Smoke (18 page)

He returned her smile with one of his own. Her dimples deepened the wider her smile became. “I’m glad to see you. How have you been?” He asked kissing the deep dimple on her cheek.

“Working hard and trying to rent my house. I also haven’t found a place to live in Chicago. I don’t have a lot of time to get all what I need done before May. But enough about me; how about you? You look great.”

“I’m hanging in. So what brings you by the fire house?”

“Oh, right. Nick asked me to come by. I guess I could have called but I wanted to see how you doing and say hello to Anthony. I’m getting off track. He would like for you and Anthony to come by the hospital when you get a chance.”

“I’m glad you stopped by instead of calling. Is Nick okay?”

“Surprisingly, he is doing great. He’s regained a little motion in his legs and is off the ventilator. He said he had some redeeming to do and wanted to start with you and Anthony.”

“Wow, if Nick is redeeming, his accident must have scared the shit out of him.”

“Being close to death has a way of changing a person.” She adjusted the strap of her purse on her shoulder. “I won’t hold you since you’re on the clock.”

He took her hands. “Gabrielle, I’ve missed you. Will you have dinner with me tomorrow night?”

“Jonathan, it probably wouldn’t be a good idea.”

“It’s only dinner and not at your place but a restaurant; hell we can go to Burger King. Just say you’ll have dinner with me.”

She laughed. “Okay, I’ll have dinner with you. I know you don’t like wearing suits so how about Olive Garden? I’m in the mood for Italian.”

“Aha, Nick rubbed off on you.”

“I’m wondering where he got the New York accent and lives in Cleveland; but he seems like a nice man.”

“That’s just Nick. I’ll pick you up tomorrow night at 7:00?” He asked gazing into her eyes.

“Fantastic—I’m looking forward to it.”

Standing in silence, neither one spoke as Jonathan continued to hold her hands.

The radio blasted inside the station alerting all hands to report to a working triple-two fire. Jonathan dropped her hands. “That’s me.”

“Jonathan, be careful, please,” she said concerned.

He kissed her quickly on the lips. “Don’t worry; we’re supermen at this station.”

She covered her ears from the sirens blaring as the trucks rolled from the station and down the street. Walking to her car a figure stepped in front of her. “What in the hell are you doing here!” The angry voice of the woman spewed at her.

Gabrielle’s heart beat hard against her chest. It took a minute to focus on the woman standing in front of her; it was Sandra Rhodes. “I don’t think that’s any of your business,” she said walking past her.

“It is my business! Jonathan is happy with me and Amira! Drop any thoughts of trying to lure him back.”

“Huh, really,” Gabrielle said placing her fist flush on her hip. Funny he didn’t mention you when he asked me for a date a minute ago.”

Sandra stretched her neck, tossing her hair aside. “Don’t make this get ugly, little girl. You have no clue what you’re dealing with.”

Gabrielle lowered her perfectly arched brow, frowning. “Too late for the ugly and don’t underestimate what you’re dealing with.” She got in the car turning on the ignition.

Sandra stood in front of the vehicle with her hands spread flat on the hood. “I’m warning you! Stay away from Jonathan; do you understand me!”

Gabrielle pressed down on the brake and tapped the accelerator jerking the SUV

forward forcing Sandra to move. Lowering the window she rolled her eyes meanly.

“What do you think?”

Steam heated Sandra’s ears as she burned inside. “That bitch thinks I’m playing; she will regret messing with me!” Getting into her car, she sped from the parking lot going in the opposite direction of Gabrielle.

Twenty minutes later, Sandra stormed through the front door of her rental home.

Tossing her keys and purse on a nearby table; she looked around the empty room.

“Amira, where are you! Get your butt downstairs pronto!”

The child quickly ascended down the stairs holding onto the railing. “You called me, Mom.”

“Get on the phone and call Jonathan!”

“Mom, he already called me today,” she said nervously.

“I don’t care he called you already!” Sandra shouted. Shoving the cellphone in the chest of the small child, she demanded harshly. “Call him; tell him you need him for tomorrow. Amira, you better not fail or else.”

Tears puddled in Amira eyes. She couldn’t take another beating like last night when Jonathan couldn’t make it because he was working. Pushing the numbers on the phone, drops of tears covered the screen.

“Stop crying! I don’t want him thinking anything is wrong. Just do like I told you and say you’re having nightmares about the fire.” Sandra paced back and forth unsteadily.

Amira kept her eyes on her mother’s irrational behavior praying Jonathan would answer. The call went into voicemail. She pulled the phone from her ear, holding it for her mother to take. “He didn’t answer. Maybe he’s at a fire.”

Slapping the phone from Amira’s hand, Sandra smashed the picture hanging on the wall. “Dammit! She got to him. I know she got to him. That bitch; I swear I’ll kill her ass if she stands in my way.”

Amira sat on the step wrapping her arms around her knees waiting for the blows to begin. When Sandra stormed past without touching her, she released her breath running up the stairs to her bedroom locking herself inside the closet.

Chapter Fifteen

Stepping from the shower, Jonathan picked up his ringing cellphone. “Hey, Amira, what’s up?”

“Can you come over today?”

“I’ve got a lot to do today, but I’ll see you tomorrow at the basketball court.”

“Okay.”

The pause on the end of the phone sent a chill down his spine. “Amira, is everything okay? Sweetie, talk to me? Where is your mom?”

“Hi, Jonathan; I told Amira not to bother you on your day off. I reminded her, she would
see you tomorrow.”

“Its’ okay she can call me whenever she wants, Sandra. What’s going on with her; she sounded weird.”

“I think she is a little disappointed you aren’t coming today. I made the mistake of telling
her I have the loge for the Cavs game tonight and she wanted you to come.”

“Aw, I have a date tonight but tell her thanks for thinking about me. Wait are you sure the game is tonight? I don’t think the Cavs play until tomorrow.”

“You’re right. I read the date wrong. Aren’t you dating too soon after the break with
that cute little therapist?”

“Actually, I have a date with her, but first I’m visiting a friend in the hospital. In fact, I’m running behind schedule. Can we talk later?”

“Sure, don’t let me hold you. Amira and I will see you tomorrow at the rec center and
the basketball game, if you can make it.”

“I’ll be there and maybe I’ll drag Anthony along.”

“She would love to see Anthony; see you later.”

Jonathan finished getting dressed deciding to let his hair dry naturally instead of blow drying it. Calling Anthony to make sure he was on schedule, he left his apartment not thinking much about the conversation with Sandra.

*****

Anthony was at the hospital by the time Jonathan arrived. He found him

standing in the hallway chatting with a nurse. “What gives? Why are you standing in the hall?”

“I’m waiting on you,” Anthony said, motioning for Jonathan to go in the room first.

“This shouldn’t be awkward; we used to be good friends at one time.”

“
Used to be
is the key word. Nick doesn’t have issues with you remember.”

“Anthony, give him a chance. Gabrielle said he wanted to redeem himself so maybe we’ll be getting the original Nick back.”

“We can only hope. Let’s go in and get it over with.”

Nick was sitting propped up in bed. He’d been in the hospital nearly a month and was now residing in the rehabilitation section of the hospital. “I’m you guys made it!” His face lit up when the two men entered the room.

Jonathan shook his hand before replacing it in the pocket of his jeans. “You look good, man. How much longer are you gonna be here?”

“Eh, a couple more weeks if things keep progressing like they are. I can’t believe Gabrielle got my message to you. You were right, Jon, she’s one classy chick—I mean lady.”

“Yeah she is. What did you want to see us about?”

“Okay, where do I start? This has been a long road to recovery for me and I still got a long way to go before I’m actually on my feet.”

“You have to take it one day at a time, Nick,” Jonathan said taking a seat in the chair. Anthony remained standing by the window not saying anything

“I’m prepared for that journey because I’m determined to walk again. I can’t sway the ladies if I’m in a wheelchair.”

“You got the right attitude.”

“Anyhow, I’m not gonna keep you guys. Anthony, I’m sorry I’ve been such a dick. I owe you my life, man. If you had not risked your life cutting me from that hole, I would be worm. You guys stuck with me after all the shit I said to you. When I woke up, the big guy upstairs slapped me upside the head and showed me who my real friends are and how would always have my back.”

Anthony shrugged his shoulders. “I did what I’m trained to do, Nick. We weren’t going to leave you to die.”

“Don’t try and candy coat it, Anthony. When I was being dragged away, I saw you fall. I knew then what an ass I’d been, and prayed if I lived, I would make it up to the both of you.”

Anthony moved by the bed. “Nick, there is nothing to make up to me. Really all I want is for you to get better and go back to being the Nick we used to be good friends with.”

“You got it, buddy. All that dumb shit I used to say and do is over. I’m not even seeing Kate anymore.”

“Why did you stop seeing Kate?” Jonathan asked.

“She let me loose. She didn’t want a man confined to a wheelchair.”

“That sucks. Keep your chin up; someone better will come along and help with your journey,” Jonathan said cheerfully.

The door opened and a pretty blonde woman sauntered in. “Nick, is this a bad time?”

“Give me five minutes with my boys, then I’m all yours,” Nick said to her smiling.

Anthony nudged him with his finger. “Who is the honey?”

“That’s Sara; Kate’s sister. Jon; told ya I wasn’t scared to date a woman with a brain.”

“Yeah you did. I’ma steal a line from Anthony and say
play on playa
.”

Nick wiped his eyes. “Jon, I’m sorry for everything I put you through. I couldn’t ask for a better friend. You’re forgiving me without hesitation when I wouldn’t forgive myself for the shit I did. I know I won’t be part of the Superman team at Station 30

anymore, but I will always be a firefighter and you both will always be my brothers.”

Anthony beat on his chest. “Enough of this mushy stuff; we are firemen and I’m for damn sure ain’t gonna cry. Let’s all agree this shit is part of the past and move forward—deal?” He asked putting his fist out.

Jonathan gave a sideways grin touching his fist next to Anthony’s; with Nick’s following. “I think we have a deal.”

Anthony headed for the door. “Come on, Jon; Nick got better curves to

conquer.”

“Yeah, you don’t want to keep her waiting in the hall. We’ll come again soon.”

“Send Sara in when y’all leave,” he said smoothing down his hair.

*****

“That was interesting,” Jonathan said to Anthony as they walked down the hall.

“Yeah, took me by surprise. He seems to be dealing with his injuries fairly well.”

“He does, but I think we should keep an eye on him just in case he does a relapse. You wanna go to a Cavs game tomorrow night?”

“You got tickets?”

“I don’t have tickets but Sandra and Amira have the loge. I have a date with Gabrielle and can’t make it.”

“Jon, the woman hates my guts. I don’t think she wants to sit at game with me for three or four hours.”

“She said Amira would love to see you. Come on, Ant; you haven’t spent any time with Amira and it’s your turn to babysit.”

“Since when are you on again with Gabrielle?”

“We’re just having a final dinner together. She’s on track for her big move.”

“Tell her how you feel, Jon. Women melt in your arms when they hear those words for the first time.”

“Too soon,” he replied shaking his head. “I might be having false feeling and gotta be sure I’m telling her because my feelings are real, and not saying it just to keep her here.”

“You need to throw caution to the wind and go for it. Gabrielle will go to Chicago, marry some other dude and you’ll be kicking yourself in the ass because you want to play it cool.”

“Okay, Dr. Phil; I hear what’cha saying.”

*****

Gabrielle broke down the last box squeezing it between the wall and shelf in the garage. Taking the handle of the barbeque grill, she rolled it back in its place on the patio and covered it with the drop cloth. She then replaced the cushions on the lawn chairs and pushed them under the table. The yard was finally returned to the way it was before she spent hours taking it apart.

Flopping on one of the chairs she relaxed. The sky threatened rain with the darker clouds taking over the blue sky and moving to cover the bright sun. Too exhausted to move, she didn’t care if the sky burst open dumping a thunderstorm on top of her. Her plan to move to Chicago fell through after the job offer was rescinded; the therapist decided to keep his job.

Gabrielle closed her eyes as the first raindrops hit her forehead. The cool droplets of water felt good against her hot sweaty skin. As the rain started to fall harder, she got up to go inside the house; there was significant unpacking yet to do there.

The kitchen was an array of boxes stacked neatly on the counters and table.

Digging into the first box, she removed the newspaper wrapped dishes, stacking them in the dishwasher. The doorbell rang breaking her roll. “
Who could that be
?” She wondered as she filled the soap dispenser and started the cycle before answering the door.