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“You could say that. But they wanted to take over. I thought it was better if I moved out then. I caved in today and allowed them to babysit for me instead of taking the little guy to the daycare center.”
“It’s better for him to be with his grandparents. Not that I know a thing about kids, mind you. But if he were mine, I’d choose family over daycare.”
“Well, okay then. Thank you. That actually makes me feel a little better.”
Looking down at her again, he smiled, showing a row of even white teeth. He had a hint of five-o’clock shadow—it was only seven in the morning—and dark, thick curly hair that fell over his forehead. Tony Saint might be a problem.
Inside the station garage, Charlie Saint waited for her. “Bridget, could I talk to you?”
A hot flash passed through her, wondering what she’d done wrong.
“Of course,” she said, looking over at Tony, who winked at her. She felt a little weird with the attention.
“Come back outside with me,” Charlie said.
She followed him out the door, and he led her to a fancy camper van. She could see the hookup to the water faucet and electricity and could hear the air-conditioning running. Right away, she knew why he’d done it, and it was so touching, she had to take in a slow, deep breath so she didn’t start crying.
“It’s my brother Big Mike’s,” he explained. “They don’t use it now that the kids are grown. We thought it would be more comfortable in here for you to do your…” And here he made the swirling motion around his chest with his hands, and she burst out laughing again, putting him immediately at ease.
“Thank you so much,” she said, grinning. “This will be perfect. Please tell your brother I appreciate it.”
“He’s here today. I’ll introduce you later,” Charlie said, pleased with himself. “You can leave your things inside if you want. Here are the keys.”
She took the keys and thanked him again. He waited until she got the door open and then excused himself. Stepping up into the cool, dark RV, she set her backpack down and opened her little cooler, placing the ice block inside the freezer. The pump itself she’d leave in the backpack to keep it clean in case anyone came in.
As she locked it up on her way out, Tony was waiting at the door. “I’m being a pest,” he said. “I apologize. We were excited that old Betsy here was going to be useful again.”
“Right! This is your family’s RV. Please tell your father thank you so much. I hope to meet him today and I can tell him myself.”
“He just got in. Because he’s old, he doesn’t need to stay overnight anymore.”
“Who’s old?”
Big Mike Saint was well named, at least six six and close to two fifty, he looked foreboding, but she’d find out quickly that he was a gentle giant. When Charlie had told him about finding a solution for Bridget’s breast-pumping problem, Big Mike and his wife, Roberta, came up with the camper van idea.
He put out his hand for Bridget, and she eagerly took it, repeating her gratitude. “I can’t thank you enough,” she said. “It didn’t occur to me that I’d have a problem, but you solved it.”
“We’ll leave it here as long as you need it,” he said. “It’s the advantage to having my little brother as the battalion chief.”
“How many family members are here?” Bridget asked.
“It started with our dad, Leonardo. Then I joined, Charlie next, my three boys, and if the next three want to join, they will.”
“Wow, I like that. The Saints of San Diego Fire Company #34.”
“That’s us,” he said, his chest out, with a big grin. “Only I’m retiring soon. I can’t climb the ladder anymore because I need a knee replacement, but my doctor wants me to lose fifty pounds, and that ain’t happening.”
“Dad,” Mike Junior called over the intercom, “breakfast is ready.”
“Yes! Joey’s cooking today. Young lady, you don’t want to miss this, I’m telling you. He does pancakes that are to die for.”
She grinned at him as he scurried off to the elevator. Making her way back to the office, she didn’t realize until she was at the door that Tony had walked along with her.
“Oh! You startled me.”
“Sorry. Will you have lunch with me today?”
There was no getting around it; Tony Saint stirred something within her she didn’t want to deal with. She didn’t answer for a moment; this was her second day on the job. As far as she knew, there wasn’t a no-fraternization clause at #34. But because his invitation had roused uncomfortable feelings, she decided it was better to nip it in the bud, say no, and move on, rather than start something with the possibility that it might end badly.
