leaned forward to examine the cut on her temple. “How’s your head?”
“Good.” She moved her hair to cover the barely visible gash. “How’s Dante?
Joel leaned back in his chair. “I’m sure he’s happy to have a yard to sniff around in. Our last place didn’t have one. He may be old, but he really likes being outside.”
“You know,” she began, “when you’re on your days staying here at the firehouse, I could walk Dante for you and stop in to make sure he’s okay.”
Joel nudged her knee with his. “Look at you, Miss Businesswoman, adding me to your clientele when I’ve been in town less than twenty-four hours.”
“No. I didn’t mean—I’m offering as a friend.” Shelby’s cheeks flushed. “I don’t want your money.”
“I was kidding with you.” He winked.
Chief Wheeler crossed his arms over his chest. “So, Shelby, I’m assuming you came in here to do more than just flirt with my handsome new fireman.”
Shelby’s cheeks blazed fire-engine red. “I’m not—”
Joel opened his mouth to defend her.
But the chief slapped the table and laughed. “I’m kidding, girl. Although, if you like him, I could order him to take you on a date.”
Shelby looked down at the floor. “Like I said, I can come back another time if that’s better.”
Chief Wheeler adjusted his tie. “Relax, Shelby. What can I do for you?”
She knit her fingers together as she blew out a long breath. Then she tugged a bundle of papers from her purse. “My father left me this. I can rebuild. Finally. I’m going to meet with Ida today. When her husband was mayor, I remember him raising money for just that purpose. I want to see if that money is still available, but even if it is, I’m sure it won’t be enough.”
The chief sat a little straighter. “And you’re asking if the fire department would help you raise more?”
“People love firefighters.” She shrugged.
“Dashing men in uniform coming to the rescue. What’s not to love, right, Joel?”
Unsure of the correct way to interact with his new boss, Joel only offered a smile.
The chief extended his hand to shake Shelby’s. “Of course we’ll help. In fact, Joel, since you’re new around here, as your first order of business upon joining the department, I’m going to have you team with Shelby on planning a fund-raiser. You’ll get to meet the whole town that way.”
“Sure. Why not?” Helping host a fund-raiser was the perfect opportunity to get in good with the people of Goose Harbor, which was what he needed if this was going to be his forever home. He wanted them to forget the moody teenager who ran away. If he had tried, he couldn’t have come up with a better way to enter the town again.
“I was thinking a pancake breakfast,” Shelby piped up.
Joel leaned his elbows on his knees. “Food included. This gig is getting better by the minute. So, what are we fund-raising for?”
“To rebuild the church.”
Her words hit his gut like a two-ton weight. Rebuild the church? There had been only one in town when he left. But—he swallowed hard. It felt like there was gravel in his throat—it couldn’t be. “What church?”
Shelby touched his forearm. “The only church in town. You remember, don’t you? Wait, you wouldn’t because it was still standing when you lived here last time, wasn’t it?”
Joel’s heart beat so hard and fast he was afraid it showed through his shirt.
“What happened to it?” He had to ask since they thought he didn’t know. Not looking curious would cast suspicion his way.
Shelby tugged on her sleeves and glanced at the ground.
Chief Wheeler cleared his throat. “It burned down, but I figured you knew that.”
Of course Joel already knew.
Because fourteen years ago, he’d been the one who set it on fire.
Joel’s gaze followed Shelby as she left the chief’s office.
Chief Wheeler rose from his desk, crossed the room and shut the door to his office. “Shelby is a very special young woman.”
“Yes, I know.” With the news about the church’s destruction swirling through his mind, Joel couldn’t quite make eye contact with the chief. What if someone discovered the role he played in the fire? Would he be able to justify his actions? He hadn’t realized he’d destroyed the whole building. He’d only meant to ruin a wall or something of that magnitude. Just enough to send the message to God that he was not okay with what had been happening in his life.
“How well do you know Shelby?” The chief moved to the edge of his desk and scooted so he was sitting, which brought him very near to where Joel sat.
Relax. He commanded the muscles in his back and arms to ease. Focusing on Shelby helped, since she had nothing to do with the fire. “I knew her years ago. From when I lived here before. I was more friends with Caleb than with her, but she tagged along most of the time when we hung out...like an annoying little sister should.”
He chuckled as a memory pushed its way into his mind, one of Shelby trying to chase after Caleb, Miles and Joel as they tried to sneak out of youth group to go waterskiing. When they wouldn’t let her follow she went and tattled on them. The youth pastor made the boys clean the church’s bathrooms every Saturday for the next month.
“A lot can happen in fourteen years, son.” The tone in Chief Wheeler’s voice changed on the last word. It became softer, kinder.
It sounded a bit like forgiveness. Or was Joel hearing things through the filter of misguided hope?
Joel finally met the man’s eyes. “You’re right. That’s a lot of time. Life’s moved on for all of us, and I’m just glad for the chance to be back, however long that is. Chief, I’m not sure how much you remember about how I was as a teen—”
“Enough.” Wheeler grinned. The chief had been a regular fireman back then, and in a town where everyone knew everyone, Joel was aware that despite the buffer of fourteen years, some of his troubled past was still common knowledge in Goose Harbor.
“I’m not that kid anymore. I hope you know that.”
“I wouldn’t have hired you if I thought you were.” The chief tugged a manila folder from the stack on his desk. “Speaking of which, I wanted to talk to you about the employee information form I asked you to fill out.”
Joel gripped the armrest. Please don’t ask about Charlie. Charlie Greave had saved Joel’s life, let him live with his family while Joel
