Read Online Amongst The Flames: A Contemporary Christian Romance (Embers and Ashes Book 1) by T.K. Chapin - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: T.K. Chapin
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loaded up. As the engine and ladder trucks pulled out of the bay and the sirens came on, I felt like I was being left behind. I walked out to the edge of the bay doors and watched as the lights and trucks vanished around the corner.
“What now?” the teacher asked from behind me with all the kids standing around her.
I had forgotten about the tour for a moment. “Let’s talk about some fire safety in your homes while we wait for them to return. Who here has a fire exit plan at their house?”
A few of the kids’ hands went up.
“Good. Where do you guys meet?” I pointed to one girl that had her hand raised.
“The mailbox, out at the end of the driveway,” she said confidently.
“That’s popular. Does anyone have a different place?”
A little boy raised his hand. “Mrs. Kingston, the neighbor next door.”
“Good. And for those of you who do not have a fire exit plan, be sure to tell your mommys and daddys tonight you need one, and tell them the fireman said so.” I went over and grabbed the pamphlets from the table. Each one of the children on the tour got a pamphlet on fire safety in the home.
By the time the guys got back to the fire station and the kids left to go back to school, it was already lunch time. Sitting down to the table with all the guys in the dining hall, it felt like old times. I bit into my sandwich as Kane began talking about the fire.
“I can’t believe they waited to call until the kitchen was already in flames and it was progressing into the living room.”
Micah said, “A lot of people don’t understand a minute or two is a long time for a fire to grow out of control.”
“I guess, but dang…” Kane replied, shaking his head.
“I like how you hosed that car, Alderman,” Brian said to Rick right before he took a drink of his soda.
“You want to park your Mercedes in front of a fire hydrant? You will get hosed!” Rick laughed. Everyone laughed and nodded in agreement.
The strangest feeling in the world came over me right in that moment. I felt a distance between myself and my comrades at the station. I was out of place and uncomfortable with my sling and my kid tour duties. Shortly after lunch, I said my goodbyes and headed home.
CHAPTER 8
W alking up the sidewalk to Tom’s house that evening, I saw a new lawn gnome in the garden out in front of the house next to a rose bush. My mother-in-law Cindy was obsessed with her gardens. She had the one up front and then a larger one out in the back. The one in the backyard had some of the juiciest tomatoes. Every year when they were ripe, she’d bring Megan and me a basket full.
“Taylor,” Tom said, answering the door.
Stepping in, I gave him a nod as I walked through the doorway. Hearing Cindy in the kitchen just beyond the dining room, I asked, “What cha cooking? It smells amazing.”
She peeked in from the kitchen and smiled as she said, “Lasagna.”
“Yummy,” I replied as I took a seat in the living room with Tom. He sat in his old worn out green recliner he has had for as long as I’ve known him. I took a seat on the couch that was adjacent to his chair. He picked his television remote up off the end table next to his chair and turned off the TV. I caught a glimpse of the television before he did. It was a hunting show.
“You can go ahead and watch that. I don’t mind,” I said.
He shook his head, “No, that’s okay. We need to talk anyways.”
I immediately shifted in my seat at his words. I didn’t want to talk about anything, but judging by the strain in his words, he didn’t want to either. “Talk about what?” I asked.
He sighed. “Megan. Now I know that you two have had some struggles lately, but God designed marriage forever. Not for ‘as long as it suits me.’ ”
“What are you talking about? Megan and I are great. I don’t know where you’re getting your information from, but she’s just visiting her sister Amanda for a couple weeks. She’ll be back shortly.
“What now?” the teacher asked from behind me with all the kids standing around her.
I had forgotten about the tour for a moment. “Let’s talk about some fire safety in your homes while we wait for them to return. Who here has a fire exit plan at their house?”
A few of the kids’ hands went up.
“Good. Where do you guys meet?” I pointed to one girl that had her hand raised.
“The mailbox, out at the end of the driveway,” she said confidently.
“That’s popular. Does anyone have a different place?”
A little boy raised his hand. “Mrs. Kingston, the neighbor next door.”
“Good. And for those of you who do not have a fire exit plan, be sure to tell your mommys and daddys tonight you need one, and tell them the fireman said so.” I went over and grabbed the pamphlets from the table. Each one of the children on the tour got a pamphlet on fire safety in the home.
By the time the guys got back to the fire station and the kids left to go back to school, it was already lunch time. Sitting down to the table with all the guys in the dining hall, it felt like old times. I bit into my sandwich as Kane began talking about the fire.
“I can’t believe they waited to call until the kitchen was already in flames and it was progressing into the living room.”
Micah said, “A lot of people don’t understand a minute or two is a long time for a fire to grow out of control.”
“I guess, but dang…” Kane replied, shaking his head.
“I like how you hosed that car, Alderman,” Brian said to Rick right before he took a drink of his soda.
“You want to park your Mercedes in front of a fire hydrant? You will get hosed!” Rick laughed. Everyone laughed and nodded in agreement.
The strangest feeling in the world came over me right in that moment. I felt a distance between myself and my comrades at the station. I was out of place and uncomfortable with my sling and my kid tour duties. Shortly after lunch, I said my goodbyes and headed home.
CHAPTER 8
W alking up the sidewalk to Tom’s house that evening, I saw a new lawn gnome in the garden out in front of the house next to a rose bush. My mother-in-law Cindy was obsessed with her gardens. She had the one up front and then a larger one out in the back. The one in the backyard had some of the juiciest tomatoes. Every year when they were ripe, she’d bring Megan and me a basket full.
“Taylor,” Tom said, answering the door.
Stepping in, I gave him a nod as I walked through the doorway. Hearing Cindy in the kitchen just beyond the dining room, I asked, “What cha cooking? It smells amazing.”
She peeked in from the kitchen and smiled as she said, “Lasagna.”
“Yummy,” I replied as I took a seat in the living room with Tom. He sat in his old worn out green recliner he has had for as long as I’ve known him. I took a seat on the couch that was adjacent to his chair. He picked his television remote up off the end table next to his chair and turned off the TV. I caught a glimpse of the television before he did. It was a hunting show.
“You can go ahead and watch that. I don’t mind,” I said.
He shook his head, “No, that’s okay. We need to talk anyways.”
I immediately shifted in my seat at his words. I didn’t want to talk about anything, but judging by the strain in his words, he didn’t want to either. “Talk about what?” I asked.
He sighed. “Megan. Now I know that you two have had some struggles lately, but God designed marriage forever. Not for ‘as long as it suits me.’ ”
“What are you talking about? Megan and I are great. I don’t know where you’re getting your information from, but she’s just visiting her sister Amanda for a couple weeks. She’ll be back shortly.
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