Playing With Fire (19 page)

She navigated the newly sheet-rocked walls into the kitchen. Following the same procedure she had in the living room, she laid out another line of conduit. On the other side of the room, she backed into a pair of legs.

"Oops."

Cranking the upper half of her body around, she discovered the long and nicely muscled legs belonged to a man. A tall man, she deduced, as her gaze traveled up. A tall man wearing shorts and a uniform tee-shirt she'd recognize anywhere.

"Hey, Lindsay. I didn't know you'd be here today."

She tried to stand. Her knees buckled and sharp cramps seized her legs.

"Here, let me help you.” He gave her a hand.

She rose with the grace of a duck emerging from a pool of quicksand. “Thanks, Joey. I didn't know your company participated in Habitat for Humanity."

"This is our launch project. The boss thought a fire sprinkler company contributing systems to burn victims’ homes might be good advertisement."

Leaning forward, she rubbed her knees, which only set off an explosion of pain in her lower back. “Ow!"

"You okay?"

He seemed a little uncomfortable, so Lindsay did her best to put him at ease. Regardless of what had gone wrong with her and Matt, she wanted to remain friends with Joey. “I've got to tell you, after today, I have a whole new respect for construction workers. And here I thought
my
job was physically demanding."

"Um, Lindsay. Listen. I should warn you...” Joey didn't finish because the reason for his discomfort walked into the kitchen.

"Matt.” His name fell off her lips in a whisper.

God, he looked good. Her heart went as soft as her aching knees.

Be strong
, she told herself.
Act like this is no big deal. You're going to run into him now and again, so you'll have to get used to it.

Like she ever would.

"Lindsay.” He looked as surprised to find her there as she was to find him. Though he recovered quicker. “I see you were recruited, too. Who are you working for?"

It took a few seconds for her to formulate intelligible speech. “Glen Fletcher from
Grand Canyon State Electric
."

"I didn't know you were an electrician's helper."

"I'm not,” she said, rubbing the small of her back and wishing for a place to hide. “Not a very good one, anyway."

"You're here. That's what counts. Not your skill level."

"Hey, the roach coach is parked out front,” Joey chimed in. “I'm buying if anyone's interested."

Lindsay declined. “Thanks, but I need to finish up here.”
And the sooner the better.

"Come on.” Matt gave her a thorough up and down. “You look like you could use a break."

"Matt promises to be good.” Joey gave Matt a clap on the shoulder. “Don't you, buddy?"

Matt's raised eyebrow said he didn't make any such promise.

Be strong, Lindsay. Very, very strong. Don't show any sign of weakness.

"Let me just tell Glen where we'll be."

They made their way outside to the mobile catering van. Lindsay hobbled, trying to keep up with the men's long strides.

"Potato chips, burritos, Hostess Twinkies, and Slim Jims.” She frowned as she perused the selections, which consisted of mostly junk food items. “Do you have any Power Bars?"

"I have Rice Krispies Treats,” the attendant offered.

"Rookies.” Joey threw up his hands in disgust. “What kind of construction worker doesn't like Twinkies?"

"A lousy one.” Lindsay made a sad face. There was no point in lying. “Look at me. I can hardly move and I'm so tired, my vision's blurry. How pathetic is that?"

Matt plucked something from one of the trays and tossed it to her. “Try this. It's an instant pick-me-up."

She caught the object, examined it, then gave him ‘the look'. “A Baby Ruth?"

"Think of it as the construction worker's Power Bar."

"You're not serious?"

"Go on. Eat it. The sugar rush will help with your aches and pains. It's true,” he said when she continued staring at him.

On the off chance the candy bar might actually live up to Matt's promise, Lindsay took it. She also took an orange juice, telling herself the healthy beverage would counteract the candy bar's high calories and almost non-existent nutritional value.

Snacks in hand, the three of them strolled over to a low block fence on the property line and sat down. They were no sooner seated, when Joey's cell phone rang.

"It's Karyn,” he said, checking the caller I.D. before answering. “Hey, babe.” Excusing himself, he went off to conduct his conversation in private.

"Look, I'm sorry,” Matt said after Joey left. “I really had no idea."

"It's all right. These things happen."

"You sure?"

She had the feeling that, like her, he was talking about more than today. “Yeah, very sure.” She unwrapped the Baby Ruth and took a bite. The candy bar tasted surprisingly good. Chocolate and peanuts were a natural combination.

Not like her and Matt.

All right, already! Enough with the analogies. She took another bite of the Baby Ruth, gnawing off a large chunk. The flavor hadn't diminished. It still tasted good. Go figure.

Matt demolished his Slim Jim in three bites. “You know, its funny."

"What is?"

"Some things don't seem like they're good for you on the outside, but when you look closer, they really are."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. Take that candy bar you're eating. I bet you're saying to yourself, I shouldn't eat this because chocolate's bad for me, bad for my weight, bad for my complexion, bad for my teeth. Am I right?"

She tipped her head from side to side, unable to speak because her mouth was full.

"Did you know eating chocolate produces endorphins? Those are the same hormones our bodies produce when we laugh. So when you get down to it, eating chocolate is a lot like laughing."

Lindsay swallowed the last of her Baby Ruth with an audible gulp. “Where did you hear that?"

"My mom read it in one of her women's magazines."

"Hmmm.” Lindsay didn't put much stock in women's magazines.

"Well, how are you feeling?"

She thought about it. She
was
in less pain. Flexing a leg, she noticed an increase in mobility. “Maybe I should have another Baby Ruth,” she mused.

"Good idea. You should always give something a second try."

Catching on at last, she asked, “Are we talking about Baby Ruths, or us?"

Before Matt could comment, an older model sedan pulled up to the curb and came to a stop. A plainly dressed, but pleasant looking middle-aged woman emerged. She went around to the passenger side and helped an older woman from the car, who, once on solid ground, acted as if she didn't need or want any assistance.

Lindsay immediately recognized the older woman as the owner of the house. From the striking resemblance, the other woman had to be a relative, probably her daughter.

Faces alight, they pointed to the house, their discussion animated. While Lindsay couldn't hear everything they were saying, it was obvious they were enthused about the progress of the reconstruction.

Lindsay smiled as they passed.

"Be sure and watch your step in there,” Joey said, rejoining Matt and Lindsay. “The electricians are running wire. It's everywhere."

"Thank you, young man.” The eyes behind the older woman's bifocals were bright and lively. “Look, Nell.” She tugged on her daughter's shirt sleeve. “The new windows are up. And the front door. Oh, my. Don't they look nice?"

"Very nice.” Nell gave her mother a gentle push, propelling her forward.

"Aren't these Habitat for Humanity people wonderful? They're all volunteers. Did you know that?” The older woman waved at Lindsay, Matt, and Joey. Lindsay waved back.

"Yes, Mom. I know that."

Again, the older woman brushed off her daughter's helping hand. She stopped in the middle of the driveway and gazed at her reconstructed home, her expression melancholy. “If I've learned one lesson from all this, it's to grab happiness where and when I find it. You never know when your entire life will change.” Then, breaking into a happy smile, she began walking toward the house. “But that doesn't mean your new life can't be just as good as the old one, if not better."

Nell caught up with her mother. “Come on,” she said fondly. “Let's see what else has been done on the inside."

Lindsay stared at them, amazed at the older woman's positive attitude. As a firefighter, she understood more than most how quickly and drastically lives could change. But she hadn't contemplated the emotional recovery until today.

"They seem like nice people,” Matt said when Nell and her mother were out of earshot.

"Very nice."

"Interesting what she said about grabbing happiness.” His dark eyes bored into hers.

"Yeah. Interesting.” Lindsay was the first to turn away. Suddenly in a hurry, she stood up. “I'd better get back to work. Glen's probably wondering what happened to me."

She spent the rest of the afternoon running conduit, installing outlets, and avoiding Matt, which wasn't easy. To her dismay, her mind kept bouncing from one unsettling topic to the next. Topics which included Matt, Baby Ruth candy bars, and grabbing happiness where and when she could find it.

Lindsay gingerly lowered herself into the scalding water. Her sore muscles screamed, then sighed with contentment as the bubble bath slowly worked its magic.

After leaving the Habitat for Humanity project that afternoon, she'd come straight home. But not before stopping at the store for supplies. The flickering shadows from half a dozen vanilla candles danced on the wall, their scent filling the room. Celine Dion, courtesy of Lindsay's favorite CD, crooned to her from the other room. A glass of white wine and a dish of miniature Baby Ruths sat on the floor by the tub.

When Lindsay threw a private pity party, she did it with style.

God, she missed Matt. Seeing him today had been hard. Harder than she ever imagined it would be.

Reaching over the side of the tub, she plucked a candy bar from the dish, unwrapped it, and popped it in her mouth. Four more followed.

"Lindsay, you're a bad, bad girl,” she said between mouthfuls.

If not a cure for the Matt-Callahan-blues, the self-indulgent binge did make her feel better. The effects, however, were temporary, lasting only until she'd dressed. Restless, she paced the kitchen and living room, closing her ears to the half-eaten bag of candies calling to her from the pantry.

Rather than give in to weakness, she decided on a change of scenery. Preferably, one that involved burning calories. Her hips would thank her in morning.

Twenty minutes later, she pulled into the station parking lot. Booter, familiar with the sound of her car's engine, bounded out to meet her. She no sooner opened her door, then he was halfway in the car with her.

"Hello, you goofy dog.” She scrunched his ears and let him lick her face until he tried to crawl onto her lap. “Ugh! Get down. You weigh a ton.” She pushed him off her. He didn't go willingly. “Since you're feeling so much better, how about a walk? We could both use the exercise."

Booter trotted beside her into the station where she was welcomed by the shift captain, Rebecca, and her crew, which included Dennis. Lindsay had forgotten he'd traded days with one of the other men and would be there. Having recently returned from a call, the four firefighters were hanging around the common rooms, snacking, watching TV, or preoccupied with paperwork.

"There you are.” Rebecca sat at the table, thumbing through a manual. A petite, pencil thin mother of three, she didn't look much like a captain. In her case, however, looks were deceiving. Even Dennis respected her, which was saying a lot. “I kid you not, that mutt has radar. He's been waiting by the door for the last hour."

Lindsay took a seat across from Rebecca. Booter squeezed in, resting his head on Lindsay's thigh.

"When are you going to take him home and make him a permanent pet?” Rebecca asked.

"I can't do that. He's the station mascot."

"He's your dog and everyone here knows it. Most of all, him. Take him home with you, Lindsay. You'll both be happier."

"My cat will freak."

"At first. But he'll eventually adjust. They may even become friends."

Lindsay thought of her small house and how empty it was lately without Matt there. She loved His Highness, but admittedly, the cat was a solitary creature, doling out affection in small increments when it suited him. It might be nice to come home to a happy face, be it a canine one.

"Okay. Why not?” She patted Booter's side, mindful of his healing incision. “We'll give it a try. See how it goes."

After chitchatting for several more minutes, Lindsay pushed her chair back and stood. Keeping up appearances was using too much of her already depleted emotional reserves. She needed to recharge.

"Leaving already?” Rebecca asked.

"Booter and I are off to the park for a walk."

"Have fun. But be careful. It's not smart for a woman to be out alone after dark."

"We'll stick to the well-lighted areas. I promise."

"Hey, Pfeiffer,” Dennis called from the couch. “I forgot to tell you. Callahan left something for you in the bedroom."

"He did?” Lindsay's stomach flip flopped. Her first inclination was to leave without checking, but it suddenly seemed as if, with the exception of Dennis, everyone's eyes were on her. “In the bedroom, you say?” she inquired with a casualness that didn't ring true.

Dennis didn't bother looking away from the TV. “The closet."

"Stay, Booter.” She reinforced the verbal command with a hand signal. “I'll be right back."

Feeling extraordinarily uncomfortable, Lindsay opened the closet door. This may be the bedroom she regularly used, but today, it belonged to Dennis. And even though he'd given his permission, she couldn't shake the sensation of being an intruder.

What had Matt left for her? As she searched the closet, her mind raced, exploring the possibilities.
Relax,
she told herself. It was probably just a book or something she'd forgotten at his house. No big deal.