“Site measurements,” she explains, holding up her clipboard like they’re the police and we were caught in the middle of committing a crime. “I was asking about this place. It’s really cool. I’ve never been in this kind of fire station before.”
“We used to call it the ‘House,’” Scotty says.
“Home sweet home,” James adds.
“Makes a certain kind of sense since you’ll be baking sweets. How did you come up with Crush Cakes?” She glances at me, likely recalling when I wouldn’t share one with her.
James chuckles. “So one night, Austin here was trying to impress a girl?—”
“We’re not doing this,” I interrupt.
As if giving a fire oxygen, Austin launches into the story with unbound enthusiasm. “She loved cupcakes. I thought, how hard can it be to bake? Spoiler alert: not easy. After looking up an intimidating recipe, I opted to buy a box mix. Following the directions, I whipped ‘em up, put them on a paper plate covered in tin foil?—”
“And sat on them,” James finishes.
Making jazz hands, Reese says, “And Crush Cakes were born.”
“I didn’t know that part.” Hayes clutches his stomach, laughing.
“I had a bench seat in my truck and they slid over when I stopped to get gas,” Austin says defensively.
Vincenza’s hand flies to her mouth with laughter as her eyes crinkle and her shoulders shake.
“But here’s the thing,” Scotty continues. “They were still good. Better, even.”
James says, “The compression made them denser, richer. Like life literally crushed them and they came out stronger.”
I add, “Which was like what Cap always said.”
We all go quiet because the man looms larger than life, even in death.
“What was that?” Vincenza asks.
Clearing my throat, I say, “Cap always said that whether you get knocked down at work or in life, always get back up.”
“Rise up,” Austin adds.
James follows, “Stand tall.”
“Repeat,” Scotty adds.
The mood and morale rise and stand at attention.
Then, with a flourish, Reese says, “When life crushes you, make cake.”
“That is profound,” Vincenza says. “And the cake part is hilarious. Did you get the girl, Austin?”
He glances at his feet. “Nope.”
James says, “But a new dessert at the house got played on repeat.”
Hayes adds, “Definitely worth it.”
They all grin at Vincenza like she’s passed a probie test. As if she’s one of us now. She smiles back, then asks questions about recipes and renovation styles.
That first day I saw her at the beginning of the summer before I left on assignment, this is exactly what I was afraid of.
Her fitting in.
