Tucker’s shoulder ached and the painkiller they’d given him at the hospital when they treated the burn to his ear was wearing off. Piercing pain throbbed down the side of his ear and neck. He reached for one of the painkillers. He hated taking pills, but he couldn’t bear this level of pain.
“You don’t have to apologize to us, Tucker. Sheila had all those boxes ready in record time. She’s like her own little production line,” Doris said. “The others packed them up this morning. They said it was the easiest sort and load they’d ever done.”
“I’m not surprised. She’s really something.” He’d looked forward to pulling the all-nighter with her.
Doris sat in the chair across from Tucker, shaking her head. “She was working like a fiend to get them done for you when I got there. I feel kind of bad, because I didn’t think to set expectations with her. I thought she was fine up there working, but I could tell when she came down and asked that she was worried you hadn’t gotten back.”
“Worried?” Frank shrugged. “People don’t really understand how we work.”
Doris nodded. “That’s true, but it wasn’t just that. I think she was legit worried something might have happened to Tucker.” Her eyes darted back to Tucker. “I think she really likes you.”
Tommy snickered. “All the women always really like Tucker.”
Sully said, “She seems nice. I talked to her at the Christmas Tree Stroll.”
Jonathan, Tommy, Sully, and Frank all stood in his living room behind where Doris sat on the couch. “Kelly said Sheila asked them about you, too,” Doris said. “They told her you’d been hurt, but that it wasn’t serious.”
Tommy said, “You have been spending a lot of time with her lately, Chief.”
“She’s nice,” said Doris.
“She’s very ladylike,” Sully said.
“She is every bit a lady,” Tucker said. “But she’ll be leaving town soon.”
Doris shook her head. “Or maybe she won’t.”
Tucker didn’t want to get his hopes up. “Her life is in Richmond. She has a business there. I don’t see her relocating up here, and I sure have no interest in going to Richmond.”
“If she was upset about you not getting back, she doesn’t sound much like fire chief wife material, anyway,” said Tommy.
“No one is talking marriage. I just met her,” Tucker said. “We’ve been having fun.”
“You looked serious about her. I think there’s something there,” said Doris.
“Well, if she freaked out over one late night, that would never work.” Tommy and Jonathan laughed.
“You got that right,” said Tucker. “Well, once she leaves, she probably won’t be back for a while. I guess that’ll be that. No harm. No foul.”
Something clattered out on the front porch.
“What was that?” Doris asked.
Tucker waved it off. “Has to be one of Mrs. Coleman’s cats again. Ever since I bought those new rocking chairs, they will not stay off my front porch. The other day, one of them left me a mouse.”
“That means they’re trying to please you,” Doris said. “Maybe they are trying to tell you they like those rocking chairs.”
“They ought to be apologizing, clanging around at all hours of the night,” Tucker said.
“And you ought to be apologizing to Sheila for not letting her know that you’re okay,” Doris said. “I know it’s not my business, but you’ve seemed so happy the last couple of weeks. You deserve that in your life, and you aren’t getting any younger.”
“I’m not that old either. I screwed up not checking in with her, though. I really didn’t mean to worry her. I called her this morning. She sounded pretty mad.”
“Nothing a little heart-to-heart can’t fix,” Doris said.
Sully said, “You shouldn’t have made her worry. She’s a good one.”
“I know she is,” Tucker said. It came out defensive, and regret was beginning to outweigh the pain from the burn. “She’s the best thing that’s come into my life. I’ll miss her when she leaves.”
“Richmond isn’t that far to go for the right person,” Sully said. “You don’t meet the right person without some effort.”
“Spoken like a newlywed,” Jonathan teased.
“You guys need to mind your own business,” Doris said. “Seriously. If you like her, and I think you do, make it right.” She got up. “Come on, you gooberheads. Let’s let Tucker get some rest.” She looked over her shoulder. “Or make phone calls.”
She shuffled the guys out, and Tucker sat there wondering why he hadn’t called her last night from the hospital. He’d thought about it. More than once. But he didn’t want her to worry, and he really didn’t think she’d stay up at the fire station all that time.
Truth was, he didn’t want to look like a lovesick fool in front of the others, either.
When the alarm sounded and he left, he’d figured they’d be out and back quickly. It didn’t seem like the kind of call that would take multiple trucks, but it was a bigger deal than that.
He sat there in the recliner until he heard the guys drive off in Sully’s truck.
I need to set this straight.
Tucker picked up his phone to call, then tucked it back into his pocket. He walked out of his house. Some things are better done in person.
He headed for Orene’s house, his strides long and the words playing in his mind.
He’d just stepped off the sidewalk into Orene’s driveway when he saw the back of her.
Sheila was just a few steps from the porch.
“Hey. Sheila?” Tucker waved his arm in the air. “I’m so sorry about last night.”
“Sorry?”
“Yeah, I should’ve called.”
“You should have. I was worried.”
She seemed upset—not just worried, but a little mad. “I’m not going to tell you not to worry. I work in a dangerous occupation. A little concern is expected, but I promise you I’m very good at my job. I keep myself out of harm’s way, and keeping my men and women safe is my priority.”
Her gaze went to the big cotton bandage over his ear.
“It doesn’t appear you did so good at that last night.”
He nodded, even that small motion making the injury throb. “I’m sorry. I really wanted last night to be special.”
“Really? I don’t think you did. I mean, you know I’m just a city girl in town for a visit. Nothing special.”
He cocked his head. Where the hell had that come from?
“Look—”
“No, you look. I might have overreacted. I don’t know, but I really enjoyed spending time with you and maybe it was just Christmas magic, but I thought we had something special going. At least I was sincerely enjoying myself, not feeling obligated. You know, I can take care of myself. I don’t need a pity date. You’re off the hook. No harm. No foul.”
“Wait. Whoa.” He lifted his hand in the air. “Stop. That’s out of context.”
“I was at your house, trying to apologize for overreacting and to give you a Christmas present. I had no idea—” She turned and started up the stairs to the front door, then turned again and shoved the packages into his arms.
“Hang on. First of all, that was not the whole conversation! That was you making the noise on my front porch earlier, wasn’t it?”
“Doesn’t matter. I heard what I heard.”
“Let me explain. You’re upset. It didn’t mean what you think.”
“It really caught me off guard, because you seem…”
“Seem what?”
“Genuine. A nice guy. Fun. Not a jerk.”
“I’m not. Ask anyone in this town. And I can promise you this. Natalie and I might not be related, and we may not have known each other that long, but she was married to my best friend and I would never do anything to upset her. Trust me, upsetting you would upset her. And Orene. And a bunch of other people who have taken a liking to you besides me.”
She looked at him. “Well, we wouldn’t want you to ruin your reputation.”
“It’s not about me.”
“Isn’t it?”
“I screwed up, but I didn’t mean to. It does matter. I like you. A lot.” He closed his eyes, wishing the pain would subside so he could think clearly. “I know I’m putting my life on the line to save others. I’m trained to deal with the heat, the smoke, and the flames, but there’s always the risk of something going wrong.”
“I know, but I was worried. No. Really, it’s more than that. I don’t know if I could worry like that every time you went on a call.”
“It’s a big ask. I know it is. And I could’ve communicated better.”
“When you left, you said to stay. That you’d be back.” She shrugged. “I believed you.”
“You can believe what I say.” He contemplated. “You’re right. I should have called at the first opportunity.” He shook his head. “It’s been a while since I had someone else to consider. I’m sorry I worried you. In my mind, you’d worry less if you didn’t know I was on the way to the hospital, but I see your point. Please don’t be upset, and I know what you overheard, but that was in the middle of a discussion. A flippant, guarded remark, because I don’t want my job to scare you off. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me, and if you’d come in, you’d have heard me say that.”
“Thank you,” she said quietly.
He stepped closer. “Were you really that worried?”
She nodded. “I couldn’t help it. I know it’s your job, and I’m fully aware I don’t have any right to feel that way.” Shrugging. “It’s just … how … I felt kind of lost, and I didn’t like it.”
“It’s not easy being with someone in this profession. It’s a lot to ask. It’s not just me looking out for myself. I’m looking out for a huge team of people risking their lives to help others. A whole town. But I sure do like spending time with you, and I am so sorry I made you worried or mad or sad or whatever it was. I’m flattered that you cared that much to worry.”
“I sure didn’t mean to.” Her lips pulled into a straight line. “I tried not to.”
“I think we’ve got something here.”
“I don’t know. I mean, what you said about me leaving is fair. My life is in Richmond.”
“It’s worth at least giving a try. I mean, if you dance as good as your mom I’d like to take you out for a spin. And I still haven’t seen Virginia Beach. I think I might like the feeling of sand between my toes.”
“And I wouldn’t mind learning more about the mountains. It’s been so enlightening, but Tucker, Christmas is historically bad for me. My mom was diagnosed at Christmas, my marriage fell apart at Christmas, now this.”
“This isn’t falling apart. It’s a speed bump at best. I’m sorry about your mom and I can only imagine how she must’ve been before Alzheimer’s began stealing her away. Sheila, I know that’s got to be heartbreaking, and as for your ex: he’s the fool.” He reached for her hand, squeezing it. “I don’t plan to follow in his footsteps.”
Orene swung open the door. “I thought I heard voices. Is everything okay?”
They both said, “Yes.”
Orene laughed. “Sorry to interrupt.” She spun around. “You two kiss or something.”
They laughed as the door shut.
“Do you think she’s peeking out the window?” Tucker asked.
“Oh, I’d bet money on it.”
He raised his brow. “I’ve been wanting to do this anyway, and this is probably the right time.”
She looked puzzled, but when he pressed his lips to hers, she softened in his arms and responded in a way that lifted his spirits.
“Wow,” she said, as he opened his eyes and looked into hers.
“If I had to ask Santa for one gift, I’d ask for a chance with you,” he said.
“Do long-distance relationships ever really work?”
“I don’t know. I’m no expert, but I think if two people are meant for each other, anything can work. Can that be our gift to each other for Christmas? That we’ll give this a shot?”
“I gave you a present. You’re holding it.”
“Yeah. I guess I am. You didn’t have to do that. When did you have time to do this for me?”
“I made the time,” she said. “It was important to me.”
He pulled the soup out of the bag. Around the neck of the mason jar she’d hung the ornament from Joe’s Christmas Tree Farm. “From when we got my tree?”
“It was a really special moment for me,” she said.
“I’m glad. You should keep the ornament as a keepsake.”
“I want you to remember it too.”
“I will.” He pulled her into his arms. “See. This is what I love about you. You’re sweet and thoughtful. Genuine.”
“And still a little hurt. I am. I can’t help it.”
“I’m going to make it up to you.”