Firefighter's Virgin

“I could have just stayed for the funeral,” I reminded her. “I chose to stay longer.”

“For what?”

“For you.”

She snorted. “Please…”

“What?”

“How many times have you come visited us in the last three months?”

“A few times,” I said evasively.

“Twice,” she said. “Including today.”

“I’ve been busy.”

“And, I understand that.” Sophie nodded. “Which is why I offer to come to you every now and again, but you’re too busy for that, too.”

I sighed. “And, I was hoping for a nice family dinner.”

“This is what family dinners are like, Chance,” she said.

“No wonder I avoid them.”

Sophie narrowed her eyes at me but didn’t say anything. After a moment, she stood up and walked towards the kitchen. “Would you like something to drink?” she asked at the threshold.

“Do you have any beer?”

Sophie nodded and disappeared around the corner. A few minutes later, Tommy appeared with a chilled beer in hand. He ran up to me and offered the bottle to me like a prize.

“Mommy told me not to drop it.”

“Good kid,” I said, taking the bottle from his hands.

Tommy sat down and looked at me curiously. He didn’t even seem to be blinking. Even when I met his eyes, he didn’t turn away.

“What?” I asked.

He looked a little shy. “Did you like the temples?” He asked the question as though he had been rehearsing it for the last hour.

“The temples?” I repeated.

Tommy nodded vigorously. “The ones in Greece.”

“Oh… I… Sure.” I nodded. “Your mom told you I went to Greece?”

Tommy laughed as though I had said something funny. “No,” he said, shaking his head. “Mommy doesn’t talk about you much. What was your favorite trip?”

“Uh… I can’t really say,” I said. “I’ve been to too many places to choose. They’re all special in their own way.”

“Japan was my favorite,” Tommy said unexpectedly. “I liked the buildings; they were strange. I saw you with all the girls…the girls in the…ki…kinomos…”

I smiled. “It’s pronounced kimonos.”

“Uh-huh.”

“You seem to know a lot about my travels.”