Free Let It Burn by Dee Ellis

September. Sara is starting a mentoring program. I want you to start it; talk to the kids, show them the fire house. If any of them show interest, you might let them shadow you a little. Sound good?” That’s how Pop was; direct and to the point, no bullshit.
    “Sure Pop. What about the fire house? My shifts there?” Pop had never been my house captain because I had wanted to earn my own way.
    “I talked to Byrne; he thinks it’s a great opportunity for the kids. Also for you. Thinks you might be a good leader. Teacher. I think so too.” Again, just like Pop; he said these things like he knew they were true but he hadn’t thought to let me in on it.
    By now I believed Pop was proud of me, he just wasn’t the best at showing it. That he had asked me to lead a mentoring class spoke volumes. I hoped I didn’t fuck it up or ruin some kid’s future. I knew it was important to Sara and if Pop asked me, I didn’t want to let either of them down. I had worked on my lecture and what I might show them at the station all week.
    “Do we know what the new tenant wants, Regan? Matter of fact, tell me why Pop suddenly foots the bill for furnishing the place?” I knew the answer, it was because Sara asked Mom and that was reason enough.
    “Pop said she’s from the Midwest. Good kid, bad story; he wanted to help. I have no clue what she wants but I figure if she hates it I can change it. Also, I’m footing the bill, not Pop.” Regan had her short, thick hair tucked behind her ears as she ran a hand along the back of a couch at her shop.
    After picking up paint, which Regan had to approve, in a slate gray color and the two huge blue and gray throw rugs, we had stopped here. Tegan had met us and the two of them were sitting in and matching pieces of furniture.
    While I waited we talked about the tenant because something felt off for me. Not in a bad way. I didn’t believe my pop, who was an excellent judge of character, would meet someone and not pick up on something wrong. Everyone trusted his judgment.
    Which was why him renting the cottage, which we all knew was important to him, and then offering to paint and furnish the place had me curious.
    “Sara adores her, Mom said,” Tegan nodded at a mirror and Regan smiled in agreement, “guess before the girl even set foot in town, Sara had her running the library and moving into the cottage. Ooh, Regan, I love this couch. Yes?”
    As they cooed over a soft velour couch in deep blue, I laughed. Sara had just as good a judgment as Pop did. Back when Regan first brought Parker home, she had been sold right away. In fact, since she was so close to my mother, the two of them liking Parker certainly helped his case with Pop. Deacon thought highly of the women in his life, so he knew they had been right about Parker.
    That Sara liked this librarian enough to con my pop into us furnishing and slaving away at the cottage made me wonder what was so special about her. Obviously I’d find out soon enough. I’d likely deal with her a little at the library for the mentoring, and she’d no doubt be around the cottage while we were getting it ready.
    “Huh, I wonder what her story is?” I said to no one in particular.
    My annoyance had left somewhere between the girls picking a couch and Regan insisting on a massive king bed, because it was so lovely. Even though I knew I would be the one setting up the bed, I just smiled and agreed. Best to smile and nod when Regan was on a roll.
    After we left her shop, with the entire damn cottage newly furnished, we headed right straight there. I realized as we got there, I was hoping the new tenant would be there. I found myself wondering if I would sense whatever it was about her that Pop and Sara had. As we were unloading paint and supplies, my phone went off in my hip.
    Unknown Number: Miss you. Been too long, Cage. Frowning, I set the buckets of paint on the steps leading inside.
    Me: S orry. Who’s this ? I felt like an asshole, but I never