The Firefighter Daddy

“But—”

“I’d love to. Gabe enjoys them, and that way he won’t be pestering me to throw that ball all afternoon.” She gestured toward Madison and Katie taking turns tossing the tennis ball for her dog.

“If I hadn’t been exhausted before this, I would be now watching him running after it over and over. How old is he?”

“Seven years old. In his heart he still thinks he’s a puppy. When he crashes, he’ll sleep for hours then want to do it all over again. Much like a child, he wants attention, but Mom and I work often from eight to six, five days a week. When we come home after being on our feet all day, we’re tired, and he’s ready to play all night.”

“That sounds like me when I have a shift where I work most of the time, like yesterday’s. All I want to do is crash onto my bed and catch up on sleep. Usually the kids are at school, but not when I work Fridays or Saturdays, which is every two weeks.”

“What happens when the kids are out of school in a couple of months?”

Liam rubbed the back of his neck. “I haven’t figured that out yet. Aunt Betty has been wonderful, but she is seventy-five. My girls can run rings around her.”

She loved the way he referred to Madison and Katie as his girls. He might be their uncle, but he was settling into the role of being a father well. She wondered if he had ever been married. Instead she asked, “Was your brother younger or older?”

“Younger by three years. I’m thirty-five, and I know better than to ask a woman her age.”

She laughed. “If I can ask, then you can, too, but I’ll save you the bother. I’m twenty-eight.” When the sound of the back door opening announced her mother was joining them, she glanced over her shoulder, wishing she had chosen to sit farther away from him than she had. It didn’t take much to encourage her mom to matchmake.

“If you’re sure about letting the girls stay, I’ll grab a cookie—” a twinkle sparkled his eyes “—or two before I leave and tell my nieces where I’m going.”

“They may not want to stay.”

“Are you kidding? I heard them plotting in the kitchen after church. Katie was sure I’d bring them over if they made cards for you.”

Sarah rose. “It seems your youngest niece knows you well.”

“You mean she has me wrapped around her little finger. I admit sometimes she does, but I wanted to see you again so I agreed after only a little begging.” He leaned close to her ear and whispered, “But don’t tell them.”

“They won’t get it from me.” She turned to the yard and called, “Do you two want some cookies and lemonade?”

Madison had her arm in midthrow and stopped. The ball plopped to the ground near her, and the girls raced toward the deck. Liam stepped to the left while Sarah moved to the right. Madison and Katie ran between them and skidded to a halt at the glass table. Just as she and Liam were going to close the gap between them, Gabe loped by.

“I have some wipes you can use to clean your hands.” Her mother handed each one a cloth.

Sarah looked up at Liam. He chuckled then said, “They came to me that way. They go full throttle like Gabe then crash hard—” he checked his watch “—in about five hours.”

“If I only had half that energy.” Sarah walked toward the table, watching the smile on her mother’s face as she poured the lemonade and made sure the girls had enough cookies. Gabe lay down between Liam’s nieces, probably hoping to lap up the crumbs that fell on the deck.

When Sarah and Liam sat, her mom scrutinized him as she took a chair next to Madison. Sarah braced herself for the interrogation that would probably follow.

“Liam, I understand you haven’t been living here long. How do you like Buffalo?” her mother asked while his nieces were busy finishing their first treat and starting on another.

“It certainly is different from Dallas.” He took a bite of the cookie. “Mmm. This is delicious. Better than the ones I make.”

Her mother’s eyebrows shot up. “You bake cookies?”

“I didn’t set out to be a cook, but in Dallas that became my job at the fire station. I’ll admit I liked doing that more than cleaning the place. Over the years I’ve kept adding recipes to what I can prepare. I figure if I’m going to cook, I should do it well. The guys on my shift here quickly put me in charge of the meals.”

“We used to eat out a lot. Not now. His pizza is the bestest I’ve had.” Katie’s legs swung back and forth as she stuffed the last of the second cookie into her mouth.

“I love his fried chicken.” Madison patted her stomach. “Oh, and macaroni and cheese. It’s not from a box,” she added in astonishment.

“I like to cook, too, but alas, my daughter doesn’t. I’d love to share recipes. The chocolate-chip recipe was my mother’s.”

“Mom, Nana should be out here by now.” Sarah hoped she took the hint and went inside to see about Nana before she started asking Liam more personal questions.

Her mother frowned and pushed to her feet. “You’re right. She’s having one of her days.”

After her mom went inside, Liam asked quietly, “Is your grandmother okay?”

“Some days she forgets things.”

Although she had kept her voice low, Madison heard what Sarah said to Liam. “I forgot how to spell Buffalo on my spelling test, but I remembered Oklahoma.”

“That’s great, Madison.” Sarah was glad the girls didn’t start asking questions about Nana’s memory, and she would remember in the future even when they didn’t look as though they were listening, the girls were probably paying attention.

Katie sat straighter. “I know how to spell my whole name.”

Madison jumped to her feet. “Ready, Gabe.”

The black Lab stood, his tail wagging.

Katie snatched another cookie and started to follow Gabe and Madison.

“Girls, I’m going home in a few minutes.” Liam finished his drink and put his glass on the table.

Madison whirled around. “You can’t. We wanna play with Gabe more. He wants us to.”

Katie nodded over and over.

Liam rose. “I know. Sarah thought you could stay here for a while then go with her to the park with Gabe.”

“After the park, I’ll take you back to your house. Today is just too pretty to spend inside,” Sarah said as the back door opened and her grandmother and mother appeared.

“In fact, when you three come to my house, I’ll have dinner almost ready, and if Sarah wants to eat with us, that’s fine with me.” Liam peered expectedly at Sarah.

“How can I turn down that invitation? I’d love to.”

Madison put her hand on top of the Lab’s head. “So Gabe can stay at our house, too?”

“Yes, while Sarah is there.” Liam smiled at Nana, who had on her floppy hat but was still in her work clothes with short sleeves.

The girls charged down the steps to the yard and ran toward the tennis ball on the ground near the back fence.

“Who’s this young man?” Nana asked as she took a seat. “I haven’t met you before. Are you sweet on my granddaughter?”

Heat flooded Sarah’s face. There was no telling what her grandmother would say. On her good days she wouldn’t have said that so bluntly. She usually was the subtle one.