Chapter 11
Lindsay crawled backwards across the concrete floor on her hands and knees, unraveling a line of electrical conduit from a large plastic spool.
“Hey, Glen. Is this enough?”
A man perched on the open rafters above her looked down. A ball cap with the name “Grand Canyon State Electric” printed on the front covered his grey hair. His leather tool belt, similar to the one Lindsay wore only more heavily loaded, hung from his waist, the buckle buried beneath his pot belly.
“Yep, that’ll do. Go ahead and cut ‘er.”
Lindsay removed a pair of wire cutters from her tool belt and sliced the wire. “You want I should just leave it here?”
“Scottie will take care of the rest as soon as he’s finished in the bedrooms. Can you run another line in the kitchen, same as here?”
“Sure. No problem.” Lindsay struggled clumsily to her feet. The tool belt felt like an anchor tied to her waist. Her back ached, and her knees were killing her. A casual observer wouldn’t know by the look of her that she worked out on a regular basis.
Her cheeks heated at the reminder of that day last week in the weight room and what had transpired between her and Matt. If Emilio and Dennis had showed up one minute earlier...
She pushed the image from her mind. Better to forget it had ever happened. And to forget about Matt, too. She couldn’t be trusted with him that much was apparent. They mixed about as well as charcoal starter and a lit match. Warning: stand back from open flames to avoid injury.
Lindsay sighed. Forgetting was proving difficult, particularly when so many things reminded her of Matt. She thought she’d be safe today by volunteering to help with a Habitat for Humanity project. Besides making points with the Battalion Chief, it kept her away from familiar places that evoked unwanted memories. Or so she thought.
Mostly, however, it was for a good cause. Lindsay had been on the scene when this particular house burned. She vividly recalled seeing the old woman crying in the street as her home and all her possessions were reduced to ashes. Being a part of the reconstruction, even in a small way, lifted Lindsay’s otherwise low spirits.
Of course, that was the same day she and Matt had gone too far in the equipment room and narrowly avoided being caught by Dennis.
Dammit! Did everything have to remind her of Matt?
She navigated the newly sheet-rocked walls into the kitchen. Following the same procedure she had in the living room, she laid out another line of conduit. On the other side of the room, she backed into a pair of legs.
“Oops.”
Cranking the upper half of her body around, she discovered the long and nicely muscled legs belonged to a man. A tall man, she deduced, as her gaze traveled up. A tall man wearing shorts and a uniform tee-shirt she’d recognize anywhere.
“Hey, Lindsay. I didn’t know you’d be here today.”
She tried to stand. Her knees buckled and sharp cramps seized her legs.
“Here, let me help you.” He gave her a hand.
She rose with the grace of a duck emerging from a pool of quicksand. “Thanks, Joey. I didn’t know you were a Habitat for Humanity volunteer.”
“This is my company’s launch project. The boss thought a fire sprinkler company contributing systems to burn victims’ homes might be good advertisement.”
Leaning forward, she rubbed her knees, which only set off an explosion of pain in her lower back.
“You okay?”
He seemed a little uncomfortable, so Lindsay did her best to put him at ease. Regardless of what had gone wrong with her and Matt, she wanted to remain friends with Joey. “I’ve got to tell you, after today, I have a whole new respect for construction workers. And here I thought my job was physically demanding.”
“Um, Lindsay. Listen. I should warn you...’’Joey didn’t finish because the reason for his sudden discomfort walked into the kitchen.
“Matt.” His name fell off her lips in a whisper.
God, he looked good. Her heart went as soft as her aching knees.
Be strong, she told herself. This is no big deal. You’re going to run into him now and again, so get used to it.
Like she ever would.
“Lindsay.” He looked as surprised to find her there as she was to find him. Though he recovered quicker. “Who are you working for?”
It took a few seconds for her to answer. “Glen Fletcher from Grand Canyon State Electric recruited me.”
“I had no idea you were an electrician’s helper.”
“I’m not,” she said, rubbing the small of her back and wishing for a place to hide. “Not a very good one, anyway.”
“You’re here. That’s what counts. Not your skill level.”
“Hey, the roach coach is parked out front,” Joey chimed in. “I’m buying if anyone’s interested.”
Lindsay declined. “Thanks, but I need to finish up here.” And the sooner the better.
“Come on.” Matt gave her a thorough up and down. “You look like you could use a break.”
“He promises to be good.” Joey gave Matt a clap on the shoulder. “Don’t you, buddy?”
Matt’s raised eyebrow said he didn’t make any such promise.
Be strong, Lindsay. Very, very strong. “Let me just tell Glen where we’ll be.”
They made their way outside to the mobile catering van. Lindsay hobbled, trying to keep up with the men’s long strides.
“Potato chips, burritos, Hostess Twinkies, and Slim Jims.” She frowned as she perused the selections, which consisted of mostly junk food items. “Do you have any Power Bars?”
“I have Rice Krispies Treats,” the attendant offered.
“Rookie.” Joey threw up his hands in disgust. “What kind of construction worker doesn’t like Twinkies?”
“A lousy one.” Lindsay made a sad face. There was no point in lying. “Look at me. I can hardly move and I’m so tired my eyes are crossed. How pathetic is that?”
Matt plucked something from one of the trays and tossed it to her. “Try this. It’s an instant pick-me-up.”
She caught the object, examined it, and then gave him an arch look. “A Baby Ruth?”
“Think of it as the construction worker’s Power Bar.”
“You’re not serious?”
“Go on. Eat it. The sugar rush will help with your aches and pains. It’s true,” he insisted when she continued to stare at him.
On the off chance the candy bar might actually live up to Matt’s promise, Lindsay took it. She also selected an orange juice, telling herself the healthy beverage would counteract the candy bar’s high calories and almost non-existent nutritional value.
Snacks in hand, the three of them strolled over to a low block fence on the property line and sat down. They’d no sooner sat down when Joey’s cell phone rang.
“It’s Karyn,” he said, checking the caller I.D. before answering. “Hey, babe.” Excusing himself, he went off to conduct his conversation in private.
“Look, I’m sorry,” Matt said after Joey left. “I really had no idea you’d be here.”
“It’s all right. These things happen.”
“You sure?”
She had the feeling that, like her, he was talking about more than today. “Yeah, very sure.” She unwrapped the Baby Ruth and took a bite. The candy bar tasted surprisingly good. Chocolate and peanuts were a natural combination.
Not like her and Matt.
All right, already! Enough with the analogies. She took another bite of the Baby Ruth, gnawing off a large chunk. The flavor hadn’t diminished. It still tasted good. Go figure.
Matt demolished his Slim Jim in three bites. “You know, it’s funny.”
“What?”
“Some things don’t seem like they’re good for you on the outside, but when you look closer, they really are.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. Take that candy bar you’re eating. I bet you’re saying to yourself, chocolate’s bad for me, bad for my weight, bad for my complexion, bad for my teeth. I shouldn’t eat it. Am I right?”
She tipped her head from side to side, unable to speak because her mouth was full.
“Did you know eating chocolate produces endorphins? Those are the same hormones our bodies produce when we laugh. So when you get down to it, eating chocolate is a lot like laughing.”
Lindsay swallowed the last of her Baby Ruth with an audible gulp. “Where did you hear that?”
“My mom read it in one of her women’s magazines.”
“Hmmm.” Lindsay didn’t put much stock in women’s magazines.
“Well, how are you feeling?”
She thought about it. She was in less pain. Flexing a leg, she noticed an increase in mobility.
“Maybe I will have another Baby Ruth,” she mused.
“Good idea. You should always give something a second try.”
Catching on at last, she asked, “Are we talking about Baby Ruths or us?”
Before Matt could comment, an older model sedan pulled up to the curb and came to a stop. A plainly dressed, but pleasant looking middle-aged woman emerged. She went around to the passenger side and helped an older woman from the car, who, once on solid ground, acted as if she didn’t need or want assistance.
Lindsay immediately recognized the older woman as the owner of the house. Judging by the striking resemblance, the other woman had to be a relative. Probably her daughter.
Faces alight, they pointed to the house, their discussion animated. While Lindsay couldn’t hear everything they were saying, it was obvious they were enthused about the progress of the reconstruction.
Lindsay smiled as they passed.
“Be sure and watch your step in there,” Joey said to them before rejoining Matt and Lindsay. “The electricians are running wire. It’s everywhere.”
“Thank you, young man.” The eyes behind the older woman’s bifocals were bright and lively. “Look, Nell.” She tugged on her daughter’s shirt sleeve. “The new windows are up. And the front door. Oh, my. Don’t they look nice?”
“Very nice.” Nell gave her mother a gentle push, propelling her forward.
“Aren’t these Habitat for Humanity people wonderful? They’re all volunteers. Did you know that?” The older woman waved at Lindsay, Matt, and Joey. Lindsay waved back.
“Yes, Mom. I know that.”
Again, the older woman brushed off her daughter’s helping hand. She stopped in the middle of the driveway and gazed at her reconstructed home, her expression melancholy. “If I’ve learned one lesson from all this, it’s to grab happiness where and when I find it. You never know when your entire life will change.” Then, breaking into a happy smile, she strolled toward the house.
Nell caught up with her mother. “Come on,” she said fondly. “Let’s see what’s been done on the inside.”
Lindsay stared at them, amazed at the older woman’s positive attitude. As a firefighter, she understood more than most how quickly and drastically lives could change. But she hadn’t contemplated the emotional recovery until today.
“They seem like nice people,” Matt said when Nell and her mother were out of earshot.
“Very nice.”
“Interesting what she said about grabbing happiness.” His dark eyes bored into hers.
“Yeah. Interesting.” Lindsay was the first to turn away. Suddenly in a hurry, she stood up. “I’d better get back to work. Glen’s probably wondering what happened to me.”
She spent the rest of the afternoon running conduit, installing outlets, and avoiding Matt, which wasn’t easy. To her dismay, her mind kept bouncing from one unsettling topic to the next. Topics which included Matt, Baby Ruth candy bars, and grabbing happiness where and when she could find it.
~~*~~
LINDSAY GINGERLY LOWERED herself into the scalding water. Her sore muscles screamed, then sighed with contentment as the bubble bath slowly worked its magic.
After leaving the Habitat for Humanity project that afternoon, she’d come straight home. But not before stopping at the store for supplies. The flickering shadows from half a dozen vanilla candles danced on the wall, their scent filling the room. Her favorite CD played from the other room. A glass of white wine and a dish of miniature Baby Ruths sat on the floor by the tub.
When Lindsay threw a private pity party, she did it with style.
Sweet heaven, she missed Matt. Seeing him today had been hard. Harder than she ever imagined it would be.
Reaching over the side of the tub, she plucked a candy bar from the dish, unwrapped it, and popped it in her mouth. Four more followed.
“Lindsay, you’re a bad, bad girl,” she said between mouthfuls.
If not a cure for the Matt-Callahan-blues, the self- indulgent binge did make her feel better. The effects, however, were temporary, lasting only until she’d dressed. Restless, she paced the kitchen and living room, closing her ears to the half-eaten bag of candies calling to her from the pantry.
Rather than give in to weakness, she decided on a change of scenery. Preferably, one that involved burning calories. Her hips would thank her in the morning.
Twenty minutes later, she pulled into the station parking lot. Booter, familiar with the sound of her car’s engine, bounded out to meet her. She no sooner opened her door, then he was halfway in the car with her.
“Hello, you goofy dog.” She scrunched his ears and let him lick her face until he tried to crawl onto her lap. “Ugh! Get down. You weigh a ton.” She pushed him off her. He didn’t go willingly. “Since you’re feeling so much better, how about a walk? We could both use the exercise.”
Booter trotted beside her into the station where she was welcomed by the shift captain, Rebecca, and her crew, which included Dennis. Lindsay had forgotten he’d traded days with one of the other men and would be there. Having recently returned from a call, the four firefighters were hanging around the common rooms, snacking, watching TV, or preoccupied with paperwork.
“There you are.” Rebecca sat at the table, thumbing through a manual. A petite, pencil thin mother of three, she didn’t look much like a captain. In her case, however, looks were deceiving. Even Dennis respected her, which was saying a lot. “I kid you not, that mutt has radar. He’s been waiting by the door for the last hour.”
Lindsay took a seat across from Rebecca. Booter squeezed in, resting his head on Lindsay’s thigh.
“When are you going to take him home and make him a permanent pet?” Rebecca asked.
“I can’t do that. He’s the station mascot.”
“He’s your dog and everyone here knows it. Most of all, him. Take him home with you, Lindsay. You’ll both be happier.”
“My cat will freak.”
“At first. But he’ll eventually adjust. They may even become friends.”
Lindsay thought of her small house and how empty it was lately without Matt there. She loved His Highness, but admittedly, the cat was a solitary creature, doling out affection in small increments when it suited him. It might be nice to come home to a happy face, be it a canine one.
“Okay. Why not?” She patted Booter’s side, mindful of his healing incision. “We’ll give it a try. See how it goes.” After chitchatting for several more minutes, Lindsay pushed her chair back and stood. Keeping up appearances was using too much of her already depleted emotional reserves. She needed to recharge.
“Leaving already?” Rebecca asked.
“Booter and I are off to the park for a walk.”
“Have fun. But be careful. It’s not smart for a woman to be out alone after dark.”
“We’ll stick to the well-lighted areas. I promise.”
“Hey, Pfeiffer,” Dennis called from the couch. “I forgot to tell you. Callahan left something for you in the bedroom.”
“He did?” Lindsay’s stomach flip flopped. Her first inclination was to leave without checking, but it suddenly seemed as if, with the exception of Dennis, everyone’s eyes were on her. “In the bedroom, you say?” she inquired with a casualness that didn’t ring true.
Dennis didn’t bother looking away from the TV. “The closet.”
“Stay, Booter.” She reinforced the verbal command with a hand signal. “I’ll be right back.”
Feeling extraordinarily uncomfortable, Lindsay opened the closet door. This may be the bedroom she regularly used, but today, it belonged to Dennis. And even though he’d given his permission, she couldn’t shake the sensation of being an intruder.
What had Matt left for her? As she searched the closet, her mind raced, exploring the possibilities. Relax, she told herself. It was probably just a book or something she’d forgotten at his house. No big deal.
Well, if it was no big deal, why was her heart doing a fair imitation of a sledge hammer?
Lindsay groaned. Nothing here that she could see. No box, no package, no bag. Standing on tiptoes, she patted the overhead shelf with the flat of her hand. Bare as Old Mother Hubbard’s cupboard.
She planted her hands on her hips and stared at the unyielding closet. “What gives?” All at once, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.
She wasn’t alone in the bedroom.
Someone had come in through the connecting bathroom.
Slamming the closet door shut, she wheeled about, then went weak with relief. “Oh, it’s you.”
“Disappointed?” Dennis strutted into the room.
Hiding her unease, she asked, “What did you say Matt left? I can’t find anything in the closet.”
“Is that so?” He scratched his head. “I could have sworn that’s where he told me he put it.”
“Never mind. It’s not important.” A sixth sense warned her something was amiss and to get out quick. She turned toward the door, but didn’t get far.
“What’s your rush?” Dennis stepped in front of her. For a bulky man, he moved quickly.
“Whatever game you’re playing, I don’t want any part of it.”
“Sweet thing, you have no idea. But I’d like to tell you.” His huge hand closed around her arm, and he yanked her close. Unprepared, she stumbled straight into him. “Better yet, why don’t I show you?”
He tried to kiss her, but she twisted her head to the side. His lips missed hers and grazed her cheek. Instinctively, she recoiled. “Quit it, Dennis. This isn’t funny.”
“I’m not trying to be funny.”
His second attempt to kiss her was also thwarted. “Get away from me!” She shoved at him, her anger mounting and also, to a lesser degree, her fear. “I’ll scream.”
Dennis laughed. “You can’t blame a guy for trying. Now that Callahan’s out of the picture, I figure you’re looking for a replacement.”
She knew then he’d tricked her. And both the trick and her falling for it infuriated her. “You lied. Matt didn’t leave me anything.”
“You’re smart. I like that in a woman.” His hands settled on her waist. “Among other things.”
Lindsay simply reacted. She didn’t think, she didn’t analyze, she didn’t worry that someone might hear them. Thrusting her hand into his groin, she grabbed and squeezed with all the force her five fingers could muster.
Squawking in pain, Dennis released her and doubled over. “What the hell...”
Lindsay maintained her paralyzing hold on him. His complexion darkened to a brilliant crimson, and he wheezed like a sick, old man. Placing her lips to his ear, she said, “Don’t you ever touch me again. Do you understand?” Sucking air, he nodded. “If you do, I’ll file a sexual harassment suit faster than you can say misconduct.”
With one more squeeze for good measure, she let him go and stepped back.
Stooping over, Dennis cupped his privates. “You’re really a bitch.” He grunted. “You know that?”
“No, I’m a firefighter.” She squared her shoulders. “And a damn good one.”
On that final note, she exited the bedroom.
There was something to be said about standing up for oneself. It rated right up there with bubble baths and Baby Ruths. Lindsay felt better than she had in days.
~~*~~
AFTER A BRISK fifteen minute jaunt along the concrete walkway winding through the park, Lindsay and Booter neared the one mile marker. On the other side of a grassy embankment was a small construction site, cordoned off with neon orange webbing. Tall orange and white posts topped with blinking yellow lights secured the webbing. High mounds of dirt had been piled along what looked like a deep trench. Signs warned of possible danger and ordered passersby to stay clear.
Lindsay veered far to the left. Booter, who, so far, had been satisfied to trot calmly by her side, suddenly strained at the leash, pulling hard in the direction of the trench.
“Come on, boy.” She firmly, yet gently, guided him back. “Can’t you read? That keep out sign refers to dogs, too.”
Booter continued fighting the leash, digging his feet into the sidewalk and choking himself on his collar.
She commanded him to sit, but he disobeyed and started barking.
“Quiet, boy.”
Placing her fingers on his muzzle to silence him, she listened for any noise out of the ordinary. There was none. She again attempted to lead Booter away, but he refused to budge, standing like a stone statue, his gaze riveted on the trench.
For no reason other than intuition, she dropped Booter’s leash. He immediately ran up the embankment. Nose to the ground, he circled the orange web fence until he found an opening, then crashed through. Lindsay gave chase. She caught up with him on the opposite side of the dirt mound. He stood at the edge of the trench, staring into the wide hole and whining.
She approached cautiously, unsure what Booter had found but knowing instinctively it wasn’t good. Looking down, her heart caught in her throat. At the bottom of the ten foot deep trench, next to a length of exposed pipe, lay the still body of a child.
Several inches of muddy water pooled around him. Something dark, possibly blood, covered one entire side of his head and his right leg stuck out at an unnatural angle. In the dim light, Lindsay couldn’t tell if he was breathing or not.
She wasted no time finding out. Sitting on the edge of the trench, she hung her legs over the side and pushed off. Numbing pain radiated all through her when she hit bottom. She shook it off and yanked her cell phone from her, dialing 9-1-1. As the call went through, she kneeled down to examine the child. To her vast relief, he was breathing, though it was shallow and irregular.
A woman’s voice came on the line. “What is the nature of your emergency?”
Lindsay identified herself, then described the accident and their location.
“I’ve dispatched an emergency response team,” the operator said. “They’re on their way. Does the child have any visible injuries?”
“He’s unconscious and appears to be in shock.” Lindsay answered the operator’s questions to the best of her ability, giving as much information as she could before disconnecting. She was careful not to move the child or touch him, except as necessary to determine his condition. At the first sound of a siren in the distance, Booter started howling.
Two minutes later, Rebecca hollered at Lindsay from topside. “Lindsay? Good Lord, is that you?”
A beam of light flashed in Lindsay’s face, temporarily blinding her. “Yes, it’s me,” she hollered back, shielding her eyes.
“What have you got?”
“A boy. He’s alive, but barely. Head trauma. Shock. Possible broken leg and internal injuries.”
“Get ready. We’re dropping the stretcher.”
Along with the stretcher came help. Dennis was also lowered into the trench. Their eyes met briefly and the mutual message was clear. A life hung in the balance. Now wasn’t the time for personal differences.
They worked speedily. Dennis handled the heavy work while Lindsay attended the boy. As soon as he was strapped in and the lines in place, Rebecca and the other firefighter lifted him out.
Lindsay and Dennis were next. By the time the two were safely topside, the boy was being loaded into the waiting ambulance. A sizeable crowd of onlookers and emergency personnel had gathered.
“Do you think he’ll make it?” Lindsay asked Rebecca while absently patting Booter’s head. The two women watched the ambulance pull away from the curb and disappear into traffic.
“He’s alive and that’s something. Thanks to you.”
“Thanks to Booter.” Lindsay smiled at the dog, and he wagged his tail. “He’s the one who found the boy. I just made the call.”
“Don’t underestimate yourself, Lindsay. Another person might have ignored their dog and walked away. You didn’t. You investigated. And that one small decision changed the entire outcome.”
The crowd thinned, leaving behind a few stragglers. The firefighters packed up their equipment and gear while police officers and city workers secured the construction site. A TV cameraman filmed a pretty blonde reporter as she interviewed an excited witness.
Lindsay and Booter rode back to the station in the engine. On the way to her car, Dennis stopped her.
“Nice work back there.”
She studied his face for any trace of insincerity and found none. “You, too.”
“Look. I just want to say... Well, I’m sorry about what happened earlier. I was out of line.”
Wow. An apology. It was the last thing she expected from him, and it rendered her speechless. She remembered the remark Rebecca had made at the scene about one small decision changing the entire outcome of something. How she responded to Dennis could, and likely would, affect the future of their working together.
One decision.
Lindsay made up her mind.
“Apology accepted.”
“Great.” He shoved his hands in his front pockets and shuffled his feet. An awkward lull stretched between them, which Dennis broke. “I’ll see ya later, then.”
She tugged on Booter’s leash, and he obediently followed. “Night.”
~~*~~
HIS HIGHNESS DETESTED Booter on sight. Impersonating a Halloween cat, he arched his back into a hairpin curve. With fur standing on end, he hissed and spit and struck out at the intruder with claws extended. Booter, delighted with the prospect of a new playmate, initiated a game of tag-you’re-it. He lost, earning a nasty scratch in the process. The two new roomies retreated to opposite comers of the living room, each sulking for different reasons.
It had been a long, physically exhausting, emotionally-packed day. Lindsay should be in bed, fast asleep, but her mind kept replaying the day’s events at a hundred miles an hour.
She wanted to call Matt. More than that, she wanted to see him. But even if she worked up the courage to contact him, it was too late. Past ten o’clock at night and past the point where they had any chance of resolving their problems.
Or was it?
She and Dennis had reached an understanding of sorts after the incident at the station. She’d have thought that impossible. It happened because they’d put aside their personal relationship for the sake of the job—that, and Dennis taking the first step toward reconciliation by apologizing.
Why couldn’t she and Matt do the same? Admittedly, they’d failed at separating their personal and business lives. But that didn’t mean they couldn’t if they tried—if she tried. Matt had been willing that day in the station laundry room. She’d been the one to walk out on their relationship. Could she now take that first step toward reconciliation? Matt still loved her, of that she was sure. She’d seen it in his eyes today while they sat outside the Habitat for Humanity house.
Lindsay picked up the phone and dialed Matt, quickly before her nerve deserted her. When the call went straight to voice mail, she tried the house phone.
Joey answered. “Hello.”
“You’re up late.”
“Hey, Lindsay. Something wrong? You sound funny.”
“No. Everything’s fine.” Hopefully. Her jaw ached from clenching it. “Is Matt available?”
There. She’d done it. And the ground hadn’t opened up and swallowed her whole.
“No, he’s not.”
Disappointment cut deep. “I see.”
“He’s in Tucson. I thought you might be him calling when the phone rang.” Joey paused to draw a breath. “His dad’s in the hospital.”
“The hospital?”
“He’s had a heart attack. A bad one. He may not last the night.”