Chapter 40 Patton
PATTON
Winnie appears in the bay doorway and stops short at the table for two set up in the middle with a tablecloth, candles, and surrounded by strands of softly glowing twinkle lights that I borrowed from the Fireman’s Ball supply.
“Patton, what is this?”
“Dinner.” I usher her in. “You said you wanted a real date. I’m on call, but I’m also stubborn.”
She laughs. “This is so thoughtful. So romantic. It’s perfect.” She steps in front of me, lifting onto her toes and wrapping her arms around my neck. “You did all this for me?”
“The guys helped. Hayes tripped over the table leg and almost took down the whole thing, but we recovered.”
She looks at me with her deep brown eyes, and I forget how to breathe. Unlike a fire, perhaps I don’t need oxygen to survive. All I require is Winnie.
I pull out her chair. “I made pasta. Your dad’s recipe. I take full credit if it’s bad.”
She blinks slowly, taking in this information. “I can’t imagine it being anything but delicious. I’m surprised he shared it.”
I recently reached out to Winnie’s parents to ask them an important question, and we ended up talking about food for an hour.
During dinner, we discuss her day, my call, Oreo chasing a squirrel out back, and the town gossip she heard from Mindy. The conversation flows, but the whole time, the wrapped package sits on the table between us, waiting. I get an A+ on the Alfredo.
Finally, after we’ve finished eating, I slide it toward her. “I need you to open this before the entire town shows up.”
“Why would the entire town—?”
“They will. Trust me.”
She glances toward the windows and says, “I’m surprised they’re not peering in, spying.”
I chuckle.
She unwraps the package carefully, revealing the leather-bound photo album underneath. Her fingers trace the embossed cover. She opens it and I watch her face as she reads the dedication I wrote on the first page:
For Winnie,
Every moment of my life has led me to you. I want a lifetime of memories with you.
Love, Patton
Her hand flies to her mouth.
“Keep going,” I say softly.
She turns the page, and I see the exact moment recognition hits as she looks at baby pictures of her at Joyce’s lake house, followed by toddler Winnie with wild hair and a dandelion clutched in her chubby fist. Then come school photos spanning years.
“How did you—?” Her voice breaks.
I move my chair closer so I can see the pages with her. “I asked your grandmother for help.”
Winnie shakes her head in disbelief as she continues through the album. Every page documents a piece of her life—her years in Reno, family gatherings at the restaurant, packing to move to Huckleberry Hill.
Then recent months, including photos she didn’t know existed. Her at town events, organizing festivals, making this community better, forging connections.
And then photos of us. The squirrel incident—someone captured her looking startled while I’m clearly trying not to laugh. The Fire & Ice Fest. Town planning meetings. The bakery’s grand opening. The Fireman’s Ball, both of us finally smiling at each other like we’re in love because we are.
The last pages have empty photo corners and a note that I wrote, For all the moments still to come.
Silent tears stream down her face.
I kneel beside her chair. “You spend so much time taking care of everyone. Making sure the people in your life feel seen and valued. But who makes you feel that way?”
She looks at me and brushes a kiss on my lips. “You.”
“I wanted you to see your whole life. Your whole story with room for what’s to come.” I take her hand and kiss the top of it. “I want new chapters with the person I love.”
She sets the album aside, throws her arms around me, and kisses me silly.
“Thank you,” she whispers against my lips. “Thank you. This is—I can’t even—”
When she pulls back, her mascara is smudged and her nose is red and her smile lights up her beautiful face.
“I love you so much,” I say.
“I love you too.” She taps the photo album. “I also want more of this. Us. A future.”
“Me too. All of it.”
That’s when I hear the telltale sound of multiple people trying to be quiet and failing.
“Is someone out there?” Winnie whispers.
“Probably everyone.”
“Everyone?”
“I told you the whole town would show up.”
On the lower half of the fogged glass of the bay doors, I see the silhouette of a dog.
The overhead doors slide open, and sure enough, Grandma Joyce and Judy Waples carry trays of brownies along with Mindy and Thomas, Pauline, Peony, the entire fire crew, Silver Sam with Buttercup, Lucky, Gail Clearwater, and Mayor Barbie appear.
I’m surprised they don’t have tubs of popcorn while they watch what amounts to small town live entertainment.
“Sorry!” Grandma Joyce calls out. “We thought you were going on a date, but saw your car here and got worried—”
Judy interrupts. “Don’t lie, Joyce. We’re being nosy and we brought brownies for everyone.”
Winnie tips her head back with laughter.
They spot the album, her tear-stained face and me still kneeling beside her chair.
Mindy squeals. “Are you engaged?!”
“No!” Winnie laughs harder. “Patton made me a photo album of my whole life.”
She shows them, and I watch as the album passes from hand to hand, the collective “aww” so loud that Oreo starts barking.
Pauline splays her hand across her chest. “This is the most romantic thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Romantic?” Hayes scoffs. “It’s epic. I told you guys it would work.”
Scotty glares at him. “You said it was too much.”
“I did not. I said it was ambitious.”
“You made us look at photo layouts,” James adds. “We’re firefighters, not scrapbookers.”
Austin grins at Winnie. “He’s been working on this for weeks. Drove Joyce crazy with questions.”
“He did,” Joyce confirms. “But it was worth it.”
I stand back, letting Winnie share her gift with the people who’ve become our community. She looks at me over their heads and mouths I love you.
I mouth back I love you too.
“The spirits say those two are going to get married,” Silver Sam announces.
“I’ll bet you ten bucks he proposes by Christmas,” Lucky says.
“You’re on.”
Mayor Barbie nods sagely. “I’ll start planning the engagement party.”
“Nobody’s engaged!” Winnie calls out, but she’s laughing.
That’s when her parents walk in, followed by her brother Fabrizio carrying a large pastry box. My mom brings up the rear.
Winnie’s lips part and form an O. “What—how—?”
“Patton invited us,” her mother says, rushing over to hug her. “He said you two were having a special dinner and we should surprise you with dessert.”
“Cannoli,” her father adds. “Just like home.”
Winnie looks at me, eyes wide. “You did this?”
“I made one call. Your mom did the rest.”
“Cathryn helped.”
Winnie is crying happy tears, laughing and hugging her parents and introducing them to everyone. The quiet romantic dinner I planned has turned into a full-scale community event.
I catch Mindy eyeing Fabrizio, who smolders in her direction.
“Your brother is cute,” she whispers to Winnie.
“Don’t even think about it,” Winnie warns.
“Too late. Already thinking,” Mindy sing-songs.
The crew starts moving tables, someone turns on music, and within minutes, the engine bay has transformed into an impromptu party.
I find Winnie in the crowd and pull her close. “I’m sorry. This was supposed to be just us, but I also couldn’t leave everyone out.”
She shakes her head. “This is perfect. This is us.” She gestures to the crowd—townspeople, firefighters, family, all mixing together. “This town has no concept of privacy.”
“Our town,” I correct softly.
“One big happy, dysfunctional family,” she agrees with a laugh and I join in.
Much later, after everyone finally leaves and we’re cleaning up, Winnie helps me pack away the decorations.
“Thank you for the album,” she says quietly.
“I wanted you to see how special you are, valuable, loved.”
“Even the messy, unflattering parts?”
“What parts?”
She laughs as we step outside so I can move the engine back into the garage. Later, hand in hand, we breathe in the fresh spring air.
She asks, “So what happens now?”
“What do you want to happen?”
“I want everything. With you.” She counts on her fingers. “Sunday brunches after church at my grandma’s. Watching you play hockey. Walks with Oreo. I want to help with the bakery.”
I’m smiling—that real, unguarded smile that only she seems to pull out of me. “I want all of that too.”
“We’ll take it one step at a time,” she says. “No rush.”
“But I need you to know that I’m in this. Completely.”
“Me too. All in.”
The sun is setting over the mountains, painting the sky in shades of pink and buttercream. I draw her toward the fire engine.
“What are you doing?” she laughs.
“Extending the ladder. Best view in town from up there.”
“Is it dangerous?” She looks dubious.
“I’m a professional.”
We climb up, settle in the bucket, and watch the sun disappear behind the peaks. She leans against me, and I slide my arm around her shoulders.
“Hey, Patton?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m really glad you made that stupid bet.”
I laugh. “Me too. Gave me an excuse to pursue you.”
“And I’m glad I made mine, otherwise, I may have kept butting heads with you.”
She tilts her head up, and I kiss her as the first stars appear overhead. I can’t help but think that this is what love looks like. Not just grand gestures—though dinner and the photo album were pretty grand—but everyday moments and I’m looking forward to a lifetime of them with this woman.
I glance toward my truck parked nearby. The small velvet box is still in the glove compartment where I’ve kept it for the past week. Not yet. But soon.
For now, I just hold Winnie close. I’m not scared of my future anymore.
She catches me staring into the distance, and her smile turns curious. “What are you thinking about?”
“You,” I say, which is true. “Always you.”
She snuggles closer and kisses me on the cheek and whispers, “I love you.”
“I love you,” I say as the stars multiply overhead and Huckleberry Hill settles in for the night.