CHAPTER 3 - G'DAY ELIZABETH

Thursday, December 14, 2023

MISTLETOE CAY FIRE STATION 14

Lieutenant Scott Monroe and Captain Nathan Grant settled comfortably at the station's cluttered kitchen table, steaming cups of dark roast coffee in hand, as they waited for their relief to arrive. The night had been relatively peaceful after 10 pm until the clock's hands aligned at 6:00 a.m. when a sudden call shattered the tranquility.

Thankfully, it was manageable: a house fire ignited by a carelessly left candle the family cat had knocked from its perch. Fortunately, only the living room and a corner of the kitchen bore the scars of the blaze, but no one had been injured.

Nathan leaned back in his chair, a hint of anticipation lighting his features. "I don't know about you, but I'm really looking forward to the next two days off," he said, the weight of their night shift easing from his shoulders.

Scott's gaze dropped to his phone, the screen lighting up with a message from his wife, prompting a slight frown on his brow. It read:

E's plane arriving at 9:15. Can you pick her up? I am stuck here at school.

"Hey, do you mind if we make a detour to the airport?" he asked, glancing up at Nathan. "Red is caught up at work, and Elizabeth's flight lands at 9:15."

"Sure, that works for me," Nathan replied, nodding.

Scott quickly typed a response, confirming they'd pick Lizzie up, then tucked his phone back into his pocket, a slight smile creeping onto his face at the thought of seeing her.

Just then, Jude Lawson, their team engineer, strode into the kitchen, his curiosity piqued by the latter part of their conversation. "Whose Elizabeth, and why don't I know her? A friend of yours?" he teased Scott, leaning casually against the doorframe, a mischievous glint in his hazel eyes. "Is she cute?"

"More importantly, is she available?" Matteo Gonzalez chimed in as he plopped down next to Scott, his trademark grin flashing. He was part of the paramedic duo along with Fiona Miller. He exuded a mix of charisma and confidence that had earned him quite the reputation among the ladies in the department.

"She's my sister-in-law visiting from Boston for the holidays," Scott clarified, a flash of protectiveness flaring within him. "As for her availability, that's not for me to say. Just know that she's family, which means Rule 3 applies."

"What's Rule 3?" Jax Anders, the station Probie, asked as he walked in with Harrison Gray and Asher Kelly. His eyes sparkled with curiosity as he leaned forward, eager for juicy tidbits.

"It means family members are off-limits for casual flings, Loverboy," Fiona Miller chimed in, striding in with an air of authority, hands on her hips, her smile teasing yet serious. The chatter about Matteo's escapades had become a running joke within the team, and Jax was quickly becoming known for his own flirtatious antics.

"Hey, I can't help it if the ladies are drawn to my irresistible charm," Matteo declared, feigning innocence and prompting another wave of laughter that echoed through the cramped kitchen.

Just at that moment, Fire Chief Bill Avery walked in, his commanding presence immediately washing over the room and silencing the playful banter. He moved purposefully to the coffee pot, pouring himself a cup of the dark brew. Leaning back against the counter, he scrutinized the group with a severe expression that shifted into a knowing smirk after a moment's pause. "Matteo was the reason behind Rule #3, so if you have any questions, I'm sure he'd be willing to spill the details," he quipped. Then, with one last look at Matteo, he returned to his office, leaving a trail of amusement.

Once the coast was clear, Matteo laughed sheepishly before explaining what happened.

"I'll never hear the end of it about going out with his niece. How was I to know? It's not like I ask for family trees."

"A date where you didn't call her afterward. Then blocked her number when she attempted to reach out." Fiona clarified

"I thought she was stalking me. Anyway, I said I was sorry!" he lamented, running a hand through his dark hair, a hint of embarrassment creeping into his expression. She could have mentioned who she was rather than let me show up at the station BBQ, turning the place into a circus." He pulled a face, but laughter erupted again from the group, the camaraderie lightening the mood.

A short time later, Scott and Nathan climbed into Nathan's truck; the sun was already high in the sky as they drove toward the airport. "So, how long is Elizabeth going to be here?" Nathan asked, glancing over.

"She leaves on the 3rd, but we're hoping she enjoys Australia so much that she'll want to extend her stay," Scott replied, enthusiasm bubbling in his tone. "Red has planned a whole itinerary of activities to showcase the best our home has to offer. I hope it doesn't overwhelm Lizzie into needing another vacation to recover from this vacation."

Nathan grimaced slightly. "I think Colleen has joined the planning committee. You know how she can get."

Scott chuckled, shaking his head. "Let's not forget our mothers and Agatha jumping in with their endless ideas. It's bound to be a whirlwind of activity!" The humor in the situation made him feel closer to home, and excitement began to build as they arrived at the airport. After finding a parking spot, they headed inside to Baggage Claim.

Elizabeth stood by the bustling baggage claim area, acutely aware of the curious stares directed her way. Dressed in her well-worn jeans, a cozy oversized sweater, boots, and a winter coat, she felt a mix of self-consciousness and annoyance at the attention. Her clothing choice, comfortably bundled for the cold climate back home, had quickly become a topic of conversation, and she had grown weary of explaining her attire long ago. As she scanned the steady stream of luggage on the conveyor belt, regret washed over her. She wished she had taken Rosemary's advice to pack a change of clothes in her carry-on. Despite her reasoning that storing additional clothes would have been difficult, she now felt out of place in her airport outfit.

Looking around, she kept an eye out for Casanova Rob as other passengers began to arrive. The last thing she needed was him popping up and possibly attaching himself to her even more. With luck, she would be gone before she ran into him, or he would get stuck in Customs. Thanks to pre-filling out her form, she quickly breezed through. Just as she began to relax, she saw him out of the corner of her eye with a brunette wrapped around him and her lips on his. She quickly ducked behind a nearby Christmas tree, ready to get out of there. Just as her thoughts began to spiral, the monotonous turn of black suitcases was interrupted by the sound of her name being called amidst the clamor of travelers.

"Elizabeth!"

Turning around, she felt herself enveloped in her brother-in-law's strong arms. His fireman's uniform caught the attention of several nearby women, who smiled and whispered as they watched the enthusiastic reunion.

"If it isn't my favorite brother," she laughed, her face lighting up as she returned the warm embrace. Scott Monroe had been with her sister for six years, and he and Elizabeth had developed a close sibling bond. Since he was an only child, he relished having a sibling, and his parents treated her and Julie like bonus daughters.

"I'm your only one, but I'll still take that title!" he teased, a cheeky grin on his face. Just then, Elizabeth noticed a figure standing slightly behind Scott, awkwardly clearing his throat and waiting for an introduction.

"Lizzie, this is my friend and coworker, Nathan Grant," Scott introduced, gesturing toward the man beside him. "Nathan, this is my favorite sister, Elizabeth Thatcher,"

Here stood Nathan, also dressed in a fireman's uniform, looking slightly bemused by the familial affection he had intruded upon. Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, glancing back at Scott, curious about this unexpected introduction.

"We just wrapped up our shift, and since we carpooled, I couldn't leave him to fend for himself," Scott explained, chuckling lightly as he clapped a hand on Nathan's shoulder.

"Ah, I see. Looks like you drew the short straw, huh?" Elizabeth teased Nathan with a playful smirk, her eyes sparkling with humor.

Nathan chuckled, "Well, since we used my car…"

"It's nice to meet you, Nathan," she said, laughing, extending her hand toward him with an inviting smile.

Nathan's grip was firm but gentle as he shook her hand, his expression brightening. "It's great to meet you too, Elizabeth. I feel as though I already know you, though, considering Scott, Julie, and your aunt can't seem to stop chatting about you."

Elizabeth playfully winced at the notion. "Oh boy! In that case, if you're single, I apologize in advance for any matchmaking schemes you might find yourself tangled up in. Julie and my aunt are relentless about trying to marry me off—preferably to an Aussie!" she exclaimed, rolling her eyes with a hearty laugh.

"Never fear. I have a mother and sister who have similar elaborate plans for my future," Nathan replied, a twinkle of humor in his eyes.

Elizabeth giggled. "Well, should you find yourself part of one involving me, don't worry. I promise I am not a threat to your marital status. I'm just here for a visit and maybe work on my tan. Oh, it looks like my bag is finally making its appearance."

As they headed for the exit, Nathan raised an eyebrow at her attire and smirked. "You realize you'll roast once we step outside, right? It's quite a trek to the car park."

"I'm fully aware," she replied, amusement flickering in her eyes. "If you would be kind enough to take my carry-on for me, I can at least strip down to something cooler. It was snowing and 24 degrees when I left Logan. I worked right up until it was time to jump on my flight, so trust me, you're lucky I'm not still in my scrubs."

Taking off her jacket, she handed it to Scott and then peeled off her sweater. Underneath the sweater, she wore a form-fitting t-shirt. One that showed her curves off to perfection, much to Scott's amusement as he saw its effect on his friend. Nathan was practically drooling, and the impact of seeing her was reflected in his heated gaze.

Unaware of it, Elizabeth tied the sweater around her waist and continued with a hint of exasperation, "The plane almost didn't take off due to the drastic weather change. In fact, when I called Rosemary when I landed at LAX to change planes, she informed me that they closed the airport a mere 30 minutes after my flight departed!"

"Were you able to catch any sleep on the way?" Scott inquired, his eyes filled with concern and curiosity. "Red told me you worked a double shift."

"I managed to get a little, but it was impossible when we hit turbulence for most of the flight to Los Angeles. I slept off and on for about nine hours on the flight here. But I drifted in and out between the people and the chatty person, who couldn't take a hint. I was hoping I wouldn't have to stay up since my plane arrived early?"

"Sorry! But at least you'll have me to keep you company," Scott said as he put his arm around her and led her to Nathan's truck.

Hopping into the middle of the front seat, she said, "Well, then I need to be entertained, so you better bring your A game, brother."

They had barely left the airport before Elizabeth leaned her head against Scott's shoulder. Five minutes later, they could hear little snores filling the interior as she promptly fell fast asleep.

Nathan chuckled softly as he looked at his friend and then, motioning to Elizabeth, teased, "Man, if that is your A-game, then I would hate to see your worst."

"Funny! It won't hurt for her to rest for the 45-minute drive to our house. I'll keep her up after that, so don't worry. You coming in for coffee, maybe breakfast, or do you have to go straight home?"

"I didn't want to intrude on your time with family, so I just figured I'd go home," Nathan replied, but deep down, he wanted to join them. Just the little he had been with Elizabeth intrigued him and made him want to know more.

"Come on, hang out with us. You and Elizabeth seem to be hitting it off. Besides, I'm going to introduce her to Vegemite, and you don't want to miss that, do you?" Scott asked, already knowing what the answer would be.

Elizabeth was already beginning to stir when Nathan pulled into Scott's driveway. Seeing the house, she immediately echoes Scott's invitation to stay. As they approached the door, she turned to Nathan, yawned, and after giving a playful pat on his shoulder, said, "Just don't expect scintillating conversation, Okay?"

Nathan smiled and said, "I think I can handle that."