Chapter 15: The Arranged Marriage
A couple of hours later, Pierre and Stephanie were in their SUV, and they noticed a black SUV following them. " We have company Pierre," Stephanie told him.
"I see him," Pierre said, as they pulled up to Valerie's small house. Angie and Mary Alice were outside playing.
"Hey, Aunt Steph, and Uncle Pierre," Angie said as she approached them and gave them a quick hug. Angie let go of them and walked into the house. "Hey, Grandma, guess who is here?" Angie asked as she hugged her great-grandmother.
"Hi, Gram,'' Stephanie said. She gave her grandmother a quick hug. Valerie was making spaghetti and meatballs.
"Yep, now I am in charge of Friday dinners," Valerie said, wearing a huge smile. She was pleased to be the primary host for family dinners.
"Val, do you think that because Mom is gone, you are the new queen of the burg?" Stephanie asked with a grin on her face.
"Yeah, Stephanie, that is what I think," Valerie confessed with a giggle.
Pierre and Stephanie looked at each other. Everybody was busy eating dinner when Stephanie announced, "Pierre is going to work at Fire Station 15."
"You are quitting your job at Rangeman? Why?" Valerie asked him.
"I have some reasons, but fighting fires are in my blood. My dad did it, and my grandfather was before him. It is my turn now," Pierre said. "I am sick and tired of people shooting at me and getting beaten up."
"Do you think running into a burning building is better?" Valerie snapped at him. "What would the neighbors think?" Stephanie rolled her eyes in annoyance. Valerie was beginning to channel their mother.
"Okay, Valerie, we are leaving now," Stephanie said. She got up from the table with Pierre following her. They walked out of Valerie's house, got in the SUV, and left without waiting for leftover food to take home.
"I am sorry, Pierre. I don't know what my sister was thinking," Stephanie told her husband.
"Hey, it is not your fault, trust me. I know what danger is involved, and, Little One, if you don't want me to do this, then I won't," Pierre told her. Stephanie didn't want Pierre to work at a job that didn't make him happy.
"Pierre, are you happy fighting fires?"
"Yeah, I am, Little One. I feel that I need this right now."
"Okay, then I will support you in this," Stephanie told her husband.
"I love you, Steph."
"I love you too, Pierre." They arrived at their house and saw it engulfed in flames.
"What the hell?" Pierre asked as he opened the SUV door. "Stay in the car, Steph."
Pierre got out of the SUV and walked up to the chief of 15. "Hey Chief, what is going on?"
"Looks like someone torched your house, Tank. Do you and your wife have anywhere you can stay?" Chief Franklin asked.
"Yeah, we can stay at my mom's house until we find somewhere else," Pierre said.
"Okay, your first shift is tomorrow, I have you on the 7 to 3 shift, so you can get off at 3:30 and have evenings with your wife," Franklin said.
"Thanks, Chief." Pierre got into the SUV. "Okay, we are going to my Momma's house for now." Pierre looked at Stephanie. "Hey, it will be alright," he said when he saw the tears on Stephanie's face.