Page 3 of Wrapped Up in Christmas Hope
“That would be good. If the firemen don’t know, we could ask Santa,” Greyson suggested, staring up at her with big eyes that held her heart. “Santa knows everything, right?”
“Right, especially who’s been naughty or nice.” She bet this Santa really did know Cole’s schedule. Hopefully, Greyson wouldn’t recognize Sophie’s boyfriend in the Santa suit. After all, he’d only met Cole once at Grammy Claudia’s, just over a week ago. Morgan herself had barely recognized the fit former Marine beneath the padded red suit, white wig, mustache, beard, and makeup. If not for his pale blue eyes, she might not have figured it out. “Plus, you can let Santa know what you’d like for Christmas this year.”
“I’d like to meet the firefighters first, though.” Greyson looked toward the firefighter in full gear, the one who’d winked and completely discombobulated her. “Then I can ask Santa.”
Morgan’s chest tightened. Of course, Greyson would want to meet the firefighters first. She took his small hand into hers and gave a reassuring squeeze.
“Absolutely. Come on, let’s get you back at your desk so Mrs. Winters can get you assigned to a group to meet them.”
Maybe, if she was lucky, she could avoid meeting them.
Well, at least the winking one.
Because she suspected that firefighter started more fires than he put out, and everything in her warned that if she didn’t stay away, she’d get burned.
“I’m going to be a firefighter when I grow up.” The towheaded boy eyed Andrew’s helmet with longing as he took the inexpensive plastic imitation they were giving to each student. Whereas the other kids had been animated, the boy chewed on his lower lip as he put the red hat on his head, then looked to Andrew as if for approval. Something in the kid’s eyes tugged at his chest, making him wonder what the kid’s story was.
“That’s great.” He fist-bumped with the boy. He had no doubt now that the kid was her son. Same big Christmas tree green eyes. Cute kid. But that meant the blonde was definitely a mother. Disappointment hit, though he tried to hide it.
“We need more good men on the crew,” he said, loud enough that Ben and Cole both cut their gazes toward him and rolled their eyes. “We’d love to have you join us after you complete your training.”
The kid’s face lit up. “Really?”
“Absolutely. Fighting fires is important work. Families count on firefighters to keep them and their homes safe. Plus, it may not seem like much, but this,” he gestured to the classroom, “is important firefighter work, too.”
The boy didn’t look convinced. “Talking to kids?”
“You bet. Teaching people of all ages what to do if they encounter a fire is very important. If you know what to do in the case of an emergency, especially fires, you could save your entire family before us guys even show up. That’s huge.”
The kid’s expression turned pensive. “You mean how you stop, drop, and roll if you catch fire, or you crawl to get away from smoke?”
Impressed that the boy had been paying attention when he and Ben had talked to them about fire safety, Andrew nodded. “Exactly. It’s vital that everyone, regardless of age, knows what to do in case of a fire. That way, we keep our community safe.”
“I’ll be the safest firefighter ever,” the boy assured Andrew, keeping his voice low. “But my mom won’t like it. She’ll still think I’ll get hurt.”
Andrew looked over and saw that the blonde was snapping a photo of each student sitting in Santa Cole’s lap. But she kept sending worried looks in her son’s direction. “I understand,” Andrew said with a nod. “My family worries about me, too.” Not that his family wasn’t proud that he was a firefighter. They were, but they still worried, especially his Grandma Ruby. Growing more and more curious about the kid’s history, he asked, “How did you decide you want to be a firefighter?”
“I want to save people.”
“Good answer, kid.” Suspecting the boy would appreciate the gesture, Andrew took off his helmet and handed it over so the kid could hold it for a while. Eyes wide, the kid took it as if Andrew was passing over the holy grail. He liked this kid in ways that had nothing to do with his fascinating mother.
“Since you told me your future career goals, want to know mine?” A goal that he’d only ever told Cole and Ben. Why did he want to tell this five-year-old? No doubt Cole and Ben would say it was because Andrew was as mature as a kindergartner. But as crazy as it was, he felt like the boy was a kindred spirit.
Glancing up from the helmet, the boy nodded.
“When I was your age, I went with my grandma to bring supplies to a family who’d lost everything in a fire, ever since then I wanted to be a firefighter. I love being a firefighter. But a few years ago I volunteered to help fight a wildland fire in East Tennessee, and now I’ve decided that I want to be a smokejumper. That’s a firefighter who fights forest fires that the fire trucks can’t reach.”
Just the thought of smokejumping and possibly helping to save entire towns had adrenaline rushing through him.
Confused green eyes stared at him. “Then why aren’t you a smokejumper already?”
The green gaze so similar to his mother’s burned into Andrew with the intensity of the hottest fire, making sweat pop out beneath his uniform. What could he say that this child would understand? No matter how much the desire burned within him, he had reasons why he couldn’t just take off and leave Pine Hill. Promises he’d made long ago that he’d always be there for certain people, just as they’d always been there for him.
“Adulthood isn’t that simple.”
“My mom says that a lot. She doesn’t want me to be a firefighter because she thinks it’s too dangerous.” The kid’s face took on a thoughtful expression. “Maybe by the time I’m old enough, she won’t worry so much.”
“Moms worry.” And grandmas, he mentally added. “It’s in their job description. Still, it’s good that they care so much, so we’ll consider ourselves lucky that we have people who love us.”
