Serendipity

  Part 2

 

 

John was on top of the world when he arrived at Roy’s for dinner, but tried hard to hold himself in check. He didn’t want to tell Roy about the sailboat yet. For one reason, he didn’t want it to come off like he was gloating about being able to buy such an expensive item, and for another, he didn’t want to jinx himself by mentioning something he was going to do that hadn’t happened yet. He still had every intention of using his next day off to do a little price comparison, just to be sure he was doing the right thing.

He was dying to tell Roy about the girl he met, but again, he hadn’t even gone out with her yet. Just in case their date fell through, he wanted to save himself the embarrassment of having to come back and tell his friend she changed her mind.

 

 

Later that evening, after Johnny had left, Joanne commented as she washed the pots and pans, “Boy, Johnny sure was in a good mood tonight.”

“Yeah,” her husband answered, taking a pan from his wife and drying it. “He’s been like that ever since…he won that money.”

“Well, money does seem to be able to solve a lot of problems. I don’t know how Johnny was doing financially before he won it, but maybe it’s just eased his life a little, you know?”

“A little?!”

“Well, a lot, I guess. I guess Johnny will never have to worry about money again,” she said wistfully.

“Yeah,” Roy said softly. “Must be nice. I guess in Johnny’s case it’s not true that money can’t buy happiness.”

Joanne glanced sideways at her husband. “Don’t be so sure. I think right now he’s just riding a wave; that’s probably why he’s so up. Things will settle down for him. Even people with money have problems, you know? Besides, I think Johnny knows what’s really important in life,” she said thoughtfully.

“You do, huh? What makes you say that?” He wondered how his wife would know what his partner wanted out of life more than he would. After all, Roy spent a lot more time with John than his wife did, and thought he knew Johnny pretty well.

She hesitated a little, then said, “Oh, just something he said to me a few days ago when he was here.”

“And what was that?”

“Well,” she hated to divulge what Johnny had said to her in confidence, but didn’t think it would hurt to boost Roy’s self-esteem a bit, so she said, “he said that….he’d always been a little envious of you.” She arched an eyebrow at him
            Roy stopped drying his pan. “Of me?!” Roy said in surprise. “Why?”

“Roy, figure it out. You of all people should know that Johnny’s happy-go-lucky, good time swinging bachelor routine is just a front. I think what he really wants is what you’ve got, and no amount of money can buy that. And Johnny knows it.”

“Huh.” Roy pondered what his wife had said. True, Johnny had made a few comments in the past to him about how great it must be to be married and have a family life, but then always seemed to shrug it off with the attitude that he was much happier single. Maybe it was just a front. “Maybe you’re right.”

“I know I am. You know what else he said?”

“What?”

“He said he hoped that someday he’d have a life like yours, with kids and a family, and he said ‘that stuff is better’n money any day’.”

“Johnny said that?”

“Yep.”

Roy was surprised, surprised at how Johnny had opened up to his wife about something so personal, but not to him. Huh. I thought I knew Johnny. I guess I’m never gonna be able to figure him out. “Well, he’s right.” Roy put an arm around Joanne and hugged her close. “That ‘stuff’ is better than money – any day.” With that, he bent his head and planted a passionate kiss on his wife’s lips. Forgetting her soapy hands, she reached up to encircle her husband’s neck, glad that the kids were already in bed.

 

 

                                                ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

 

Johnny drove through the neighborhood looking for the address of Heather’s house. When he pulled up in front of the mansion, he just sat there a moment, in disbelief that he could possibly have the right address. He checked it, and double-checked it, then stared back up at the house.

Before him rose a residence on a hill that dwarfed his red sports car as it sat in the circular driveway winding around the front of it. Four impressive two-story pillars supported a huge semi-circular half-domed portico on the front of the Jeffersonian Classic home. Arches and domes were repeated throughout the façade of the house, which seemed to stretch forever. Delicate, curved wrought iron railings surrounded the second floor Palladian windows. The roof was hipped, giving it a dominant and strong presence.

Swallowing, he looked at his watch. It was five ‘till seven. Right on time. All he could think about was the fact that if this was this girl’s house, then he was way out of his league. It reminded him of the time that he and Roy had been invited to that movie star’s home for what he had called at the time, a ‘bash’. He’d felt totally out of place then, and wasn’t feeling much different now.

Taking in a breath, he got out of the car, deciding to make the best of it. He walked around the stone and wrought iron railing in front, past the fountain, and up to the front porch.  Standing there, he looked up at the eight-foot mahogany door and spectacular arched transom above. Two leaded sidelights flanked the heavy entryway, and massive wrought iron lanterns hung on either side of them, illuminating the porch area. He rang the bell.

Moments later, a tall man in a dark suit opened the door, inviting him in. “Monsieur Gage?” he asked formally.

“Ah, yes,” he answered nervously. “I’m here to see – ”

“Ah, bien. Mademoiselle Heather. She’ll be down shortly. Would you like to wait in the drawing room?”

Johnny looked around. “Sure. The, ah, drawing room. That’d be great, thanks.” He almost added, ‘Jeeves’, then caught himself, snickering inwardly. He followed the man across the expansive marble floor through a set of French doors. Johnny looked up at the twenty-foot ceiling in the foyer, noticing with awe the four foot wide leaded crystal chandelier. The room he entered was very formal; floral chintz wallpaper decorated the vertical surfaces above a chair rail and an elaborate oriental rug filled most of the fifteen by eighteen foot room. A sparkling baby grand piano sat prominently in one corner. Johnny chose an uncomfortable looking flowered seat next to the window to wait for his date.

He’d only sat there a moment, when Heather swept into the room with a smile. Johnny stood up to greet her, smiling nervously.

“Hello, John!” she said enthusiastically. She was dressed impeccably in a calf-length blue sleeveless v-necked silk dress that accentuated her curves. She wore white sandals with heels not too high so that she would be taller than Johnny. A simple gold chain adorned her neck and classic solid gold hoops hung from her earlobes. Her make-up and hair were done perfectly, but in a minor enough way so as to look effortlessly natural, complimenting her features flawlessly. She looked beautiful, and the look on his face reflected that.

 “Hi,” he said rather nervously. His eyes moved upward and around the room. “Boy, this is…..” he looked back at her. “This is your house?”

She smiled. “Well, no; it’s Mother and Daddy’s house. I live here too but I’ve kind of got my own little wing on the west end, so it’s like I have my own place. My parents are rarely here anyway. Mostly it’s just me and Troy.”

“Oh,” he said, as if it were an everyday occurrence. “Uh, who’s Troy?”
            “My brother,” she said, and as if on cue, a young man appeared in the room. He seemed to be scrutinizing Johnny as he walked toward them.

“Oh,” Heather turned toward her brother, “I didn’t know you were still here. I thought you were with Gloria,” she said in surprise.

“No, Gloria had to cancel tonight,” he said, not offering any further explanation.

“Troy, I’d like you to meet John Gage,” she introduced.

Johnny immediately smiled and reached out his hand. “Hi, Troy. How’re you doin’?” Johnny asked amicably.

Very tentatively, Troy took it and shook it limply, as if his hand was unclean. Johnny could sense immediately that the man seemed to find him distasteful, but didn’t let that deter him from trying to make a good impression.

“John’s interested in buying Daddy’s boat, Troy.”

“Yes, so you told me.” He looked at John. “Well? What did you decide?” he asked bluntly.

“Troy,” she said reproachfully, “John and I are going to be talking about that at dinner tonight.”

“I see. Heather tells me you’re a….a fireman.”

Johnny felt his hairs standing on end. This man was obviously younger than himself, yet seemed to be giving him the once-over as if he were Heather’s father. It was starting to annoy Johnny, but he continued to force himself to be pleasant and friendly. Dealing with the public on a daily basis over the years had taught him how to be very diplomatic, even with the most difficult of people. Johnny confirmed what Troy had said, and they spent a short moment talking about Johnny’s nine year career before Heather became impatient and said they should get going.

Troy stood at the window as they left, watching them drive away in Johnny’s red Corvette, then turned away, shaking his head.

 

 

Johnny was extremely glad to get out of that house. He’d felt uncomfortable from the moment he’d arrived, and now the thought crossed his mind that this might be their only date. He finally managed to relax as he drove and realized that Heather wasn’t nearly as uptight as her brother.

He took her to his favorite Italian restaurant, a little place called Dominic’s. He figured he couldn’t go wrong with Italian food; most people liked it, and it was cozy and familiar. He couldn’t read Heather’s expression as they neared the entry, so he didn’t know if she approved of his choice or not.

He was ready to pull the restaurant door open for her when she stopped him. “Just a second,” she said, and turned toward him. Reaching up, she lightly ran her fingers through his hair, trying to tame it so that it wasn’t so wild looking. She then grasped the collar of his shirt and tugged on it a little, adjusting it so that it was arranged more neatly, and straightened his tie. Slowly, her hand fell away, but not before lightly running her fingertips down his chest over the front of his shirt. “There,” she said smiling, “much better.”

He was surprised by her actions, which seemed more like something a woman would do who knew him much better, but wasn’t going to complain when a beautiful woman was running her fingers through his hair. He gazed down at her as she adjusted his clothing, so close he caught a whiff of her scent, which was very subtle, but there all the same. Just the minor act of her touch was so seductive it nearly drove him crazy, and he had the wild urge to grab her and take her right there in the parking lot. But of course, he couldn’t do that. 

They found a lot out about each other over dinner, and by the time they were through, he told her he had decided to buy the boat. Johnny had looked at other boats that day, some new, some used, but still found himself captivated by the boat owned by Heather’s father. She was thrilled, and together they negotiated a price that was acceptable to both. In the end, they had a toast, sealing the deal. They made plans for him to take possession of it on his next day off, and she offered to throw in a few private sailing lessons to the agreement, which Johnny had no trouble accepting.

 

 

                                                ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

 

Heather closed the door quietly, thinking about the evening. Heading toward the bar in her father’s study, she poured herself a Courvoisier before bed. She was still a little warm from the wine, and also from her date’s goodnight kiss. Sliding into her father’s favorite overstuffed leather chair, she replayed the evening in her mind, from the time they got to the restaurant to the time he dropped her off at home.

It certainly wouldn’t have been her choice for a restaurant; she’d thought the vinyl red and white checked tablecloths were tacky. But at least it had been quiet and dark and cozy, so that the stains on the carpet weren’t too noticeable. She’d almost died when he’d suggested that basket bottle of Chianti to drink with their meal. She’d been proud of how tactful she’d been in suggesting the Gamay Beaujolias instead, which complimented their entrees much better than that rotgut, or at least, that’s what she considered it. She’d studied wines since she was eighteen, and was proud of her knowledge of them, learning much from her father. Oh well, she thought, it didn’t matter much; he could be easily educated about wines.

He’d also have to be educated about how to eat as well, she thought with chagrin, as she had noticed him talking with his mouth full once or twice, and using the wrong fork for his salad. But again, that could be managed. His money was new, she’d found out, after he told her about the lottery. Of course that had explained how a fireman could afford such an expensive boat and car, among other things. She was glad he had money, so that he wouldn’t be dating her just to get a hold of hers, but she knew if they were going to continue to go out, some things were going to have to change. He was definitely going to have to learn how to act a little more refined, and who better to teach him than her?

His shy charm, handsome face, and almost childlike sincerity easily outweighed his other shortcomings. And that crooked grin was so addictive! She could get lost in those deep brown eyes. His lack of arrogance and self-importance were refreshing after the other men she had dated, and she appreciated the fact that he was such a gentleman, opening doors for her, and pulling out her chair. Someone had at least taught him how treat a lady. So many of the men she had dated were selfish wolves.

She’d thought his nervousness was endearing; he’d almost spilled his wine when she’d laid her hand atop his on the table during dinner. And he’d said good-bye so sweetly; his kiss goodnight was so soft and gentle. His lips were like velvet; he’d lingered only a moment before pulling away, and she’d wished at that moment that he’d just take her in his arms and tear off her clothes and make love to her right there on the porch. Yes, she definitely wanted to feel those lips on hers again; and, other places. A warmth spread through her groin thinking about it and she closed her eyes.

“So, how was your date with the fireman?” her brother’s voice broke her solitude.

Her head snapped over in the direction of the doorway, where Troy was standing. “It was very nice, thank you.”

“Where’d he take you?”

“Dominic’s.”

“That dump?!”

Heather looked over at him in disgust. “It wasn’t a dump; it was charming, and the food was good,” she said in Johnny’s defense. “Maybe it’s not up to par with what Gloria would expect,” she added sarcastically. “To her, if you don’t spend at least fifty dollars on dinner, you’re not worthy of her.”

“That’s not true and you know it. Gloria just happens to have impeccable taste.”

“I guess that’s why she likes you, eh?” Heather said affectionately. Despite the hard time her brother was giving her at the moment, they were quite close. She knew he was sometimes a bit overprotective of her, even though he was her younger brother.

“Of course,” he said smugly.

Heather rolled her eyes.

“Why would you go out with someone like that? He’s so…blue collar. I mean, he’s a civil servant, for Christsakes.”

“So? It’s a nice change from the other snobs I usually date.”

“Harry wasn’t a snob.”

“No, he was just boring.”

“He is not boring!”

“Just because he’s your friend – ”

“You know this guy is probably only after two things.”

“Troy, cool it. I’ve heard it before.”
            “Well, it’s true. I just don’t want to see you taken advantage of.”

“He’s not going to take advantage of me. He was a perfect gentleman, and – he’s got his own money.”

Troy raised his eyebrows in response, and then Heather told him about Johnny winning the lottery.

“He won the money?” he asked distastefully. “That’s a lame way to get rich. Proves he wasn’t smart enough to acquire it on his own.”

Heather’s mouth dropped open. “You’re a good one to talk! You’ve never earned a dime of the money you have!”

“I have too. I work.”

“For Daddy.”

“So? I still work! And, I have a degree.”

“Yeah, you work, at golf, tennis, boating, skiing, traveling, screwing Gloria….”

“Well, you’re no better.”

“I never said I was.”

The two remained silent for a moment.

“I was wondering how he could afford Dad’s boat. Is he going to buy it?”

“Yes. We’re going to finalize things the day after tomorrow.”

“You need me there?”

“No.”

Troy sighed. “I’m going to bed. Good night.”

Heather smiled. “Good night, dear brother.”

He smiled, and left the room.

 

 

                                                ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

 

For his part, Johnny was pleased with the outcome of the date. He’d nearly had a coronary when he had found out who her father was. After that, he’d been a bundle of nerves; at least the wine had managed to relax him a bit.

He was almost surprised that she accepted a second date when asked, but he’d felt a little embarrassed when he had asked if she liked to bowl and she had laughed at him. After that, she’d held out her hands in order for him to examine her perfectly manicured nails, and asked him if he thought it looked like these hands could hold a bowling ball. Instead, she managed to talk him into a game of afternoon tennis, to be followed by an evening at the movies. John had no problem with going to the movies, but explained that he’d never played tennis, and probably wouldn’t be any good. The truth was that he didn’t want to make a fool of himself, but undeterred, she countered that she would teach him.

So, being the good sport that he was, he agreed, figuring he really didn’t care all that much what they did, as long as he was with her.

Her beauty and grace had him captivated all evening. She seemed to be very intelligent, quite knowledgeable about a number of things, but never came off as a know-it-all; instead she was rather demure. She had spoken of her dreams to live in France one day, because of her love of French food and wine, and the language of course; she spoke it fluently. She loved the idealistic romance of the whole French culture.  She was a student of the arts, and held a master’s degree, herself a painter. She laughed about how her father was always on her to get a job; he felt that everyone, even the rich, should put in an honest day’s work. But she didn’t need the money, as it was so conveniently provided regularly by her father, preferring instead to spend her time with her oils and brushes, and when she wasn’t doing that, she was on the tennis court, golfing, sailing, or socializing with friends. Besides, if she had needed to make money, it wouldn’t have been any problem. Her paintings were quite easy to sell, and at a lucrative price.

Smiling to himself, he thought about their goodnight kiss, remembering how hard it had been to hold back from pursuing something much more passionate. Like a silly schoolboy, he’d been nervous that somehow her father would fling the door open at any moment and deck him for touching his daughter. He shook his head, thinking how ridiculous that thought was, for pete’s sake, he was nearly thirty years old, not in high school.

 

 

                                                ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

 

Johnny walked into the dorm whistling the next morning. The other guys were all getting ready for the day, in various stages of dress.

“Mornin’!” Johnny said enthusiastically as he entered. He flung open his locker and hung up his coat, turning to Roy, a large grin on his face. “Boy, it’s a beautiful morning, isn’t it?”

Roy stared at his partner as if he were some type of alien.

“It’s rainin’, Gage,” Chet said with a scowl.

Johnny looked first at Chet, then at Roy, who was now eyeing him suspiciously. “Oh. Well, I, I know it’s rainin’, but the rain is just such a nice change, you know? And it smells great out; I think it’s drowning out the smog.”

“I think it’s drowning out your brain,” Chet grumbled back, peeling off his wet shirt. He hated days like this when they had to work. Actually, he hated days like this when he didn’t have to work either.

Gage continued on whistling a tuneless song as he unbuttoned his shirt, totally oblivious to Chet’s sour comment. He turned to Roy. “You should have seen the rainbow I saw this morning. It was awesome.”

“You certainly are in a good mood this morning,” Roy observed.

“Well, why shouldn’t I be? Life is good,” he said smiling.

“Gage must have got laid last night,” Marco commented, grinning, as he tucked his shirt in. The other guys all snickered.

Johnny cast an irritated look at the Mexican. “Jeez, Marco; can’t a guy be in a good mood without people thinkin’ it’s because of sex?”

“He knows you, Johnny,” Chet said smirking.

John looked at the Phantom with disdain.

“You always have that silly grin on your face whenever you get some.”

Johnny hesitated and looked suspiciously over at the Irishman. I do?!! Johnny thought with mortification. They can tell when…slowly John’s face twisted up in irritation; he’d almost had him. “Chet, shut up.”

“See? He doesn’t deny it.” Chet looked around at his fellow brothers.

Roy decided to change the subject. He said to his partner, “Hey, Jenny’s school play is tomorrow night. She was hopin’ you could come.”

John’s face fell. “Oh,” he said in disappointment. “I wish you would have told me the date earlier.”

“You can’t make it?”

“No. I’m sorry Roy; I wish I could.” Gage smiled and added, “Got a date.”

Roy looked puzzled. “You and Stacy get back together?”

“Who? Oh. Stacy? No; she’s history. I, ah, met someone new.” The smile on John’s face grew wider.

“What’d I tell you guys?” Chet chimed in.

“Kelly! Would you shut up! I’ve only been out with her once.”

“I always said you worked fast, Gage.” Kelly enjoyed the look of exasperation on John’s face with that comment. He was enjoying getting his pigeon riled up once again.

Johnny sighed. “Man, he never quits.”

Roy chuckled. “Who’d you meet?”

“Well,” John started excitedly. “You’re not gonna believe this; oh man, where do I start?” he ran his hand through his hair.

Uh oh, Roy thought, this sounds like it’s gonna take a while. Hopefully, roll call will save us an hour- long repertoire.

Johnny went on, oblivious to the expression on Roy’s face. “Okay, you remember the other day when we were out at that water rescue?”

Roy nodded. “The one with the drunk where you almost drowned?”

Johnny looked annoyed. “I didn’t almost drown.”

“Oh. My mistake. That 250-pound guy just held you under the water until you were nearly unconscious, and you couldn’t breathe when we pulled you up, but you didn’t almost drown. Sorry.”

Chet perked up at that, anxious to hear about Gage’s latest brush with death. “Hey, you guys didn’t tell us about that. That sounds like an interesting story, Roy. What happened?”

“Well,” in an animated fashion, Roy started in, to Johnny’s exasperation, “there was this boat collision, and this huge drunk guy was in the water, along with four others when we got there, and Johnny was tryin’ to rescue the drunk guy – ”

“Hey!” Johnny broke in. “I was tellin’ my story!”

“Well, I want to hear Roy’s,” Chet argued.

“Wait a minute, Chet,” Marco chimed in. “I want to hear about the girl.”

Roy looked at Chet, then at Johnny, who was now thoroughly annoyed, and said, “Ah, I’ll tell you guys about that rescue later. Go on, Johnny.”

“I don’t know if I even wanna tell you now,” Johnny muttered.

“Aw, c’mon Johnny,” Marco whined.

Gage sighed. “Well….okay. Anyway, when we were down at the pier on that water rescue,” he stopped and looked threateningly around at the others, then, when nobody said anything, he continued, “I saw this boat. This beautiful sailboat! And – it had a ‘For Sale’ sign on it! I mean, you should have seen this boat; it was incredible. So, I started thinkin’ about buyin’ it!” He was smiling widely now.

Roy’s eyes grew wide at the insinuation that Gage was thinking about buying a boat. He knew all those yachts down there must cost an arm and a leg.

“So?” Marco asked. “What’s that got to do with a girl?”

“I’m getting’ to that, Marco; I’m gettin’ to it. Anyway, on our next day off, I went down to the pier to look at the boat, and I met this incredible girl! It was her boat, or actually, her father’s.”

“And you told her if she would have sex with you, you’d take the boat off her hands, right?” Chet could barely suppress his laughter.

Johnny held up his shoe and drew his arm back, ready to throw it at Chet, a murderous expression on his face. Chet reclined, holding his hands up to guard his face. “Kelly! Would you shut UP?!!” The rest of the guys were all chuckling at John’s exasperation and frustration at not being able to finish his story. Johnny dropped his shoe on the floor, then plopped down on the bench. “Just forget it!”

“Johnny, c’mon. I want to hear about the girl you met,” Marco placated.

Johnny looked up at Marco as he pulled his shoe on. Now totally deflated, he finished, “Well, I just met this girl, and I took her out last night. And I am buying her boat. That’s all. There. Now ya know.” He slammed his locker shut and walked out of the dorm.

“You know what you just did, don’t you?” Roy scolded Chet.

“What?” Chet asked innocently.

“You made him mad. He was in a good mood, and you turned it into a bad one. Now I’m gonna have to be the target of his grouchiness the rest of the day.”

“And you ruined his story,” Marco said. “I wanted to hear about the girl.”

“Aw, you guys. Gage just can’t take a joke,” Chet defended himself, then turned toward them excitedly. “Hey! Did you hear what he said? He said he bought that boat! Maybe we can borrow it from him sometime! C’mon! Let’s go find out about it!” Chet shut his own locker, and hurried out of the dorm, leaving Roy, Marco, and Mike all shaking their heads.

 

 

Chet didn’t have the chance until after roll call. Then he caught up to Johnny in the kitchen just as he was pouring himself a cup of coffee.

“Johnny, I owe you an apology,” Chet said sweetly.

John turned his head slowly in disbelief to look at Chet. “Oh, really?” His eyes narrowed. “What do you want, Kelly?”

“Nothin’, man. I just wanted to say I was sorry for giving you such a hard time this morning.”

“Right.”

“I mean it, man.”

Johnny eyed him suspiciously, knowing Chet was probably up to something, then said, “Okay.”

“Now tell us about this boat you bought, eh?”

Johnny considered it a moment, then broke down. He’d been so anxious to tell everyone about it that morning, until Chet had burst his bubble. “All right. Well, it’s only a year old, and it’s about forty eight feet long…” He continued on with a litany of amenities the boat had, leaving his co-workers to ooh and ahh over the description of his newest purchase. Chet immersed him in questions about the sailboat for quite some time, and the two ended up in a deep discussion about the technicalities of the engine. Chet hinted around several times that it would be perfect for fishing, until Johnny invited him on a sail. He then extended his invitation to all the guys, including the Cap, who backed out, not wanting to do any fishing. Everyone was excited to see it, and they came up with a date where they could all go, even Roy.

Roy felt the pangs of jealously nibbling afresh, but quickly and forcefully quashed those feelings when he saw how generous his friend was being, and the fact that he’d never seen Johnny look so happy. He knew he would probably be doing the same things Johnny was doing if he had won that money, with the exception, of course, of meeting women. Johnny later told Roy that he could take the boat out himself any time he wanted, and offered to take Roy’s family on a cruise.

After they had finished talking about the boat, Marco said, “Hey, John. Are you ever gonna tell us about the girl?”

Chet smiled, glad to change the subject back to something he could tease Johnny over.

“Sure, Marco,” Johnny answered. Johnny described her, how they had met, and how ‘incredible’ she was, and where he had taken her on his first date with her.”

“Did you spend more than eight dollars and forty two cents this time?” Chet snickered.

“Ha-ha.”

“You know, Gage,” Chet admonished, “you better be careful. Probably the only reason this chick is going out with you is because of your money.”

Johnny almost choked on his coffee at that comment, then smiled smugly at Chet. “Chet, I don’t think I’m gonna have to worry about that with her. You’re not gonna believe who her father is.”

“Who?” Mike asked.

Johnny looked around at them all, enjoying their curiosity. “Arthur Banks,” he articulated each syllable slowly, for impact.

Chet stared at him in disbelief, then smiled. “Nice try, Gage.”

“I’m serious as a heart attack.”

Roy looked stunned. “Arthur Banks?” Roy asked. “The Arthur Banks?”

“Um hm.” Johnny answered, nodding his head once.

“The guy that owns that pharmaceutical company?” Marco was incredulous.

“That’s the one.”

“Gage, I don’t think his daughter would go out with you,” Chet said skeptically.

Johnny’s face split into a wide grin. “Well, she did, Chet. And we’re going out again tomorrow.”

“I don’t believe it. She must be a dog.”

Johnny continued smiling. “Not hardly, Chet.”

Finally, it sunk in to Chet that Gage wasn’t lying. “Gage, you dog.” He slapped Johnny on the back of his shoulder. “You are disgustingly lucky.”

Johnny turned to him. “Hey, I thought you said I was unlucky! Cursed, if I remember correctly. What about that, hmm?”

“Well, maybe the curse expired or something. Maybe some other fairy lifted it, felt sorry for you or something.”

The other guys laughed.

“I knew I’d make you eat your words someday, Chet.”

“Hey, Johnny?” Chet’s face grew serious.

“What?”

“Does Heather have a sister?” Chet’s eyes raised up in hopeful anticipation.

 

 

 

                                                ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

 

A few weeks later, the guys of A-shift met Johnny down at the pier for their first trip on his sailboat. Johnny had wanted to wait until he had sailed the boat enough times to be absolutely sure he had achieved near faultless handling of it. The last thing he wanted to do was to make a fool of himself in front of his friends by mistakenly crashing into a piling or making some other inept blunder. Heather helped to make that possible, by following through on the sailing lessons she had promised. Johnny basked in his co-workers admiring comments about his boat; he was positively beaming with pride as he took them on board for a tour before they sailed.

When they had climbed back up to the deck after touring the cabin, they all heard a young woman’s voice calling Johnny, then turned to see Heather walking down the pier. Four sets of jaws dropped simultaneously as the tawny-haired beauty walked toward them in her bare feet, and climbed on board. Johnny felt like he was floating on a cloud when she swept up to him and planted a quick kiss on his lips, then smiled at his friends, waiting for an introduction. Johnny was only too happy to oblige, and they chatted for a minute before she excused herself, first asking if their date was still on for the next day. The suggestive look in her eyes made Johnny blush self-consciously, and he heard Chet stammering something to her about having a sister just before she left.

They spent the entire day fishing, enjoying a few beers, reminiscing about past rescues and fires, and in general, engaged in a whole lot of male bonding. When they had caught enough fish, Johnny cleaned them and prepared them for dinner in the galley. They ate out on deck in the fresh salt-sea air, none wanting to return, but knowing they must before darkness closed in.

After they docked, the others left, leaving Roy to hang out with Johnny and help him batten down the hatches for the night. He lingered a while when they were done, and Johnny invited him to enjoy one last beer with him before they left. It wasn’t too late, so Roy agreed, and joined Johnny on deck, settling into one of the wooden chairs. It had been a marvelous day, and Roy was relaxed and happy. He thanked his best friend for everything as they sat sipping their brews, then the two fell into a relaxed and comfortable silence.

Roy looked around whimsically, then glanced over at his partner. He’d never seen Johnny so content and satisfied before, and now he was glad for him. There were times when Roy suspected that Johnny hadn’t had such an easy past, and now he felt good that maybe, finally, life was being kind to his friend. He assumed that Johnny hadn’t had much growing up; after all, he’d lived on a reservation, and there certainly wasn’t an overabundance of wealth there. And it wasn’t just the material things Johnny seemed to have lacked, but also the closeness of a family. Johnny never talked about his family, and Roy had heard him say once in passing that his mother was deceased, but every time it was brought up, Gage seemed adept at steering the conversation away from himself. John never spoke of his father or any other family member, and so, with the exception of a rarely mentioned aunt, Roy had always assumed he didn’t have any. It was one of the reasons Roy tried his hardest to include Johnny in his own family gatherings, and Johnny had slowly latched on to their inclusion, growing over time to become a permanent fixture at nearly every family and holiday event.

The sun was setting, hot oranges and purples blazed the evening sky. Roy broke the drowsy silence created by the soft sloshing of water against the hull. “Well, you certainly are living the life, partner.” He shook his head. “How do you like it by now?”

Johnny was quiet a minute as he contemplated the answer. “You know, I still can’t believe it happened to me. It’s like a dream.” He paused, thinking. “I never thought money could make me happy, but man, I am happy,” he said genuinely.

“It wouldn’t have anything to do with Heather, would it?” Roy asked facetiously.

Johnny smiled, taking a sip of his beer. “Just a little. Man, Roy; she’s….incredible.”

Roy chuckled at Johnny’s choice of words. His younger partner used that adjective to describe nearly every girl he’d ever fallen for. Roy had learned to take his enthusiasm with a grain of salt, since every relationship Johnny had had since he’d known him had failed in one way or another. “How many times have you been out with her?”

Johnny looked up, concentrating on counting each memorable occasion, then looked over at Roy. “Seven.”

“Seven!” Roy said in surprise. “Already?”

“Yep. I’ve seen her on every one of my days off. She doesn’t work, you know, so she’s usually available.”

“Wow,” Roy said softly. “I’ve been wonderin’ where you’ve been lately. Now I know.”

Bewildered, Johnny looked over at him. “What do you mean, you’ve ‘been wonderin’ where I’ve been lately’?”

“Well, I’ve called you a few times, but you never answer your phone any more.”

“Oh. Sorry. Guess Heather’s been takin’ up a lot of my time.”

“What kinds of things have you two been doing?”

“Well, we’ve been sailing several times. She’s been giving me some pointers about the boat. Let’s see…been to a couple movies, out to dinner, ah, we’ve been out to this club where she likes to go dancing, we’ve played tennis a couple times…”

“Tennis?” Roy asked in surprise. “I didn’t know you played tennis.”

“Well, if that’s what you want to call it.” He tilted his head in Roy’s direction and looked up at him out of the corner of his eye. “Let’s just say I try to play tennis. Actually, I stink. But Heather doesn’t seem to mind. She’s determined to teach me.” His mouth twisted in a slightly disgusted expression.

Roy laughed. Somehow he just couldn’t picture Johnny out on a tennis court in little white shorts chasing a ball with a racquet. The more he thought about it, the more he laughed.

“What’s so funny?”

“You. I just can’t picture it.”

“Yeah; it’s a scary sight, I’ll tell ya. The last time we played, I hit the damn ball over the fence four times! I just can’t get used to hitting it lightly; I feel like I want to hit it out of the ball park, you know?”

“Maybe you should stick to baseball.”

“Yeah, well, easier said than done. Heather doesn’t really care much for baseball. I’ve invited her to a couple of games, but she doesn’t seem interested.”

“Oh. That’s too bad.”

Johnny sighed and leaned back, looking up. He could see the first star shining in the twilight; an unusual thing to see in such a big city.

“So, what’s your next major purchase going to be? An airplane, or a villa in France perhaps?” Roy asked wryly.

“Funny, Roy. No, but actually, the villa isn’t too far off. I’ve been thinking about buying a house.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah. Heather says I really should have a bigger place, and I agree with her. That apartment I live in is kinda small. Before, I never had the money for anything bigger, but now…” his voice trailed off.

“A house, huh? Well, that’s a good investment. What kind of house are you thinking about buying?”

“Well, nothing like that other one I bought; you remember, the one I bought out from under you?”

“Which you finally came to your senses about and sold back to me.”

“Yeah, and then you sold it a month later when you found something better – and made a profit! Which, I, by the way, didn’t make from you, after you laid the guilt trip on me.”

“Well, I just couldn’t resist when I found that house with the pool; you know, the kids practically begged me to buy it. And since we hadn’t even moved yet anyway….besides, you’re not supposed to profit from your best friend. And besides that, you owed me one; I saved your life when you fell off that bridge with that epileptic boy, remember?”

“Yeah, and I saved your life the week before – twice. Remember?”

“Once.”

“Twice,” John came back with conviction, pointing his finger at Roy.

“Let’s not get into that again. Anyway, what kind of house do you want?”

“Well, I think I’d like something away from the city, you know? Some place quiet with lots of acreage. I guess I’d like to own a ranch of some sort, maybe some day with horses and stuff.”

“Sounds nice. You looking yet?”

“Nah, not yet. Heather wants to help me look. Says she knows some realtors.”

“Oh.”

A few minutes went by, then Roy asked, “Hey, Johnny?”

“Yeah?”

“Have you thought about donating any of that money to charity?”

Johnny looked over at Roy, slightly offended at the unspoken insinuation that Johnny was being selfish with his money. “Of course I’ve thought about giving some of it to charity, Roy. Do you really think I’m that self-centered?” Johnny was overreacting just a bit in his frustration, due to the fact that there were a few things that Roy didn’t know about, and he couldn’t tell him. One was, of course, that Johnny was paying for new living conditions for his aunt, which was quite costly. The other thing Roy didn’t know was that Johnny had a few very generous ideas up his sleeve for Roy and his family for Christmas, but obviously was unable to mention them right now.

“Of course not, Johnny. I was just wondering.”

“Well, for your information, I’m planning on donating some money to the Fireman’s Fund, for one. And I’m sure there will be other things. I just gotta think it through. I don’t like to give to organizations until I can check them out and make sure my money is being spent legitimately.”

“I understand, Johnny. I’m sure I’d be doing the same thing.”

Vindicated, Johnny remained silent, taking a swig of his beer.

Roy took in a deep breath and looked around. He sighed whimsically. “Sure must be nice,” he added dreamily, “to have so much money that you’ll never have to worry again.”

Johnny glanced at Roy, thinking about what he’d just said, and how lucky he truly was. It was a comfort that he knew Roy didn’t have, and he felt bad for him now, having to constantly worry about where the next dollar was coming from. Johnny had the responsibility of his aunt, but Roy had Joanne, two kids, and a house payment. Johnny knew it wasn’t easy on the salary they made, even for himself; he realized now how much harder that must be for Roy. He scrutinized his best friend a moment. “Hey, Roy?”

Brought out of his reverie, Roy looked over at Johnny. “Yeah?”

“Roy, if you ever…need anything, don’t hesitate to ask, okay?”

The two best friends regarded each other, and a small smile came to Roy’s face at the realization of what his friend was offering. He knew Johnny meant it, could see it in his face, and had no doubts that if there ever was anything he needed that Johnny would always be there to help him out. He also knew in his heart that it was much more than just financial assistance that Johnny was offering, and it warmed him to think about what a true friend he had in the man sitting next to him. He also knew that it went both ways. “Thanks, Johnny. The same thing goes for me too, you know?”

Johnny smiled. “That’s what partners are for, right?”

Roy raised his beer as if in a toast, then took a drink. “Right, Junior.”

They sipped their beers in silence for a few more minutes, then Roy looked at his watch and stood up. “Hey, I’d better go. I’ve been gone all day. Joanne’s going to start to worry if I don’t show up soon.”

“Okay. I’ll walk you to your car.”

After more heartfelt thank-yous from Roy, Johnny waved good-bye, and Roy was on his way home. Johnny left soon afterward.

 

 

                                                ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

 

 Roy needn’t have worried about Johnny being charitable with his money.  As the weeks flew by, he outdid himself in regards to being generous to everyone. Almost every week John was going out of his way to bestow little favors and gifts to his friends and co-workers. It seemed he had developed a newfound pleasure in giving. It was almost like being Santa Claus, and Johnny constantly found himself thinking up new ways to use his wealth to help people. After all, money was no object, and the joy he felt in surprising others made his heart swell. It was something he had never been able to do before in his life, and now that he had a real ‘family’ to give to, it made his life even happier. Unbeknownst to him, his good intentions would come, after a time, to make those that he cared so much about, feel uncomfortable and inadequate.

Shortly after he had purchased the Corvette, everyone was surprised when Gage drove to work one morning in his Rover. With a flourish, he pulled a large box from the back of the vehicle, asking Mike to help him carry it in to the firehouse. As the men gathered around the kitchen table to see what it was, they soon discovered by the writing on the box that it was a new television.

After pulling it out of the box, John stood back and exclaimed, his face beaming, “Well, guys, how do you like it?”

“I don’t understand, John,” said the Cap. “Is this…supposed to be for the station?”

“Of course! Why else would I bring it in here, Cap?” The rest of the guys all traded looks of surprise.

“Johnny,” Roy said, “There’s nothing wrong with the TV we have. In fact, it’s your TV, if you remember.”

“I remember. But it’s old, and it’s too small. I mean, you can hardly see the picture on that thing.” He waved his hand dismissively at it.

“Well, it’s bigger than the last one we had,” Cap remarked.

“Well, I know,” Johnny retorted. “But this one is better. I mean, we do spend a lot of evenings around here watching TV and all; I just thought you guys would enjoy it. It’ll be great for watching sports!”

The men were so stunned that no one said anything, and Johnny began to mistake their silence for discontent. His smile fell away and he looked around at them. “I—it is okay, isn’t it? Don’t you guys like it?”

At once, everyone began praising the new huge thirty-inch television screen, and thanking Johnny, which brought a smile back to his face. With having confirmed that his gift had been accepted, he walked over to the old TV, unplugged it, lifted it off the shelf, carried it out of the dayroom and set it on the floor in the engine bay, then returned. With a grunt he picked up the new TV, tottered over and set it down in place of the old one, and plugged it in. He turned to them, holding up a little box for them to see, saying, “It comes with a remote control,” then pushed the button turning it on.

Chet walked over, admiring the picture. “Far out, Gage. Thanks, man! You’ve really outdone yourself.”

Johnny looked down and scratched at an area under his jaw, a little embarrassed at the praise from Chet. “It’s no big deal. Hey, guys, Cap? Ah, I thought it would be nice if we could get cable TV. You know, everyone’s getting it now, and we’ll get a lot more channels.”

Hank Stanley shrugged, then said, “Well, that’s sounds great, John, but it costs money. We’ll have to see if the other shifts want to split the cost.”

“Oh, no, no, no,” Johnny said. “I’ll pay for it. It’s just a few bucks a month.”

“John, we couldn’t let you do that. It wouldn’t be fair.”

“No, really, Cap. I don’t mind at all. It’s not that expensive. It’s nothing to me,” he looked up at his captain in complete sincerity, shrugging.

Hank sighed. “I guess it’s up to the guys, if you’re sure you want to do this.”

“Absolutely,” Johnny answered.

“All right!” Chet exclaimed. “Hey, you know, there’s this great movie channel on the cable that I heard about. They play horror flicks every night at eleven thirty.”

Everyone rolled their eyes.

“Hey, Johnny. What are you gonna do with the old TV?” Mike asked.

Johnny looked at Mike with a twinkle in his eye. “I’m glad you asked that, Mike, because I have the perfect spot for it.”

“Where?”

“In your living room.”

“What?!”

“I thought you said your TV was broken, Mike. I was going to give this one to you, if you want it.”

Mike was speechless. “I…I don’t know what to say.”

Johnny smiled. “Say you’ll take it. And if you get yours fixed, then you and Susan can watch this one in your bedroom.”

“Thanks, Johnny,” Mike said, still taken aback at Johnny’s generosity.

“C’mon, let’s put the old one in your truck.” John walked out into the engine bay, followed by Mike, leaving the others to stand with their mouths gaping.

 

 

In addition to the television, Johnny had started to make a habit of bringing steaks in for dinner once a week. Not only did it provide him with a good excuse not to have to cook dinner, but it also lifted the guys’ morale. All he had to do was throw some baked potatoes in the oven, make a salad, and throw the steaks on the grill. The men actually came to look forward to the days when Gage was cooking now, because it was always a treat.

One night while Johnny was doing the dishes, it occurred to him that the station needed a dishwasher. He was tired of dishpan hands, and it would certainly be much more convenient and efficient than the old wash by hand method. So, he had asked the Cap if they could have one installed. The same conversation about the money ensued, which was followed by Johnny’s insistence to buy the dishwasher himself and have it installed. It would mean losing one of the lower cupboards, but it seemed a small price to pay for a big convenience. After clearing it with the other shifts, Johnny was given the go ahead to purchase the new machine, and it was installed one week later.

After the dishwasher, it was a new barbeque grill, and after that, a microwave oven, a luxury that mostly only the rich had in their households. Even though the other guys were very appreciative for the gifts, they began to feel a little uncomfortable that John Gage was doing all the giving, and that they were unable to match his generosity, but they never voiced their sentiments; they didn’t want to appear ungrateful. They quelled their uneasiness by reasoning that it really wasn’t anything for Johnny, not the hardship it would be for the rest of them to afford these things.

Johnny’s generosity wasn’t limited to just the station. He started bringing goodies to Rampart on many mornings when they stopped in for supplies. The staff and nurses began to look forward to his little gift boxes of donuts, croissants, and even gourmet coffees, which he and Heather often enjoyed together at the yacht club. Dixie jokingly teased that his treats were going to make her fat, but it never stopped her from partaking of his scrumptious indulgences. Johnny was beginning to become one very popular paramedic around the hospital. Nurses that had never paid him the time of day were now seemingly quite interested in the handsome paramedic, and went out of their way to talk to him in the hopes of possibly landing a date with him. By now, knowledge that Johnny had won the lottery was well known around the hospital. Johnny was always friendly back, but at the moment, only had eyes for one woman, much to their frustration.

 

 

                                                ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

 

Over the weeks, Johnny continued to see Heather nearly every day off he had. They did all sorts of things; it seemed Heather was constantly introducing him to new pursuits. In addition to sailing, dinners, and movies, they went to the theater, art galleries, and plays. Johnny didn’t care for everything they did together, but he was so enchanted just being with Heather, that he acquiesced to her every suggestion. They often met for breakfast at Heather’s favorite yacht club, which held a delicious full spread of breakfast delicacies. Afterwards, they would mingle with fellow boaters. They did that on the mornings when they would go sailing, so that they could eat before they left, then have lunch on the boat.

Johnny rarely did the things he used to do; he hadn’t been camping or hiking once since he’d met Heather, and had spent almost no time with his friends, but somehow he was so busy he didn’t seem to notice.

Their relationship did seem to be blossoming. After Johnny realized her father wasn’t going to fling open the front door when he dropped her off for the evening, their goodnight kisses became much longer and more passionate with each date. Heather had invited him in several times, but to her disappointment, he always declined, being the perfect gentleman. There was more than one night when he needed to go home and take a cold shower.

 

 

Johnny and Heather had made a date to go sailing at the end of John’s next shift. He’d promised breakfast with Roy that morning after work, so he and Heather had agreed to meet that afternoon. Despite the fall weather, it was warm that day, around seventy degrees. The temperature out on the water was cooler, however, but still pleasant.

By now, Johnny was quite adept at captaining his boat, needing no help from Heather any longer. They spent a quiet and lazy afternoon just enjoying the peaceful serenity that always went with sailing. Johnny had lowered the sails and anchored the boat, intending to catch some fish for their dinner, which he offered to prepare. Heather spent that time sunning herself while Johnny relaxed with his pole in his deck chair.

Leaning back in his seat, enjoying the gentle rise and fall of the boat, he was on the verge of dozing off when he felt Heather wrap her arms around him from behind. Closing his eyes, he grasped her hand as her lips caressed his neck with soft kisses. A shiver ran down his spine, and, reaching up with his hand to cradle her head, he tilted his head up to kiss her lips.

After the kiss, she straightened, smiling, her hand resting on his shoulder. “Catch our dinner yet?”

“No luck yet. The fish are so quiet I was about to fall asleep too,” he joked.

“Would you like something to drink?”

“Mmm, that sounds great.”

She bent back down and gave him a long, sensuous kiss, then pulled away again, to his disappointment. “I’ll be right back,” she promised.

Fifteen minutes went by. Johnny had almost drifted off again in his chair when his eyes popped open. He looked at his watch, wondering where Heather was. She was supposed to have gone to get some drinks. Looking around, he didn’t see her, and for a moment, an anxious alarm went off inside of him, sending a burst of adrenalin racing through his stomach. Quickly, he pulled his pole out of the water, and headed toward the steps leading below deck.

He climbed down into the galley. “Heather?” She wasn’t there, and fear swept over him, sending his heart racing. His mind told him she was probably just in the bathroom, but just the same, he hurried past the table toward the stateroom.

“Heath – ” The rest of his word was lost as he walked through the doorway and saw her. His eyes grew wide and his mouth dropped open slowly as he took in the scene in front of him. Heather was lying on the bed atop the satin comforter, partially on her side, her head propped up on her hand above her bent elbow, and she was completely naked.

Gesturing to the iced champagne bucket in the stand next to the bed, she said softly, “I’ve got our drinks ready.” Two champagne glasses sat on the shelf beside the bed.

Johnny was stunned, and his pulse quickened as his eyes roamed her body. She patted the bed next to her, and slowly, he walked toward her.

“Heather….wha – ”

“Would you like to open the champagne? It should be quite good; Dom Perignon, 1972.” She patted the bed once more, gesturing for him to sit by her, and after a moment’s hesitation, he did. Licking his lips, he pulled the champagne out of the bucket, peeled off the foil and the wire cage, then twisted the cork off, resulting in a soft ‘pop’. The champagne started to rise in the neck of the bottle, and he quickly poured it into their glasses, then nestled the bottle back into its icy enclosure.

Heather reached over and picked up her glass, then handed Johnny his. Clinking his glass, she murmured, “To us,” then took a sip. Johnny did the same, never taking his eyes off her, which were now smoldering with desire.

Heather closed her eyes, letting the champagne roll around her tongue before swallowing, enjoying the full flavor of it. She then set her glass down, and wordlessly began to unbutton Johnny’s shirt. His eyes closed as her hands moved gently over his shoulders, sliding the shirt off, then down to caress his chest.

Slowly, he lowered his head to taste her lips, groaning when he felt her undoing his jeans, which had grown quite snug. Heather moaned in pleasure as she felt his lips and tongue begin to explore her mouth, unhurriedly, his lips soft as velvet. His skin felt like silk as her fingers trailed down the tight muscles in his back and cupped his buttocks. She shivered when she felt his fingertips caress her neck, then glide downward.

The skylight was open, and a gentle breeze blew through it and all around them, the damp sea air settled on their bodies, kissing them with moisture. Johnny made love to her slowly, drinking her in, setting every sensitive area of her being on fire with his touches and kisses. Their bodies moved in sync with the rising and falling of the boat as they joined together, one inside the other, their escalating moans of pleasure blending with the wind and the cries of the seagulls.

 

 

Johnny reached for his champagne glass, put it to his lips, and drank it down.

“John!” Heather scolded incredulously. “You don’t guzzle Dom Perignon!”

He turned to her with a smirk on his face. “I was thirsty, after all that exercise.”

She smiled coyly at him and saw that the raw lust in his eyes hadn’t quite yet been extinguished. He reached for the bottle and poured himself another glass.

“Well, then get a glass of water,” she nudged him playfully. “You don’t drink expensive champagne like cheap beer, you know.”

“Actually,” he turned on his side toward her, holding his champagne glass over her, “I prefer to drink it this way.” Very seductively, he poured some of the champagne onto her breasts and between them, then bent his head to lap it off with his tongue. Heather drew in a quick breath, closing her eyes.

“I guess,” Heather’s breath was now coming in short gasps, “that’s not a bad way….to drink it at all.”

 

 

It was nearly six o’clock, and the fish still weren’t biting. After their lovemaking, they’d finally managed to pull apart long enough for Johnny to give his fishing line one last attempt in order to try to round up something for dinner. He pulled out his pole with a sigh of disgust and turned to see Heather walking toward him, a tray in her hands.

“What’s that?” he asked.

“Dinner.”

His eyes widened at the elaborate assortment of food on the tray. He looked up at her questioningly.

“I just brought a few things along for us to eat, just in case you didn’t catch any fish.”

“What’s the matter; don’t you have any confidence in me?” he teased.

“Always come prepared. That’s my motto.”

He looked back down at the tray she held. She had laid out a beautiful arrangement of pates, smoked salmon and capers, shrimp, an assortment of cheeses, caviar, crackers, and fruits. “Wow,” he said, astonished.

She set the tray down, then spread out a blanket on the deck. She left momentarily, then returned with their champagne glasses, filled once again. She handed him a glass, and they toasted silently, sipping the delicious wine. They were standing very close to one another, and in between swallows of champagne, their mouths joined together, savoring the taste of the delicious sparkling liquid on one another. After drinking half a glass, Heather sat down on the blanket, then reached up and took his hand, pulling him down to eat.

He sat regarding her for a long moment, then murmured, “You’re incredible, you know that?” He leaned in and kissed her once again.

“Then I’d say we’re even,” she answered back sensuously. They ate in silence, enjoying the fresh sea air and the peacefulness that the isolation brought them.

When they had finished, Heather got up.

“Where’re you going?” Johnny asked.

“To get dessert,” she said matter-of-factly.

Pushing himself up off the deck, he reached out for her. Pulling her to him, he lowered his mouth to hers in a passionate kiss. His lips rained kisses down her neck and back up to her ear. “I don’t need dessert, he murmured, I’ve got my dessert right here.”

Lost in the sensation, she managed weakly, “Let’s go inside.”

“No,” he breathed urgently, his passion building once again, “right here. Now.” He reached down and caught her blouse at the hem, pulling it up and over her head.

Her eyes widened. “Here? Outside in broad daylight?” She looked around.

“Why not? There’s no one around to see us.” He began pulling his own clothes off until he was standing naked before her. She stood staring at him and felt warmth spreading through her at the sight of him and his obvious arousal. Her look of disbelief turned into a smile, and she seductively peeled off the rest of her own clothes.

Johnny’s eyes ravished her body before he drew her into his arms. He began to kiss her urgently, which she returned with equal enthusiasm, their earlier appetite for one another unsated. Lowering himself to the deck, he pulled her down on top of him, her legs straddling him.

Their lovemaking this time was wild and frenzied, unquenchable. Somehow being out in the open air intensified all their feelings and sensations; it was like every nerve was exposed. Heather felt like she couldn’t breathe as Johnny rolled on top of her, moving over her like a man possessed, his mouth and hands and body arousing her in ways she’d never felt before. Just before he brought her to the edge, she cried out his name, then she shook as it overtook her, the intensity of it almost bringing her to tears.

Johnny finally gave in and let go after that, completely overwhelmed himself at the depth of the passion he had felt.

As they lay in each other’s arms catching their breath, she couldn’t hold back the words that seemed to tumble unbidden from her mouth. “John?” she said softly.

“Yes?” he whispered.

“I….I think I’m…..falling in love with you.”

It took a moment for the words to sink in, and when they did, he didn’t need to say anything; the look in his eyes and the passion of his kiss said it all.

 

 

                                                ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

 

Johnny was oblivious to the conversation going on around him in the dorm that morning as he got dressed. His thoughts were filled with images of the day before with Heather, and as he recalled a particularly erotic moment during their lovemaking, his eyes closed as he sat on the bench, relishing the memory, his hands frozen into a position of pulling a sock onto his foot.

His thoughts strayed to her words. She’d said she thought she was falling in love with him. Falling in love with him. Thought she was falling in love with him. The words echoed in his brain. It was too incredible to consider. She was in love with him. Could she be? He hadn’t answered her, or said the same back; the emotion of the moment had stunned him to the point of not being able to speak. The only way he’d seemed able to respond was with his kiss. Would she think he didn’t love her too? Would not telling her he loved her drive her away? Did he love her?

Of course he loved her; how could he not? How could he not love someone with whom he had just shared that depth of intimacy? He sighed. Sure, he’d had sex before, and not with just one or two women. And he thought he’d been in love before, but it had never quite felt the same as this. Never with a woman like Heather. How nice it felt to have a woman like her say she loved him. But love was scary. It always set one up for a fall. You fall in love with someone, then they dump you, or it doesn’t work out, then you’re left standing holding the pieces of your heart after it’s broken into a million fragments. It takes so long to put them back together again. I don’t wanna be in love. But…I think I already am! I think about her night and day. When I’m not with her, I wanna be with her. She’s so…she’s like…almost like a, a princess or something. I feel like I’m dating royalty. There was just one sobering thought he couldn’t figure out. Why is she in love with me? Why am I so special? She could have any guy she wanted…someone much richer than me. Someone…classier…that seems to be what she likes. I’m just a…plain, every day kind of guy.

Was it just the sex that did it? Nah, just having sex with someone doesn’t make you fall in love with them. His mouth upturned with a small smile as the sweet memory filled his mind again. Oh God, it had been so good, and it seemed like they had waited so long to be intimate, waited to be sure. She must have felt it was right, because she was the one who had instigated it. Maybe she instigated it because she loves me. Then she told him she loved him. Shouldn’t he tell her? Was he ready for it? Was he ready for a serious commitment? What a silly question; he was already involved in a serious commitment. There was no use in asking himself if he was ready for it. He was already there. Now wait a minute; she just said she loved me; she didn’t say she wanted to get married. What if she does want to marry me? Would that be so bad? She’d stolen his heart almost from the moment he’d lain eyes on her. Maybe there was no turning back.

“….what do you think, Johnny?” Roy asked, turning toward his partner.

Johnny continued to sit there with his eyes closed wearing a soft smile on his face.

Roy looked up at Chet, who was rolling his eyes and shaking his head.

Roy looked away from Chet with a grimace and turned his attention back to Gage. He reached out and nudged Johnny. “Hey! You awake?”

Johnny jumped in surprise, his eyes popping open. “Huh?”

“Huh?” Roy repeated. “Boy, are you out to lunch.”

“He’s got that expression on his face again, guys,” Marco teased.

“You know what that means,” Chet added.

Johnny rolled his eyes and said, “Oh, shut up, Chet,” before Kelly could elaborate. He continued pulling his sock on.

“You gonna answer my question?” Roy asked him.

“What question?”

“Haven’t you been paying any attention to what we’ve been talking about? No, forget it; I can see you haven’t.”

“Sorry, Roy. What did you say?”

Roy sighed. “I asked what you thought about that guy they caught who was setting those fires. It was on the news yesterday. We were all saying he was probably the one who set that office building fire we were called out to last week.”

“Oh. I didn’t….I didn’t see that. I didn’t watch the news yesterday.”

“Figures,” Chet said.

“What’s that supposed to mean, Kelly?” John said in irritation.

Kelly raised his eyebrows in sincerity. “Nothing, John. It’s just that ever since you’ve been dating that Heather chick, you’ve been out in left field.”

“I have not. And don’t call her a ‘chick’.”

You call girls ‘chicks’.”

“I do not.”

Before he could argue further, he heard Captain Stanley’s voice calling from out in the engine bay. “Gage! Phone!”

He threw an annoyed glance at Chet, then got up, saying “Excuse me,” and walked out of the dorm.

“Ten to one it’s Heather,” Chet said.

“Man, he just got here and she’s already calling him,” Marco observed.

Roy just shrugged.

“She calls him like six times a day, doesn’t she, Roy?”

“I don’t know. I don’t keep score.” He sighed.

“Well, I’ve never seen Johnny so hung up on a girl before,” Marco said.

“You think they’re serious, Roy?” Chet asked.

“I don’t know Chet. Why don’t you ask him?”

“He tells you everything, Roy.”

“Not everything.” Roy shut his locker door. “Hell, I hardly even see him any more outside of work.”

Chet detected an underlying hint of depression in Roy’s voice. “I thought he went to your house for breakfast yesterday.”

“He did. But then he left right after breakfast.”

“Let me guess. He had a date with Heather.”

“Yeah. He had a date.”

Before their conversation could continue, Johnny walked back into the dorm in his stocking feet, looking shell-shocked. Slowly, he walked over to the bench and plopped down, staring into space.

Chet walked over and stood next to him. “What? She call to dump you?”

Johnny looked up in exasperation. “Oh, shut up, Chet, would you?” The dark-haired paramedic looked up at Roy, a panic-stricken look on his face.

“What is it?” Roy asked in concern.

“She…invited me to dinner Friday night.”

“So?”

He swallowed and looked away. “She….wants me to meet her parents.”

Chet whistled. “Uh oh. She wants John to meet her parents. Must be serious.”

Roy looked perplexed, not understanding why that would cause such obvious fear in his partner. “So?”

Johnny stood up. “So?!” he exclaimed. “So?! So, what the hell am I gonna say to her billionaire father? I mean, it’s gonna be like meetin’ the president or somethin’. God, Roy, what the hell have I got in common with him?”

“Your money,” Chet answered.

Johnny snorted. “Money! That little bit I got is like chump change to him.”

“And you’re the chump!” Chet snickered.

Johnny turned toward Chet, his eyes blazing. “Oh, you’re a big help.” He turned back to Roy. “What am I gonna do?”

“Johnny,” Roy said, “I don’t think you have anything to worry about. You get along fine with his daughter, don’t you?”

“Roy, he’s a multi-millionaire! I’m just a…a fireman!”

“Hey, I resent that!” Chet said.

“I second that,” Marco chimed in.

Johnny sighed. “Roy, you know what I mean. He’s gonna think I’m not good enough to be dating his daughter. He’s probably gonna step all over me, embarrass me, and….and….he’s probably gonna eat me for dinner, chew me up, then spit me out! I’ll probably never be able to see Heather again after he gets through with me,” he said glumly.

Roy sighed and sat down next to his partner. “Johnny. I think you’re overreacting. I’m sure by now he knows Heather is dating ‘just a fireman’, as you put it. If he really didn’t want his daughter dating you, he probably would have done something about it by now.”

“Yeah, Johnny. He would have had a hit squad take you out by now,” Chet said.

Johnny looked over at Chet, imagining that possibility for a moment. He shook his head.

“Has Heather said anything about her father to you?”

“No. Not ‘till now. She was really excited about it. Says her father can’t wait to meet me.” He closed his eyes and swiped his hand over his face. “Man.”

Roy patted him on the shoulder. “Well, you’ll find out soon enough. No use worrying about it now. C’mon, let’s go check the drug box.”

Begrudgingly, Johnny got up and followed Roy out to the squad. It was a long shift.

 

 

Roy wished a very nervous Johnny good luck the next morning as they departed. Roy was relieved that the shift was finally over; he’d had to endure his partner’s neurotic and tense behavior all day, and was thankful to be going home.

John was to meet Heather for lunch after she got her hair done, and so he arrived at the salon at eleven thirty, with plans to walk to a nearby café. The stylist was just putting the finishing touches on Heather’s hair when he walked in, and when she saw him, she motioned him over.

He smiled, and made his way over to greet her. She looked more beautiful than ever; the stylist had woven her hair into a soft French braid, leaving small wisps of hair to fall around her face.

“John, I’d like you to meet Paul Michael,” she introduced.

John shook his hand and exchanged greetings with the slender, almost frail looking man. He was probably in his late thirties, John guessed, his blond hair was tipped with bleached ends, and was styled as impeccably as his customer’s. Johnny craned his neck to look at the man’s work. “Wow, your hair looks great.” Johnny had found through experience that women always liked compliments about their hair. It wasn’t hard to act sincere; her hair really did look beautiful.

“Thank you. John, Paul Michael is fabulous. I’ve been going to him for years.” She looked up at him. “I just don’t know what I’d do without him.”

Paul Michael accepted the compliment shyly, reaching down and kissing the back of her hand. “And I would be lost without customers like you.” He spoke with an accent that sounded slightly French. He unfastened the smock around her neck and brushed the hair off her shoulders with a flourish.

Heather looked up at Johnny. “John, you should let Paul Michael cut your hair.”

Slightly taken aback, he answered, “Me?” his fingers were splayed across his chest.

Paul Michael began to take an interest in Johnny’s hair, and reached up to touch it. Johnny drew back slightly. “Ah, yes. You have such beautiful hair….thick….masculine….but a bit, ah, well, messy,” he said with a smile.

Johnny began to feel uncomfortable, and self-consciously ran his fingers through his locks, trying to straighten them. “Well, I was just out in the wind – ”

“Oh, John, why don’t you let him cut it? He can do wonders with hair. He’ll have you looking like a new man,” she said enthusiastically.

I don’t want to look like a new man, he thought, but didn’t voice it.

Paul Michael was walking around Johnny now, looking at his hair, talking to himself. “Just a little here, and there, ah, I know, yes, that would be perfect.” He looked at Gage with the most sincere look in his gray eyes. “I can make you look, fantastique!”

“What do you say, John?” Heather pushed. “I know you want to make a good impression on Mother and Daddy tonight. Maybe just a little trim wouldn’t hurt.”

Johnny felt trapped. “Well,” he looked from one of them to the other.

“I do not have another appointment for a half hour. That should be plenty of time,” Paul Michael said.

“Well,” John said nervously, “I guess it wouldn’t hurt – but, just a little. I don’t want a lot cut off. I like my hair longer.”

“It will be perfect,” the stylist said.

 

 

A half hour later, the two of them walked out of the salon, both with new haircuts. Paul Michael had done as Johnny had asked, and not cut too much, so Johnny wasn’t displeased with the cut. It was, as he promised, perfect. Maybe a little too perfect. He had added a few more layers in, leaving the sides just slightly shorter, but still long from mid-ear and longer around the back. He had blown it dry, taking his time to make sure Johnny’s hair laid perfectly. Johnny had scrunched his eyes closed in distaste when the man had sprayed his hair with hair spray, but he kept his mouth shut about it. Heather was so pleased with how it looked that he simply nodded and smiled. Both Heather and Paul Michael had agreed that the new do was extremely sexy, and Johnny had smiled nervously at Paul Michael as he saw the man looking at him with bedroom eyes. He was glad to be out of there.

At lunch, he had made the mistake of asking Heather what he should wear to dinner that night, which prompted an afternoon long shopping spree. Heather led him into one of the most exclusive men’s clothing shops in LA, and when they left, his hands were full of shopping bags. Her father knew the tailor personally, and he outfitted Johnny with two new suits, one English and one Italian, three pairs of shoes, a leather jacket, several shirts and ties along with gold cuff links, designer blue jeans, and two sports coats. Johnny was exhausted when they finally left; it wasn’t exactly what he’d had in mind that they do that afternoon. And besides that, he hated shopping.

Now, as he drove back to his apartment to get ready for the evening, the nervousness returned. He lugged the shopping bags inside, and after hanging everything up, decided to take a shower to unwind. He had to be careful not to get his hair wet, lest he spoil the perfect coiffure that Heather and the stylist had raved about.

He chose to wear the khaki chinos he had bought and the blue Ralph Lauren sport coat that Heather had picked out that afternoon, along with one of the silk shirts, which had been her suggestion. His feet felt uncomfortable in the stiff new tasseled leather penny loafers, but as he looked at himself in the mirror before he left, he was a little stunned at his appearance. He did look like a new man, or maybe a different man. With his perfect haircut and expensive designer clothes, he looked like a wealthy man. The transformation was both disconcerting and exciting; on the one hand, he liked what he saw, but on the other, he didn’t feel like himself. He laughed at himself as the ridiculous thought entered his mind that maybe this is what Cinderella felt like when the fairy godmother waved her wand and transformed her into a beautiful princess. Shaking his head, he grabbed his keys and left to face what awaited him for the evening. Hopefully, her father wouldn’t be too rough on him.

 

 

The evening turned out better than Johnny had ever expected. Heather’s mother was as charming and beautiful as her daughter, although Johnny detected just a slight standoffishness to her. He felt her eyes evaluating him the moment he entered the house, but still, Barbara Banks was nothing but pleasant and gracious to him.

He was on his best behavior, careful not to speak with his mouth full during dinner, which was one of the things Heather had gently reminded him not to do on a few of their dates. He knew the correct fork with which to eat the crab legs, and which spoon to eat the soup with, and which way to dip it into the soup, after receiving some subtle pointers from Heather while dining out. He knew how to drink the wine, and how to properly taste it, a result of more instructions given by Heather. As the dinner wore on, he became confident that he wasn’t going to make a fool of himself, and relaxed. The food was elegant and delicious.

Heather’s father made it easy for him. So unlike the man he had envisioned, Arthur Banks turned out to be one of the most personable and lively men Johnny had ever met. A tall handsome man with a full head of silver hair, he made jokes during dinner, his eyes twinkling from behind his glasses. Several times he was chastised by his wife for his perceived lack of manners, to which he would say something to the effect of, “Oh, Barbara, you never let me have any fun.” Or sometimes he would lean toward Johnny, his hand blocking one side of his mouth to prevent Barbara and Heather from hearing, and make a joke.

Arthur Banks wasn’t ashamed to talk about the humble childhood he’d experienced, growing up during the depression in Ohio. In fact, it was obvious he immensely enjoyed talking about the good ole days and simpler times, mentioning that even though his family hadn’t had any money, those were some of the happiest times in his life. He was a self-made millionaire; humbly making the point that hard work got him where he was, and that no job was to be ashamed of as long as it was honest work. As a matter of fact, he made a point of praising Johnny for the work he did helping people.

He seemed to take an instant liking to Johnny, and engaged him in a conversation about his work as a paramedic, which later turned to an interesting discussion about the different types of drugs and medications paramedics used in the field. He was genuinely interested in John’s opinion of what medications worked best and why, and even questioned him about the dosages. He spoke with him as if he were on the same level as himself, almost as if he were conversing with a doctor, and they discussed some of the new drugs that were being tested by his company. Heather and her mother ate politely and silently during the conversation, while Troy looked bored, and slightly irritated.

By the end of the evening, Arthur Banks was treating Johnny like an old friend, which amazed the dark-haired paramedic. He was elated at how well the evening had gone, and so was Heather. The gathering ended when her parents decided to go to bed, and Troy left to see Gloria, leaving the two of them alone downstairs.

Johnny was getting ready to say good-night, when Heather made moves toward him letting him know that in no uncertain terms was she going to let him leave. As she led him down the hallway to her bedroom, he argued with her in whispered tones that they shouldn’t be doing any hanky panky in her parent’s house, and that he was too nervous that they would find out.

“Your father likes me, Heather. I’d like to quit while I’m ahead. If he catches me in your bedroom – ”

“He won’t,” she insisted. “And even if he did, he wouldn’t say anything. John, I’m a grown woman; Daddy realizes that. He doesn’t tell me how to live my life. I wouldn’t be living here if he did. Besides, like you said, he likes you.” Then Heather explained that her parent’s bedroom was clear down in another wing of the house, and when Johnny saw where her bedroom, or rather, suite, was in relation to that, he relaxed a little, realizing with relief that no matter how much noise they made, her parents would probably never hear them.

And so, Johnny spent the night making love to Heather in her parent’s mansion. He didn’t get much sleep, worrying about whether they would be heard, amongst other reasons.

 

 

                                                ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

 

John Gage pulled into the firehouse parking lot with only ten minutes to spare; he usually liked to arrive at least twenty minutes early to dress and grab a cup of coffee before roll call. This morning, however, he was running late, having made a hasty departure from Heather’s house after he overslept. He was immensely glad that her father had already left for the day, and that he hadn’t run into any of her family members on the way out. The thought crossed his mind once more as he drove in to work that maybe Heather was right; maybe he should start looking more seriously for a house to buy. He just didn’t feel comfortable being intimate with her at her parent’s house, and she didn’t seem to care much for his small apartment.

Roy regarded him curiously as he made his entrance into the dorm, still dressed in the clothing he had worn to her parent’s house the night before. As Johnny slid off his sport coat, Roy’s brows rose upward and he made a point of being obvious about examining Johnny, craning his neck to inspect not only his attire, but his haircut, and took a few steps around him.

Johnny’s head snapped around to look back at Roy, his brows furrowed. “What’re you lookin’ at?” He began unbuckling his new belt and kicked off his penny loafers.

Roy smiled incredulously. “You.”

“What about me?”

“Well, you’re a little dressed up for just driving into work, aren’t you?”

Johnny looked away, and pulled off his pants, nearly tripping as he stepped on one of the pants legs. He hung them on the hanger from which he had pulled his work pants. “Uh, yeah. I, I, uh, didn’t….didn’t have time to…to…”

Roy figured it out. “Never mind.” He sat back down on the bench, then looked back up at Johnny for a minute. “So, how’d it go at Heather’s parent’s house last night?”

That brought a smile to John’s face. Johnny pulled his work shirt on and turned toward Roy. “Oh, man, Roy. It was incredible. I mean, it went fine, just fine. I wish you could have met him. He was just…about the nicest guy I ever met.”

“Yeah?” Roy smiled at his best friend. “See? I told you not to worry.”

Johnny looked at his friend in surprise. “Worry? I wasn’t worried.”

Roy’s jaw dropped.

Johnny went on, not noticing Roy’s incredulous look. “I knew if he was anything like Heather that he’d be great. And he was,” Johnny said with a shrug. After that, Johnny relayed all the details about the dinner and their conversation, with descriptions of her parents and brother.

“So what’d her father say about you spending the night?” Roy deadpanned.

Johnny began pinning on his badge. “Oh, he didn’t say anything because he didn’t kno – ” Slowly he turned to Roy and threw an annoyed look his way. He opened his mouth to say something, then thought better of it, and turned away, closing his locker door.

They made their way out into the engine bay, and the others, except Chet, were waiting there for roll call. After that was completed, Johnny asked, “Where’s Chet? He sick?”
            Marco answered, “His old car broke down, and he had to wait for the tow truck. He should be here any minute.” Marco did a double take when he saw Johnny, noting his haircut.

A few minutes later, Chet arrived in a foul mood over the latest problems with his car. That afternoon, they all heard him on the telephone with the repair shop, arguing with the mechanic over how much it was going to cost to fix. He ended the conversation by glumly telling the man to go ahead with the repair, then muttering to himself that he’d just have to pull some overtime to pay for it. His head was hung as he plodded out of the dayroom to go sulk.

That evening, Johnny went looking for Chet, and found him alone in the dorm, sitting despondently on the bench, polishing his shoes. Chet had been depressed all day, worried about how he was going to pay for his car. Johnny had thought it over, and decided there was no reason why he shouldn’t help out a friend in need. After all, it was no big deal to him. Since just the two of them were in the dorm, it was the perfect opportunity, and so, surreptitiously pulling his wallet out of his pants pocket from his locker, he fished inside for two one hundred dollar bills. Looking around to be sure no one was going to come in, he held his hand out to Chet, who slowly looked up at him.

“Here,” Johnny said.

Chet looked down at the money. “What’s this?”

“Take it and get your car fixed.”

Chet was stunned. He stared at the money, then back up at Johnny, but didn’t take it. “I’m not a charity case, you know.”

Johnny sighed. He should have known Kelly was going to make this difficult. “I know. I’m just trying to help you out. Besides,” he said in a semi-joking tone, “I got sick of hearing you whine about your car all day.”

“You’re serious.” Chet looked incredulous.

Johnny looked around, and through the window of the door, making sure no one was around. “Yes, I’m serious. You gonna take it or not?”

“What do you want out of it?” Chet asked suspiciously.

Johnny snorted a disgusted laugh. “Nothing! For cryin’ out loud, Kelly. Can’t you just accept a gift?”

“Why’re you bein’ so nice to me, Gage?”

Now Johnny was getting really annoyed, but he held his temper. “Because….I can.”

Kelly continued to stare at him in disbelief, while Johnny kept his hand extended.

Johnny rolled his eyes. “Okay. Forget it! Just forget it!” He began to pull his hand away in an attempt to put the money back into his wallet, when Chet stopped him, grabbing his wrist.

“Okay! Wait a minute.” He looked up at Johnny, his face serious. “Are you sure?” He still couldn’t quite believe that John was just giving him that much money.

“Yes. I’m sure. I told ya, I’m just tryin’ to help. I know what it’s like…..not havin’ enough to make ends meet.” Slowly, he handed the money back to Chet, and Chet took it gratefully.

“Thanks, man,” he said softly.

“You’re welcome. Now you can quit moping around. Oh, and Chet?”

“Yeah?”

“Ah, this is just between us, okay? I mean, I’d rather you not tell the other guys about it.”

Chet nodded slowly, trying to understand why Johnny wouldn’t want anyone else to know about his generous monetary gift. Maybe it was because if the other guys found out, they’d all be putting their hands out too. “Uh…sure, Johnny. We’ll keep it between us.”

“Good. Thanks.”

 He looked back up at his pigeon. “Hey, Johnny.”

“What?”

“What’d ya do to your hair?”

Johnny self-consciously ran his hand through his hair once, hastily tousling it out of its perfectly blown-dried style a bit. “N-nothin’. Just got a little trim.”

Chet grinned. “I’ve just never seen you wear it so….perfect before.”

“Oh. Yeah. Ah, Heather, uh, suggested I get it cut yesterday before I met her dad.” And with that, Gage walked out of the dorm, not offering any other explanation.

Chet sat for a long time looking at the money, then found a place to hide it in his locker.

 

 

                                                ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

 

Johnny drove up the long tree-lined driveway to Abington Manor. Fall was in full splendor, and golden and crimson leaves fell from the arbors like large colorful snowflakes. He followed the drive around to the parking lot and got out of his car. Inhaling, he enjoyed the crisp fall aroma as his feet crunched through the piles of leaves scattered on the ground, covering the short distance to his aunt’s new dwelling. She had been there two months now, and Johnny was happy with the care she was getting. She seemed to be comfortable, never drugged or despondent like she was several times at the other nursing home.

Her living conditions were luxurious by nursing home standards, and she had all the comforts of home. Her apartment had many amenities, and there were always activities going on to keep the residents stimulated. Still, she sometimes seemed a little depressed, and Johnny couldn’t figure out why. He supposed it was just her mental state of mind; being confused constantly would be enough to make anyone depressed. He wondered if she missed her friends at the other home, but discounted that notion based on the fact that her memory was so bad that she had trouble even remembering who he was, much less the names of the residents where she used to live. It didn’t occur to him that being with those same people day in and day out had brought her a sense of comfort and reassurance, even though she had to constantly be reminded of who they were. Now that was gone.

Today, he took her for a walk around the grounds to enjoy the beautiful fall colors in the hopes of cheering her up, and they shared a late morning cup of coffee. As usual, he kissed her and told her he loved her when he said good-bye, and she continued to call him David, his dead brother. He left feeling depressed, as he always did.

He had a date that afternoon to play golf with Art, with whom he was beginning to become fast friends. He actually was not looking forward to playing golf, for again, it was another one of those sports the rich played that he had never experienced. But he did enjoy being with Heather’s father. It felt rather nice to have an older man to look up to after losing his own father so many years ago. And the man just had this way of making him feel so comfortable and wanted. Maybe that’s where Heather had inherited her ability to do the same.

Before he drove to the golf course however, he decided to stop at Sunnyside Estates to see Ben and Meredith. He knew she was always there on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and hadn’t seen her in a long while.

When he knocked on the door to Ben’s room, Meredith answered with a surprised, but pleased look on her face, and drew him into her arms for a hug.

“Well, look who’s here,” he heard Ben say in the background, and went to greet him. Ben was dressed and in his wheelchair, his nasal canula in place as usual, oxygen by his side. “So, how’s the good life?” he asked warmly, shaking Johnny’s hand.

“Good, Ben,” Johnny answered just as warmly.

“We miss Rose,” Meredith said. “How is she?”

“She’s doin’ fine,” he answered, and filled them in on her condition, telling them about the visit he’d just had. 

They chatted for over an hour, catching up on the latest news. He’d been quite surprised upon hearing the news that Sunnyside Estates now had a new administrator; the previous one had quit after being unable to handle the constant complaints from patients and their families regarding the deterioration of the home in recent years. Meredith was obviously elated at the changes that were being made, not only with the staff, but with the entire philosophy of care being given. Things were really improving, and while they still didn’t have nearly enough funds available, nor the list of amenities of Abington Manor, Johnny was truly glad for Ben and the other patients’ sakes that they were finally getting better care.

He left there that day feeling better than when he had left his aunt.

 

 

                                                ~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

 

Johnny peeled the ice pack off his forehead and groaned as he looked in the mirror, dreading the embarrassing explanation he would have to make to everyone at work about the huge black and blue contusion right in the middle of his forehead. He tried, but was unable to arrange his hair to camouflage it. Oh well, he guessed he would have to face the music sooner or later. He grabbed his keys and ran to his car, not wanting to be late.

He was sitting on the bench tying his shoes when Roy walked in, and Johnny immediately bent his head low so that Roy couldn’t see.

“Hey, Johnny.” Roy opened his locker and hung up his jacket.

“Hi, Roy.”

“How were your days off?”

“Oh, they were okay.” He finished tying his shoes and stood up to grab his badge and pin from his locker, carefully keeping his face turned away. “How about yourself?”

“Ah fine. I spent all day Wednesday trying to fix the stupid pool.”

“What’s wrong with it?” Johnny asked.

“The question is, what isn’t wrong with it?” Roy sighed. “It’s got a big crack in it; the heater’s broken, and the deck around it is falling in. I swear, those above ground pools are more trouble than the in-the-ground ones. Oh well, at least we got one more summer out of it. I think I’m gonna have to dismantle it in the spring and get rid of it. It’s too much trouble.”

Johnny kept his face averted from Roy. “That’s too bad. Why didn’t you call me? Maybe I could have helped you with it.”

“I did. You weren’t home.”

“Oh.”

“Where were ya?”

“Oh, I was, uh, – ”

“With Heather,” Roy finished.

“Well, part of the time.”

“Oh. What’d you do?”

“Well, ah, yesterday I uh….went golfing.” Johnny glanced over at Roy briefly to see his reaction.

“Golfing?” Roy looked up at Johnny in surprise, and though Johnny turned his head back quickly, Roy was unable to miss the black and blue lump on his forehead. He stood up abruptly, trying to see Johnny’s forehead. “What the hell did you do to yourself?”

“Ah, nothin’, Roy.”

“Nothin’?” He reached out and grabbed John’s chin, pulling it toward him so he could get a look at his partner. “Let me see it.” He managed to push Johnny’s hair away enough to see his injured forehead before Johnny jerked out of his grasp. “That doesn’t look like nothing to me. What happened? Did you get that golfing?” His voice rose up one notch.

Johnny rolled his eyes then closed them, knowing the embarrassing truth was about to come out. Sighing, he turned to Roy. He opened his mouth to explain, then stopped, first looking around the dorm to make sure no one was listening. “It’s kind of embarrassing,” he said through tight lips.

“Why am I not surprised? Can you just tell me what happened?”

Gage sighed again. “Well, it’s like this. See, I’m not a very good golfer,” he chuckled nervously and went on. “You see, I-I-I was teeing off and there was this very large tree nearby, and ah, I took the hardest swing I could, see, because the green was like five hundred yards away, and I… sliced the ball, and ah….”

Roy closed his eyes, picturing it, then cringing when Johnny explained how the ball ricocheted off the tree and flew back at him, hitting him square in the face. Roy couldn’t help it, he broke out laughing, and the more he envisioned the scene, the harder he started laughing.

Johnny got indignant at his laughter. “Oh yeah, just laugh it up. Well, it wasn’t funny, Roy. I mean, I coulda blinded myself, you know. I mean, the ball missed my eye by about two inches.” Then in a lower voice, he added, “Not to mention the fact that I made a complete fool of myself.”

Roy tried to calm down. Still chuckling, his laughter began to die, realizing that Johnny was right, that it could have been very serious. Actually, it might be a serious injury anyway, and with that thought, he became more somber. “Well, c’mere; let me see it.”

“It’s fine,” Johnny grumbled.

“Look, I’m sorry I laughed. Did you have a doctor look at it?”

“No. I put some ice on it. It’s fine.”

“Sit down. I wanna see it.” And he pushed Johnny down onto the bench. Gage knew he wasn’t going to win this battle, so he gave in and let his partner examine his head. He squinted in pain as Roy palpated the tender area, then folded his arms defensively as Roy began to give him a neuro test.

“Follow my finger,” Roy ordered.

“Oh, for cryin’ out loud, Roy! I don’t have a concussion.”

“Humor me.”

Gage sighed, and followed Roy’s orders to answer questions and follow his finger. He even put up with the flashlight in his eyes when Roy went to check his pupil responses.

At that point, Chet and Marco walked in, and just as Roy said, “Looks normal,” Chet looked at Marco, smirked, and said, “Roy, you better go back to paramedic school, ‘cause he ain’t never gonna be normal.

“Chet, why don’t you go out and play on the freeway.” Johnny retorted, at which point the other two got a good look at his forehead and then the questions came, and John was forced to reveal the embarrassing truth again to his co-workers. Then, when the Cap saw him, he had to do it again, and was the brunt of everyone’s jokes for the rest of the day, not to mention the fact that he was made to endure a looking over by none other than his most un-favorite doctor, Mike Morton, per orders from his captain.

 

 

                                                ~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

 

Two shifts later, the men of 51 were back at the station, ready for another day. It turned out to be a busy one; the squad had eight runs by dinnertime, and the engine crew had four, but the last one had been a huge and messy fire at an oil refinery, and all the men had returned tired, sweaty, and covered with grease. After taking turns in the shower, they ate a late dinner, and now at nearly nine-thirty, the evening was winding down and John and Chet were doing the dishes together.

“Hey Gage, I just remembered, poker game’s at 7:30 at Dwyer’s Thursday.” Chet was loading glasses into the dishwasher.

Johnny stopped in the middle of scraping a plate and groaned inwardly. Ah, shit, I forgot. He turned toward his friend. “Ah, Chet, I’m sorry, but I’m not gonna be able to make it this time.”

Chet’s mouth dropped open. “What do you mean you can’t make it? We’re counting on you to make it.”

“I’m sorry, but I’ve already made other plans.”

“Johnny, you know we always play poker the third Thursday of every month.” Chet’s voice rose a bit, calling attention to his dismay.

“Not always. We didn’t play last month.”

“That’s because Dwyer got sick.”

“Well, I’m sorry; I just forgot. You’ll have to find somebody else to play. Why don’t you try….Bellingham…or, or Brice, or somebody.”

Chet snorted. “Brice. Yeah right. By the time he gets done going over the rules, the night will be over. Gage, we need you in the game. Everything’s gonna be all screwed up if you don’t show.”

“Well, I’m sorry, but I can’t break my plans.”

“What plans? With Heather, I suppose?” Chet’s tired voice had taken on an edge of animosity.

“Yeah,” he answered rather defensively.

“Figures,” Chet muttered, turning away angrily from Johnny, then turning back. “What’s so important that you have to do with Heather that you have to break our game? I mean, you see her every waking moment that you’re not here. Can’t you take a night off?”

“No, I can’t. We’ve been invited somewhere and I can’t change it.”

“Where?” Chet demanded.

Johnny hesitated, feeling uncomfortable.

“What, does she want you to go with her to get her toenails painted or something?”

“Funny, Chet.”

“Well, what, then?”

“We’re….we’re going to a wine tasting. It’s…it’s being given by one of her father’s clients. I can’t back out of it.”

This piece of information caused the other men in the dayroom to look up, while trying their best to stifle their bemused expressions.

“A wine tasting!” Chet was incredulous. “You’re gonna miss our poker game to go to a – a – a wine tasting? What do you know about wine anyway, Gage?”

“Well,” Johnny’s voice raised a notch to match not only Chet’s tone but also his irritation, “not a lot, yet. But I’m learning. You know, you might try something different once in a while, Kelly, something to broaden your horizons a little – that what I’m trying to do.”

“Is that what you’re trying to do? Sounds to me like you’re just pussywhipped, Johnny.”

“Kelly!” Bellowed the Cap from his seat at the table. “Any more language like that around this fire house and you’ll be cleaning the latrine with a toothbrush for the next three weeks!”

“Yes, sir,” Chet answered meekly.

Johnny turned, his eyes narrowed in anger. “What did you call me?”

“You heard me. Sorry, but I can’t repeat it.” Chet stole a look at the Cap, who looked like he wasn’t going to take much more of this conversation.

“Kelly, you got a lot of nerve – ”

Chet shrugged. “I just call it like I see it. What’s the matter, Gage? Can’t stand to hear the truth?”

“The truth is that you don’t know what you’re talkin’ about.”

“Don’t I?”

Gage just stared at him, his face stony, his arms crossed defensively. John’s mouth opened, ready to speak, but nothing came out.

Chet went on. “You know, all you do anymore is what Heather and her rich daddy tells you to do, and in the meantime, you’re blowin’ all your friends off while the Banks pull you around on your leash.” With that, he put the last plate in the dishwasher, slammed the door shut, and after throwing his towel on the counter, stalked out of the kitchen, leaving Johnny standing there staring with his mouth hanging open. When Johnny looked around the room for the other’s reactions, he noted their eyes quickly averted away from his, pretending to be focused on something else.

Then the tones went off.

 

Part 3