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“I can see why…”
In the silence that hangs from her admission, there’s so much I wanna say. Chief interrupts us.
“Steaks will be done in around twenty. If you plan on having coleslaw, better get it goin’.”
She clears her throat. “Will do, dad.”
* * *
It feelslike I’m on a first date as I sit here with Chief and Hayden. I’m scared to do anything, afraid it’ll put me in a bad light with the man I want so hard to impress.
“So, he’s the guy who helped you change your tire?” He asks, holding his bottle in my direction.
“He is.” She grins. “I think we can both agree it could’ve been much worse.”
He chuckles. “I dunno, Rookie here, he knew the rules.”
“Dad, while the rules were cute when I was a teenager, they really aren’t needed now. I think we can all be adults about this,” she argues. “What’s the problem with Danny and I dating?”
I’m curious too, but haven’t had the guts to ask. My girl, she’s sassy and ready to get to the bottom of whatever stands in her way.
Chief puts his fork down, looking at me. “There isn’t a problem. Danny and I had our discussion and we understand each other. Don’t we?”
He looks at her. “I don’t need to explain myself to you, Hayden, but I will. I can’t have the other men of the Company thinking I’m soft on Danny. I need their respect. So at the fire station he won’t be treated differently.”
“Understood.” I say before she can interrupt, but there is something I need to get out in the open with him. I put my own fork down. “As the Rookie, I kinda feel like everybody’s been harder on me than they should be. If you’d like to continue to be rough on me then please do so. I’ll take whatever I have to if I can just keep seeing her.”
He takes a drink of his beer. “Can’t let myself get too close either. That’s why we always recommend people who aren’t related work together. If I’m more worried about what’s going with you than the safety of our crew, then there’s an issue.”
“That’s also understood.”
Hayden speaks up from where she sits next to me. “Now I have something to say. What happens between Danny and I is just that, between us. If we break up or if we’re having an argument, that doesn’t mean you can be rude to him on-shift.” She points a finger at her dad. “Whatever happens doesn’t include you. While I love you and I know you want to prevent me from getting hurt, sometimes it just happens.” She takes a drink from her bottle. “There are times in life where it’s inevitable.”
“Understood,” Chief says the word slowly. “As long as both of you understand I care about you a lot and I won’t be able to treat either of you as if I don’t.”
That’s a lot for him to admit. Hayden and I look at each other, smiling.
“Then you’re okay with this?” She asks, grabbing hold of my hand.
Chief smiles, a real one. I can’t remember the last time I saw one of those from him. “Very okay with it. I wish you the best of luck in the world, and like I said, Danny and I have an agreement.”
And with those words, I finally know we’re okay. I’m just a little hot under the collar thinking about my ashes in the woods.
