“Hey, it isn’t cool, but at least her cat wasn’t involved,” Maisie said.
We all knew Carrie. For one, she’d lived in Willow Brook her entire life and was now in her eighties. We also occasionally got called out to her place to rescue her cat, Herman, when he got stuck in a tree. The most famous incident was when she attempted to rescue him on her own with her late husband’s excavator, and it fell over in a ditch. Thankfully, both she and the cat made it out unscathed.
“We’ll start without him then,” Rex said.
“You’d better,” Maisie replied, “because your first appointment is already here.”
We plowed through four interviews, and I wasn’t feeling great about any of them. I looked around the table, asking, “What do you think?”
Levi shook his head along with Rex. Russell ran a hand through his hair and nodded in agreement.
“We only have one more. Paisley Banks.”
“Paisley?” Russell prompted.
I nodded. “Yup.”
Levi tapped the intercom button. “Is Paisley here?”
Maisie replied promptly, “She’s been waiting. Shall I send her back?”
“Please do.”
A moment later, the sound of footsteps preceded the appearance of Paisley. The footsteps slowed, and we heard Maisie’s voice. “Here we go. Don’t let them try to intimidate you. I’m mostly in charge around here, so just keep that in mind,” she explained, her tone dry.
Maisie grinned when she looked around the edge of the doorway. “Hey, guys.”
I glanced over as she gestured to the woman beside her. “This is Paisley Banks.”
Paisley had her auburn hair pulled back in a ponytail that swung as she walked. Rex cast one of his smiles at her. He had the kind of smile that made anyone feel at ease. Paisley’s green eyes bounced around the table. She looked a little tense until her gaze landed on Rex.
“Have a seat.” Rex patted the chair beside him, scooting his chair over slightly as Paisley walked in.
We did a round of introductions. “So, you’ve got some good experience,” I began.
Paisley nodded. “I think so. I trained as a hotshot firefighter in Washington, and I’ve worked in several states out West. I love the work.”
“What brings you here?” Levi prompted.
“I always wanted to come to Alaska,” she said simply. “As a hotshot firefighter, I’ll get to see more of the area.”
“Where there’s fire,” Russell interjected.
Paisley slid her eyes to him and nodded solemnly. “Well, that’s the job.”
I sensed tension from Russell. I liked Paisley. She was solid and steady, and she had a good feel to her.
We finished the interview, and once we heard the door close down the hallway, Rex said, “She’s good. I think you should hire her.”
Russell interjected, “I think she’s going to be a distraction.”
I eyed him. “Why?”
He shifted his shoulders. “You’re not blind. She’s beautiful.”
“And?”
“I don’t know,” he muttered, looking disgruntled.
I gave him a considering look. “I’ve never known you to have an issue with women. There are several who work on the crews here. Is that a problem for you?”
He shook his head quickly. “I guess I didn’t think about it much. This is a hard job.”
“It is, and she’s been doing it for five years. She obviously knows what she’s facing. Her references are rock solid,” Levi interjected.
With Levi in agreement, I headed up front to ask Maisie to start the official hiring process. There was a shit ton of administrative stuff associated with hiring, and I was profoundly grateful Maisie handled most of it.
After helping on a town call later that afternoon, I headed home. I’d temporarily forgotten Allie was over at Madison’s place this afternoon until I got home and she wasn’t there. I slipped my phone out to text Allie when I saw the text I’d sent to myself from her phone with Madison’s number. I changed the contact from Maddie Neighbor to Off-Limits Neighbor. Maybe that would keep me sensible.
Chapter Nine
Graham
It was getting late, and Allie still wasn’t home. Snagging my phone off the kitchen counter, I sent her a quick text.
Me: ETA? I thought you said you’d be home in time for dinner.
I opened the refrigerator, sighing when I recalled I’d meant to swing by the grocery store on the way home today. It was one thing to forget to feed myself, but I had Allie to consider. Just then, my phone rang, and I lifted it to see my mother calling.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Hi, Graham. I was wondering if you and Allie wanted to come over for dinner tomorrow night.”
“Of course,” I replied.
That was an easy yes. My mom was a fantastic cook, and I actually liked my parents. Maybe tonight, I’d just drive back to town to pick up a pizza.
“Excellent. How are things with you?”
“Busy, but what else is new?”
She laughs softly. “You’re always busy. I heard Alison canceled another trip. Did Allie know she was coming?”
“Unfortunately, yes,” I said, leaning my hips against the counter and running a hand through my hair.
“How did she take it?”
“She cried, and then I made spaghetti.”
“Smart man. You’re a good father.”
“I try. I forgot to go grocery shopping this week, though, so I’m zipping back into town to get some pizza for dinner.”
“By the way, I heard you have a new neighbor.”
I chuckled. “News travels fast. I’m glad Harold’s house isn’t going to sit vacant.”
“I’m sure his granddaughter is nice.”
“She seems nice enough,” I said, keeping my tone nonchalant. My mother was the equivalent of a bloodhound following a scent when it came to picking up on things from me.
“Oh, have you met her?” my mother asked, her voice lilting. This was her nosy voice. I knew it well.
“You didn’t hear the whole story? Rex called me because he got a report about somebody seeing the lights on there. Janet was the only one who knew his granddaughter was showing up, but she didn’t know when. I ended up checking on the place. I don’t think she loved me showing up like that, but she handled it. I didn’t even know Harold had a granddaughter, but Allie did.”
My mother laughed warmly. “Your daughter knows how to get the scoop, and Harold had a soft spot for her. Tell me about your new neighbor then.”
“I just told you she seems nice.”
“That’s it?”
“Mom, I’ve met her three, I mean, two times. I don’t know much more.”
“Three times!” She practically barked in my ear.
“Two times,” I corrected. I was lying, but I wasn’t about to fill my mom in on my encounter with Madison before she landed in Willow Brook. “We ran into her at Firehouse Café too. Allie’s over there now. I’m gonna have to check on her because she’s running late.”