The Firefighter Daddy

Liam smiled at her mother next to him. Sarah had visions of her launching into her interrogation before he had a chance to escape. Sarah started to say something, but he stood.

“Girls, it’s time to go. We still have to make something to take to the meeting.” Liam turned to Sarah’s mother and grandmother. “It was nice to meet you both. I’m glad Gabe is back home.” Liam corralled his nieces toward the hallway so fast Sarah’s mom could only blink.

Katie paused, signaled her uncle to bend down. She cupped her hand near his ear and whispered, loud enough that everyone heard, “I’m not glad. I’m gonna miss him.”

“Shh, Katie. He isn’t our dog.” Liam was the last to disappear from view.

But Sarah heard Madison say, “We shouldn’t have made those posters.”

Sarah’s mother laughed. “He has his hands full with those two. I’ve heard some stories from Betty about her grandnieces. So that’s Gareth’s older brother. Betty has brought them to church, but I haven’t seen much of him.”

Here come all the questions. “Liam is a firefighter and has a crazy schedule.”

“Ah, yes.” Her mom tapped the heel of her hand against her forehead. “I remember Betty telling me that.”

“I’m going to my room,” her grandmother muttered as she shuffled toward the hallway.

Sarah’s mom waited a minute after Nana left, then said, “I had to take her back to the shop and make sure there was enough food for Sammy on the stoop. She was worried he would get hungry.”

“That cat has to weigh twenty pounds.”

“And Mama put most of those pounds on him.” Her mother crossed to the fridge and poured herself some iced tea then retook her chair, peering at Sarah.

She sat across from her mom. Dark circles she insisted were from allergies highlighted the weariness in her mother’s eyes. This was why she’d come home. She needed to remember that rather than get frustrated at her mother’s attempts to play matchmaker. That first week back in Buffalo she wouldn’t have stayed if she’d felt her mom hadn’t really needed her. Not only had her health suffered, the salon had, too.

She sipped her tea. “It’s a shame he can’t join his nieces at church more. Gareth was there every Sunday.”

“I think Liam feels a little overwhelmed with everything that has happened, being a single dad, new job and town.”

“That’s why he needs a woman.” Her mom eyed Sarah. “Someone like you who is organized and a hard worker. Loves children.”

Sarah held up her palm. “Stop right there, Mom. You’ll get grandchildren when I find the right man, with no help from you.”

“I’m not going to say another word about Liam McGregory today,” her mother said. “I know it hasn’t been easy coming back to Buffalo, but I appreciate your assistance.”

Today was the only word Sarah really heard. What about tomorrow or the next day?

“Hon, I’m gonna need you to fill in for me on a committee I’ve been on the past five years. I don’t think I would be very creative and helpful with all that has been happening with Mama these days.” Her mother pushed to her feet. “In fact, let’s order pizza. Right after dinner I’m going to head to bed.”

“Nana had a bad day.” Thankfully Sarah hadn’t seen in the past eleven weeks she’d been home too many of that type of day. “Did she give you any problems at the shoe store?”

Her mother put her glass in the sink then turned, her mouth twisted into a frown. “Other than insisting on buying a pair of heels for work? No.”

“I remember when I was a kid she always wore heels to the salon.”

“But in the past few years she’s worn tennis shoes. She’d break her neck if she worked in heels. Can you fill in for me on the committee? It meets at noon at a restaurant downtown. For April and May once a week, or until everything is taken care of. The fund-raiser is June 4.”

“I’ll get the dates from you and make sure I don’t have any clients scheduled at that time.”

“We’ll figure something out. The next meeting is this Tuesday.”

“What’s it for?”

“It’s for the day camp at our church. It gives needy children in the area who can’t afford the cost a chance to go. The fund-raiser kicks off the camp, which the kids can attend for June and July. Money is tight. For many working parents it’s a lifesaver.” Her mother headed for her room. “Will you order the pizza, please? I need to get off my feet.”

Sarah watched her leave, not surprised her mother was on a committee planning for a fund-raiser for children. Sarah was an only child, not because her mother hadn’t wanted more children, but because she couldn’t have them. She knew the kind of longing her mom felt because she did, too. She loved children and would love to be a mother.

* * *

Running fifteen minutes late for his second meeting with the Single Dads’ Club, jokingly referred to by some of the men as the Lone Wolves, Liam had to stop at a restaurant to purchase shredded barbecued beef on the way to Colt’s ranch. They had stayed longer at Sarah’s than he’d realized. There had been no time to cook. He remembered one of the firefighters at his station, Brandon Moore, had requested his homemade macaroni and cheese after Liam had served it for lunch last week. He’d intended to do that.

“We’re late,” Madison said from the backseat. “I hate to be late.”

“So do I. See, we have that in common.” Using the rearview mirror, he glanced at her and, as usual, she gave him a frown.

He sighed and kept his attention focused on the road leading out of Buffalo. When he’d first come to take care of them, Madison wouldn’t even talk to him. At least now she did, although sometimes he wished she didn’t, especially when she would point out that he wasn’t her dad. He’d tried not to let those words hurt him, but they did.

“I like to be on time, too,” Katie said right behind him.

“We have that in common, then.” In the mirror he smiled at the six-year-old, who was missing one of her front teeth.

Why couldn’t Madison be more like Katie? Earlier, when she hadn’t wanted to give Gabe back to Sarah, had been one of the first times she had been difficult. The sisters argued all the time, but Katie hadn’t argued with him. In fact, when he’d arrived to be their guardian, she’d latched onto him and had hardly left his side for the first month.

The main gate to the Remington Ranch came into view. Another car disappeared through it. Good, he wasn’t the only one running late. As he turned into the ranch, a truck drove up behind him.

“It looks like others are late, too.” He followed the Jeep in front of him, the road winding in an S with tall pecan trees on each side lining their path.

As they emerged from the green canopy, a large white house appeared, a veranda running the length of the front.

Madison whistled. “This is a big house.”

“We’re having a picnic out back, and then the kids can ride horses.”

The sounds of cheers and claps filled the car.

“I guess you all want to ride?”

“Yes,” they both said together.

Liam parked next to a white SUV and grabbed the food.

The girls hopped out before he had a chance to open his door and raced toward a group of kids. The last time they’d discovered several friends from school, so he’d hardly seen them the whole evening.

At a slower pace, he walked toward the food table.

Brandon came up behind him. “Macaroni and cheese?”

Liam set his dish with the others. “Nope. Didn’t have time. The owner of the dog we found the other day showed up for him.”