Danny Mauro sat on his bed, leaning against the headboard in a room he used to share with his brothers but now occupied alone. At eighteen, he was still living at home. In his hand, he held two acceptance letters; both came a while ago.
Letter #1
“Congratulations. You’ve been accepted into the Anderson Fire Academy for the class beginning April 15. You are being recruited to one of the finest organizations in existence, the fire department. Pick up your uniform and information packet at the Anderson Fire Academy before the above date, and come dressed in daily blues, shoes shined, tie in place, hair combed. We will welcome you then.
Noah Callahan, Fire Chief
Letter #2
“Congratulations! You’ve been accepted into the next graduating class of Notre Dame University. We have reviewed your transcripts, recommendations, SAT scores and essays and find you are the type of young man we want to educate. Also, because of your situation, a financial aid package is attached. Welcome to our distinguished university.
The president of Notre Dame had signed this one.
“Be careful what you wish for,” his father always said, and Danny now mimicked aloud. “You might just get it.”
Danny had wished with all his heart and soul to be a Notre Dame man. His father had wished with all his heart and soul for his youngest son to become a fireman. Like Dad. Like his two brothers. It was expected.
Because you let it be expected, he admitted to himself.
He hadn’t been able to disappoint his father. Not that his dad would want him to do something he didn’t enjoy. But in the Mauro family, it was simply assumed that you’d want firefighting. How could he do anything else?
A knock on his door. “Come in.”
His mother poked her head inside. “Hey, buddy. I came to say good night.” She smiled down at the letters. “That your acceptance letter for tomorrow?”
“Yep.”
She studied him, and Danny was terrified she saw behind his mask, like she’d done when he’d hid frogs in his pockets or had a fight with one of the guys or was afraid to ask Sally Slattery to the prom. “You okay, Danny?”
“Sure.”
Unconvinced, she came into the room and he slid the Notre Dame letter beneath the fire department one.
She sat on the bed. Still pretty at fifty, she had soft brown hair and hazel eyes. God, he loved her. And his Dad. “You’ve been quiet lately. Reflective.”
“Just pondering my future, Mom.”
Again the scrutiny. “I’m not sure you’re telling me the truth. If you ever want to talk to us, your dad and I are here for you.” She squeezed his other hand. “Always.”
“Thanks, but I’m good.”
“Okay.” She headed to the door but turned back before she left. “You know, no matter what you do with your life, we love you to pieces.”
“I love you to pieces, too, Mom. And thanks.”
After she left, Danny berated himself. She’d given him a perfect opening, had even suspected something with her mother’s intuition, but he hadn’t taken it. Maybe he did want to be a firefighter after all.
So not true, the voice in his head echoed. So freaking not true.
o0o
Tess stood before the stage at the side of the gym, among the instructors, in front of the fifteen recruits. They came to the Anderson County Fire Academy from all the neighboring towns, including Hidden Cove. She studied the young group—no grandpas among them like Jack had been—and listened to Chief Hennessy tell them about the fire department. It was a paramilitary organization…members were expected to follow orders, dress correctly…be punctual. The first seven weeks would cover classroom work and the second half would be practical hands-on training. Those who made it in this class would start out as rookies and rise as far as their talents allowed.
Turning to the side, Olive gestured to the instructors. “These are the people who will teach you how to become a firefighter and an EMT. After your induction into the fire service, you’ll need to complete the EMS certification, but you’ll receive first-responder training along with firefighting techniques.”
Olive went on to introduce the teachers. One was new—the EMS instructor, Larissa James, who was employed by the city, not the Fire Academy. Tess hadn’t met her, nor had she been in any of their previous meetings because Larissa was recently appointed. The former EMS guy, Mark Lucas, had quit to take another job in a bigger city. It was unexpected, but Noah said they were lucky to have been able to draft Larissa. Not a firefighter but a paramedic, she was tall and lithe, a bit delicate. She wouldn’t be here full-time, but would cover the EMS segments.
“Now that the preliminaries are over,” Olive told the recruits. “Go into the large classroom on this floor for instructions on what we’ll study the first weeks.”
They headed to the large classroom off the gym. Once inside, the recruits sat down at a desk that had been designated for each of them by a tented name card.
“The Essentials of Firefighting text in front of you will be your Bible during your training,” Olive told them. “You’ll not only read it but mark it up, study it and make the knowledge in it your own. Now turn to the table of contents.” Pages ruffled. “Each of you will read aloud an area of study.”
Tess watched as the recitation began. Firefighter Safety…Rescue and Extrication…Building and Construction… It wasn’t until halfway through that she realized why Olive had started the class this way.
Recruit Liam Murphy read the title and blurb of his area with confidence. Anita Cruz’s energy and enthusiasm was palpable. Robert Johnson sounded nervous. Daniel Mauro read in monotone. Their recitation gave insight into their personalities.
Tess scanned them. They looked a bit shell-shocked. The book contained a huge amount of information, but if they didn’t learn it, they wouldn’t become firefighters. When her gaze landed on the back of the room, she saw Jack leaning against the wall. At his nod, Olive added, “I want you to meet one last person from the Fire Academy. Dr. Jack Harrison.”
Looking very professional in the navy pants and white shirt of an officer, Jack strode down the side of the room with an easy gait. She’d never watched him walk much and hadn’t realized even his stride was attractive. He joined the others up front. From where she stood, Tess could see a little nick he’d gotten from shaving. “I’m Dr. Harrison, or Captain Harrison, if you prefer. I’m the Academy psychologist.”
No one even moved. The recruits remained stone-faced.
“I’m sure that even in the first hours of training, you’re overwhelmed. Know that is common. You’ll feel that way until you get your fire legs.” Here he grinned broadly, and the gesture made Tess’s stomach contract. “That’s our equivalent of sea legs. Meanwhile, I’ll help you navigate these new waters. Every Wednesday and Friday afternoon, you’ll come to me at four p.m. We’ll share some food, my treat, and then we’ll talk about your experiences here.”
Again, Tess scanned the group. Now they looked confused.
“I’m conducting this Recruit Concerns class because the fire department wants you to have a place to share your feelings.”
A couple of recruits sighed heavily, stiffness leaving their shoulders. Hmm, Jack’s statement made them less worried. Tess wasn’t sure that was a good thing. But Jack seemed confident about the rightness of holding the class. Tess hoped it didn’t come between them too much. Though they agreed to be just friends, she didn’t want to go into combat with him.
As planned, Tess stepped forward. “I’ll be leading you in your first fitness event. Go to your assigned lockers, get dressed for physical training and store your stuff. You have five minutes to accomplish all that. Don’t make me start without you. After PT, you’ll shower, dress in your uniforms again and be back here by eleven hundred. Pronto. Lateness will not be tolerated.”
She’d made her voice purposely stern. Jack could coddle them all he wanted, but she wouldn’t and hoped the other teachers were closer in stance to her.
o0o
Jack’s intentions were good. He was going to leave the classroom without talking to Tess. She’d turned to him during the ordeal with Sabina, but she’d made it clear when he visited the Malvaso house a few days ago that they were back to square one. He needed to respect Tess’s wishes. But today, when he got to the exit after the recruits went out, Tess reached it simultaneously. Kismet or bad luck?
“Good morning, Captain Righetti.”
“Dr. Harrison.”
He studied her face. “You look rested.” She did. Her hair shone in the overhead lights, her eyes were clear. Even her skin glowed.
“Sabina is an easy patient, as you might guess.”
“How is she?”
“Chomping at the bit to babysit the grandkids. Mitch is having a hell of a time convincing her not to do that anymore.”
“Was it fun spending so much time with her?”
“Yeah.”
“Good.” He squeezed her arm and said, “See you later.”
As he walked away, he pondered the two sides of Tess. From her behavior up front, she was establishing a firm tone with the recruits. But in her interactions with Sabina and the rest of the Malvaso family, she turned into a vulnerable woman. He knew, of course, people had many facets to their personalities, but he was having trouble reconciling these diametrically opposed traits in her. He was still thinking about that when he reached his office and found a tall, blonde woman at his door. His smile was immediate. “Hey, Larissa. Good to see you again.”
“Same here. I’ve come for advice.”
Jack had worked with Larissa on city projects at various times; she seemed confident enough, so he wondered what she referred to. He opened the office door. “Come on in.”
Once they were inside, they took seats on a couch. “So, what can I do for you?”
“I wasn’t prepared for this job. I’ve never been in charge of EMS in a recruit class. I helped Mark over the course of the years with different segments of the medical training, but that was mostly during practicals. I’d like some advice on how to approach them as students.”
“Hmm.” He was thoughtful. “I don’t hold the tougher-you-are-the-better-teacher-you-are philosophy.”
“Me, neither, but…” She shrugged. “I don’t look much like a teacher. What I mean is…”
“You’re young and beautiful and are worried they won’t take you seriously.”
“I’m not that young. But essentially, yes.”
He cocked his head. “I’ve always found you to be professional and strong on knowledge. Let them know that you’re in charge, that you know your stuff, and what you expect from them. Those traits should go a long way in establishing your authority.”
“Good advice.” She stood. She was beautiful with that blond hair and those light blue eyes.
“Jack, can I ask you something personal?”
“Sure.”
“Would it be unprofessional to have lunch together sometime? Get to know each other better. I’m working here, but it’s only temporary.”
He thought of Tess’s argument that seeing each other would be unprofessional. “Well, I do have that Recruit Concerns class. They might talk about you.”
“That’s a good point, but I’m not worried about it.”
“All right, let’s do it sometime.”
She left the office, and suddenly Jack realized he was flattered that he’d been asked out on a date.
o0o
The morning was warm and no mid-April breeze cooled the air, as had been the case all week. A savage sun beat down on them as the trainers and recruits headed out to trails behind the Academy.
Cory Cameron joined the group today. When they gathered together, he introduced himself. “Hi, guys. I’m the physical therapist/trainer at the Academy. If you get hurt, I tend to you. If anyone needs more physical training than you’re getting, I run a class at six a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday.”
No one moaned. No one even moved a muscle. Either these kids were scared to death, or they had a lot of self-control.
Because she didn’t know what they were feeling, Tess added, “It won’t be held against you if you need more fitness training. You all passed the initial physical exam, but you have to be in top shape, very soon.” Fitness was always an issue at first. “Remember you can’t be a firefighter without stamina and strength. So take Mr. Cameron up on his offer if need be.” She thought of her ankle. “Let me tell you this now and get it over with. I’m off the line because of a weak ankle that I injured in a fire. I can’t jeopardize fellow firefighters by going into a situation without being in top shape. So you have to be, too.”
Cory added, “If you injure yourself, come to me. Don’t tough it out. Something could be wrong and you could make it worse.”
Tess purposely looked her nose down at them. “I might add that I can probably still outlast you all today, but give it your best shot. Let’s go.” She’d offered to take the first, easier exercise, to do exactly what Cory said, take care of herself. She’d learned her lesson.
Falling into step at the head of the class, she asked Cory, “Think they’ll keep up?”
“They will today. Wait until they get to the Confidence walks.” The recruits hadn’t been told yet about the grueling biweekly walks they’d be taking, in hot weather, in full gear. They’d know soon enough. Olive didn’t want to shake them up this soon, and though Tess hadn’t necessarily agreed with waiting, it was a small compromise to make.
“So, the ankle good?”
“Yeah, I’m wearing the brace you gave me. It feels better than any I’ve ever had. Almost makes me forget it’s injured.”
“Don’t overdo.”
She smiled at him. “I won’t.”
They walked for ten minutes, then they sped up. At a half hour they went as fast as walking would allow. She slowed at fifty-five minutes to cool down. Before they were completely finished, Olive, who’d been at the back so she could observe the recruits, blew a whistle. Everybody halted. Turning around, Tess saw the BC wending her way through the fifteen bodies.
Cory and Tess met up with her in the middle. Tess was shocked to find a recruit—Anita Cruz—on the ground, gasping for breath. Cory dropped to his knees. He placed his hands on the side of her neck. “Pulse is racing. Recruit, try taking deep breaths.”
“I…I can’t.”
“Sure you can. Close your eyes. Do it with me. Breathe in… Let it out slowly.”
After a few minutes, Tess could see Cruz’s chest rise and fall more slowly.
Olive knelt down, too. “Head back to the training hall. Sit down, have some water. Someone will go with you.”
She glanced at Tess, then nodded to Cory. “You go, okay? Captain Righetti, stretch out the troops.”
Huh! That was interesting. Had Jack’s warning about her strictness affected Olive’s decision to let the trainer go with the recruit instead of her? Did she think Tess would be too hard on Cruz? She’d ask the BC later. Right now, she had the rest of them to lead.
o0o
“Thanks for coming in to see me before lunch, Cruz.”
Feeling flushed and clammy, Anita stared at Chief Hennessey, wondering if she was going to get kicked out of the Academy on her first day. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Sit.” When she did, the chief held up a manila folder. “Department physicals show you passed the test to become a recruit. Yet on the first day, you practically faint. Did you eat breakfast?”
No. “Yes.”
“Did you sleep last night?”
Hardly. “Yes.”
“So what happened?”
Since she couldn’t tell the truth, she averted her gaze. “I don’t know. I feel fine now.”
“I don’t know won’t cut it. You’re scheduled for another physical exam with the department doctor this afternoon. If you don’t get a clean bill of health, you’re out.”
She couldn’t be. She had to make it in this class. So she looked the woman in the eye. “I passed everything once.”
“Maybe you’ve got a bug.”
“I don’t have any symptoms.”
“Somehow,” the chief said, “I don’t think you’re telling me everything.” Hennessey’s statement had a note of sympathy in it, and the woman’s hazel eyes had a ton more warmth than Captain Righetti’s. Thank God she hadn’t left the trails with Anita.
Anita struggled to keep her voice from trembling. “I’m telling the truth.”
“All right. Go to lunch. Eat plenty. Visit the fire department doctor, then come back to the classroom. I’ll see you at the end of the day.”
Shaken and afraid, Anita left the office. She barely made it to the locker room, then dropped down on the bench and put her face in her hands.
“Hey, Cruz. You okay?”
Her head snapped up. She was relieved to find another recruit in the locker room instead of a teacher. And who wasn’t Mauro, who was acting like a zombie. “Yeah, Murphy, I’m fine.”
He dropped down next to her. “What’s goin’ on?”
“I don’t know. I got weak all of a sudden.”
“It wasn’t that hot.”
“I see the doc this afternoon.”
“You, um, wanna talk?”
She stood abruptly. “Nah. Nothing to say. I’m sure it’s a fluke.”
“Yeah, okay.”
“But thanks for asking.”
Murphy nodded and strode out of the locker room without waiting for her. Which was good. She needed to keep to herself, stay focused. She didn’t have time for friends.
o0o
“Hey, there, Doc.” The voice came from behind Jack as he stood at the stove of House 7, Group 3.
Pivoting, he smiled at Grady O’Connor, who’d taken over for Tony. “Captain O’Connor, good to see you.” Jack wiped his hands on his apron and held one out to him. Instead of shaking, Grady gave him a bear hug. Jack had spent a lot of time with this man, and now he could see those results in Grady’s sparkling eyes and relaxed stance.
Grady glanced at the counter. “You making steak for us today?”
Jack enjoyed these excursions, when he got to go to the firehouses to cook. And he especially liked House 7 because it was home to the Quint and Midi and a Rescue truck. This way, he could see a lot of the guys at once. Today, he’d come while the Rescue Squad was at a call and started the meal alone in the house.
“Everybody loves steak so, yeah, I’m spoiling you today.”
“And since you’re here we won’t get another call during lunch.”
“Shh. Don’t jinx my record.”
By some freak of fate, every time Jack visited a firehouse to make lunch or dinner, the group didn’t catch a fire, or any other call, until the meal was over. An interruption was bound to happen, and Jack had a plan for that: he’d either go on the call just to experience one again, or he’d stay and wait for the guys to come back, nosing around the firehouse, reading their literature, straightening up, until the meal was cooked. Sometimes, too, only one truck went out, so he got to spend time with those on other rigs, at least.
“I’m going to shower,” Grady told him. “Be back soon.”
“Fine.”
When Grady left, Jack put the chuck steak in a pan to brown and opened cans of tomatoes. Reaching up into the cabinet, he found the vinegar, oregano and bay leaf. He’d brought his own fresh garlic. As he prepared the meal, he savored the scent of cooking meat and spices and tried not to think about Tess. But she was never far from his mind. Today, he was remembering that night at the Inn, her mouth swollen from his, telling him there could be no relationship between them.
“Son of a bitch!” he said aloud. Maybe it couldn’t go further, but she was still attracted to him.
Disgusted with himself, Jack finished the meat and took a seat at the table. On it was a copy of The Heart of Hidden Cove. The magazine was put out by the husband of a firefighter on a different group in this house. He read about Parker Allen Erikson and Lisel Woodward’s plans for the Hale’s Haven camp this year. One of Jack’s favorite things about working for the HCFD was the camp they spearheaded for the children of slain firefighters and police officers, and now the kids of veterans of war. Mitch and Megan Malvaso started the project almost a decade ago, and a huge number of fire and police members had helped make the camp grow and flourish.
“Hey, Doc.”
Looking up, Jack smiled and stood. “Riley Gallagher. One of my favorite people.”
“Ha! It wasn’t too long ago you knew what a jerk I was.”
“Yeah, but you came out of it.”
Riley and Jane Phillips, who was teaching with Tess, had a rough time after years of being together. Riley had sought help from Jack to reconcile with his estranged father. Things must have gone well all around, because his dad had been best man at his son’s wedding to Jane not long ago.
“Janie doin’ good at the Academy?” Riley asked of his wife.
“When has Janie ever not done good at something?”
“She’s a gem.” He got a faraway look in his eyes. “I can’t believe I almost lost her.”
“Don’t forget it, but don’t dwell on it.”
“Okay, Doc.”
“Did somebody say Doc?” Nick Evans entered the kitchen. Dressed in blue sweats, he was barefoot. And looked a lot younger than he had last year. Nick’s story had been sad, and he’d come to Jack when he wanted to marry Stacey Sterling but didn’t feel worthy.
“Hey, buddy.” Again, Nick enveloped Jack in a bear hug, too.
“Jack. Good to see you.”
Riley snorted. “Everything’s good to you these days.”
“Yep. I caught some of that fairy dust here at Happyland.”
“How’s Stacey?”
“Good. She’s five months along. Hell, I’m going to be a dad again.”
Jack knew he’d help sprinkle some of the dust. All these hugs, the relationships he’d formed over the years made him forget his own issues for a while.
When the crew came to the table, Jackson McCabe sat next to O’Connor. The paramedic had had some trouble with alcohol but he’d been clean and sober for ten years. And he appreciated the meals probably more than anybody. “This is so damn good it makes me wanna cry.”
“Baby,” Lisa Beth, his partner, said.
The meat was tender, the noodles perfectly done and the bread crusty. And no calls came in until just after lunch was finished.
“Your timing’s impeccable,” Nick said to Jack. “Come on, the rest of you. Let’s get to it.”
He followed the firefighters out to the bay, watched them jump into the turnout pants and boots, which were lined up, ready to be filled. They hopped on trucks, where they’d don their coats. At the scene, they’d get the SCBA masks on.
After the rigs left, Jack went to the kitchen and began clean up. He’d been soaking pans, so he scoured them mindlessly. Until Tess took center stage.
What was she doing now? Was she being hard on the recruits today? Just from observation, he could tell they were intimidated. He could help them with his class; he knew it in his gut. But as he rinsed pots and put them in the dishwasher, he wondered how he’d feel when they said negative things about Captain Righetti. He wasn’t prejudging, he just knew there’d be some fireworks with her.
Then his mind turned to a different kind of fireworks with the woman, and he forgot all about the recruits.
o0o
Tess and the other instructors laid out fifteen sets of firefighter gear on the stage of the Academy while the kids ate lunch. Each set was labeled with one of the recruits’ names, as they’d been fitted for size when they came to pick up their uniforms a week before class started. The students filed onto the stage, looking a little less overwhelmed than they had all morning.
Tess said evenly, “Find your name on the equipment that’s been assigned to you.” She waited as they sought out their spots. Tess nodded to the gear she’d set out for herself. “Let’s start with the bottom up, because that’s how you’ll put your protective clothing on when you get a call. I’ll demonstrate then you follow suit.”
She’d set up boots with the pants stuck in them. “First are your boots and bunker pants. You’ll leave them positioned like this in the bay first thing in the morning and after every run. When a call comes, you’ll jump into both simultaneously.”
For effect, she carefully toed off her shoes. “I know you see firefighters kicking off their shoes on TV shows, but don’t do it. I worked on a shift once where a smoke eater almost got his eye poked out by someone else’s shoe.” Stepping into the gear, she pulled the pants up to her waist and fastened the suspenders. “Make sure these fit tightly.” She nodded to the floor. “Your turn.”
They began the process. When all fifteen had the two items on, she retrieved a turnout coat and slid into it. They did the same and fastened it up. “This was the easy part. Learning how to put on the breathing apparatus is the most crucial and the hardest.”
They watched her with owl eyes.
She held up a hood. “You put this on first. It’s made of Nomex, a specially engineered material to keep your head, neck and ears from getting burned. You don’t want embers getting under it, so adjust it carefully. I hadn’t taken enough time once—those little suckers snuck in where skin was exposed. It itched and burned like hell for days.”
Next came the tanks for the oxygen. First, she showed them how to check that the thing was full. That took twenty minutes, as she watched each recruit follow the procedure. Next, she inserted herself into the straps that would secure the cylinder. As the recruits tried to emulate her, she, Jane, Olive and Quinn walked around to assist. Tess approached Mauro. Without any help, he’d slid into the straps, buckled each properly and was already adjusting the regulatory device. “Whoa, hotshot, we’re not there yet.”
His face blanked. “Oh, sorry.”
She studied his face. “You know something about gear?”
He nodded.
She arched a brow.
“My father and brothers are firefighters. They already went through all this with me.”
“I see. Any of them trained to instruct in proper methods of donning gear?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Then, stay in step, Recruit Mauro.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Once all fifteen sported tanks on their backs, the instructors went about the arduous task of teaching them to put on air masks. Out of nowhere came an image of Jack, in her class, wrestling with the mask and swearing under his breath. He’d been a firefighter for years. The notion gave her more patience with the recruits.
It took two and a half hours to get all fifteen fully dressed and checked by an instructor.
Olive Hennessey looked at her watch. “Take off the facemask, helmet and hood.” She scanned the recruits. “You look worse for wear.” Down to a person, the recruits were dripping with sweat. “Go put your gear in the locker room. Lt. Phillips will show you where to stow it. Then hydrate. In fifteen minutes come back here wearing just your uniforms.” She smiled at Tony. “Lt. Ramirez will show you what every firefighter should carry in his or her pockets, and he promises it won’t be strenuous.”
They exited with slumped shoulders and dragging feet. Tess took off the borrowed gear, trying not to think about how good the heavy equipment felt, how its smoky scent was so familiar and the smell caused a spike of adrenaline to go through her. She’d never wear it into a fire again.
That ugly fact stayed with her as she descended the stairs to get some water. By the half fridge off to the side, she found Jack, his stance casual, his face relaxed. God, he looked good like this. She hadn’t seen or heard him come in.
She asked, “How long have you been watching me?”
“I got back from the firehouse a half hour ago. I stopped in to see how things were going.”
“Why were you at a firehouse?”
When he explained his lunch and dinner missions his face brightened, so he must have enjoyed it. “That’s a great idea.”
“I have them once in a while, Teresa.”
“So, what’d you think of my lesson?” Her tone was challenging.
“It was perfect.” He watched her. “Except for one thing.”
That annoyed her. “Seriously?”
“Yeah, I’ve seen other instructors teach this content. They allowed the recruits to take off their turnout coats and pants for the time you have to spend on the SCBA.”
“Why would they do that? Recruits have to learn how to put on the tank and face mask fully dressed.”
His expression was one of…pity? What the hell? “Seasoned firefighters have mastered how to get into gear quickly; they aren’t learning. You know as well as I do, it takes them minutes to suit up. For first timers, it takes hours to learn how.”
The knowledge that he might have a point niggled at her, but she ignored it. She’d taught this lesson before in the same way. “Criticizing me already, Captain?”
“You asked.”
“My mistake, then. Do me a favor and stay out of my instruction until the recruits come to complain about it to you.” She started away. He grasped her arm, but she shrugged him off.Damn him. He was finding fault, and it was only day one.
While she was talking to Jack, Tony Ramirez had come into the gym and was distributing papers on two tables where they’d eaten earlier. “Need help, Tony?”
He glanced up at her. For the first time, she was struck by his appearance, which everybody teased him about—they called him and his wife the Beautiful People. “Yeah, sure. Put some paper on the second table and add the magic markers.”
After she checked out the material, she gave him a quizzical look. “I thought you were going to teach them what to store in their pockets before they went into a fire.”
“I am. This is a game to learn about the tools.”
“It looks like a puzzle.”
“More of a picture find. They have to search out and trace the tools and other things that they could or should carry with them into a building.”
“Why don’t you just tell them?”
“Because kids learn by doing. And it’s a good idea to make lessons fun.” He added, “Especially after such a grueling afternoon session.”
Still stinging from Jack’s comments, Tess snapped, “You have something you want to say about my instruction, Lt. Ramirez?”
His brows rose in an innocent look. “Not a thing. I don’t judge others’ teaching methods.”
Left unsaid was so don’t judge mine.
Tess took in a deep breath and let it out. “You’re right. I’m sorry for questioning you. Maybe I’ll play the game, too.”
Tony gave her a brilliant smile.
After distributing the papers, she sat down and picked up a marker. Hell, she didn’t see anything at first. Then the wire cutters came into focus, the screwdriver, the knife and a light. It was kind of fun outlining each one.
“Done,” she said, making Tony cross to her.
He picked up her paper. “Nope, you’re not. You missed some.” He winked at her. “And you’re a seasoned firefighter. Not so easy, is it, Captain?”
“I hear ya, Tony,” she said good-naturedly, and went back to the game.
It wasn’t until later in the day, she wondered why she could take Tony’s implied criticism on the chin but prickled when Jack expressed something similar.
o0o
Tess leapt out of bed, wearing the T-shirt and shorts most firefighters slept in at the firehouse. She pulled on pants and socks and hurried downstairs. Grumbling from the rest of her team about being awakened so abruptly was minimal. They all knew the job of the night shift.
She dove into her boots and bunker pants and adjusted the straps, then climbed onto the truck. Ramirez was the officer, so he sat shotgun, Frazier drove, and next to her were Chief Hennessey and Phillips.
Tony read the paper he’d torn from the computer about the call. “Blaze on Avenue D.” Which was downtown Hidden Cove. “The just-built skyscraper in town, which means we’ll have excellent water usage from a brand new standpipe to attack the fire.”
Soon the rig screeched to a halt in front of the scene. Working standpipes were a necessity as they funneled water from the hydrant or pumper up several floors. Three trucks were on site—Rescue 7 and their Quint and Midi. Tony hopped off the rig while the others donned their Nomex hoods, snapped on the backpacks, adjusted the breathing mechanism and secured helmets.
“Don’t forget pocket tools,” he told everybody.
Their job, Ramirez reported, was to go to floor five, where the fire had started, carrying a heavy hose to hook up to the standpipe. He led the way, and Tess was right behind him. Halfway up, she began to sweat. Then her ankle started to ache.
“What’s wrong, Righetti?” Ramirez asked.
“Nothing.”
He said, “I don’t judge.”
They kept going. It was hotter than hell on floor five as the fire blazed before them. Ramirez stopped. “I don’t have a good feeling about this.”
Grabbing the hose, Tess limped over to the standpipe, and went to turn the valve. She needed purchase on her legs and…couldn’t get it.
She glanced over her shoulder and saw her crew, standing stock still waiting for her.
Their faces began to melt.
Their shoulders drooped into the bunker pants. Soon they’d be a puddle on the floor…
Tess awoke with a start. She was roasting in her gear, covered with sweat, and her breath came like bellows. But, looking around, she realized she was in the Malvaso home, on the second floor in Zach’s old room. Swinging her feet off the bed, she tried to calm herself.
But she couldn’t. If she kept breathing like this, she’d hyperventilate. She tried slow ins and outs and calmed some. But her hands kept shaking. This kind of thing hadn’t happened in a long time, but she’d had several attacks after Joey died. Often, she’d call Mitch or Zach. She could get someone in the house now. But she didn’t want to disturb them. Anyway, she knew who she wanted to talk to. Unable to squelch the need, she picked up her phone from the night table, got into her contacts and punched in Jack’s number.
He answered on the third ring. “Harrison.”
“Jack. It’s Tess.”
Calmly, he asked, “What happened? Is someone hurt?”
“Um, no.”
“Teresa, it’s three o’clock in the morning. Something must be wrong for you to call me.”
Her whole body was tight as a whipcord, making her muscles hurt. “No, nothing life-threatening.” She ran a hand through her hair. “God, this is embarrassing. I had… I…I had a nightmare. I couldn’t catch my breath. And I’m shaky.”
“All right.” Some rustling. “Lie down on the pillows and get under the covers.”
Scooting back on the bed, she rested her head and pulled up the quilt. She was no longer warm.
“Take some deep breaths.”
Already she was settling from the sound of his voice. But she took three more breaths. After about ten seconds, she said, “I feel better. That didn’t work well when I tried it alone.”
“Glad I could help. You were having an anxiety attack from the dream.”
“I used to have them all the time.”
“Tell me about this one. Talking will dilute its power.”
She turned on her side. “I was in a fire. I endangered my crew. But they weren’t actually my crew. They were instructors at the Academy.”
“Think back. What were the similarities in the dream to what happened today?”
“I was overheated and dizzy before we got to the fire. Sweat dripped in my eyes.”
“I think we both know where that came from.”
“Oh, yeah, probably.”
“What else?”
“There was something about tools in it. I discussed what firefighters carry inside in their pockets with Tony today.”
“Harmless enough.”
It wasn’t, but she didn’t mention the discussion she and Tony had had and what wasn’t said but recognized.
“They all were dying, Jack. Melting away. Fuck, like the witch in The Wizard of Oz.”
“Why?”
“Because I couldn’t open the standpipe. I couldn’t get a good stance to turn the wheel.”
“Honey, you’re mourning the loss of your position on the line. You’re trying to work out in your dreams what you just lost.”
“You think so?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Thanks.” She picked at the bedspread. “I didn’t expect a therapy session.”
“What did you expect? Naughty talk?”
A shiver went through her. “Um, no.” Though right now, trading sexy quips seemed a lot better than delving into her psyche. His husky voice reminded her of their night together, how he kissed her, touched her, moved inside her. “Maybe just a friend.”
“We said we’d be that for each other.”
“I guess.”
“Anything else?”
“No, I’ll let you go.”
“It’s all right if you want to talk about mundane things. It’s going to be a while before your body catches up with your mind on the nightmare. You won’t sleep right away.”
“I’d like to, Jack.” She wanted to call him John. She wanted to be Teresa tonight. The picture he displayed on his desk came to mind. “Tell me about your kids.”
“They’re almost done with the second semester.”
“This early?”
“State college has three summer sessions, so regular classes end in April.”
“What kind of people are they? Tell me how you raised them.”
“You sure?”
“Yep. It’ll calm me, like you said.”
“Okay.”
She listened to the sexy timbre of his voice. Then she felt her eyes closing. Soon, blankness enveloped her.