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CHAPTERSIX
Lucas
After we’ve eaten dinner, I help Melody tidy up in the kitchen while Roman plays with his cars in the living room. When the dishes are washed and put away, I turn to Melody.
“Am I okay to go upstairs and fix the smoke detectors? I don’t want you and Roman to go another night without working alarms.”
She nods. “I’ll show you where the bedrooms are.”
Leaving Roman playing in the living room, I follow Melody, grabbing the box with the alarms inside. When we get to the top of the stairs, I stop and look around.
“You need one here.” I point to the ceiling at the top of the stairs before reaching into the box and taking out an alarm. “Do you have any ladders?”
“No, but I have my vanity unit stool. Will that work?”
“Yep, that’s good.” She disappears, returning a few seconds later with a white wooden stool.
It only takes me a few minutes to replace each of the alarms, and I feel better knowing she has that protection. When we get downstairs, we stop in the entryway.
“So, I need to get Roman to bed, but do you want to hang around and maybe grab a drink after?” She pauses. “If you want to get home, that’s fine too,” she rushes out, her eyes dropping to the floor.
“A drink sounds good.”
She lifts her head and smiles. “I’ll be right back. Make yourself comfortable.”
I follow her into the living room, and she scoops Roman up, setting him on her hip. “Time for bed, Roman. Say goodnight to Lucas.”
“Night, Lucas,” he says sleepily, dropping his head onto Melody’s shoulder.
“Night, little man.” I reach over and ruffle his hair.
I watch as she carries him out of the room and up the stairs. I have no idea how long it takes to put a child to bed. I’m guessing a while if she waits for him to fall asleep. I nervously click my fingers and pace the space while I wait. My eyes fall on the framed pictures on the mantel, and I walk over to get a closer look. They’re mostly of Roman from when he was a baby to what looks like fairly recently. Melody is in a couple of them with him, and I stare at her beautiful, smiling face. She looks a little different now, her hair longer than it was in the pictures when Roman was small. Hearing movement on the stairs, I turn and smile as she walks into the living room.
“That was quick,” I say, surprised to see her downstairs already.
“He was exhausted. I think all the traveling and the excitement of the fire truck wore him out. What do you want to drink?” she asks, walking into the kitchen. “I’ve got beer and wine.”
“I’ll take a beer, please.”
She reaches into the refrigerator and takes out a bottle of Bud before pouring herself a glass of red wine. With one in each hand, she makes her way back to the living room. I take the Bud from her outstretched hand and we sit down on the sofa. I watch as she folds her legs underneath her and relaxes back into the sofa, bringing her drink to her lips.
“So, what brings you to Armstrong?” I ask, taking a pull of my beer.
She sighs. “I separated from my husband just over a year ago.”
“I’m sorry.”
She shrugs. “We wanted different things. His job meant we moved around a lot, and when Roman was born, I didn’t want that lifestyle anymore. We tried for a couple of years, but when it came to it, he chose his career over us.”
“That must have been tough. Do you have family in Armstrong?”
She shakes her head. “Not anymore. My mom’s aunt used to live here, and I’d come and visit her as a kid. I loved it here, and when I knew things were over with Dexter, Armstrong was the first place I thought of. My parents live in the UK, so it’s really just me and Roman. I love the idea of him growing up in a small town. Have you always lived here?”
“Yep. Born and bred. My parents are still here too.”
“Did you always want to be a firefighter?”
“Yeah. I was a little like Roman. Obsessed with fire trucks. My dad used to take me to the firehouse when they had an open day or a charity fundraiser. When I qualified and started working there, I already felt like I was home.” I smile sheepishly. “That sounds crazy, doesn’t it?”
