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I turned to look Lance in the face. As much as I knew he was right, I also wanted to wipe the smug little smirk off his face.
“What of it? I’m not into her. I don’t need to talk to her. You talk to her if you think someone should talk to her.”
“Whoa. Chill,” Lance said, the smirk leaving his face.
It was replaced with a deep frown.
“I don’t like fundraising season,” I said simply. “That’s all.” I was vaguely aware that I sounded unreasonable, and I searched for the words to make Lance understand. “I hate all the prep that goes into it. Why do you think I’m either on vacation this time of year or in the firehouse that day? It’s not my jam. And I don’t like that I’m going to have to put up with the prep in my own home now.”
“Oh…” Lance pursed his lips. “Well, you could always talk to her, you know. That’s usually the best way to work through these kinds of things. She can’t read your mind, so she’s never going to know that’s why you’re mad unless you actually tell her.”
“What, have you been going to therapy all of a sudden?” I raised an eyebrow.
This was very out of character for Lance. While therapy was the norm for firefighters who had been working in the field for a certain number of years, I only checked in with a therapist once a year. I found that working on the ranch helped me remember that there were always better things out there than the carnage that could come from a fire. Even my therapist had said that as long as I didn’t start showing signs of anxiety or depression, a check-in once a year and the ranch would be a perfect way to combat the stress of firefighting.
“Yeah,” Lance admitted. “It’s hard to remember the tricks she teaches me, but I at least remember that one. Part of my anger issues. I need to remember to vocalize before I explode, or the explosion’s only going to be much worse.”
I nodded slowly.
“I just don’t like to talk about my personal life at work. It makes me uncomfortable when they mix together,” I said simply.
Lance nodded slowly.
With that, Lance left me alone and walked off to talk to another of the vendors. I remained in my little corner, sipping water and making small talk with the firefighters who came to talk to me. At least most of the firefighters were more concerned with how I was feeling than with why I was in the corner. Most even bought the idea that I was struggling with feeling a little under the weather and didn’t want to get the vendors sick. A few did suggest I talk to the chief to find someone to work with for the fundraising, but I simply nodded. I didn’t want to deal with that today.
I’d talk to him next time I was on duty to see if I could be part of the firefighting crew that day instead of working one of the stalls with a vendor. I didn’t need to be part of the fundraising aside from helping set up the posters. I hoped.
I glanced in the direction of where Jade and Maria had set up. They were now talking to the fire chief, but neither seemed to notice that I was playing quiet in the corner. I hoped they wouldn’t.
Until George, one of the men from my crew, walked over to me.
“I thought I saw you!” George smiled at me softly. “The chief wants to see you. He’s over there talking to Jade Santana – the bead lady.”
“Bead lady, huh?” I raised an eyebrow. “And why has she gained that title?”
Of course, I already knew. Jade obviously worked with beads—which was therefore why she was so mad I’d tried to be helpful by putting her ‘beading table’ in the pantry. But I didn’t want to let on that I knew Jade on a personal level.
“Have you seen what she makes with beads? She’s got talent,” George said. “Anyway, chief wants to see you. Don’t know why. Didn’t ask. I think it may have something to do with the fact that this is the first year you’re here for the fundraising and not on vacation.”
I nodded slowly as a pit opened in my stomach. Of course, that would be why he wanted to talk to me. But why around Jade’s set-up?
I walked over, very much not excited to see what it was all about.
Chapter twelve
Twelve: Jade
I shifted my weight nervously between my feet as we waited for Jesse to come over. Why the fire chief felt that it would be a good idea to have Jesse help us out, I didn’t know. If any firefighter was going to help us out, I’d rather it be someone who was excited to see what we were selling, and not my landlord. Especially since that landlord had already decided to hate me.
Eventually, Jesse joined us.
“Ah, good.” The fire chief smiled. “Jesse, as our most senior firefighter here, you’re not on the advertising crew.”
“May I ask what I will be doing, then?” Jesse’s voice came out icy.
I didn’t blame him. This wasn’t exactly how I had expected all of this to come out, either, but here it was.
“You’ll be helping our newest volunteers figure out their booth,” the fire chief continued. “I realize that you usually go on vacation this time of year, and I don’t entirely blame you. Fundraising is difficult business. However, since you haven’t taken it this year, I think this is where you’ll be most helpful. Miss Santana here has already said that you know her, and I think that’ll make the work easier.”
