 |
АвтоАвтоматизацияАрхитектураАстрономияАудитБиологияБухгалтерияВоенное делоГенетикаГеографияГеологияГосударствоДомДругоеЖурналистика и СМИИзобретательствоИностранные языкиИнформатикаИскусствоИсторияКомпьютерыКулинарияКультураЛексикологияЛитератураЛогикаМаркетингМатематикаМашиностроениеМедицинаМенеджментМеталлы и СваркаМеханикаМузыкаНаселениеОбразованиеОхрана безопасности жизниОхрана ТрудаПедагогикаПолитикаПравоПриборостроениеПрограммированиеПроизводствоПромышленностьПсихологияРадиоРегилияСвязьСоциологияСпортСтандартизацияСтроительствоТехнологииТорговляТуризмФизикаФизиологияФилософияФинансыХимияХозяйствоЦеннообразованиеЧерчениеЭкологияЭконометрикаЭкономикаЭлектроникаЮриспунденкция
KIM BALDWIN. Growing up a tomboy in a house full of brothers, she’d always found it much easier to talk to men than women
|
Читайте также: |
Growing up a tomboy in a house full of brothers, she’d always found it much easier to talk to men than women. She F t right in at the F rehouse and was accepted as one of the guys, but they were mostly superF cial relationships. Apart from the occasional poker game, she rarely socialized and never had anyone over to her house. She was an intensely private person, and her innate shyness had so far kept her from developing the kind of close friendships in Michigan that she’d had in Tennessee.
But there was something different about Erin. It was easy to talk to her—like they’d been friends a long time. Why was that?
Gable hadn’t considered her life lacking. She was comfortable with the status quo. But the thought of having Erin to hang out with… catcha movie, try a new restaurant. Maybe catch a play in Traverse City. Wesure have a lot in common. The prospect sent a ripple of excitement up her spine. And won’t it be great to have someone close by that you canreally be yourself with?
That brought up a whole new question. How will she react to thatbit of news?
Gable had not a clue about Erin’s sexual orientation. Their love lives had not really come up—Erin had only said that she was single.
She’s thirty-nine and she lives alone. She’s either divorced, or widowed,or homely as hell, or…or maybe she’s just like me and hasn’t met theright person yet. What kind of person is the right person for you, Erin?
Her curiosity suddenly shifted into overdrive.
“Erin? What do you look like?” Are you cute? Are you gay?
She wanted to ask, but of course she couldn’t. You’re supposed tobe professional here. You’re acting as a representative of the F redepartment.
“Well, I’m F ve-F ve. A hundred twenty pounds. Red hair.
Strawberry-blond, really. Down to my shoulders. And I wear glasses.
You?”
“I’m F ve-ten,” Gable said. “Short hair, dark brown. And I wore glasses too, until a couple years ago. I had radial keratotomy.”
“Ew. I considered that, but the thought of someone coming at my eyes with a sharp instrument or a laser or something gives me the willies.”
“It wasn’t so bad.” Gable couldn’t help smiling. How do I F nd outwhat your story is, Erin? “Do you have any kids?”
“Nope. Just cats. Earl Grey was number nine.”
• 36 •
FORCE OF NATURE
“ Nine cats?”
“Yeah. My F rst was Mamma Cat.” At Gable’s small chuckle, she said, “Yeah, I know, real original. My mother’s choice. I was six at the time. This cat showed up at our door during a snowstorm and gave birth a few days later.”
“Hence the name. I get it. And after Mamma Cat?”
“There was Whiskers and Buford. Then…let’s see…Cookie and Crumb—they were brother and sister. Then Freeway, and Jake. And Festus—he was a Siamese. Then Earl Grey.”
“That’s a lot of cats.”
“I usually have at least two at a time. Strays just seem to F nd me.
I never actually go out looking for one,” Erin said. “Do you have any pets?”
“Nope,” Gable said. “We had a golden retriever when I was growing up. Her name was Sally. But nothing after that.”
“Oh, that’s a shame. I love having pets to come home to. What about you? Do you have any kids? Are you married?”
“Nope, no kids. Never married. You?” Gable held her breath.
There was a lengthy silence. “I was married once.” Erin’s voice suddenly sounded a bit funny. Strained. “It didn’t last very long. He was a real asshole.”
Gable felt her heart sink. “I’m sorry. That’s a shame.” Of courseshe’s straight. They’re always straight.
The radio at her side blared to life. “McCoy from dispatch.
Respond accident involving two trucks, intersection Lincoln Road and M-42.”
Gable keyed the mike as she got to her feet. “Dispatch from McCoy. Responding.”
“You have to leave, don’t you?” Erin asked.
“’Fraid so. But hang tight. Help should be here soon.”
“I’ll be all right. You go,” Erin urged. “But I want to take you to dinner or something soon. I owe you, big-time.”
“I’d like that. And I’m glad I could help. Take care, Erin.”
Gable jogged to the Jeep and started to back down the driveway, but paused when she heard the approaching rumble of heavy equipment. She pulled off onto the lawn as two cars and a construction crane appeared in the rearview mirror. The lead car contained two of the veterans on her F reF ghting squad—Radley Stokes and Oscar Knapp. She quickly briefed them and asked them to keep an eye out for Erin’s cat.
• 37 •
Поиск по сайту: