Home Fires (14 page)

She didn’t dare say it. Her father’s memory was too close and precious to speak aloud. But the notion that Mike cared enough to ask was already tucked away deep inside her heart.

“Why don’t we figure that out as we go along?” she finally said.

Mike hesitated, then finally nodded, smiling at her in the growing twilight. “I’ll say good night, then….”

“Good night.”

The growing cover of darkness hid the pensive smile that lit up her face. Rose stood alone on the porch steps and watched as he climbed in the pickup, threw her a wave, and started down the street. Only after the pickup finally disappeared from sight did she turn and head back into her mother’s house.

CHAPTER SEVEN

ANNUAL INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE

____________________________________

By: Charles Kendall

The James Bay Journal

____________________________________

JAMES BAY—The annual Fourth of July parade kicks off Monday at 2:00 P.M. sharp. More than fifty entries are expected to participate in this year’s parade. The VFW and American Legion will be represented, as will the Boy Scouts. The parade, led by the fire department, will feature bands, floats, bagpipers, and an honor guard. The parade route runs through downtown.

Residents are encouraged to turn out in full red, white, and blue regalia to celebrate the birth of our country. Patriotic commemorative buttons are being sold by the Kiwanis Club to raise funds for the library-remodeling project. The buttons, a new fund-raiser this year, are expected to be a local collector’s item. They may be purchased from downtown merchants including the James Bay Bank, Bell’s Drug Store, James Junior Wear, and Ramer Mercantile. Those interested in learning more about the buttons may contact Charles Kendall, Kiwanis button chairperson.

____________________________________

The phone rang while she was in the kitchen cleaning up the remains of their lunch. Rose grabbed it on the second ring before it could disturb Irene, who had finally settled down and was napping on the sun porch. “Hello?”

“You sound tired. Everything okay?”

Mike’s voice breathed fresh life into her spirits. She hadn’t expected caring for her mother to be as exhausting as a full-time job. How did professional caregivers do it? Every day left her physically drained, and dealing with the pain in Irene’s knee kept both of them awake much of the night. Hours later, with her mother finally asleep, Rose had gone back to bed, only to discover sleep wouldn’t come. All the
what-ifs
in her life kept her awake. Even when she managed to push aside the health-care concerns about her mother and the confusing thoughts about the path her career should take, her thoughts kept spinning. But this time, at the center of the whirling vortex was a tall, tanned fireman by the name of Michael John Gallagher.

“Mom’s knee kept her awake most of the night.” Rose struggled to hold back a yawn.

“Sounds like you need a nap.” Mike’s voice flooded patient and soothing over the telephone line. “What about tomorrow? I’m driving one of the fire trucks in the Fourth of July parade. I thought maybe if you weren’t busy, we could get together, maybe spend the afternoon together.”

Regret flooded through her as she heard his invitation. Any day but tomorrow…

“I’m sorry, but we do have plans.”

“That’s okay, I figured you might.” His voice sounded flat. “It was short notice.”

Did he think she was merely making up an excuse? “We do this special thing each year to celebrate the Fourth,” she rushed to explain. “It’s a neighborhood block party and it always ends up at our house. People come over and watch the fireworks. Our porch and lawn have the perfect view.” She heard herself gushing and tried to tone down her enthusiasm. “I know it sounds corny, but it’s actually lots of fun. You’re welcome to join us.”

She’d missed the annual party two years in a row due to work commitments. But she was here this year, and hopefully Mike could join them. The whole neighborhood usually turned out, with people wandering from yard to yard, sharing their barbecues, salads, and desserts before eventually ending up on the Gallaghers’ yard or front porch. It was a fun time, a cherished childhood memory served up like a piece of Irene’s famous rhubarb-cherry pie… a little slice of heaven.

“Thanks for the invitation. It sounds really nice, not corny at all.”

She could already hear the
but
in his voice. Rose swallowed hard and steeled herself.

“But I’m afraid I can’t make it. I’ll be busy tomorrow night watching the fireworks.”

She frowned and stared at the phone. Hadn’t he heard her? She’d just told him they would be watching the fireworks, too.

“Our front porch has the perfect view. You can see them quite clear from up here on the hill.”

He chuckled softly over the phone. “Guess I didn’t make myself clear. I’ve got some free time after the parade, but I’ll be working tomorrow night. I’m scheduled to be on standby with the fire truck down at the harbor. Hey, why don’t you come down there? We could watch the fireworks together.”

It sounded fabulous. What could be better than sitting next to Mike down by the lake, watching the night sky explode in brilliant colors of bursting shells? That would be the best view of all… especially with one of those strong tanned arms around her, holding her close.

“I’m sorry, Mike, I can’t,” she said. Regret lingered in her voice as well as in her heart. “Much as I would love to, I really need to stick around home. We have lots of people coming over and I can’t disappoint my mom.”

“No need to explain, I understand.” He hesitated. “Maybe I’ll stop by later, after the fireworks. That is, if the invitation is still open?”

“I would like that,” she said with a growing smile. “And yes, the invitation is definitely open.”

“Good, we’ll leave it at that. You get some rest, take care of your mom, and maybe I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

Rose found herself humming as she hung up the phone. What was that little tune? She wasn’t much of a musician, couldn’t remember the lyrics, but the melody was soft and appealing and exactly fit her mood. Deprived of sleep, her world felt enchanted, soft and smoky around the edges.

All because of a fireman named Mike.

Rose wobbled along on Irene’s old bicycle she’d unearthed from the garage. In dire need of an overhaul, the bike had seen better days, but it was good enough for the quick trip downtown. She was on a mission, and on this bicycle there’d be no need to search for a nonexistent place to park. The wire basket centered between the handlebars would provide lots of room for the barbequed chicken her mother craved. Plus, Irene’s bike would provide a convenient getaway before the parade started. She would be back home with a hot tasty lunch before her mother missed her.

It seemed the entire population of James Bay, as well as the tourists, had been lured downtown by the holiday activities. Cars jammed the town center. Police directed traffic as the main street corridor was cordoned off for the upcoming parade. Crowds overflowed the sidewalks that were lined with flags, proudly displaying the colors of red, white, and blue. Excited voices of giddy children lifted on the breeze. Somewhere down the street she could hear the sound of bagpipes straining. The enticing aroma of barbequed chicken floated from the Kiwanis tent set up in Marina Park.

It was close to parade time, and traffic on the side street was at a near standstill. She waited in line for what seemed forever behind impatient customers hungry for chicken, but finally her turn came. Moments later, with a to-go box of hot, tasty chicken tucked safely in the bike’s front basket, Rose kicked off for home. A red light at the corner forced her to stop. She straddled the bike waiting for the signal to turn green when the air was shattered by the eruption of a loud air horn. Startled, she glanced up to see a large yellow fire truck rounding the corner directly in front of her. A familiar face was behind the wheel. Mike’s hand went up in a brief wave as he grinned at her through the truck’s open window.

“Mama, look! That fireman waved at me!”

Rose shot a quick look at the little boy beside her hopping up and down on the sidewalk. His eager young face beamed as he pointed out the fire truck headed toward the library, the traditional starting point of the parade route.

The light turned green. Rose hopped back on the bicycle and pushed off into traffic. Mission accomplished, but she was taking away more than barbecued chicken. Tucked away in her heart was the sweet memory of a small boy’s face as he spied a real live hero. She pedaled for home with a thoughtful smile. Who said all the heroes were dead? Thank goodness little boys still dreamed of growing up to be heroes someday. And her very own hero planned on coming over to her house this evening. How lucky could one woman get?

Rose trailed her mother as Irene made the slow shuffle down the hallway, headed for the front porch. Even leaning on the cumbersome metal walker, every movement seemed a struggle. Watching was difficult, but her mother had the harder task. For a woman who had always been active and involved, recovery was proving a slow process. Rose tried not to think about the future. Her mother was growing older. The years ahead only promised more aches and pains.

Being three hours away made it easy to shrug off memories of home and the emotional burden those memories carried. Her mother needed help with the lawn? The garden? The house? No problem. Rose simply wrote a check. After all, wasn’t that what money was for? Far easier to hire the job done and pay someone else to handle things than take the time and effort and make the journey home herself.

But this summer she’d had no choice. Hiring a housekeeper was an easy task, but her mother’s surgery couldn’t be ignored. How ironic that their roles were now reversed. Rose was home again, forced into the unfamiliar role of nurturer… a mother to her own mother. This might be just the first of age-related health issues needing Irene’s attention—and a helping hand from Rose.

Her mother’s surgery last week had done more than open up a knee. It had also opened Rose’s eyes. She’d grown up in this house, spent most of her life in this little town. How many sacrifices her mother must have made, setting aside her own desires for the good of her family, her husband, and her child. Somehow Irene had managed to do it, while still maintaining her sanity and strength.

Devoted wife and mother. Such had been Irene Gallagher’s chosen lot in life and it suited her well. She was good at it. Rose was good at things, too, but unlike her mother, she specialized in adults. She was good at drafting tight legal documents that allowed no room for maneuvering. She was good at providing the best in legal services for clients who trusted her. She’d be no good at dusting knickknacks, doing dishes, or changing dirty diapers. That was real work and not what she wanted out of life.

Her mother would eventually recover from surgery, but the slight tear in Rose’s own heart wouldn’t mend so easily. She had some hard decisions to make in the next several weeks and she needed to make up her mind. Should she stay with the firm and keep striving to make partner? Surely it would happen within another year or two. Or should she take Andy Sabatini up on his offer? The thought of working in the nation’s capital was tremendously appealing, but Andy wasn’t exactly Mr. Subtle. The job definitely came with strings attached. So far she’d managed to avoid leading him on, but a move to Washington would only intensify Andy’s efforts in kindling a romance. She was safe for now with nearly one thousand miles between them. And even putting Andy’s feelings aside, if she did choose Washington, that distance would be magnified between Rose and the people she loved.

The Judge’s law offices were merely blocks away. Guaranteed that choice would make her mother happy.

But what would make
her
happy?

Why should the decision be so difficult? She was a grown woman with her thirtieth birthday fast approaching. She knew what was necessary to succeed. She’d purposely aimed in that direction. College, law school, clerking summers for the firm. For years she’d assumed her current position as associate attorney was the last piece in the jigsaw puzzle that had been her life for the past twelve years. But suddenly the future loomed uncertain and she found the mix to be strangely unsettling.

What would be so wrong with just staying put? Wasn’t that exactly what she’d been working for since joining the firm? Making partner seemed an easy guarantee, and her dreams had soared no higher until Andy’s phone call came from Washington D.C. His offer held such promise. Working at the Department of Labor, being involved in drafting and implementing employment law, she’d be fashioning laws that would serve to protect people and their loved ones. Finally she would have an opportunity to really make a difference in people’s lives. Surely that would bring some focus to her life. And Washington D.C. was a beautiful city. An international metropolis. All she needed to do was tell Andy
yes
.

But if she did that, guaranteed there soon would be another question Andy would expect her to answer with a yes—as he placed a ring on her finger.

Rose pushed the thought aside. She’d never been one to settle, she didn’t believe in taking the easier, softer way, and she wasn’t about to start now. It wouldn’t be fair to Andy and it wouldn’t be fair to her. If she accepted Andy’s offer and made the move to Washington, it would only be after the two of them had had a good, long heart-to-heart. But first she had yet to make up her mind. And there was still another offer on the table. It would be unfair not to give the Judge’s proposal due consideration. It would bring her home to James Bay, to something else. And perhaps to someone else.

Deep inside, a memory beckoned. A smoky wisp of longing and desire for a man with sparkling eyes and a deep easy laugh. A man she had yet to see wear an expensive suit. A man whose usual attire was blue jeans or a fire coat. A man who lived in James Bay and from all appearances looked like had no plans to leave in the future.