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“Yeah. I just need to walk it off.”
“Right. Because you’re a big, tough fireman.”
I grin at her. “Do you have something against firemen?”
“Of course not.” The way she says it doesn’t quite convince me.
“I’ll check out the damage to your kitchen.” I head for the kitchen and look at her stove. Other than smoke damage, it seems to work fine. I glance at her over my shoulder. “A quick scrub should clean this right up. The stove isn’t damaged.” I move to the window. “I’m afraid your curtains are a goner. Along with the rod. And you’ll need to repaint the wall, but the drywall is fine, as are the cupboards.”
She nods. “Thank you. I’m not sure what happened.”
“Just next time your grease catches on fire, don’t pour water on it.”
“I actually know that, but I guess I panicked,” she sighs.
“That’s understandable. You see flames, your gut reaction is to pour water on it.” She nodded. “So, I’ll go get some tools to fix your door. I think I have a lock lying around I can put in.”
“I’m sure repairing things after putting out fires isn’t in your job description.”
“It’s fine. I can’t leave you with a door that won’t close.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll be back in a few, Mariah.”
I leave and return to my house. Chance runs out as I open the door. My front yard isn’t fenced, but he knows not to leave the yard. Now that Mariah is living there, I need to make sure he doesn’t wander next door.
“Hey. Stay in the yard.” I holler at Chance.
Chance ignores me while he sniffs at something under my dead flowers. I have a problem remembering to water them.
I search the garage for the lock I know I have somewhere. I can’t remember why I bought it. But it’ll come in handy now. I finally found it in a plastic tote. I also have a bin of miscellaneous pieces of lumber. I find a piece that will work to fix the trim I broke behind the strike plate, then grab my toolbox. I’m not a carpenter, by any means but I can do minor stuff around the house. Generally, I do minor stuff around my mother’s house and my sisters’ houses. One of the downsides of being the only male in the family.
When I go back outside, Chance isn’t in either of our yards. When I get to Mariah’s door, I hear someone talking, who doesn’t sound like Mariah.
I step through the open door and find Chance sitting with a teenage girl. She looks up at me, then smiles.
“Coach Scott?”
I recognize her as one of the new girls on the volleyball team I coach for the after-school program.
“Brittney?”
She continues to pet Chance. “Did you kick our door down?”
“Yeah. I’m afraid I did.” I hold up my supplies. “But I’m here to fix it. So Mariah’s your…?
“Sister.”
“Right. Okay.” I’m not sure what the story is here. They seem to be the only two people living in the house. But I could definitely see the family resemblance. They had the same auburn hair, brown eyes, and slight build. “Did Chance walk right in your door?”
“Yeah. He’s so cute,” she kneels down and Chance licks her cheek.
“Don’t tell him that. It’ll go right to his head,” I chuckle.
Mariah comes out of the kitchen at the sound of our voices. “Oh.”
I smile at her. “The dog is mine, but I didn’t bring him over. He came through your open door. I believe Brittney belongs to you, though,” I tease.
