Small Town Love by M.M. Shapiro

Author:M.M. Shapiro [Shapiro, M.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JMS Books LLC
Published: 2019-03-21T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5

Aneko was back in Washington, and Gabrielle already missed her. Aneko fell deeper into place with the new job and had little time to chat with Gabrielle, but Gabrielle knew that and wasn’t disappointed, too much. The following week, Aneko was working twelve hours per day and again had little time to talk with Gabrielle, but she apologized profusely and sent a dozen roses and a dozen carnations to her at work, which she loved.

The next weeks, Gabrielle was busy with the insurance company, the contractor, and running the portable saw mill to make planks and two-by-fours for shelving to save money. She worked all day and put extra time in sawing wood until bedtime with outdoor lights to get the extra work done. It was sad that since Aneko had more time, Gabrielle didn’t, and it was her turn to say sorry.

The weeks wore on, and sometimes Aneko had time to talk to Gabrielle and sometimes she didn’t. As much as Gabrielle prepared herself for the absence of Aneko, it bothered her.

At work her boss, the owner asked her, “Is everything okay? You seem down a bit.”

They talked for a while, and Gabrielle confessed her missing Aneko and Ray. Ray was gone a while, but she missed him. She didn’t tell anyone except Aneko about the money and truck Ray left her. Pretty much everyone around knew she inherited the property. That’s the way it is in a small town.

Her boss was a cool dude and listened well. After she wound down, he said, “Time really does heal all wounds and makes it better. Stay involved in life, okay? Don’t give up and keep changing mental channels. I didn’t know Ray, but I heard he was a great guy. Just down-right honest and moral and friendly. He deserved to have a friend like you to care for him at the end. He would have hated being in a care home.”

Gabrielle gave him a hug. “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.” Then Gabrielle’s fire department pager went off. It reported a fire at a home. Matt waved his hand. “Go. We’ll hold the fort down while you go play with your fire buddies.”

As she rushed out, she said, “Thanks, Matt. You’re a gem. If you were a lesbian, I’d marry you.”

She ran to her truck and drove off with four-way lights flashing and the blue light on her dash. Luckily, everyone moved out of the way for her. She was close to the fire department and met other volunteers there, everyone putting on fire gear. They loaded into a rig that Gabrielle pulled out and she drove off. George, a volunteer, turned on the lights and siren. As they approached the traffic light at Eleventh Street, a citizen was in the middle of the intersection holding up side traffic, waving the fire rig through. Aneko later told Gabrielle no such thing would happen in California.

They got to the fire, the first rig there. As the team they were, Gabrielle and another firefighter ran to an older man and woman standing in front.

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