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Candy had returned, with Joey at her heels. Watching her, Geri wondered if Jake was onto something. She looked beat, like a working mother would probably look.
“Is this too much for you, having us here?” Geri asked. “Because I know you must be tired after doctorin’ all week and then being mommy all weekend.”
“It’s definitely not too much. I told Joey that if we didn’t do something social this weekend, I was going to kill myself. And not just going to Roberta and Big Mike’s, no offense, Jake and Joey.”
“None taken, wife. I love my folks, but the whole family together is getting to be too much for me, too.”
“Do you come from a big family?” Candy asked Geri.
“I have three brothers. No one’s married, and they all still live at home. Only one has a normal job where he comes home at night, and he’s a cop, so it’s notthatnormal.”
“Ha! Yep, I hear you. No one has a normal job in our family.”
“Hey, normal is what you make it,” Joey said, laughing. “In our family, being gone three days a week is normal.”
“What do the other sisters-in-law do for a living?” Geri asked, interest in Jake’s family growing. She was glad she’d loosened up a little bit. Candy was being personable after all.
“Tony’s wife is Bridget. You know her. Leon’s wife is a stay-at-home mom to baby Violet. Who else is there?”
“Don’t forget Aisling,” Joey said.
“Oh, right. Aisling is married to Devon. Did you meet him yet?”
“Devon Lyon? Yes,” Geri answered.
“Aisling was married to our brother Mike. He died in a fire a couple of years ago, and Aisling married Devon. They’re still part of the family.”
“They come to Sunday dinner,” Candy said. “You’ll meet Aisling, who’s a nurse, at a family dinner.”
“So no women are firefighters,” Geri stated. “I hope they don’t get weird on me.” The men laughed, understanding what she was referring to. “I’ve already gotten all the questions. What do the men sleep in, what do I sleep in, do we share a bathroom, all that nosey stuff.”
“Whatdoyou sleep in?” Candy asked seriously.
“Now you’re being nosey,” Joey said, shaking his head.
“It’s okay. I sleep in the same thing the guys sleep in. Firehouse-issued workout pants and a T-shirt. If we get a call, we’re basically dressed to go.”
Candy decided to save the question about whether or not she went braless when they fought a fire for when she was alone with Geri.
“That’s a relief, I have to say,” Candy replied.
“You’re not still worried about that bull crap, are you?” Joey asked, and the edge to his voice was unmistakable. “I’m so loyal I’m a joke. They say I’m pussy whipped around the firehouse.”
“Joe, no way,” Candy said, blushing. “I’m just curious. Geri, did you feel like I was accusing you of anything?”
“No.”
The only sound in the room was the fire crackling. “Pizza’s here,” Candy said, leaving the room.
“Sorry about that,” Joey yelled after her. “Sorry, Geri. You too, Jake. The firehouse mystique and all is getting on my nerves.”
“It’s a problem,” Geri said. “Station #34 is antiquated. They’ve had plenty of time to update the sleeping quarters and bathroom situation since the equal rights amendment was passed in 1972. I wasn’t even born yet. How much time will it take before Charlie gets tired of me using his office? I’ve heard in some divisions, the men and women share the same sleeping space. I’m not comfortable with that, and I’m no prude.”
“I apologize to everyone,” Candy said, coming in with a stack of pizza boxes. “I think my life is catching up with me.”
Joey eyed the stack of boxes. “Who else is coming tonight?” he asked, grimacing, taking them from her.
“Ava and Leon might stop over. They’re childless this weekend.”
