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Eva snorted. "Well, I would love some ideas of what to do for his birthday next week. He wants a campout."
"Nowthatl can help with. I have a tent that will sleep six. How many kids? Wait. Who are you inviting?"
"I'm hoping your nephews might come. Otherwise, I haven't a clue."
Jake shrugged. "I can come and bring the nephews as long as they aren't with Mary Jane that weekend. They go to New Orleans some weekends, but I can ask Matt."
"Charlie really liked Wyatt and said they ate lunch together yesterday. Or, in Charlie's case, didn't eat lunch. I'd appreciate your help with the birthday party. Fancy said she would help, but I hate to ask any more of your mother. She's been such a blessing."
"I think selflessness was in the contract for being a pastor's wife," Jake joked, pulling himself upright. "She likes managing everyone else's lives. You and Charlie are fresh meat.”
Just as Eva was about to fuss at Jake for making light of having a caring mother, meddlesome or not, the alarm sounded.
Jake disappeared faster than a chocolate bar at a PMS convention. Eva dumped the folder on the desk as the adrenaline shot through her.
Two calls within ten days.
Rare.
She hurried out the door to the bay where the engines and her bunker gear stood waiting. She and the guys spent the first half hour of every shift making sure they could get in their equipment and out of the station in mere minutes, so it took her less than two minutes to slide into her protective gear.
"Grass fire," Captain Hank Sorrento called as he slid into the driver's seat of Engine Five, which meant there was likely no hydrant to catch. Engine Five had a larger water reservoir and was used for areas without water support.
Eva hoisted herself up, sliding onto the seat opposite Jake. Dutch climbed in grumbling about the Velcro on his bunker coat. Jake rolled his eyes because Dutch had been grumping about his Velcro for the past year. Then he winked at Eva.
Just a regular run to put out a grass fire.
No sexual tension. No desire. No hippety-hop of her heart. Easy-peasy normal.
"Dutchtown got the call. We got a call for mutual aid," Hank called as he hit the lights and siren and maneuvered through Magnolia Bend.
Grass fires happened this time of year because Louisiana was often drier than normal in the fall. Burning the sugarcane fields before harvest started in late August, and the slightest mismanagement of ashes could cause small pop-up fires around the parish. Most farmers were very conscious about the controlled burns, but fire is unpredictable and can run away, causing unintentional damage. Just a few years ago the crossties of the railroad going through town had been burned when a fire jumped the tracks and burned a field not slated for burning.
By the time Engine Five arrived on the side of the rural parish road, the unit out of Dutchtown had already started knocking down the stringy fire that stretched along the highway. Their team provided support, making sure the smoldering, blackened areas were completely out. Seemed obvious this fire wasn't a result of an uncontrolled sugarcane fire but rather a lit cigarette landing in dry scrub lining the sides of the road. Eva worked the hose, something she normally didn't do, but since it was a small fire and they were only providing backup at this point, the captain didn't say boo.
She suppressed the usual aggravation that welled in her gut at her being treated as subpar. She'd approached Chief Rinaudo before, relaying Hank's propensity to assign her less-demanding jobs. The chief had looked at her as if she were bat-shit crazy, making her feel paranoid. So she kept her mouth shut, because though she hated feeling as though she was given special treatment for being a woman, she didn't want to make her working environment needlessly difficult. Maybe sheshouldkick up a fuss, but she'd rather work it differently, proving herself steadfastly through her efforts. Rome wasn't built in a day...and female firefighters couldn't expect automatic respect without proving themselves.
Just as she finished helping the guys load up the engine for the short ride back to Magnolia Bend, her phone rang.
"Hey, Fancy,” she said, recognizing the number, worried since Fancy had said she'd only call if it were an emergency.
"It's me," Charlie said.
"Oh, hey, Charlie. Sorry I haven't had a chance to call you. But we're on a run now, so I'll have to call you later."
"No. I want to go home," he said. He sounded whiny.
"Hey, we talked about this. Your mom is getting better but you'll have to stay with me until she's fully recovered."
"No, not my house. I want to go to your house. I don't want to stay here."
Eva glanced over to Hank, who had sent her a frown. Their captain didn't prohibit personal calls but it was understood they didn't engage on a scene. "I can't talk now, Charlie. You have to stay with Fancy. She's sweet. You'll be fine."
"Please, Eva. Come get me. I'm scared."
Her heart twisted. ''Charlie, I really can't talk, sweetie. I'm at work. We talked about this."
Charlie didn't say anything. Instead, he cried. She put her hand over the mouthpiece and muttered, "Shit."
