Page 11 of Better Together

Zeke pulled out his phone, his fingers flying over the keyboard. “I told Luke I won’t be available until the beginning of the year.”

“With what I’m making on these two remodels, I’ll be able to pay you well.”

“I’m not worried about the money.”

He’d known Alexis long enough to know she was worried. He hoped she’d let others help. She wasn’t alone; she had his entire family and town cheering her on.

CHAPTER SIX

The next morning, Alexis carried two pans of marshmallow crispy treats to the fire station and set her bars on the table with the other snacks, then went to join the revitalization committee near the bay doors. A line of lawn chairs, set up parade style, faced the fire engines instead of the road.

Emma had come up with the brilliant idea to sell calendars to raise money for Santa Days, an annual event hosted by the Reids, who owned the Deer Creek Lodge. Proceeds from Santa Days went toward funding the local shelter and buying gifts for children in need. A local photographer had her equipment set up, waiting to photograph the firefighters.

Alexis joined Maggie and Emma. “When does the show start?”

“Any minute now.” Emma rubbed her mitten-clad hands together.

“Do you think it’s bad we’re ogling them for our own personal pleasure?” Maggie asked.

“Dearest Maggie.” Emma placed a hand on her arm. “If you grew up in the sixties, you’d know women have earned the right to ogle men. Besides, it’s for charity.” Emma grinned. “Remind me to tell you about the Women’s Liberation Movement, the day we marched down Wall Street, and what we called the First National Ogle-In.”

“Sounds intriguing, I love your stories.”

Maggie handed her a program of sorts. “They’ll be photographed in order. January through December. Chloe printed these up so we would know who to expect and when.”

Glad to have her friend back in town, Alexis skimmed the sheet and noticed Zeke would be photographed for June and Mitch for July. She swallowed the lump in her throat.

Emma nudged her. “I heard you have a date tomorrow with Mitch. Here I thought you only had eyes for Zeke.”

“How did you know?”

Elsie wandered over. “Know what, dear?”

Alexis looked over the heads of the matchmaking twins to Maggie for help. “How did you know I had a date with Mitch?”

“Oh, that.” Elsie tsked and waved her hand in dismissal.

Paige hurried through the open firehouse bay doors. “Did I miss anything?”

Alexis turned her attention to Paige, hoping Elsie and Emma wouldn’t continue their line of questioning. “Nope. They haven’t started.”

A large crowd had formed, and more chairs were placed on the grass. Hopefully there wouldn’t be a fire call.

“I told the men if they walked past us, we’d make sure they earned money up front,” Emma said.

With that declaration, some of the women fanned themselves.

Lily Chen and Chloe Reid appeared from behind one of the red engines with smiles on their faces. Alexis hadn’t noticed a speaker and microphone until Chloe started the dance music and Lily’s voice rang out over the sound system. Alexis covered her mouth to hide her laughter.

“Okay, everyone. First up, we have Mr. January.”

The crowd went nuts, waving their arms and moving their hips to the music. Even Mr. January swayed his hips to the beat, having fun.

Wearing full turnout gear, the fifteen-year veteran of the fire department held a Pulaski over his shoulder in front of a green screen. The photographer posed him several ways and then sent him to strut in front of the ladies so they could place money in his overturned helmet.

Paige nudged Alexis. “The runway walk idea . . . so hot.”

The fire department wouldn’t need to produce a calendar to reach their fundraising goal if the amount of money collected by the first firefighter carried on across the rest of the year’s participants.