Moving Forward, page 11
Around them, all the men were doing the same. Two of them had radios attached to their topcoats and were speaking into them.
Dave climbed into the first engine and turned on the ignition.
“I’ll be in touch,” Sam said just before she donned her breathing apparatus.
“Wait until we all get out, then you can leave,” Mark yelled Jen’s way.
Staying next to the uniform cubbies, she gave him a thumbs-up as two trucks pulled out, lights and sirens going.
When they were out of sight, she gave herself a moment to soak in everything that had just happened: The tour, Dave’s doubt, Anderson’s kindness. The trucks and the weight of the uniform. And, most of all, the way being there made her feel.
And she realized that she wanted more of that. She wanted to feel like she was a part of something. Part of something greater than her life at home or at work at Werner’s . . . or even everything that was going on with Ryan.
“Hey, uh, Jen, right?”
“Yes?”
The speaker came toward her. “I’m John DeWitt, otherwise known as the captain of this firehouse.”
She felt her cheeks turning red. “Hi. I’m sorry if I’m in the way, I was just taking a tour and—”
“And I just called everyone out.” He finished with a short laugh. “No worries. I’m on my way to meet them, so I’ll walk you out.”
“Thank you.”
As he closed the garage bays and tapped something in his phone, he asked, “What did you think of our house?”
“I loved it.”
“Yeah?”
She nodded. “I want to be a firefighter, Captain DeWitt.”
“All right, then. Sounds like we need to talk.” He pulled a card out of his pocket. “Leave a message and someone will put you in the schedule. I’ll start gathering some materials together for you as well.”
“Do you have any suggestions about things I can do to prepare?”
“I’d start getting stronger. Do push-ups, sit-ups, maybe weight training. Run, too—work on your endurance. No need to do anything too crazy—if you end up going into the program, your mentor will guide you about how to push yourself safely. But I won’t lie. It’s going to be a lot.” He eyed her more closely. “Do you feel ready for that?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” He started toward his truck. “See you soon.”
“Thank you, Captain.”
She pulled out her phone as she started down the sidewalk. She had one message from Emme, one from Kristen at work, and one from Ryan. She opened his message first.
How’s it going?
Smiling, she texted back. Good. I can’t wait to tell you all about it.
What are you doing now?
A new giddy feeling slid into her. Something really was happening between her and Ryan. The feelings she had for him weren’t one-sided. Not at all. She cautioned herself not to sound like a dork and replied. I’m still at the firehouse. She was pretty proud of herself for not adding a bunch of emojis.
Do you need a ride?
I’m not sure. Let me check in with my sister.
I’ll come get you if you need a ride.
Are you sure you don’t mind?
I’m sure. Check with your sister then let me know.
She paused, then texted, Okay. Sure, she might have been too nervous to ask him to pick her up, but Ryan had offered!
After she clicked send, she called her sister. She really hoped Emme was too busy to come get her.
Chapter 14
Ryan was glad when Jackson and Adam had shown up at his house a couple of hours earlier. He’d just showered after going for a run in the heat. Even after drinking a couple of Gatorades, all he’d wanted to do was hang out in the cool basement. That was fine with the guys.
After playing Xbox for a while, they’d started watching TV from the giant sectional he and his dad had somehow gotten downstairs last winter. Adam had the remote and was flipping channels, Jackson was commenting on the shows, and Ryan was thinking about taking a nap.
But then Jen texted him back.
He was slowly learning that texting Jen was different from texting other girls. The other girls he’d dated had treated their cell phones like an appendage. They looked at their phones constantly, skimming through Instagram, posting Snapchat stories, or texting multiple people at the same time. Being with him didn’t change that—it just meant taking selfies and posting them, like hanging out together was news.
Jen, on the other hand, was way too busy for that stuff. She was either working at the nursery, helping out at home, or running and working out. When he was with her she hardly ever looked at her screen. The flip side was that she rarely texted him back right away. He sometimes felt like one of those girls in the rom-coms Campbell loved to watch. More than once he caught himself staring at his phone wondering if she was ever going to text him back.
“You must really like this girl,” Jackson said when he put his phone down after checking it for the fourth or fifth time that afternoon.
“Why are you calling her ‘this girl’? It’s Jen Ferguson. You know her.” Noticing Jackson’s frown, he added, “And, yeah. I do really like her.”
“I’m kind of surprised you’re so into her.”
That pissed him off, but he didn’t say anything.
Obviously annoyed by his silence, Jackson said, “Come on. You know what I mean. You can do better.”
“I just told you I like her. What’s your problem?”
Jackson leaned back and crossed his ankles on the coffee table. “She’s not really in our crowd. Plus, she’s stuck-up.” He elbowed Adam. “Right?”
Adam didn’t bother looking away from the screen. “I’m not saying anything.”
“Come on. You know I’m right . . . and that I’m not the only one who thinks it, either.”
Looking uncomfortable, Adam tossed the remote on the couch. “Jack, let it go.”
Ryan glared at them both. “I don’t understand what you two think is wrong with her. She’s great. Really.”
“I never said she wasn’t,” Adam said.
Glancing impatiently at Adam, Jackson put his feet back on the floor. “Come on, Halstead. She lives in that big house but she never has anyone over.”
“How do you know that?”
“Junior year I had to do a group project with her, Eddie, and Molly in American history. We needed a place to meet and it wasn’t like I could have anyone over, right?”
Jackson’s mom had remarried a couple years ago and popped out two more kids. Going to his house was like stepping into a really loud day care center. “Right.”
“Anyway, so I go, ‘Jen, how ’bout we use your place?’ and she just flat out refused, but would never tell us why. It’s like she thought we weren’t good enough to walk through her front door.”
“Her dad died a couple years back,” Adam said. “Maybe her mom didn’t want anyone over.”
“Oh. Well, whatever. My point is that Jennifer Ferguson isn’t very nice. Plus, she’s soooo quiet. And she’s built like a jock.”
“She might not have curves, but she’s built just fine,” Adam said as he flipped to some reality show.
Ryan whacked him on the shoulder. “Don’t talk about how she’s built, A. Or you, either, Jackson.”
“Sorry. But even if you and her are getting along just fine, why are you dating anyone right now?”
“What’s wrong with now?”
“Uh, because you’re getting ready to go to college. You don’t have to settle for our high school girls. You’re going to have your pick from a whole crop of new ones in a month or so.”
“Stop.”
“Jackson does have a point there, Ryan,” Adam said. “The last thing you want to do is go to college with a girlfriend back home.”
“I’m only going to be in Pueblo, so it’s not like the two of us are going to be across the country from each other.” When neither of his buddies spoke, he added, “You guys need to stop talking trash about Jen and make sure no one we know does, either.”
“Seriously?” Jackson asked.
“Yeah.” Jackson was looking so irritated, Ryan finally blurted, “What’s really going on with you? Why do you even care who I’m seeing?”
“I only care because we hardly ever see you anymore. You’re always gone or trying to make plans with her.”
“He’s ticked because all this is new, Halstead,” Adam interpreted. “You never used to make plans without us.”
“Oh.”
“Oh? That’s all you’ve got to say?”
“That’s all I’ve got. Sorry.” When his phone dinged, he tapped the screen.
Sorry but Emme can’t pick me up. Were you serious about your offer? If you’re busy now I can walk home or call a Lyft.
Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be there in ten.
Are you sure?
Positive. On my way.
He stood up. “Sorry, but I’ve gotta go.”
Adam groaned but stood up, too. “What’s going on?”
“Jen needs a ride. I’m going to pick her up.”
Jackson was still half reclining on the couch. “So you’re just taking off?”
Ryan rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I’m just taking off. Deal with it.”
Two minutes later both guys were gone and he was putting on a clean shirt.
“Mom, I’m going to hang out with Jen for a while.”
She poked her head out of the laundry room. “Jen from the garden center?”
“Yeah. She’s really cool. She’s thinking about being a firefighter. She’s over at the fire station and needs a ride home.” Thinking about how much her mom didn’t do for her, he added, “I might take her out to get something to eat, too. Is that okay?”
“Do you have money?”
“Enough.”
She pursed her lips. “Come here. At least let me give you a twenty.”
“Mom, you don’t have to do that.”
“All the more reason for you to have this. Either use it for your meal or to help fill up your gas tank.”
“I promised you and Dad I wasn’t going to mooch off of you two all summer.”
“You haven’t been. Take it, son. In a couple of months you’ll be on campus having to eat dorm food.”
“All right. Thanks.”
“You tell her hello for me.”
“I will.”
“Hey, Ryan?”
He turned to face her again. “Yes?”
“I . . . well, I just wanted to say that I like Jen. She’s a nice girl. And . . . I think she might need you.”
“You think she needs me?”
“Yes, but not in a scary way. It’s just that you’ve got a calm and steady way about you, son. That’s a good thing.” Suddenly looking embarrassed, she shook her head. “You know what? Forget I said anything. I’m probably the last person you want to get a seal of approval from.”
She would be wrong. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “You’re a really good mom, Mom.”
“I’ll tell your brother and sister that.”
* * *
• • •
He found Jen standing outside the firehouse, looking perfectly happy to be just leaning against the building.
Pulling up, he rolled down the window. “You ready?”
“Yep. Thanks so much for coming to get me. I wasn’t looking forward to walking home.”
“I would’ve been bummed if I learned you walked home instead of texting me. It’s really hot out.”
Her eyes warmed as she climbed into the passenger seat. “You weren’t doing anything, were you?”
“Not really. The guys were over, but I was ready for them to leave.”
“You sure?” She nibbled her bottom lip.
“Jen. Stop worrying so much. Now, how was it? Give me the rundown.”
“Are you sure you want to hear about everything?”
“Positive . . . as soon as you tell me where you want to go eat.”
“We don’t have to do that.”
“Come on, let’s grab something to eat. What do you feel like?”
She shrugged. “Tacos or burgers?”
“How about Mexican?”
“That’s good . . . if you’re sure?”
“Yes. Stop worrying. I’ve got some money.”
“I do, too. We can each pay for our own.”
He grinned at her. “Now, tell me all about it. You met a female firefighter at the garden center, right?”
“Right. Her name is Samantha. She’s amazing.”
* * *
• • •
The whole way to the restaurant, Jen told him about the tour and meeting the guys, including the jerk who was trying to give her a hard time.
When she finished with how she had to hurry out of the turnout gear because Sam had to suit up and go to a fire, a chill raced through him.
Imagining Jen one day doing the same thing kind of caught him off guard. He’d been so focused on her goals, he’d forgotten just how dangerous the job really was.
When they got to the restaurant and sat down, he said, “I can totally see you being a firefighter, but I think it’s going to freak me out.”
“Why?”
“You could get hurt.”
Everything in her expression softened. “Ryan, you know that I won’t be actually fighting fires for a while, right?”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I won’t worry about you.”
Her cheeks flushed. “If we’re still going out then, I’ll make sure to be safe.”
“Good. Because if we’re still going out then, I’ll definitely worry about you.”
When she smiled at him, Ryan felt like he’d just hit a milestone, though he wasn’t sure if it was with himself or with her.
Maybe it was both.
Chapter 15
A couple of times a year, firefighters from Woodland Park were asked to get together with other departments in the area to help train new recruits. Captain DeWitt always made it clear that no one from WPFD had to help with these sessions, but their participation would be appreciated.
Some people signed up only once a year. Greg, on the other hand, helped out practically every time. He not only felt an obligation to give back, participating helped him keep his skills up to date.
The drills were tough, but not as tough as either basic training or his Officer Candidate School—though he shared that opinion with only Mark and Anderson. It was plenty grueling for the recruits.
Staircase drills in the summer were brutal, for sure. Carrying packs in full gear up and down three flights of stairs was a common drill. It was an easy way for fire departments to see if a probie was in decent physical shape without a series of awkward conversations. Though even the best candidates could have an off day, everyone agreed that if a recruit couldn’t easily climb stairs in full gear, they weren’t going to be able to handle the job.
The stair climbs also gave the recruits a reality check. If they imagined that fighting a fire meant standing in a parking lot while pointing a hose, the total whipping of climbing stairs carrying seventy pounds of gear would prove otherwise. Doing it at seven thousand feet made it even more of a challenge.
Timothy and Roberta, the two probies from Cripple Creek running stairs with him, had looked like they were in decent shape. They were both in their early twenties and so far had done well in training.
But they were struggling now. Timothy was breathing so hard he might end up needing a shot of oxygen. Roberta just looked freaked out.
Realizing that neither of them was going to give in but both needed a pep talk, he called out to them on the tower’s fourth landing. “Time for a break. Stop, you two.”
Timothy scowled but didn’t argue.
Roberta pressed her palm against the wall but shook her head. “I don’t need a break, Greg. I can do this.”
“I didn’t say you couldn’t. But I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t notice that both of you were struggling.”
“I’m not struggling,” she replied. “It’s just the heat that’s getting to me.”
Timothy was almost doubled over. “It is July. I mean, what can you expect?”
That was the wrong question. “I expect both of you to realize that y’all need to step up your workouts. It’s obvious y’all aren’t in good enough physical shape yet.”
“I told you I didn’t need to stop,” Roberta said. But she was gulping down so much water Greg was afraid she was going to puke.
He was getting annoyed by their attitude. There were moments when he ached to stick someone in an army uniform and put them in front of Mark for a couple of hours. His usually mild-mannered buddy could yell louder than every other guy he knew. Mark Oldum in his drill sergeant glory was something to behold. He’d instilled waves of fear in hundreds of recruits.
“Look. It’s hot, yeah, and it’s going to be hotter when the whole building is on fire. But you know that, right?”
Timothy shrugged. “I’m fine. Let’s go.”
“Roberta, it might sound like I’m judging, but I’m not. I’m here to help you. To talk you through this. What are you having the hardest time with? The heat, carrying the weight, the stairs?”
Her lips went into a fine line before she muttered, “The weight, but I’ll deal.”
“I know you’ll deal. But if you can use some ideas, it might be easier if you widen your stance a bit.” He demonstrated. “This works different muscles, and it gives others a break.”
Roberta gave it a try and trotted up four steps and then back down. “It feels awkward, but I can see it helping.”
“Good. If it doesn’t help at all, go back to your original stance. Sometimes what helps me is focusing on different things every time I climb a new flight. Try focusing on your legs one flight, then your breathing the next, then carrying the weight the next.”
