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The faces of Bobby's team were lined up like curious kittens; all ears and big eyes as they sat at the kitchen table. Their heads turned simultaneously as Bobby came up the stairs and went into his office.
Bobby pretended not to notice. He opened his laptop and logged in to check and sign off on the reports the B Team had left while he was off shift. He emerged from the office and opened the refrigerator, gazing at its contents without really seeing them. He blinked, then blinked again, before deciding on breakfast. He checked the pantry, nodding in approval before pulling out the wild rice, bacon, eggs, lemon and butter.
The clink of his whisk on the metal bowl was the only sound in the kitchen before Buck gusted a loud, obvious sigh. Which Bobby ignored.
It was Chimney who broke the silence. “C'mon, Cap!” he blurted in a wheedling voice.
“Leave the man alone,” Henrietta scolded. “He's cooking.” She gestured to the counter top; the bacon was already sizzling away in the oven. She turned to look at Bobby and noticed his toes were tapping while he whipped frothy eggs and set the wild rice to boiling.
Hen pushed her purple framed glasses up onto her nose and sharpened her gaze. Bobby hadn't said a word to acknowledge them yet, but his lips curved in a faint smile as he prepared their meal.
“I'm gonna guess it went well,” declared Chimney, getting up and reaching past Bobby for the coffee carafe. “But you do like to play it close to the vest.”
Bobby finally turned to regard his team. “A gentleman,” he intoned solemnly, “does not tell tales out of school.”
Chimney huffed in disappointment,, rolling his eyes. “Aw, it's not like we're gonna tease you within an inch of your life. We just wanna know if it turned out worth all that effort!”
Henrietta nodded agreement. “The taste testing, the reviews. That was pretty significant for a first date.”
Bobby sighed. “Look, guys, it's just that I hadn't asked a lady out in…a good long while. I wanted to make a good impression.” Butter bubbled in the pan.
“Well I'd be willing to guess you were successful,” was Hen's observation. “You're tapping that foot like there's music and you don't have a black eye, so you must've done something right.”
Buck raised both brows. “And you're not slamming shit around the kitchen. Plus you're making omelettes when you know we'd be good with scrambled eggs.”
Chimney poured sugar and salted caramel creamer into his coffee then took a sip. “Still don't trust us yet? I thought we were past that.” He regarded Bobby thoughtfully, jutting out his jaw a little.
“Creature of habit,” Bobby looked up and met their eyes in turn, a little bashful. His tone was apologetic as he continued. “I'm just not used to having a social life, let alone good friends who are interested in knowing about it.”
Bobby spun back to the stove top, flipping four omelettes. He bent to check on the bacon before straightening. “Thank you all for your part in helping me plan the date. It went well.”
The three firefighters gave a brief whoop of celebration and patted Bobby on the shoulder, each in turn, before he served them breakfast. They got to eating the Hollandaise smothered eggs without so much as another word despite the obvious curiosity on their faces.
Bobby was grateful they didn't push for more. He was still processing the other night himself, a highlight reel running in his mind the moment his concentration slipped.
Athena and Hen were close. Thick as thieves. That Hen didn't seem to know already about the date and how it went meant Athena had chosen to keep quiet about seeing him as well. He wouldn't be the one to break confidence.
As they ate, Bobby's blue eyes went distant, a flashback to the evening unspooling for him. She had walked in and stunned everyone who laid eyes on her; him most of all.
It did not escape Bobby's notice that she was pleased with his old fashioned Midwestern manners when he rose, held her chair.
The evening had gone by in a dreamy haze of good food and better company. They had shared bites from each other's plates. They remarked on the view, and they'd talked all evening about whatever subject came to mind. The lulls and silences weren't awkward.
As the evening drew later, Bobby had asked Athena to dance. The piano player had been joined by a drummer and a bass player, atmospheric jazz making it easy for her to say yes. She'd worn a pair of black stiletto heels to make up for the difference in their heights. Her feline grace translated just fine out of uniform. They fell into rhythm almost effortlessly, and swayed together until the restaurant closed. He savored the image of her smile when he had asked, “Can I see you again?”
Athena had simply nodded before thanking him with the lightest brush of her lips on his cheek. Warm. Soft. Then she was taken away, into the night, by the car he'd hired to drive her home.
Bobby came back to himself wondering how he would top that. Somehow, he would have to find a way.
He'd finished his breakfast to find that Hen had topped off his coffee and Chim and Buck were splitting cleanup duty.
As he got up with his mug, Bobby paused at the foot of the table. “I do wanna take a minute to say thank you. To all of you. Without your help the evening might have gone less smoothly. So you have my appreciation.”
Chimney nodded, the hurt look he'd been trying to hide falling away. “Hey. We're a team.”
Bobby clasped Chim's shoulder, and the younger man perked up. “So if it went well, what have you got on tap to top that first date?”
Bobby paled slightly. “That…that's a good question. If she accepts another date, I have to step up my game. Any suggestions?” They really do want to help. It's sweet. It's not gonna hurt. Letting them in is not dangerous.
“Well, if you're gonna be secretive, we'll have to throw stuff at you, see what sticks. You like good food, and she does too. You went to some effort to make sure that was a hell of a meal. How about a cooking class for two?”
Bobby raised a brow, then lowered it. A little too intimate unless it’s in a public venue. He didn't want to risk looking like he was rushing and scare her off. “I like it…” Bobby trailed off.
Chimney cocked his head at the Captain and his eyes lit up with understanding. “You want to court her. Not pressure her. Got it.” He returned to the kitchen, wheels obviously turning.
Bobby retreated into his office, back-burnering Chim's idea as another one came to him. The trick now was getting through the shift and waiting for Athena to finish hers.
The break would have to do. Bobby couldn't wait. The sun was low in the sky. She gets a dinner break too, he reasoned as his fingers dialed her number.
The phone rang once. A second time. Bobby's heart sank; he was going to voicemail.
But halfway through the third ring, she picked up. “Athena Grant.”
Bobby's mind took a second to slip into gear. Athena said, “Hello?” voice sharpening with annoyance at someone playing around or wasting her time.
“Hello Athena, it's Bobby Nash. I wanted to call and thank you for the other night. I had a really nice time and I hope that you did too.”
Athena's voice was like honey poured thick and sweet over sunshine. “I very much did. It's good to hear from you. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“I wanted to ask if you'd like to spend some more time together.”
His heart leapt; the smile was audible in her voice. “I would very much like that. When and where?”
They batted banter back and forth, working out a good time for them both. Bobby's mind did that thing he thought he only ever saw in movies. Flashback to them on the dance floor. Holding hands walking on the beach. Dressed for formals. Touching foreheads by candlelight. Leaning closer…
“How about the planetarium and a picnic?” Bobby blinked away his imagination. It would come easing back again the moment his concentration slipped anyway. He felt like a teenager.
“You know, I've lived here for years and never seen the Observatory. And a picnic?” There was a funny emphasis on the word like she couldn't decide whether she was curious, amused, or confused. “You're a multifaceted man. Consider my curiosity piqued.”
“I promise I'll make it worth your while,” Bobby's sincere tone carried something solemn, something steady. He wasn't just bragging.
“I need to go. Got to grab a bite before going back on shift. I'll see you Saturday afternoon. Looking forward.”
“Me too.”
Bobby was able to compartmentalize his eager anticipation and focus his mind properly on his team and their work. He still had lives to atone for; the 12 step program required it as much as his own personal moral code. The Captain had to be steadfast, not smitten.
The week went by with him trying out new recipes on them along with the meals he was used to preparing for them. Monday's burgers were served on pretzel rolls. Tuesday, a basil pesto salad with a medley of colorful vegetables and heirloom tomatoes was served with kielbasa and new potatoes.
Buck marveled aloud that there were such things as purple carrots.
Wednesday chicken parmesano, sautéed in olive oil with buffalo mozzarella, with fettuccine. “Sorry,” Bobby apologized. “I had to run to Bucatini for the Fettucini. Ran short on time to make the pasta by hand.”
Chim threw his forearm to his forehead. “How ever will we survive?” Hen balled up a napkin and hurled it at him.
Thursday was pork roast and rice with apple puff pastry for dessert.
Friday was mac and cheese night. Bobby had bottles of sparkling white grape juice alongside.
Of course by the end of the week, the team had figured out what Bobby was doing. They oohed and ahhed appreciatively at each meal.
Hen caught Bobby on the steps. He had almost gotten in his truck without the dry cleaning he had picked up earlier in the day. Among the clothing covered in plastic she spotted a T-shirt, a button down and a pair of black Levi's 501s. She gave him a long, pensive look over her mother of pearl glasses, and murmured, “Nice choice. Good luck, Cap.”
“Thanks, Hen,” replied Bobby, calmly. “Way I see it, she's agreed to a second date. I'm already lucky.”
“Philosophical,” mused Hen. “Good way to look at it.”
*****
Saturday morning dawned bright and early. Athena had a small breakfast with May, and ran to the shop for a quick mani-pedi with her before her afternoon date.
“So, spill the tea,” May urged as they selected their enamel colors.
“Don't have any idea what you're talking about,” answered Athena innocently.
“You took me shopping and bought yourself something! You actually tried it on in front of me and asked me what you thought! At first I thought it was you trying to make up for everything since I–” May looked away.
“I do owe you more and better attention,” Athena agreed, stepping around the tender subject of May's overdose earlier in the year. Her daughter was doing better, warming to their bonding activities. “But sometimes I like a little change myself.”
“You…have a date.” May met her mother's eyes, unflinching.
Athena met her daughter's gaze, held it–and was first to blink. May had counted among the pressures on her life that her parents wanted to stay married and play happy family even though Michael had split the marriage in two with his admission.
Athena had resisted the breakup with all her considerable will. Realizing focusing on that instead of the well-being of her children had nearly lost her May had been a wake-up call.
“Yes. A second date,” Athena admitted, feeling amusement bubble up at her daughter's wide-eyed expression of astonished delight. “We're meeting at Griffith Observatory for a picnic before visiting the planetarium.”
“So that's why you were considering Capris, sundresses and dusters. Is he cute?” May gave a sheepish look at the nail technician who frowned when she wiggled with excitement in her seat.
“Sit still or you're gonna smudge!” scolded the nail tech, who settled as May mouthed an apology.
“He's easy on the eyes,” Athena allowed.
“When do we get to meet him?”
“When I'm sure this is more than two friends becoming better acquainted.”
“You already had him background checked,” May fired back. “He wouldn't even have gotten a first date if you found a semicolon out of place!”
This was only partly true. Athena had been working with Captain Nash and his firefighters for a little over a year before he had become “Bobby.”
Henrietta had given him her stamp of approval as a responsible and dedicated man who took his role seriously, and treated his firefighters like family. He had cheerfully invited Athena to join them for dinner at the firehouse, so he wasn't territorial about a cop on his turf.
“Yes, yes.” Athena withdrew her fingers from the quick dryer, paid, and tipped generously. “But he's still not coming within 500 feet of my children until I'm 100% sure.”
A quick check of the GPS showed Saturday traffic was not especially heavy. Still, Athena drove like she was on a mission to drop her daughter off. “This stays between us. Not a word to your father or Harry until I'm ready.”
May exchanged a kiss with her mother and promised to keep the secret until her mother was ready. She waved as Athena drove off.
*****
Bobby had been up since sunrise, packing the willow picnic basket. Those practice runs at the firehouse had not just been taste tests. He had worked out almost to the minute how long each dish would take to prepare.
He had found deli paper in bright blue and white checks. The chicken club sandwiches with pretzel buns, mammoth cheddar, lettuce, tomato and crisp boar bacon were tidily and carefully wrapped, and wrapped a second time in foil. He tied a slim satin ribbon into a bow on top to hold it together.
The pesto salad went into a shallow glass mason jar.
The bottle of sparkling grape juice was wrapped in a linen to cushion and insulate it.
Lastly, the puff pastries, in the shape of roses, were in little origami boxes. He had been up late Thursday practicing to get those right.
Once the meal was prepared and packed by the door, Bobby showered, shaved, combed his dark hair, and dabbed on Glacial Falls cologne the lady at Macy's had suggested.
The black Levi's fit him nicely if he had to say so himself. He wore a clean white tee with a blue button down bowling style shirt that had galaxy patterns in respect to their venue.
“Flowers,” he said to himself as he packed the basket in the back seat of his truck. A brief stop at the florist and he was on his way.
Tires screeched as he hit the brakes hard. “A blanket! How could I forget a blanket!” Bobby threw the truck into gear and swung a U-turn. “Siri, direct me to the nearest World Market.”
Despite the unplanned detour, Bobby pulled up to the Observatory with fifteen minutes to spare. The lawn wasn't crowded; most visitors had chosen the café instead. Bobby had selected the lawn hoping that would be the case.
Athena arrived promptly at 1:00 pm. Both of them were in professions where punctuality and attention to time were important. Truth be told, Athena didn't want to be fashionably late. She wanted to see Bobby again and find out if the spark between them might ignite.
She stepped onto the lawn, her sandals sinking into the mown grass. It was only a moment before she spotted him. Bobby had staked out a spot under a Sycamore tree. A simple light blue blanket was spread out with a picnic basket waiting halfway along the far edge.
Bobby's hand lifted in a wave and Athena made herself mind the length of her stride so she wouldn't burst into a run. The legs of her turquoise butterfly pants fluttered in the breeze. Her tropical print halter showed off her cleavage. The daffodil yellow blouse completed the look, knotted at her navel.
“At the risk of repeating myself, you look beautiful,” Bobby greeted her, smiling politely.
“This old thing?” Athena teased him, letting him hold her hand so she could sit. “You're too kind.” He handed her a bouquet of half a dozen pink, yellow, and white miniature roses, leaving Athena stunned and at a loss for words for the second time since they met.
Bobby opened the basket and Athena was pleasantly surprised to see real china and silverware.
“Hope you brought an appetite. I might have gotten a little carried away,” Bobby said sheepishly, setting places for them on his blanket. “Don't feel like you have to rush, though. The planetarium has several showings we can choose from.”
“I did bring an appetite,” Athena assured him, expression mischievous. She watched as he placed her wrapped sandwich on the plate, set down the Mason jar, and the origami box. “What a charming setting. Where did you order it?”
“Made to order straight from the kitchen of Bobby Nash,” he replied humbly, though he was inwardly delighted at her eyes widening.
He poured her a glass of sparkling grape juice and said a quick grace before gesturing she should dig in.
Athena pulled the ribbon and unwrapped the sandwich taking an appreciative inhale. “Mmm…smells heavenly!”
Bobby had not missed a trick. There were tiny containers of condiments laid out between them. She selected truffle aioli first and took a dainty bite. There was a crunch from the crisp lettuce, the bacon, and the breading on the chicken.
The sound of pleasure Athena made went through Bobby like a thunderbolt, sending his thoughts scattering before returning to contemplate under what other conditions he might hear that again.
“You cook,” Athena marveled after another bite. “You're a dedicated firefighter, you've got great taste in restaurants, creative ideas about date spots, and you cook! Is there no end to your talents?” She sampled the salad and closed her eyes, expression blissful.
“I'm so glad you like it,” Bobby said sincerely. “You knew I cooked. That time you joined us for dinner was my cooking. As for my talents…well, I'm sure I have one or two more I can pull out of mothballs.” He took a bite of his own sandwich, watching Athena contentedly as she tasted a sip of the juice.
As with the first date, so went the second. Good food led to good conversation. Shop talk led to life talk. Bobby confessed how his team had helped him select a picnic menu that was filling without overdoing it. “Okay, maybe I overdid it a little on dessert.” He gestured toward the origami box.
Athena had been curiously eyeing the folded paper container as they worked through their lunch. She had meant to save room for what she imagined had to be dessert. But everything had been so tasty! She hadn't left a crumb of her sandwich nor so much as a nibble of her salad.
Athena lifted the container and turned it around, trying to find a seam or way to open it without tearing it. “I almost hate to ruin your work,” she admitted.
“They're not hard to make. I'll show you sometime.” Something flickered through Bobby's eyes but it was gone before Athena could identify it.
Nonetheless, Athena opened the box as carefully as she could. The folds came open, revealing the rose-shaped puff pastry. They were glazed red on the tip of each petal and golden brown with a light dusting of confectioner's sugar. A whiff of cinnamon and cardamom met her nose. She gasped audibly. “Bobby! It's beautiful!”
Bobby glanced away, blushing. “They're nothing special.”
“Beg to differ,” Athena responded, using her authority voice, the one that warned contradicting her came at his own risk. “It is very nearly too pretty to eat. I'd save it for later, only I know May or Harry would make short work of it.”
Athena bit into the pastry and closed her eyes as the jammy filling and crunchy pastry filled her mouth. She chewed and Bobby froze, watching as her tongue darted across her lips to catch any stray filling.
Bobby, with effort, tore his gaze away before Athena opened her eyes and took a bite of his own rose pastry.
They quickly finished up their pastries without speaking, Athena choosing to break the silence. “Mmm. Bobby, thank you. This was …well, amazing. When you suggested a picnic I was expecting cold fried chicken, potato salad from Ralph's and a couple cans of soda. You really went all out.”
“I enjoy cooking,” was Bobby's modest reply. “I like to make people feel safe, at home. To me, nothing does that like a good meal.”
“No wonder your team is more like a family with that philosophy.” She helped him wipe off the plates and silverware. They finished off the juice before packing the hamper and blanket.
Bobby tucked the picnic away in his trunk, then turned toward the Observatory. “We've got an hour to explore before the next planetarium show. Shall we?”
“I'd be delighted,” Athena beamed, eyes half lidded from the afternoon sun in her face.
They walked into the Observatory, blinking briefly at the change in light. It was like they were two teens; they enjoyed the gravity rooms and marveled at how much science had advanced since their mutual childhoods. Somewhere during the overhead presentation they bumped elbows on the same armrest. They interlaced their fingers in the dark by silent mutual agreement, sending a wordless thrill through each of them.
As they stepped back out into the end of the afternoon, Bobby found he was just not ready for their time together to end. A quick consultation of his phone while Athena hit the gift shop for her children and he was ready with a suggestion when she rejoined him.
“Hey, Athena, looks like there's a street festival a couple of blocks over. Feel like seeing it?” Say yes. Please. Bobby gave her hopeful eyes.
“Why not?”
Is she batting her eyelashes at me?
Athena moved close to Bobby, but to his dismay, did not take his hand again.
It turned out to be an international celebration of summer. Vendors were selling T-shirts and other merchandise down one side of the road and food of every description down the other. Colorful tents and booths lined the street and a modest crowd was milling about, enjoying the June weather.
They wandered where their eyes or noses took them, watching artisans show off their crafts. Realizing the bouquet he had given her was in a washed out Mason jar from lunch, Bobby turned a sharp eye for a glass blower so he could find a case for Athena.
Before he could though, someone's shrill voice cut through the crowd noise. “Oh my God! Somebody call 911!”
Athena looked up and found Bobby's eyes. They'd gone from bright with cheer to steely serious. He found her gaze had sharpened as well. The first responders couldn't hear those words and let them go unanswered.
“Sergeant Grant, LAPD!” Athena announced, already holding her badge up and using her shoulders to muscle her way toward the screaming. Bobby, much taller, followed in her wake, the crowd parting for him.
What they found was … unexpected.
At the end of a cul de sac, a fenced in area was no longer enclosed. A brown capuchin monkey was holding several gate pins and looking terribly pleased with itself.
It might, under different circumstances, be called a stampede. The contents of several petting zoo enclosures had been unlocked by the impish primate. Now the street was being slowly flooded by animals.
Bobby stopped in his tracks, mildly flummoxed. This had not been what he expected. Athena looked no less nonplussed.
“Hey!” she suddenly squeaked indignantly. An alpaca had come up to her while she gaped and was contentedly munching away on the bouquet Bobby had given her.
Bobby didn't know whether to laugh or be dismayed as the fluffy creature nuzzled against his date. He settled for talking to the woman who had the logo of the petting zoo on her T-shirt.
“Fire Captain Nash, ma'am. What happened? How did they all get loose at once?”
“Tank …that's the monkey…he opened all the gates,” lamented the woman, watching her pigs snuffle at the legs of an alarmed middle aged woman.
Bobby lifted his nose and sniffed, expression going serious. “So who fed your animals booze?” he demanded, all traces of bemused humor gone as he reached for his phone.
The woman shook her head at Bobby, obviously and sincerely completely at a loss. “I don't know!”
“Okay, try to relax. Do what you can to corral your animals. Sergeant Grant and I will help, and I'll call animal control for any that have wandered off. We'll also try to find out how your livestock got drunk.”
The woman nodded, still shaken, but hurried to follow the instructions Bobby gave. She grabbed a towel from her truck and went after the geese who were agitated and hissing at the crowd.
Bobby quickly identified himself to Animal Control and gave a brief but clear description of the situation.
Athena was getting the crowd to back away slowly. It was not as easy a task as it should be; some of the onlookers were inebriated and found the animals cute. Others wanted to help. Since most of the animals were staggering around, they didn't appear threatening. Exasperation was written all over her face, especially since the alpaca who had eaten her bouquet had decided they were now besties and kept nuzzling her elbow.
The other end of the festival prospered by the crowds being funneled away. Animal welfare arrived in record time.
The woman from the petting zoo, with Tank the monkey sitting on her shoulder approached Bobby with an explanation after the sheep, goats, pigs, geese, alpacas, cows, chickens, and ponies. “Mead in the feed!” she wailed. “Someone poured a bunch of mead into the troughs!”
Athena gave the woman a disbelieving look. “I can make a report but I'll be honest. Unless we get very lucky with a traffic cam, it is unlikely we will find your prankster, ma'am.” Athena gestured at the crowd, whose size had only grown as it approached dinner hour.
“Birdie,” the woman finally introduced herself. “I guess the important thing is that no one got hurt. We'll have to put cameras on the trough so this doesn't happen again.”
“Sounds like a plan ma'am.” Athena plucked a business card from her pocket. “You call if you need further assistance or if anything happens to your animals beyond them needing to sleep it off.”
Birdie scanned the card and tucked it in her cargo pants pocket. “Thank you, Sergeant. Captain. We'll do that.” Now the woman just looked frayed and exhausted. “This is gonna be all over YouTube.”
Bobby patted Birdie gently on the shoulder unoccupied by monkey. “Hopefully any publicity is good publicity. You have a good evening now.”
As they returned the way they came, the crowd had already been restored to good humor. Bobby turned apologetic eyes on his date.
“That was…not how I expected the afternoon to go.”
Athena gave Bobby a measured look, then burst out laughing. “I should hope not. How about next time we do something a little more low key? I'll bring over takeout, and we can stream a couple of movies.” She was decisive in her phrasing. That didn't sound like a question.
“Sounds great. I'll check in with you when the new shifts are posted,” Bobby replied evenly, though internally he was doing a touchdown dance. She wanted to see him again!
He walked her back to her car and Athena gave him another kiss on the cheek. “See you again soon.”
“Count on it.”
He waited for her to drive off before walking back to his own truck. He had a fun story for the gang back at the 118. But more importantly he no longer questioned his decision to toss the Penance Count. Its weight no longer dragged at him, and the company of Athena Grant seemed to lift him a little with every moment they spent together.