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“But what if…”
Dex cuts me off midsentence. “What if nothing. What if you stay where you are and don’t go for it? Are you scared? What’s more scary for you? The possibility of blissful happiness or the possibility of not even trying? Or being rejected? I know what I would do if it was Meryl. I would ride a wild stallion across the Nevada Desert to be with her. So, if you can relate to that, bud. Don’t waste a second more. In fact, go now.”
“Now?”
“Yeah. Why not. You’re owed some leave, aren’t you? Take it. Why not? Ride into Oak River and whisk that lady off her feet.”
“Are you living in a Wild West movie, Dex?”
“Maybe I am, sometimes.” He laughs. “But I’m deadly serious on this one.”
As soon as I hang up the call, I apply for the job of fire chief at Oak River. Then I apply for leave. I message my roommates to say I’m moving out. Then, I finish filling out the report for the flour mill fire.
I’m in a whirlwind. Everything’s suddenly a million miles an hour. I’m flying in a rocket ship to the moon. I can’t wait to tell Molly my plans. I reach for my phone but then stop. This is not something I want to say over the phone. I need to see Molly and tell her in person. Energy surges through my veins, charging me with an excitement I’ve never experienced before, like vertigo: as if I’m standing on the edge of a very high cliff.
There’s just one person I need to talk to about what is going on. When the office is quiet and everyone else has gone home, I call my grandad. It’s been a long time. Too long. As I listen to the ringtones, waiting for my grandad to pick up, I prepare myself for the verbal teardown I know is coming.
Chapter 19
Molly
The latest library display is proving extremely popular with our patrons. After some discussion and customer feedback, and in light of the recent flour mill tragedy, we settled on the theme of fire safety.
The library has some relevant titles ranging from the science behind flammable materials; explosives, gunpowder, and fireworks; some fiction involving fire, Jane Eyre and Rebecca being goodies; some nonfiction about historic fires; and some DIY How-to books about fire-proofing your home and what to do in a fire emergency. And, yes, Kevin and I had fun making the title banner, and cutting out orange and yellow paper and cellophane flames.
I called Dex at the fire station to run the idea by him and maybe get some fire department material to add to the library books and resources. He was incredibly helpful and enthusiastic about the idea. He said he would stop by with useful and practical pamphlets for people to take home, and informative posters for the wall, outlining fire prevention and emergency procedure.
“This is great, Molly,” Dex says as he fans out some fire safety information pamphlets on the table. “The more we can do to raise awareness in the community, the safer we’ll all be.” He adds a hand-written cardboard label, Please take one.
“Thanks, Dex. That’s what I think too.”
We stand back, arms folded, to admire the overall effect. I’m very pleased with the result. Dex smiles and nods appreciatively.
He’s about to leave when he turns to me and says, “I’m glad you called today, Molly because I have some news.”
“Oh, okay. Tell me.”
“I’m stepping down as Oak River’s fire chief.”
“Wow. Dex. You will be missed.”
“I’m not going far… And I will volunteer when I can.”
“Ah, well, congratulations… I wish you and Meryl and baby Daniel all the best.”
“Thanks.” There’s a pause then Dex says, “So, are you interested in who my replacement might be?”
“Who?”
“A certain Mr Wickham has applied for the job, and I’ve recommended he gets it. What do you think about that?”
I’m stunned for a minute. Thoughts whir around my brain; shots of electricity ping through every nerve as if I’ve been wired to the mains.
“I… think that would be wonderful.”
“Well, maybe I shouldn’t be telling you. But I’m just a teensy bit too excited to keep this a secret. Nothing’s set in stone as yet. And he’ll probably want to tell you himself. So, when he does, you have to look as if you don’t know and you’re hearing it for the first time, okay?”
“Okay.”
