Page 41 of Fire and Icing (The Firemen of Waterford TN #1)

Dustin

All your dreams can come true

if you have the courage to pursue them.

~ Walt Disney

Patrick’s sitting in one of the recliners at the edge of the dining area, his nose in a book as usual. I’m watching a training video on my laptop. Trying to watch it, anyway.

"Patrick, I think I'm in love with Emberleigh," I say, half hoping he’s so immersed in the story he’s reading that he misses my confession.

I just can’t keep it inside. I love her. I want to run through the station yelling it at the top of my lungs, climb to the top of the training tower and announce it to all of Waterford.

I pick up my soda and take a sip as if it’s no biggie. So, I love Emberleigh. Whatever.

Patrick looks at me over the top of his book and raises an eyebrow. "So soon?"

"Is it too soon? We’re not kids. I’ve lived enough life to know what I want. I’ve never met anyone like Emberleigh. And I’ve never felt this way before. It’s consuming. Life-changing. Does love follow some sort of timeline?"

I’m not being sarcastic. I honestly don’t know how love finds its way into a life or a heart. All I know is I can’t stop thinking about Emberleigh. I smile whenever a thought of her crosses my mind. I want to spend every free minute with her. And I’d do anything for her. Anything.

“I wouldn’t say love follows a timeline, exactly,” Patrick says. “Usually people know one another a while before they start talking about love.”

“I’m not talking about it with her! Not yet.”

Patrick chuckles. He puts a marker in his book and sets it aside.

“I’m not saying you can’t be in love this soon,” he clarifies. “You two have spent a lot of time together. Kind of like a crash course.”

“Best crash course I’ve ever taken,” I say. “Ten out of ten recommend.”

“So, does this crash course come with … extra credit?” Patrick wags his eyebrows playfully.

“I don’t kiss and tell,” I say.

“Sorry to break it to you, but you just did!” Patrick smiles.

“Man. That’s not fair. You tricked me into confessing.”

“So, you kissed. Did you kiss her?”

“That’s pretty much how kissing works.”

“I’m not that rusty,” he smiles over at me. “I know how kissing works. I’m just asking who initiated it.”

“It was a mutual kiss. The first time.”

“The first time …” Patrick smiles. “Okay, then. This is good. So, what's the problem?"

I sigh. I may as well lay everything out to him. I need to talk to someone. "I got an offer to go to Nashville. It’s nothing big right now. Just a demo recording.”

“A demo. Like you go into a studio and record a song for a label?”

“Yeah. That’s what this guy, Gavin, said.

He was at my gig two weekends ago. He gave me his card.

I put it on my nightstand. I’ve been picking it up and flipping it around before I fall asleep, considering my options.

Of course I wasn’t going to call the guy late at night.

But yesterday I tucked it in my wallet. While I was out running errands, I pulled over and gave him a call.

He and I had a little off-the-record conversation to feel out my goals and to determine whether I’d be a fit for what they’re looking for. ”

“Man. That’s huge.”

“I know. He asked if I was under management.”

“Are you?”

I look at Patrick. “I never thought this would actually happen, so no. I guess I had this one wild hope I’d move near Nashville and catch a break.

After all, I do sing country. I know my voice is decent.

But I came here to be a fireman. Do some gigs on the side.

Not to have an industry rep give me his card. ”

“What are you going to do?”

“I think I’m taking a trip to Nashville. It can’t hurt to record this demo. It’s three songs. One of them is my original—the one I wrote for Emberleigh. The other one a songwriter for the label wrote. And then there’s a cover.”

“So this is actually happening?” Patrick’s voice is pure excitement.

“The demo is. I don’t know what’s next. Will this lead to an actual music career? Who knows.”

Patrick whistles softly. "This sounds like it could be big. Have you told Emberleigh?"

"Not yet. It’s all happening so quickly.” I pause. “Besides, I'm afraid it'll push her away.”

Patrick’s lips thin. “Yeah. You’re wise to consider how this will land with her.”

“Maybe I should just let this pass me by.”

“Will you be able to let it go?” Patrick asks. “If you don’t pursue this, will you look back wondering what could have happened?”

“Maybe,” I admit.

“You sure you’re not using Emberleigh as a reason to stay safe? Pursuing our dreams always feels like a freefall. Having someone who resists for us takes the heat off us.”

I don’t even know. Am I afraid? Sure. Recording my own songs with a label is something I couldn’t have ever dreamed of having the chance of doing. I want to pursue this opportunity.

We’re both silent for a few beats. Then Patrick says, "You won't know until you try, man. But don't let fear make decisions for you. If you have a dream of singing, you’ve got to follow that dream. Otherwise, you’ll end up resentful at a certain red-headed baker."

“I can’t imagine ever being resentful at her.”

“I hear that. Also, setting aside a life-long dream for another person isn’t something you should do lightly.

I think you need to talk to her about it at the very least. You just gave up a big chunk of your life to go support her dreams. I’m pretty sure that kind of thing is a two-way street in a healthy relationship. ”

“You’re right. I’ll talk to her. I need to. She has to be a part of the conversation.”

I’m home the next morning after my shift ends, but Emberleigh’s at the bakery.

Now that I’ve decided I want to go to Nashville, I definitely have to share the opportunity with her.

I’m hoping all my nerves are unwarranted.

Maybe she’ll just be happy for me. I know abandonment is a trigger for her.

This isn’t me leaving her. I need to help her see that.

I’d never give up Emberleigh for a career.

But maybe, just maybe, there’s a way to have both. I have to believe there is.

I help Mrs. Holt grab some things down from the attic and then I sit out on the porch and call my mom. Neighbors walk by with their dogs, a few pedal down the street on bikes. There’s a breeze through the trees today. I sway on the porch swing and think about home.

“Dustin?”

“Hey, Mom.”

“Well, this is a pleasant surprise.”

“What do you mean? I just called you this weekend.”

“I know. I’m not keeping score.” She pauses. “Hold on for a minute. I’ve got to put a hash mark on your talley on the whiteboard in my kitchen.”

“Mom!”

“You’re ahead of Stevens this week, so that’s good. My students at the high school call that a streak.”

I chuckle. “Mom.”

“Yes, son. What’s got you calling me mid-morning? Oh. It’s afternoon in your part of the world, isn’t it?”

“I’m only two hours later than you. I don’t live in Europe.”

“You might as well.”

I give her a moment to pout. It appears all I’m doing is disappointing the women in my life by leaving them.

“I’ve got an opportunity I want to tell you about,” I say.

“Oh! Is it with the fire department? They saw how amazing you are and they just had to promote you even while you’re the rookie?”

I smile. It’s pretty obvious where my confidence came from. My mom has an inflated sense of my value.

“It’s not at the station.”

I fill Mom in on the gig and how Gavin approached me and offered for me to record a demo.

“Well, that’s amazing, Dustin.”

“I know. It’s really something. I’m torn, though.”

“Because you don’t know if you can be a firefighter and a country music star?”

“I highly doubt I’m going to be a star.”

“I bet that’s what Taylor Swift said too, back in the day when she sang country.”

“I highly doubt that’s what Taylor Swift said. I think she aimed for what she got.”

“Well, you sing better than she does, so watch out, Nashville!”

I smile again. “Mom. Let’s take this one thing at a time. I definitely want to pursue this opportunity, at least to see how far it can go. The thing is … Emberleigh.”

“I just love that girl.”

“Me too.”

I can’t honestly believe I just admitted my feelings for Emberleigh out loud to my mom.

She squeals. “Oh, Dustin! This is the best news ever. What a W! So, what does Emberleigh have to do with you going to Nashville?”

“She’s sort of like you, come to think of it.”

“That’s simply wonderful. In what way?”

“Her world is this town.”

“Now, Dustin, are you dissin’ me?”

“Not at all. I just realized you two are similar. You found your place in the world and you don’t intend to leave it.”

“Why should I? All my friends are here on Marbella. All my children used to be here until you got your wild hair and moved to Tennessee. I love the ocean. Our life is good. You don’t mess with perfection.”

“Emberleigh feels the same about Waterford as you do about Marbella. And I don’t blame her. She’s spent her whole life here. It’s her home. And now, I’ve got to talk to her about this opportunity.”

“Well of course you do. A good relationship is built on open communication. Sometimes you fight or disagree, but you always come back to one another because that’s what matters most. Your dad and I had to decide where to live when you were just a toddler.

He was spending more time on the mainland for his therapy practice.

He suggested we find a house in Ventura so we could lessen his commute.

I wasn’t having it. I grew up on Marbella.

He did too. I had no intention of raising my children anywhere else.

We came to a compromise. It’s not ideal.

Your dad takes the ferry to work three or four days a week and he works remotely the other days of the week.

We’ve been able to keep our home and our life here. We worked it out. You will too.”

“Thanks, Mom. I needed that assurance.”

“Love, huh? You fell in love. I can’t believe it.”

I knew she wasn’t letting that go.