“Yes. Thank you again for even considering it. I look forward to meeting you.”
Well, hell on a cracker. This was the last thing I considered when I drove down here. I need to ensure they understand that Dad is my only priority. Him and the tree farm. But if I can respond from here, as well as giving an opportunity to look good to Fire Chief Morton…
I’m in.
Chapter 7
Quinn
Pulling up to station 803, I place my car in park, unlock my seatbelt, and grip my steering wheel with both hands. Lord, please let this go well.
Grabbing my briefcase and a bag of takeout I picked up on my way here, I head for the door. I’ve known Layton Michaels for some time. He’s not only a devoted firefighter who’s currently the Lieutenant of this department, but he’s a pillar of the Magnolia Point community. Heck, beyond all of that, he’s simply a good guy. Let’s hope all of that works in my favor as I pitch what I have planned.
As I walk through the station door, I see Layton and John sitting in the great room. “Hey, guys. I hope you’re hungry. I brought lunch,” I announce, waving the takeout bag from Riverside Café.
“Quinn! Good to see ya. You didn’t have to—” Layton stops in his tracks.Did I overshoot with this?“Are those meatball subs in there?”
“Yes,” I answer tentatively.
“Well, now I know I’m in trouble. Whatever you have in mind must be big if you had to bring those to butter me up.”
Damn, he’s on to me.Ignoring his statement, I push on. “I wasn’t sure how many of you were working today. There are five of them in here.”
Layton opens the bag and practically starts to drool. His girlfriend Daphne had shared Layton’s love of the sandwich over cocktails at the Diddled Fiddle not long ago. Apparently, he goes to the Riverside Café each Tuesday when they’re on special.
“Yeah, it’s just me and John manning the engine today. But Monty and Frank are in the ambulance, headed to the ER with a patient. Want to talk in the office?”
“Sure.”
“John, help yourself to a sub, old man. I have some business with Quinn. Radio Monty and Frank that lunch is here when they get back.” He takes two steps in my direction before coming to an abrupt halt. “Quinn, have you eaten? Is one of these for you?” he asks with an expression that screamsplease say no.
I chuckle, patting his arm in reassurance. “No. I already ate.”
Layton beams. “John, leave that last sub for the new guy. He should be here in a few.”
“Got it, boss.”
Layton extends a hand toward the office, and we both head inside. Once seated, I pull out my notebook and take a calming breath as he unwraps his meatball sub. I bite my lower lip to keep from laughing. This burly firefighter looks practically giddy.
“So, as I mentioned on the phone, I’ve been hired to boost tourism in Magnolia Point. I have a few ideas about how to bring more people to the area in the winter months, but this will require the entire community coming together to make it happen.”
Layton appears to be listening, nodding between bites, tomato sauce dotting the corners of his mouth.
“I’ve also been tasked to try and find a way to boost the reputation of the Magnolia Point fire department.”
This gets his attention, as he freezes with his sandwich halfway to his mouth. “Come again?”
“Layton, it can’t be lost on you that donations are down since… well… since the incidents that don’t bear repeating.” The corners of his mouth curl downward, but he doesn’t correct me. “What’s more, my father states that recruitment is, for lack of a better word, bad.”
He stops eating entirely and wipes his face and hands on a napkin. “I’m working on it. It’s been a particularly tough time for us lately. First, Mary hung up her boots to focus on starting a family. Then, before we could replace her, Pete had to go out on extended medical leave for his back.”
Lowering my tone so he knows I’m not the enemy, I add, “I get it, Layton. No one’s blaming you. I swear. I’m only here to help.”
“Hell, Quinn. With so many tech and online jobs now, staffing for fire stations is down across the country. But I admit, having some positive exposure certainly couldn’t hurt.”
“Good. So, I have plans to do some community outreach events that will benefit both your station as well as the local animal shelter. I’m organizing a large event for December 5th, for Bathtub Party Day.”
Layton nearly chokes on his last bite. In a rush, I fly around the desk to pat him aggressively on the back. “What the fuck, Quinn?”
