but I don’t know what I want.”
“Being freelance gives you more of a chance to figure that out,” she pointed out. “You can make your own hours.”
“I know.”
“Take as much time off as you want after the birth.”
“I know.”
She laughed when I gave her an exasperated look. “Alright, alright, I know you know. Whatever research you need done, you know I’ll help with it.”
“Thanks, Sis.”
She stood up, hugged me, and then left to go get ready for bed.
I finished up my own nightly rituals and then laid down. I’d stayed in her guest bedroom enough times that I felt right at home. Visions of starting my own business danced in my head as I stared at the ceiling.
I wasn’t sure how long I’d been asleep but a coughing fit woke me up. Reaching over, I grabbed the glass of water on the nightstand and took a drink. I’d barely set it down when I started coughing again. My head had cleared just enough to recognize a scent that I knew all too well. Smoke.