Hi. I hope this is a convenient time for me to pester you on the job.
Its fine unless the alarm goes, but nobody can predict that. If he thought her presence was a nuisance, he must be determined not to let it show.
Are you busy? She nodded toward the cloth.
He grinned, tossing it aside. Not really. Its just a compulsion firefighters have, to make sure their rigs look the best. If you see a sloppy or dirty apparatus, you dont think much of the firefighters who man her.
She filed that tidbit of information away for the article, assuming it got written. I dont want to get in the way.
A pretty visitor is never in the way. A wheeled platform rolled out from under the nearest truck, and the firefighter shed seen the day before smiled up at her. Im Dave Hanratty.
Married. With kids, Seth added.
Hey, Im married, not blind. Dave got up. I can give Julie the tour if youre too busy.
Shed prefer that both of them stopped paying so much attention to her. Really, I dont want to take either of you away from your work. If youll just give me permission to start snapping, Ill disappear into the woodwork.
You can take any pictures you want, Seth said. But Ill show you around so you know whats where. Dave can go back to inspecting the undercarriage.
Single guys get all the breaks, Dave complained. He pulled the platform over with his foot. When youre ready for my close-up, just let me know.
Who would want a close-up of that mug? Seth asked innocently.
She was beginning to catch on to the ribbing that flowed ceaselessly between the men. I promise, Julie said. If I want a close-up, youll be the first to know.
Laughing, Dave rolled himself smoothly back under the truck.
Seth gestured. The engine room, but I guess you figured that out for yourself. We spend a lot of time here, cleaning, training, doing maintenance. Come on upstairs and see the rest of it.
She pulled out one of the cameras shed brought with her. Chances were good that anything she shot today would look too stiff, but she had to start or theyd never reach the point of comfort.
Seth gave a sidelong look at the camera as he led the way to the stairwell. She didnt have much trouble interpreting that look.
The camera bothers you, doesnt it?
He shrugged. I guess. Who knowsyou might catch me doing something I shouldnt, and then the chief would be on my back. Or something dangerous, and then my mother would be after me. Trust me, thats worse.
What would you do that you shouldnt?
Horseplay. He grinned. Firefighters are great ones for practical jokes. Officially, the chief disapproves.
He stood back to let her go up the narrow flight of wooden stairs first. She could feel him behind her as she climbed. Id think your mother would be used to having firefighters in the family by this time.
I guess mothers never stop worrying.
She paused at the top of the steps so she could see his expression. What about you? It must worry you, being in a dangerous job when youre a single parent.
She might as well not have bothered, because his expression didnt give one thing away.
I dont take chances, he said shortly. This is the kitchen. He gestured. We spend a lot of time here, and yes, we cook. People always ask that.
It was only as Lisas sister that she really had the right to have asked that question about his job. He was a single father. He did have a potentially dangerous job. This would be so much easier if she could just tell him the truth.
Lisa hadnt wanted him to know about her family, either. That was the bottom line. She searched for a safe remark.
Are you a good cook?
His expression eased at the innocuous question. My mother probably wouldnt think so, but Im about as good as anyone else here. All of us here have to cook for the group occasionally. I make a mean chili, anyway.
She took a few shots of the kitchen that shed undoubtedly delete from the digital camera, then continued snapping as he showed her a living area furnished with what looked like cast-offs from someones house and a small exercise room furnished with weights and a punching bag.
He gestured toward a closed door. Bunks and bathrooms are that way, but a couple of guys are sleeping right now.
And if the alarm goes off?
If a call comes in, dont get between that door and the pole.
The shiny brass pole led through a hole in the floor to the engine room below. So the pole really exists, does it? She began snapping again. I thought that might be a myth.
Theres a good reason for it. You have half a dozen firefighters trying to get down a flight of stairs at the same time, you got a mess. The poles faster and safer.
She focused her lens on the opening. You wouldnt care to give me a demonstration, would you?
I will if you try it, too.
She studied him through her viewfinder. He looked serious. Im not the athletic type.
If youre going to go out on calls with us, youll have to stop hiding behind the camera and take a risk or two. And thats the whole idea of this, isnt it?
The idea is to observe your relationship with my nephew.
Sure, but that doesnt mean I want to become a firefighter.
Come on. He grasped the pole with one hand and drew her forward, his eyes teasing. Even the ten-year-olds in our Future Firefighters club slide the pole. Ill show you how. Just hang on here. He patted the shiny brass.
I cant. She pulled back, feeling his arm strong around her. Youd have to have three or four people down there to break my fall before Id try.
He grinned. The idea is to slide, not to fall.
Even so
She looked up at his face, and her nerves gave that funny little jump again. He was too closeway too close. She could see the gold flecks in his brown eyes and the tiny lines that bracketed his firm mouth.
An inappropriate wave of warmth flooded her. Seths eyes seemed to darken, as if he felt it, too.
Oh, no. She could not be attracted to Seth Flanagan. She couldnt be.
For just an instant Seth felt the way he had when a beam came down on him in a smoky fire. His helmet had protected him from serious injury, but hed seen stars for a week afterward.
Looking into Julies eyes seemed to create a similar effect. He let go of her carefully, putting some distance between them. He wasnt looking to see stars anymore, either physically or emotionally.
Tell you what. Ill slide down to show you how its done, but you can take the stairs. This time.
Every time. Julie lifted the camera in front of her face. She did that a lot, maybe more than she had to. He couldnt help but wonder why she felt the need to hide.
Okay. He went into his usual pole-sliding demonstration. The alarm goes, you charge out, adrenaline pumping, and grab the pole with your arm, wrap your legs around and slide.
Julies face disappeared as he slid down a little faster than usual. He landed hard enough to jolt him. Well, it served him right for showing off just because a pretty woman was watching.
He looked up at the opening, but shed disappeared. He heard her footsteps on the stairs, and in a moment she emerged from the stairwell.
He looked up at the opening, but shed disappeared. He heard her footsteps on the stairs, and in a moment she emerged from the stairwell.
Very impressive.
Thank you. We try to keep up the image.
She nodded toward the closest rig. Why dont you go back to the cleaning you were doing when I came in, and Ill just ask a few questions while I take a few more photos.
Fair enough. At least cleaning would give him something to do with his hands. She seemed to think he was eventually going to forget that she and her camera were there, but he doubted that would ever happen.
He climbed up on the rig and looked down at her. Seems like youre going to have to come up here, too, if were going to talk. He held out his hand.
He could sense her hesitation. Then she nodded, grabbed his hand and let him pull her up onto the rig. She glanced around a little nervously.
Im not going to set off any sirens by touching the wrong thing, am I?
Theres nothing you can hurt back here. The controls are in the cab. He grabbed a rag and started polishing the chrome strip. Fire away.
He didnt forget she was there. But he did, oddly enough, begin to forget after a while that she was taking photographs. He polished the chrome, the familiar routine soothing. Julie had an easy, detached way of asking questions while she snapped that had him thinking about what he was saying instead of what she was doing.
Does it bother Davy that you work such long shifts?
His polishing slowed, and he turned to frown at her. Once again, he couldnt see her face because of the camera.
Do you know thats the fourth question youve asked about my son? I thought this article was supposed to be about firefighting.
Julie held the camera in place a moment longer, but then she seemed to realize they werent going any further until she answered. She lowered it, but her cool gaze didnt give anything away.
The story is meant to be about a family of firefighters. Naturally Im especially interested in the effects of that on the children.
Then you should talk with my sister Mary Kate. She has two kids, and her husbands a firefighter.
I plan to. But as a single fatherwell, you seem to have the more challenging role.
Im not so sure I want my private life included in your article.
Her expression grew a little cooler. I need the contrast of work and family life. Thats what the chief agreed to. Thats what your family agreed to.
She had him there. They had all agreed, but he hadnt realized she intended to probe into his life in particular.
I guess we did agree. He put the cloth down and leaned a little closer to her. He had the sense that shed have backed up if thered been any place to go. Okay. Ill go along with that, but you have to do something for me in return.
She eyed him warily. What?
I already mentioned it, but maybe you didnt realize I was serious. I want you to experience basic safety training. No matter what the chief says, I dont feel comfortable taking you to a fire scene unprepared.
She lifted her eyebrows, her green eyes as bright as a forest pond reflecting sunlight. You wouldnt be trying to discourage me, by any chance, would you?
Certainly not. Well, not consciously, anyway. I think its important.
She shrugged. Fine. I guess if I can go up in a fighter plane for my piece on women pilots, I can do this.
It sounded as if Julie was tougher than her delicate looks would indicate. Okay. Ill put you through the basics until Im satisfied you know how to handle yourself.
She leaned back against the side of the rig, studying him. And in return, I get a chance to photograph you and Davy, right?
He nodded. You can start this afternoon, if you want. Im scheduled to do a fire-safety presentation at Davys nursery school. You can come along.
She looked a little startled. Is he old enough for nursery school?
He turns three next week, so we started him for the fall session. He goes two afternoons a week, and he really loves it. He wasnt sure why he sounded defensive about it. He was Davys parent, and it was up to him to decide if Davy was old enough for nursery school.
Sorry, I didnt mean that as a criticism. Im not around young children enough to know.
In that case, it was going to be interesting to watch the cool, detached photographer coping with a bunch of rug rats.
Then maybe youd better put on a safety helmet. And some earplugs. Because youll be around plenty of them this afternoon.
The nursery school didnt really seem as noisy or intimidating as Seth had indicated when they approached it that afternoon.
This isnt so bad. Julie scuffed through the fallen leaves as they walked across the lawn toward the building. Like so much of Suffolk, it was built of mellow old brick. I dont hear a single scream.
Just wait. You havent encountered Davys class of preschoolers yet. He hefted the large duffel bag that apparently contained the gear he needed for his presentation. I went with them on a field trip to the pretzel factory earlier this month. He shuddered, grinning. Not an event I care to repeat.
It looks like a nice place. She was determined to be fair, in spite of her feeling that Davy was too young for nursery school. She nodded toward the bright play equipment scattered across the fenced yard under huge old oak trees.
Its the best. Both of Mary Kates kids went here. He hit a button next to the door, waved at the woman inside and then pulled the door open when the buzzer sounded. Showtime, he said. Were on.
What do you mean, we? She followed him into a hall decorated with murals and childrens art work. Im just an observer.
You find it safer that way, dont you?
The remark startled her, but before she could find a response, he was opening a classroom door. She followed him in, wrestling with his comment, not sure whether to be insulted or not.
It wasnt a matter of playing it safe, she assured herself. Her profession required that she be a detached observerthat was all.
The children were seated at low round tables, apparently having a snack, but Davy jumped up at his fathers entrance and raced to him for a hug. She watched his red-gold head nestled next to Seths with an odd lump in her throat. Davy was her blood kin, too, but hed probably never know that.
The teacher, a slender young black woman in jeans and a smock, clapped her hands. All right, boys and girls. Davys father is here to talk to us. Take your places on the rug, please.
Somewhat to Julies surprise, the children did as the teacher directed, gathering in a ragged circle on the braided rug and wiggling like so many puppies as they sat.
She slipped to the side of the group, finding a spot where shed be out of the childrens line of sight. She sat down, pulling out her camera, automatically calculating the amount of light that poured through the large windows on the side wall.
Some of you know that Davys father is a firefighter, the teacher said. Davy grinned, obviously proud. Hes going to show us what to do if theres a fire.
Seth sat on the rug. If he was nervous about this presentation, it didnt show. Hi, guys. He pointed to the patch on his uniform shirt. Like Ms. Sarah said, Im a firefighter. This patch says that Im a member of the Suffolk Fire Department.