Page 56 of Up All Night
“Almost got Jimmy Buffet.”
“Now, Murphy.” The unmistakable urgency in the captain’s voice sharpened my senses, but I wasn’t going anywhere without that cat.
“Almost.” I reached toward the lower shelf as several things happened all at once. Caleb descended the display case, which wobbled precariously. I moved to steady it right as the cat leaped from the other shelf and the ceiling in the back hallway behind us collapsed.
“Guess we’re not going out that way,” Caleb yelled as he swung down from the display case. Hardly elegant, but at least he was in one piece, which was more than I could say for the building around us.
“Where’d the cat go?” I looked around.
“Clear out,” the captain ordered again.
“There.” Caleb pointed behind me at another case. I reached for the cat, but he leaped back toward Caleb. Nimble, high as balls on catnip, and scared. A wonderful combination, but I wasn’t leaving him behind.
Not leaving. Not letting go.A deeper realization teased the edges of my consciousness, but I had to focus on getting Caleb, Jimmy Buffet, and myself out in one piece.
Hold space.Eric’s voice rang in my ears as I crouched low under the shelf where the cat was. Rather than lunging for him, I held my arms open and pitched my voice calm and soothing.
“Come on, Jimmy. Who’s a pretty kitty?”
“Are you seriously trying to reason with a cat?” Caleb asked, eyes going wide as Jimmy took a delicate flying leap directly into my outstretched arms.
“Got you.” I tucked him against my heavy jacket, claws and all, as Caleb and I battled our way out the front. The front door was blocked by more falling debris, but a side window beckoned. I boosted Caleb up and through before the cat and I made our escape, pulled through by several crew members.
“My baby!” The older owner guy was only too happy to take Jimmy Buffet from me as soon as we were clear of the building. Mere seconds later, while the owner continued to cuddle and check the cat over, the remainder of the building collapsed, settling into a smoldering, pot-scented heap.
“Well, that was close. Glad we made it out.” Caleb grinned. The captain didn’t, and I spent the remainder of the fire waiting for a lecture on not following orders fast enough. We finally made it back to the station some hours later, the blaze thoroughly extinguished, fire investigators and insurance people on site, and I wasn’t surprised when the captain headed my way in the break room.
“I’m sorry—” I started, but the captain waved my apology away.
“Not now, Murphy. Your father wants to see you.” He motioned toward the chief’s office. My dad usually kept his fire business and personal lives separate, but I wasn’t terribly surprised by this summons. Ever since I’d come out a few days earlier, our greetings had been strained, and we hadn’t had any real conversations.
“You requested to see me?” I asked after knocking on his office door. I shut it behind me before heading toward the same side chair I’d sat in the other evening.Huh. I chose the other one to sprawl in instead, trying for a relaxed body language even as my brain churned and my heart thumped.
“I hear you had quite the morning,” my dad said, infuriatingly conversational, expression placid. “High times?”
“Ha. All worked out in the end, Chief. No injuries. The building had insurance. I’m sure the captain can give you a full report.”
“The captain isn’t my son, who, if rumors are correct, barely escaped.” Dad narrowed his gaze.
“I’m fine.”
“You sure?” Dad’s tone was sharp, and his breath came in frustrated huffs. “Damn it, Sean. I don’t know how to make things right between us. But I want to try.”
Opening a folder on his desk, he handed me a thick stack of papers.
“What’s this?” The top page looked like a copy of the job announcement for the new chief. “I told you I don’t want to apply for chief.”
“That’s only one option.” Dad motioned at the stack of papers. “City council finally voted to fund another firefighter position for us. And Henderson, your usual captain, just accepted a job in Portland. Bigger station. So we’ll have a captain opening too. Chief, captain, firefighter. Take your pick. I support you, whatever you choose. We’re honored to have you serve with us, and I’m proud of you, no matter what.”
Oh.This was some sort of noble gesture, but instead of relief, my insides twisted. He was undoubtedly trying, but was my value linked to the job? I didn’t know the answer, and a bitter taste gathered in my mouth.
“And if I don’t fill one out?”
“Then I’m still proud of you.” His expression wavered slightly, emotions I couldn’t label flashing in his eyes. “I love you. Unconditionally. Firefighting is in our blood, but you’re my blood, no matter what.”
“Good.” I squished my eyes shut, trying to stem the flood of gratitude.
“And I saw the duty roster. You’re off on Sunday. Your mom’s expecting you and your fr—boyfriend for lunch after church. Better warn your cook that your sisters will be there too.”