Page 8 of Over and Above (Mount Hope #4)

Chapter Eight

Eric

Midway through my shift, my old bones had yet to warm up from the frigid courtroom where Maren and Diesel had been married. Married. My brain continued to race, anxiety undoubtedly contributing to my chilled feeling. And listening to them talk about the baby and plans for a big wedding hadn’t helped matters. In fact, the one moment I’d felt remotely like myself was when Maren had seemed overwhelmed. Funny how I could easily slide into first responder or dad mode to reassure others, but

I couldn’t seem to calm myself.

Our ambulance crew shared space with the firehouse near the hospital in Mount Hope, which meant seeing my firefighter friends frequently. Usually, I didn’t mind the proximity, but when Sean came strolling into the station’s kitchen where I was nursing a cup of coffee, I inwardly groaned.

Outwardly, though, I managed a bare smile. “Hey.”

“How was the big day?” Sean asked. Thankfully, Maren and Diesel weren’t keeping the courthouse wedding a secret. Not that any secrets were safe for long with our small-town friend group and close-knit first responder community. At least this way, people were actively counting down to the big wedding rather than nursing hurt feelings over being the last to know. She’d posted a brief social media update with a picture Magnus had snapped of her and Diesel, and I’d been expecting Sean to seek me out ever since my phone had dinged with the alert.

“I survived.” I exhaled hard, unable to keep up much of a front with one of my oldest friends. “But I’m not sure how I can make it to January at this point.”

“You will.” Sean clapped me on the back before taking the seat opposite mine. He’d been reluctant to assume the role of fire captain after moving back to Mount Hope, but over the last year, he’d served as acting captain long enough to finally accept the mantle permanently. Now that we were both leaders on our respective shifts, we spent even more time together and shared a deep professional respect as well.

That respect, along with our history, made it easier to voice the doubts that had plagued me for weeks. “How?”

“You’re looking for a procedures manual where there isn’t one.” Sean met my gaze with kind eyes. “Parenting adult kids is a whole new challenge. And trust me, I know how hard it can be, especially when they don’t want to take our advice.”

“I miss when they listened.” I gave a weary chuckle, which Sean matched. His son was Declan, my former roommate, along with Jonas. Declan was older than Maren, but nevertheless, he’d given Sean more than a few white hairs when he’d started dating Jonas.

“Tell me about it.” Sean leaned back in his plastic chair. “But Maren—and you—will make it through this.”

“I’m uncertain she’ll ever fully forgive me for making the suggestion about the adoption option.” I’d confessed that blunder to Sean shortly after it had happened.

“She asked you to be there today.” Sean pointed his index finger at my chest. “You, out of all her friends, were the one she chose to be her witness. Trust.”

“Well, when you put it like that…” I trailed off because maybe things truly were that simple. Maren and I had always been close. While I’d assumed she’d asked simply to match Diesel wanting his dad there, perhaps I needed to give us both more credit. Like Sean said, we’d make it through even these rocky, unchartered waters. “Magnus gave them the gift of a wedding night at a bed and breakfast. It doesn’t help matters any that he’s already the perfect in-law and grandfather-to-be.”

“Sure, it also doesn’t help that he’s under your skin.” Sean delivered this barb with a shockingly casual tone.

“Who said he’s under my skin?”

“Anyone who’s watched you try to avoid The Heist the last few months. I don’t know what’s up there.” He shrugged before giving an impish grin. “With other friends, I’d suggest you bang it out, but your kid isn’t the only one who takes advice badly.”

“The last thing this situation needs is Magnus and me banging.” I offered him a harsh stare, but Sean’s smile didn’t so much as dip. “We’re about to be co-grandparents. In-laws.”

“But you don’t deny wanting to bang.” Sean held up a finger like he’d scored some sort of point. “Which is progress, Eric. Truly. And if not Magnus, then someone. You’re too young to be alone the rest of your life.”

“And old enough to know better than to attempt dating—or banging—as a single dad of four.” Even before Montgomery, I’d never been the hookup or one-night stand type. Even assuming my libido would cooperate, my sealed-off heart and the reality of my life made this discussion pointless. “No one wants that baggage.”

Ever the loyal friend, Sean opened his mouth to protest, but the loud blaring of the alarm speakers with an incoming call ended our conversation.

Good. Welcoming the distraction, I rallied my crew. Tate headed to the driver’s seat as Percy and I climbed into the ambulance while we all listened to the report from dispatch.

“House fire. Homeowner is at work, but a neighbor discovered it. Neighbor’s kid called it in and reports injuries to her father. Kid is Shelby. She was rather hysterical, so not sure of the exact nature of the father’s injuries. Something about trying to save dogs.”

“Roger that,” I said to dispatch before turning to Tate. “Let’s roll.”

“Fuck me running.” Percy groaned as the address flashed on the ambulance’s GPS screen. “That’s my new neighborhood. My block even, but I’m two or three houses down. That would make the neighbor likely the art teacher at the high school. Stu something.”

“Good. You can help calm Shelby and Stu both.” I had confidence in Percy’s ability to compartmentalize any worries about his own house. He was a few years older than me, a recent transfer to our department, and a needed addition with his prior military and civilian EMT experience. “Do you know the homeowner?”

“Not well. But he owns The Heist.”

“Fuck.” I let the curse out before I could collect myself. “Sorry.”

“That’s right.” Percy nodded slowly as Tate made a sympathetic noise. “Your kids are friends.”

“Well, according to Maren’s social media, they’re a bit more than friends.” Tate gave a tight chuckle.

“Let’s focus on assessing the neighbor for injuries.” I adopted a more businesslike tone. “Not the first time we’ve known someone on a call.”

“Gotta love life in a small town.” Percy nodded, jaw resolute as we pulled up at the scene along with the engine. Smoke billowed from the small house, with flames leaping along the roof line. The firefighters would have their work cut out for them, but my focus was on the neighbor’s driveway on the east side of the burning house.

A skinny, young teen in denim shorts stood over a man who was slumped on the ground. The teen had a nasty scrape down one leg.

“Are you Shelby?”

“Yeah.” Shelby pointed at the guy. He was conscious, but he was coughing and seemed a bit disoriented. “This is my dad. Please help him.”

“You did a great job calling this in.” I nodded at Shelby as Tate and Percy crouched near Stu. “I’m Eric. I’m a paramedic, and my team is going to check you and your dad out.”

“The dogs. Gotta get the dogs.” Stu managed a few words before another coughing fit.

“The firefighters are working on that right now.” I hope. I wasn’t one to make promises I couldn’t keep, but I knew Sean and his crew. If it were possible to save a pet, Sean would put his life on the line. And while I was concerned for the fate of Magnus’s dogs, Stu and Shelby needed my full attention. “I need you to stay calm so we can get some vitals.”

Stu’s vitals were steady but consistent with mild shock and smoke inhalation. As Tate and Percy worked to make Hugh more comfortable, I turned back toward Shelby.

“Can I take a look at that scrape?”

“Yeah.” She nodded, so I bent to examine the wound closer while she talked. “I was running to try to get my dad. I opened the side door at Magnus’s house like normal, but there was too much smoke to go in.”

“You did the right thing, not trying to go inside and going for help instead.” I cleaned off the worst of the blood, grass, and dirt. Thankfully, the scrape was less deep than it had appeared at first. “Good news. You won’t need stitches.”

“I don’t care about that.” Shelby waved a grubby hand as her tone approached something closer to a wail. “Magnus hired me to take care of the dogs. And now we can’t find them.”

“I’m sure Magnus will understand that you and your dad did everything you could.” I pitched my voice as soothing as possible, even as my chest clenched. “And the firefighters will try to save the dogs and the house.”

As I finished bandaging Shelby’s leg, Magnus arrived on the scene in a black SUV.

“Where are my dogs?” He walked past the engine toward the house, only to be stopped by Caleb, one of Sean’s crew members.

“You can’t go in there, sir.” Caleb had a firm tone, but he was considerably smaller than Magnus, who looked especially fierce.

“It’s my house.” Magnus’s voice was as strident and anxious as one might expect. What I didn’t expect, however, was how badly I wanted to go to him, especially when he added brokenly, “And my dogs.”

“And we’re doing everything we can to find them. I promise.” Sean strode over next to Caleb.

I turned back to check on Stu, who was doing much better. Probably wouldn’t need transport, but we’d keep an eye on his vitals in any event. Both patients handled, I gave into the urge to check on Magnus, but before I could reach him, the radio crackled and a shout sounded.

“This section of roof is about to go.”

“Fall back,” Sean ordered, rushing toward his retreating crew.

“ No. ” Magnus made an inhuman sound I felt deep in my gut. He sank to his knees, head falling into his hands. “No.”

“Magnus?” I touched his shoulder, not sure what comfort I could offer but determined to try. As I tried to figure out what else to say, two large rottie/pit mixes bound toward Magnus. Their fur was damp, and I could smell them even before they reached us, but they were very much alive. A relieved chuckle escaped my throat. “These your dogs?”

“Oh my God, where were you guys?” Magnus collected both into a bear hug on the ground, joyously accepting face licks and tail wags. “And you smell like trash. But I’m so happy to see you.”

Tears ran down his face as he rocked back and forth with the dogs.

“Trust me, the whole crew will be happy to see those dogs.” My throat was tight with the sort of emotion I seldom let myself feel on a call.

“Eric?” Magnus blinked at me, eyes bleary. “That’s right. You were on duty tonight. Listen, we can’t tell the kids about the fire. Not yet. I don’t want to ruin their wedding night.”

“I get that impulse.” I nodded slowly, weighing Maren’s and Diesel’s ire against summoning them. “They’ll likely be mad neither of us called, but there’s not much they could do to help.”

“Exactly. Tomorrow will be soon enough.” Magnus continued hugging on the dogs as Sean returned to his side.

“Do you have somewhere you and the dogs can go for the night?” Sean asked him. “We’ll be here until the fire is fully extinguished, which will be awhile. Then it’ll be morning before the investigation and the insurance folks show up. They’ll have questions for you, but there’s no need for you to wait here. Likely gonna be a long night.”

“The investigator can save the questions. I know what caused it.” Magnus made a low, frustrated noise that inspired both dogs to bark. “Fucking iron. Must have left it plugged in. I’m an idiot.”

“You are not, and it’s possible there’s another cause.” Sean bent to put a hand on Magnus’s shoulder, and I resisted the urge to remove it and replace his hand with my own. “These older houses have wonky wiring. Trust me, I know.”

“Yeah.” Magnus rested his face against the closer of the dogs. “And I don’t know where to go. Don’t wanna call someone who might tell Diesel or put one of my employees in an awkward position. Hotels are picky about dogs to start with, and they’re even less likely to take two large breed pit mixes who need a bath. But we’ll be okay.”

“You can stay with me.” The offer escaped before I could think the better of it, and Sean and Magnus both reacted with wide eyes and dropped jaws.

“I can’t impose on you like that.” Magnus shook his head, lowering his gaze back to the dogs.

“I’m off after this call. Big empty house. Hose outside or bathtub inside to wash the dogs. And apparently, we’re practically family now.”

“Okay.” Magnus didn’t raise his gaze, and his voice sounded more resigned than anything else, which was understandable. This wasn’t a social call. And it was only one night. One night, and then I’d help Magnus work out a plan for the future, one that put him further away from my growing temptation to comfort him in ways that had little to do with housing.