Hard to Resist

EPILOGUE



A FIRE STATION WAS hardly the most romantic venue for a wedding. But there was no way to pick a date when at least some of Ethan’s newfound friends weren’t going to be on duty, and they all wanted to witness history in the making—one of their own marrying a woman he’d dragged out of a burning building.

So Kat, with the help of Priscilla, Deb and Virginia, and plenty of legwork by StrongGirls from three high schools, had turned the backyard of Fire Station 59 into an oasis of flowers, with an arbor and ribbons—and citronella torches to keep the mosquitoes at bay.

Kat was upstairs in the station’s dormitory area getting dressed, and every so often she peeked out a window as the yard filled up. Every chair was taken, and people were standing in the back.

“Where did all these people come from?” Kat asked Priscilla, who was doing up the buttons on the back of Kat’s candlelight chiffon dress. “I only sent out a few invitations.”

“I’m afraid your wedding has turned into a bona fide media event,” Priscilla replied.

“Really. Hey, I bet I can use this to publicize the StrongGirls program.”

“Get your mind off your work, girl,” Virginia scolded as she fussed with Kat’s veil. “You’re about to marry Prince Charming.”

Kat sighed. “You’re right. I can’t help it, though. I love the StrongGirls. You know, the Sunset girls pitched in and gave me a wedding gift. A toaster. Isn’t that sweet?”

“Mom,” said Samantha, who’d been dressed for hours in her ruffled princess dress, claiming she felt just like Barbie. She was looking out a different window, where valets were parking the guests’ cars. The valets had been a gift from the three shift captains, who could not risk a traffic jam around the station. “A big black car just pulled up. It has, like, eight windows.”

Kat clapped her hands together. “Mr. Breckenridge. I was hoping he would come.”

“I wonder what sort of wedding gift you’ll get from him?” Priscilla asked. “Stop wiggling and let me finish your dress.”

Kat stood as still as she could. “I told him I wanted an omelet pan.”

The ceremony was short and sweet by design. Though it was only ten in the morning, it was already hot as blazes—this was July in Texas, after all. A big striped canopy protected the wedding party and guests from the worst of the direct sun, but it still wasn’t exactly comfortable.

Kat had no trouble with a quick wedding. She felt no jitters at all, other than a perfectly normal case of nerves about everyone staring at her. She now knew her mind, and she knew it well.

Ethan looked spectacular in his tux. He was still on medical leave and would be for a few more weeks, but he hadn’t wanted to postpone the wedding and neither had Kat. She’d wasted enough time with her waffling.

They said their vows, Ethan took Kat’s ring from Tony, his best man, and in a matter of a few short minutes, Ethan and Kat were husband and wife. They kissed and everyone applauded, with no small number of catcalls from the ever-sensitive firefighters.

A cake in the shape of a fire engine was wheeled out, and Kat groaned. She’d put Priscilla in charge of the cake, trusting that the matter would be taken care of with taste and refinement. She shot Priscilla an accusing look, but Priscilla just beamed innocently, as if she’d had nothing to do with the unconventional cake.

“It better taste good,” Kat called over her shoulder as Ethan tugged her toward the cake. Written in icing was the lovely sentiment, “Best wishes, Kat and Mr. Rescue.”

When Kat and Ethan cut into it, she discovered it was a red velvet cake, which seemed appropriate. And it was delicious. They drank nonalcoholic champagne, since no alcohol was allowed at the fire station.

A hush fell over the crowd when Tony stood on a chair to make a toast. “To my best friend, Ethan,” he said, with uncharacteristic solemnity. “He saved my life when I was ten, and he’s been saving people ever since.

“I’m sure most of you know how Ethan and Kat met, so I won’t repeat the story. But what many of you might not know is that Kat saves people, too. She works with young women, many that society would have forgotten if not for Kat. Ethan pulls people out of burning buildings. Kat pulls them out of a different kind of trouble.”

Kat was touched. She hadn’t realized Tony paid that much attention to what she did for a living, or thought about the similarities in their jobs.

“Who knows what these two can do as a team,” Tony continued. “All I can say is, everybody stand back.”

Everyone broke into applause, and the StrongGirls cheered louder than anyone. Kat had sworn she wasn’t going to cry on this happy day, but she did anyway.

A siren sounded, and everyone jumped out of habit. But it wasn’t the normal alarm. Kat and Ethan looked around for the source of the noise.

Ripples of laughter and surprise moved through the guests. “Ah. Look.” Ethan pointed to the street. Just beyond the fence was an antique fire engine, festooned with bows and balloons and, yes, tin cans and old firemen’s boots tied to the back.

Captain Campeon strode up to them, looking uncharacteristically pleased with himself. “The guys—and Priscilla—chipped in and rented it. You’ve got an hour, for the wedding party to joyride.”

It was an unconventional ending, befitting their bizarre wedding. Ethan, Kat, Tony, Priscilla and Samantha climbed on board the 1940s-era fire engine—which came equipped with a driver, thankfully—and went for a spin around Oak Cliff. Children ran out to wave and cheer, and adults stopped what they were doing to smile at the bride and groom.

Kat felt a huge wave of love—for Ethan, for her friends, for her daughter, for the firefighters who’d come through for them, and for the checkerboard community that was Oak Cliff. Despite the patches of poverty and urban decay here and there, she saw the good that was manifested through the efforts of people like Ethan, Tony and Priscilla, and by her own work.

She would accomplish good things here. But not alone. She would give help when it was needed, and accept help when offered. She was a StrongGirl, but she was also part of a team, which meant she’d never have to stand alone again.

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