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“Did you send Chief Yates down here?” I ask.
“No. Is he there?”
“Yes,” I admit.
“Did he say why he was there?”
“He wants me to come to the firehouse in Largo.”
“Oh,” but the way she says it makes me think there is something she is not telling me.
“What is it?” I ask her.
“Nothing, it’s nothing.”
“What are you not telling me, Alisa?”
“Well, I did ask him over a month ago to help me get you back home, but you were supposed to come home to visit, and we were going to try to convince you then. I don’t know why he would show up there now,” she says. “But did he convince you to come home?”
“Yes, I am coming home. I should be there in a month, so I need to ask, can I stay at your house? I know you moved in with Matt, but now with the baby coming, I’m not sure about your plans.”
“Of course, you can stay at my place, in fact, if you want to buy it from me, you can. Matt and I are looking to buy our place, so I would have to sell the house anyway,” she says with trepidation in her voice like she is biting her lip.
“Okay, I can do that. We can discuss particulars when I get there.”
“EEEEKKKK, I’m so happy you’re coming home, Sam. I can’t wait.”
I smile, knowing she is truly happy I’m coming back. “I can’t either, Lis,” I tell her before ending the call.
I place my phone in my pocket, and briefly wonder did Connor only come here to help get me home for Alisa, or is it because he really does want me? I decide to deal with this later and shove aside all the thoughts.
* * *
A month later
“Areyou sure this is what you want?” Chief Johnson asks me again for the millionth time since Connor, and I told him I wanted to transfer to the Largo Firehouse.
“Yes, Chief, I’m sure,” I tell him with a smile as I drop my box of belongings from my locker onto the table.
“What about those brutal winters?” Rocco asks.
“If my soon-to-be niece or nephew can endure it when they are born, there is no reason why I can’t reacclimate myself as well,” I chuckle.
“You are one hell of a firefighter, Sam, and we will miss you,” Lieutenant Murray says.
“Thanks, Joe. I will miss all of you as well,” I say, picking up my box off the table. I turn to look at all of them and say, “Hey, do me a favor,” they all look at me, “don’t give the new girl a hard time when she gets here.” I smile at them, before turning to walk out of the firehouse I have called home for the last three years.
I will the tears not to fall as I hear them all say, “Bye Sam. Safe travels.”
I place my box in the backseat of my car. I will be making the two-day drive to Maine up the east coast. I take a look around one more time before I get in the car and drive away.
The last month has been hectic. Connor spent another two days with me, before he headed back to Largo, leaving me to pack my house, coordinate with movers, and procure a loan for Alisa’s house, once we both agreed to a fair market value price of the property. She wanted to lowball herself because as she said, I am her sister, but I know her and Matt need the money for their new place, and I wasn’t going to allow her to shortchange herself for family.
In fact, we should sign the closing paperwork in a week's time, and I’m excited for that. I continued working my shifts so as not to leave the crew one member short. In a couple of weeks, they will be getting a new firefighter, and I’m glad it’s another female. I know the guys will treat her right.
Connor and I have not seen each other since his visit to South Carolina, but we have spoken daily. I press his number on my phone and listen to the ringing through the Bluetooth.
“Hey, baby girl,” he says immediately when he answers.
