THE REPLY - PART 2

 

After a few more rounds of both appetizers and beers, Michael soon found that both his dad and his future-father-in-law could become very talkative. The jokes were getting just a bit raunchy when the three senior men noticed what appeared to be a very quiet but emotional scene at a table across the room. A woman who looked to be crying slowly took her ring off her finger and handed it to the man seated next to her. He had obviously been in an accident just recently, his arm in a sling and scratches that were in the process of healing on his face. She got up and left. The man was soon joined by a couple of men who had just entered. Roy toyed with the plate in front of him. Michael was surprised to see a tear roll down his cheek. Johnny slapped his friend across the back as Mike cleared his throat.

 

"Do you guys know him?" Michael asked, wondering why this seemed to be upsetting Roy so. "He's Peterson, over at 127's," Roy answered. "He was hurt in the warehouse fire a few weeks ago. Nothing real serious but they weren't sure at first. They've been married almost five years. She must have decided this last one was just too close."

 

Roy's eyes were haunted as if reliving some past nightmare. Johnny looked at Michael. "After all's said and done, it's a hard life our spouses choose." Mike nodded agreement, clapping Roy on the shoulder in silent support.

 

Roy shook his head as if to shake away the memories He glanced at Michael and gave a wry smile. "It's funny. This is the second time this week that I've been reminded of my divorce."

 

Michael stared at Roy as if he'd grown a second head. "Huh? What? Who? When?" Michael went back over everything he knew and had heard of this man trying to remember if he'd ever heard of another wife.

 

His dad answered for Roy. "He and Jo had a real bad time when you and Chris were in fourth grade. You do remember that camper we had then?"

 

Michael nodded. "You said a friend was living in it until he could find an apartment." He turned and questioned Roy. "You were the friend?"

 

Michael thought back to that time. He seemed to remember a time when his folks were doing a lot of whispering. That was when Chris and Jen were visiting even more than usual, mostly without their dad, and the kids were always kept outside to play, the moms staying inside, which he did remember as being odd.

 

Roy began quietly, "Now is the best time for us to tell you what you need to know to be married to a firefighter's spouse. They have to be the strong ones, keep the house going, wait for the calls. You have to learn to balance, to listen, and above all else, be honest and sometimes even show a little weakness. Or you can end up like Peterson over there or like me." Roy looked over at Peterson's table, noting that the newcomers' were going to give him a ride home. Looking back at Michael, he started again. "That year, both Joanne's folks got sick. Her dad got pneumonia while in the hospital and died. Just one month later, her mother had a heart attack and passed away. I took a week off when Jim died but only missed one shift when Bea died. I thought that was enough time and Jo agreed. But then while she was in San Diego a few weeks later, cleaning up things from their deaths, I got caught in a collapse. Nothing major, just a knock in the head, earned a one night stay at Rampart. Normally nothing, but I didn't want to add to Jo's worrying so I didn't bother calling her."

 

Johnny took over as Roy grabbed another beer, sipping slowly. "So of course, that night Jo calls the station to speak to Roy, and of course, yours truly answers the phone. I tried to cover for him, ya know, can't come to the phone, he's in the shower, but Jo's good, man. She caught my lie right away. I tried telling her it wasn't serious but now she was mad. I mean spitting nails mad! I'd never known my friend Joanne to lose it before but wow! She said words I didn't even think she knew the meaning of. Anyhow, she dropped the kids with some friends there and flew back here the next morning." With a bit of a grin at the memory, Johnny continued. "I was told that 'if I knew what was good for me, I'd be at the airport to pick her up.' She made my mom look like an amateur with the scolding I got for lying. I don't think I got more than two words in during the whole ride."

 

Roy chuckled, starting to ease up, time making the whole episode easier than living it had been. "In the meantime, Cap had come to the hospital to warn me about my sweet wife. She showed up as Kel Brackett was giving me the final once-over. She asked if I was okay and then kicked Kel out of the room. I've never seen Kel speechless before unless Dixie was in the room. Then Jo told me to find a place to stay because no one close to her was going to die again. She left and when I got to the house, she already had a suitcase packed and sitting on the porch waiting for me, all my uniforms wrapped in plastic. I'd never seen her this mad before. She blocked the doors so I couldn't get in with my key and before the day was over had all the locks changed. I think she got the fastest divorce ever granted in the state of California. For six months, she didn't say one word to me. I'd pick the kids up from your place, Michael, and she'd close the door as soon as I dropped the kids off. Your folks let me use the camper and Chief McConnikee found a campground where they let me stay at for a cheap rate."

 

Mike took over as the next round of drinks hit the table. Johnny waved him off as he reached for his wallet and paid while Mike continued. "Your mom and Emily Stanley kept telling us she was still in love with Roy. And the thing was, she'd talk to all the rest of the shift. We'd come over and fix things at the house or mow the lawn and she'd come out asking how the shift had gone or talk to Johnny about his runs. She'd never mention Roy but her questions always seemed to beg for info on how he was doing."

 

Johnny laughed. "Remember her face when Chet told her about the nurse at Rampart who was trying to hit on Roy. We knew then that we had to get them back together."

 

Roy blushed at the memory. Mike smiled. "We tried everything. We planned picnics and dinners, tried accidental meetings, everything. Or so we thought." Johnny and Mike looked at Roy expectantly.

 

"Well, I'd hate to think you planned what happened next," Roy quipped. He sighed, his fingers tracing the wet circles his beer mug made on the table. "That was the night of the Allen Chemical fire. There were five cleaning people missing when we showed up, first on the scene. The building's sprinkler system was being renovated and wasn't working. Johnny found three people by the door. They told us the other two were just down the hall. I went after them. Marco and Chet came with me. We found a pregnant lady in the kitchenette near the end of the hall. Marco and Chet took her out in the stokes and I went to check the last room. I guess the fire got hold of some chemicals, cause the next thing I remember was looking at Dixie." Roy shifted in his seat, the memories affecting him even after all this time. "I was in bad shape, they were prepping me for surgery. I guess I'd known Dixie for way too long because even though she tried to hide it, I knew they didn't think I'd make it. I told Dix to let Joanne know I'd never stopped loving her. Dixie almost broke down then but she promised she'd let her know."

 

Roy stopped, choking back some tears. The guys sat quietly for a moment, the only sounds the muted conversations across the room, the clatter and clink of dishes being put away for the dinner hour.

 

Johnny coughed and added, "I think Joanne must have broken every traffic rule in the book that day. She made it to the hospital in ten minutes flat. An ambulance driver told me later about some crazy lady who had passed them on the roadway. When Joanne came in, she was white and shaky. I caught her just before she fell. All she could do was ask, Am I too late?"

 

Roy appeared to inspect the far wall of the bar as he reminisced. "I asked Dix again just before she left me at the surgery door to tell Jo I hoped she would visit me. Next thing I remember was waking up to Joanne yelling at me." Johnny and Mike straightened up, turning surprised looks at Roy. This they hadn't heard before. "She was chewing me out for all manners of things, spreading myself too thin with activities, being gone for 24 hours at a time, telling Johnny my problems and not going to her with them. I listened but as groggy as I was, the only thing that really stood out to me was that 1. she was there and 2. she told me as soon as I was up out of that bed, we were going to get remarried because obviously God meant for her to take care of such a crazy fool."

 

The waitress came over and interrupted, checking to see if the guys wanted any more appetizers. After a quick look at the empty beer mugs at their table, Mike and Johnny ordered a few more. A glance at each other let each know that someone was driving Roy home tonight.

 

Mike looked at Michael. "Don't you remember Joanne's proposing to Roy?" Michael shook his head. "You were there."

 

Michael frowned trying to remember. Roy laughed. "Mike, I think he and most of the other kids were playing in the jungle gym." Roy turned to Michael, "See, after that first day, Joanne never mentioned getting remarried again. I mean, she was there. She visited me every minute she could, she brought me everything I needed, talked to me, everything."

 

Johnny interrupted with a grin, "Everything?" Roy reached over and pushed Johnny's shoulder, nearly shoving him off the chair. "Watch it, Junior!" he growled.

 

Johnny and Mike roared, both of them remembering a few close encounters that had finally convinced the station crew they better knock before entering Roy's room. Roy waved a hand at them as if they were two infantile schoolboys. "Anyway, as I was saying, it was almost as if the last six months had never occurred. I was going to ask her to go with me to the JP, just do the small ceremony with your folks and Johnny. I just was afraid she'd say no, and then where would I be?" Johnny and Mike kept on grinning. The memory of that day had been a happy one for everyone.

 

Mike winked at Johnny and looked at his son. "Roy got out of the hospital around 11. He was frustrated because Dr. Brackett had left and no one could find his release papers. Dixie was off and Joe Early wasn't scheduled until later. No one else had the guts to release one of Dr. Brackett's patients. Finally, the missing papers were found. Johnny and I picked him up and took him home."

 

Johnny leaned back in his chair. "We told Roy it was close enough to noon, let's stop at McDonald's."

 

Roy shook his head. "All I could think was, get me home and these two twits want to stop for fast food. And at one where the parking lot was full!"

 

The waitress came back with the appetizers and, quickly cleared most of the empties away, leaving the men with their conversation.

 

"So what happened next?" Michael asked. He remembered a big get-together but all he knew was that he and his friends were able to have a big party at McDonalds. Johnny looked at Roy, who waved a hand at him, telling him to go ahead.

 

Johnny grinned, "Outta the blue, Joanne comes over, and drops on one knee, in front of Roy. Everyone from the fire department came out of the back making sure Roy can't run. Then, she holds up a ring in one hand and a drink cup in the other. And asked him to marry her." Roy stared into space, smiling at the scene. He shook his head. "I thought she was real gutsy, giving me the drink cup. Then I found out it was full of confetti. So I threw the confetti in the air, grabbed her up and kissed her." He looked at Michael. "So the last proposal pretty much went better than the first."

 

*****

 

After making calls to wives and fiancée, the guys decided to stay for dinner. Michael listened with half an ear, realizing just how different it was going to be being married. As they all finished up with dinner, Mike noticed his son seemed a little lost. "What Michael? You trying to think of how to back out of the engagement?"

 

Michael replied, mainly looking at Roy. "No, not that, but I thought you and Mrs. D were the happily married couple who never even thought of breaking up. Now, I'm nervous. What if Jennifer decides she doesn't like being a firefighter's wife?"

 

"First," Roy said, "she's already talked to her mom about this. Second, she pretty much knows what it entails anyway. But we can give you some advice, if you want it."

 

Mike grinned and looked at his son. "First, talk to her. You have a great partner at work, but remember you also have a partner at home."

 

Roy smiled "Now the hard part of that. Don't tell her too much. She needs to know if you had a bad run. She doesn't really need to know how you just missed being Barbeque Bob. If you find you just can't discuss something right away, let her know you need time first. As a nurse, Jen may have to do the same with you. You'll both have to understand and be there when the other is ready."

 

Johnny jumped in. "And no matter what, listen. Listen hard. I found that out when Raelene came home, she would tell me things about her day that should have given me clues as to how bad it really was. I didn't know this until six months after our wedding. I thought everything was great until all of a sudden she's shaking and yelling at me. Found out she'd be trying to make me understand that she needed to be held and comforted. She'd almost shot a man and was shook up but thought she had to be strong. Luckily her partner called me just after she stomped off to her room. I learned quick to listen to her words, her tone, and even her silence."

 

"Remember to call her." Roy's next suggestion. "Any time there is a big call near your station, and sometimes in the county, call her. No matter how often she says she doesn't worry, she does. If you can't get to a phone, have someone call for you."

 

"Yeah, she'll believe you if you don't ever lie about an injury." Johnny backed Roy up. "I thought I'd keep Rae from worrying when I got a cracked rib. Not only did I pay for that lie then, Roy or Dix had to back up my claims for 2 years until she finally would believe me."

 

Roy smiled remembering Rae's face whenever Johnny'd try and tell her his injuries. She'd just shake her head at him and then turn around and ask Roy or Dix for their appraisal.

 

"Make time for the two of you," Mike added. "After a while, you'll bring your partner home, like someone else I know did."

 

He tossed his head at the former partners at his table. Johnny splayed his hand across his chest, with a righteous look. "That's okay. She needs to trust in Janelle also. But remember you live with your shift enough. Your wife wants you to herself and her family also."

 

"And when kids come, let the grandmas and grandpas take them occasionally. Mike's a great babysitter and you two will still need time for each other." Roy added with a wink.

 

"Grandpa Roy is the best with dirty diapers and you'll both need time with other adults too. But remember to keep your own interests going also." Mike threw a napkin at Roy. "Joanne once told us that Roy's pottery keeps him sane. Must not be doing much of it lately, huh, Roy?"

 

Roy snorted at Mike's humor. He sat back and looked at Michael. "Still think you want to marry my daughter?"

 

Michael looked at the men sitting around the table. Knowing that he and Jen came from a 'family' of happily married firemen made him feel very confident that they would survive all that came at them, he looked at his fiancée's father and ginned. "Absolutely, sir!"