Hers for a While Read Online Free PDF Page B

this? He had said she was rough around the edges, but Alice didn’t expect anything like this. Most of all, it was the first time it hit her that she was in love with a firefighter, a man with a dangerous job. Could she handle it? She loved him. That conquered everything.
    “I think it’s a brave choice, a calling that he felt he needed to do.” She had to stand up for him. It was sad that his own mother was doing this in front of her.
    Janet stared at her for a second. “I think you’re right. It is his calling. I just want you to be aware of what you might be getting into with him. He’s more than jut a handsome face. Jack Turner comes with baggage.”
    “Like everyone else on the planet,” Alice replied, suddenly feeling confident in taking her on.
    “You don’t have to stand up for me, Alice. She’s always been this way. She gets over it.”
    Janet shook her head and leaned back in her chair. “I’m proud of you, Jack. I really am. But since we’re doing a little meet and greet here, I figured why put on the rose-colored glasses? Alice, you’ve got moxie for coming in here and standing up for my boy. I respect that. I wish you two the very best in whatever your future holds. I’m just a bitter old widow. I’m usually not entirely like this.”
    Again, Alice was speechless. It was definitely a situation she had never experienced. Janet did love her son, Alice could see it in her eyes, but she was a woman who had been through a lot. She couldn’t blame her – the mere thought of losing Jack made her panic. This woman had actually lived through losing the love of her life.
     
    ***
     
    “You gonna be quiet all night?” Jack asked, pulling her in beside him on the couch. Alice figured he’d be in a bad mood after everything with his mother, but it didn’t seem to mess with him.
    “Just thinking about some stuff.”
    “Like?”
    Alice took a deep breath. Did she want to let him in on everything she was feeling? Would it frustrate him to tell him she was having an inner freak out moment about his chosen career? She couldn’t worry about that. People died everyday. There were firefighters who lived to be old men. Why not him?
    “Would you say that was a success with your mom today?”
    Jack pursed his lips. “Yeah, I think so. She said she respected you. That’s more than she’s ever said about anyone else. You really put the brass knuckles on when she was laying into us. That’s pretty incredible.”
    “You think so?” Alice was shocked at his response.
    “Hard to believe?”
    “Just usually, guys get pissy when women stand up to their mothers. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. She really is still angry at the fact that you’re a firefighter?”
    Jack smiled and hugged her tighter. “You should’ve seen her the day I told her I was going to the fire academy. You’d think I had just told her I had killed someone. But just like with everything else, she got over it. She’s just a worrier. I’d love for my kid to go on and do what I do, but I’d worry too. It’s because she cares.”
    “How did… you know…” Alice cut herself off. They had never talked about how his dad had died, she just always assumed during a fire. Now she wasn’t sure if it was appropriate to bring up, but it fell out of her mouth without even trying.
    “How did he die?”
    “Yeah, I mean, if you want to say. I know it can be tough to talk about.”
    Jack crinkled his brow and shook his head. “Nah, it’s fine, Alice. I can’t believe I’ve never told you. There was a chemical fire at a factory. He went in to save a victim. He was on search and rescue at the time. Got them out, but just as he was about to step out onto the ladder, the floor collapsed. I was at school. I remember them pulling me out early and telling me. I’ll never forget that day. Still feels like it just happened.”
    “I’m so sorry, Jack.”
    “Don’t be. He died saving a life and doing what he loved. I use that as