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The call ended, and a moment later, a text came in for him.
For your eyes only. Your nephew live-streamed from the scene of the fire. You’re about to be famous again. So freaking hot! I mean you, not the fire.
His head jerked up and he scanned his surroundings. There he was, the little punk. His fourteen-year-old nephew stood off to one side, his iPhone held up to catch all the drama. At least he wasn’t doing stupid graffiti dares like he had been recently.
“Bobby!” he called. ”What the hell are you doing?”
Bobby snatched his phone against his chest, but lifted his chin defiantly. “I’m reporting the news.”
Jason strode over to him and planted his fists on his hips. “You’re fourteen.”
They locked gazes. Jason’s older sister had been tearing her hair out over Bobby and his rambunctious nature, but Jason remembered all too well what it felt like to be a bored teenage boy.
“Is there anything you want to say to the audience?” Bobby waved the phone at him. “You’re on live.”
“Yes.” He leaned toward the phone’s camera, and squeezed Bobby’s shoulder as he did so. “If you live anywhere near Lake Bittersweet and want to help, contact me at the firehouse, or send a message to my nephew Bobby here. We can use your help.”
Jason knew he’d never forget the way his nephew’s face lit up. That’s what it’s all about, inspiring the kids, he thought as he hurried back toward the others. The next step was to figure out how to transport everyone to their night’s lodgings. Logistical nightmare, coming up. His brain was already working on that problem when it took a sharp left turn. Why not kids of his own?
Why not? Seriously? What had stopped him all these years when Gretchen kept bringing it up?
The time hadn’t been right. He hadn’t felt solid enough in either their relationship, or in himself.
But now…everything felt different. He was a fire chief. He’d survived his first crisis. And then there was Kendra.
Twenty
This was Lake Bittersweet at its very best—everyone pulling together in a crisis—and Kendra loved every second. After she’d offered to take the logistics off Alicia’s hands, she somehow ended up being the point person for all aspects of Operation Respected Elders, as she insisted on calling it.
After all, her father wasn’t much younger than some of the seniors who’d just gone through the trauma of a fire.
Phase one was a repeat of her long-ago days as a chambermaid at the Blue Drake. She and Gina and Carly did a speed-clean of each empty cabin, sweeping out the dust, making up beds, turning up the heat. Luckily, with the season nearly over, only two cabins were booked. The rest could go to the seniors.
“Oh my god, these dusters are just as awkward as I remember,” she told the others as they wiped down the Venetian blinds in the Wood Duck Cabin. “I always swore I’d never do this job again, and now look at me.”
“It’s not a job,” Carly pointed out cheerfully, “since you’re not getting paid this time.” Baby Teddy snuggled happily in a sling on her chest. He didn’t seem to mind the cleanup, though Carly covered his face every time there was dust involved.
“Oooh, good point. I’m a volunteer fuckup now.”
“You are not now and never have been a fuckup.” Gina dumped a full dustpan into the garbage bag they were carrying from one cabin to the next. “Besides, I bet I know why you signed us up for this.”
“I’m not the only one who volunteered.”
“Right, but you’re the only one that Jason Mosedale has on speed dial.” Gina made a sassy face at her. “Don’t even try the fake innocent face. I know you too well, especially after all the shit we pulled that summer.”
“What shit? I was always the good one,” Kendra said virtuously. “I even saved up bail money for you guys just in case it was ever needed.”
They all burst into laughter, then moved into the bedroom to quickly make up the beds. “So how is everything in Rebound City?” Gina asked as she plumped the pillows.
“The traffic is crazy.” Kendra tried to keep a straight face, but couldn’t when Carly snorted out loud.
“Now that’s what I like to hear. Not the details,” Carly added quickly, “since Jason’s kind of like a brother to Thomas, and therefore to me.”
Kendra’s phone buzzed. “It’s Jason, hang on.”
“We got this, you go do your thing.” Gina waved her away. “For which you should be getting credit for as town manager, by the way. Still trying not to be bitter about that.”
Kendra tuned them out so she could listen to Jason. Her friends didn’t know the full story of the town manager job. What would they think if they knew her ex had cost her the job? She hadn’t told them because it would require explaining about Dominic, which she still hadn’t done. He’d called her three times since that first conversation, but she hadn’t answered the phone.
