Disclaimer: All the usual ones apply, of course. Many thanks for allowing me to write once again about my favorite guys.
Sometimes It’s the Little Things
By: Vanessa
Sgroi |
Joanne DeSoto answered
the telephone on the third ring and was surprised to hear her husband at the
other end of the line. It was just 9:30
in the morning.
“Joanne, you have to
come down to the Station.”
“What? Why?
Honey, I have things to do today.”
“I know. But, you gotta help us. We’re desperate.”
“Desperate?”
“Yeah. See, it’s . . . it’s Johnny.”
“Oh, no, he’s not
hurt is he?”
“No. No, nothing like that. He’s
. . . um . . . depressed . . . because he doesn’t have a date for
Valentine’s Day tomorrow. And . . . and
. . . he’s driving the rest of us crazy.
You know, because he’s so grouchy and all.”
“Roy, I feel bad for
you and the other guys, but what in the world can I possibly do?”
“Well, I was hoping
you could bring him some of your Cherry Cheesecake Brownies. Those are his favorite, and I thought they
might cheer him up some.”
After mentally
revising her list of chores for the day, Joanne answered.
“All right, I can do
that. I could be there around 1:30
p.m. Will you gentlemen survive that long?” She couldn’t keep the smile from her voice.
“Yeah, yeah. I think we’ll survive. Thanks, Jo.
Love ya.”
Roy placed the
handset back in its cradle and turned to his partner with a wide smile on his
face.
“We’re all set. She’ll be here at 1:30 p.m. With luck, so will we.”
Johnny grinned and
clapped his hands together, excitement lighting his face.
“Great! I’ll tell the guys so we can get everything
ready.”
♥
♥ ♥ ♥
It was a little
after 1:30 p.m. when Joanne, with the life-saving brownies firmly in hand,
approached and knocked on the back door of Station 51. Her knock was promptly answered by Captain
Stanley.
“Hi, Hank. I understand things are a little rough
around this place today. I brought the
requested comfort food, and I made enough for everyone.”
The captain thanked
her and invited her inside, all the while smiling softly.
Joanne crossed the
threshold and stopped in her tracks at the sight that greeted her. The kitchen table was covered with a snow
white cloth and sparkling crystal as well as delicate china graced two place
settings. Fresh daisies and candles
completed the ensemble. The sight was
so incongruous with the usual utilitarian air of the station that Joanne felt
her mouth drop open a bit.
Her husband spoke
from his position behind one of the chairs.
“Jo, come and sit
down.”
“Roy, what in the
world?”
The dark-haired
woman stared at her husband and then glanced at the other members of A-shift
before moving forward and sinking into the chair Roy held for her. On the plate before her lay a box of
gold-wrapped chocolates from an exclusive candy shop in the city.
“Roy?”
“Happy Valentine’s
Day, Honey.”
“But . . .”
“I wanted to do
something totally surprising for you.
You’ve been so down since your friend, Kathy’s, death. Johnny sorta came up with the general idea,
and they all pitched in to help me pull this off.”
Joanne felt her eyes
fill with tears at the thoughtfulness of not only her husband, but his shift
mates as well.
“Captain Stanley
provided the crystal and china. Johnny
was in charge of the flowers, the candles, and the box of chocolates. Chet brought some music. Mike cooked us a wonderful lunch, and Marco
brought dessert.”
“Oh, you guys are
just something else, do you know that?”
Joanne jumped out of her chair and hugged each of the men, bringing a
blush to all their cheeks.
Roy cleared his
throat before continuing.
“And I . . . I was
in charge of the gift.” Her husband
handed her a small jewelry box.
Joanne opened the
small box and gasped in delight. Inside
lay a delicate gold chain with a small charm shaped like a fire truck. Encircling the truck was a silver
heart. Nearly overwhelmed now, Joanne
wrapped her arms around her husband.
“Gentlemen, I
suggest this is where we make our exit.”
Hank’s baritone voice drifted across the room.
Chet started the
music while Marco lit the candles. That
accomplished, they followed the captain out of the room. Mike and Johnny quickly served the couple
their lunch before making themselves scarce as well.
“I hope you liked
the surprise, Jo.”
Joanne reached out
and took her husband’s hand in hers.
“You are a wonderful man, Roy DeSoto.
And a terrific husband.”
Joanne turned her attention
to her plate and enjoyed every bite of the superb meal put together by Mike
Stoker. Boy, that man can cook! I
really need to get more of his recipes.
She was pleased to see that her husband had enjoyed the food as well.
Though their luck
held long enough for them to eat, the klaxons sounded just after the two of
them finished dessert. She watched as
her husband raced for the squad. The
pounding of feet, slamming of doors, and the rattle of the apparatus bay door
ascending echoed throughout the station for a few short minutes before it once
again fell quiet.
Joanne rose from the
table and began to clean up the mess from lunch. She thought of the men who had gone out of their way to make such
a special day for her and smiled. Who needs jewels, mansions, and riches? Sometimes it’s the little things in life
that are the most fantastic things of all.
♥♥♥ The End ♥♥♥
Many thanks
to Audrey W. for beta read and the much needed support. Thanks, too, for issuing the challenge in
the first place. vbg
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