“Why are we stopping at the firehouse?” Heather asked as JJ pulled into the station driveway after they’d had lunch after church one Sunday afternoon.
JJ undid her seat belt. “Max texted and I told him I’d swing by and drop you off.”
The February day was unseasonably warm, and Max had made plans to shoot hoops with some of the firemen off shift. The game they played wasn’t quite basketball, but some sort of game they’d dreamed up to accommodate Max’s sitting versus their standing. He’d explained it to her twice and she’d even sat and watched the day Simon joined in, but she still didn’t get it. It didn’t really matter—it was fun and Max had developed deeper friendships with several of the GFVFD force. Max’s Element in the corner of the drive now boasted an I Support GFVFD sticker on his back window like nearly every other car in town.
She knew the basketball hoop was out back, but that didn’t explain why the bay was empty. Usually there was always someone cleaning trucks or washing equipment, but no one could be seen.
“They’re probably in there somewhere. Let’s go find them.”
Heather and JJ pushed through the station doors, Heather wondering if they always kept the lights off like this. Wasn’t there supposed to be someone on-site all the time? “Max?” Heather called. “Are you in here?”
“Back here.” Max’s voice came from the dining room, but she still saw no lights on from over that way.
JJ began flicking light switches as they went until she finally reached the doorway and threw the switch that bathed the dining hall in light.
Revealing Max amid a dozen or so firefighters standing at attention in full dress uniforms behind him.
“Down!” came Chief Bradens’s command as he stood directly behind Max.
In perfect unison, the entire department removed their hats and got down on one knee. Heather grabbed the chair next to her for support.
“Since I lack the ability to do this the traditional way, I thought I’d make do with a few extra resources.”
He moved toward Heather just as JJ removed Heather’s hand from the chair and guided her down to sit in it.
“Max...”
“Hang on,” Max interrupted, his smile a mile wide and a bit nervous at the same time. “You’ll get your turn in a minute.” He reached behind him on the chair and produced a small black velvet box.
Heather tried to remember how breathing worked and Max moved up right next to her, picking up her left hand and smiling at the fact that she was shaking like a leaf.
“Heather Browning, I’d like very much to spend my life with you. Will you marry me?”
Her powers of speech left the building. She nodded once, then several times, finally choking out a “Yes!” that sent the firemen into thunderous applause and hoots of victory.
Suddenly, more faces appeared from out of the kitchen. Alex smiled and whooped as loud as the firemen. Melba—now fully showing with baby Maria—ran over to give Heather a hug. Heather’s mom came out of the kitchen already in full cry mode. Max’s mother kissed her son and then kissed Heather, too. Within seconds the room was filled with people she knew and loved—half of Gordon Falls had been in on this, it seemed. Simon—entering his second month back at school—was there, as were his parents. Margot, Violet, Pastor Allen and even Karl.
Tonight, she didn’t find she minded being the center of attention at all. Not with Max at her side, not even when Jesse Sykes began crooning the Motown song “Me and Mrs. Jones,” earning him a cuff from JJ.
“We’ve gotta get that boy a girl,” Clark Bradens moaned.
“I’m working on it,” Melba replied. “He’s a bit...outlandish, you know?”
“Sometimes,” Heather offered, “those are the very best men of all.”