Married To Fire

Chapter 4: Showing Concern

         Arriving home around four thirty in the morning, fumbling with the keys and a twelve-hour shift behind her, Shelby makes her way up to the bedroom. Braden is passed out on the bed, his hand on his chest with the remote underneath and his other hand behind his head. Smiling, looking over at the TV playing ESPN—the usual. Keanu's lying at the foot of the bed seeing Shelby, his tail moves back and forth rapidly.

          "Shh," Shelby smiles, scratching his head and changing her clothes. She finally climbs in the bed around five in the morning.

          "Mm, what time is it?" Braden says sleepily.

          "Shh," Shelby shushes him, pulling the comforter over her, "early."

          Braden instantly falls back to sleep.

          "Good morning," Braden eyes Shelby as she walks into the kitchen the next morning. 

          "Good morning," she repeats.

          "Do you want milk, juice, or coffee?"

          "Coffee please," she answers, sitting at the table, pulling one leg up against her chest and letting the other dangle.

          Nodding his head, he grabs a mug and pours her a cup of coffee, putting in the right amount of sugar and creamer before handing it back to her.

          "Thank you."

          "You're welcome," Braden smiles finishing breakfast, setting a plate down in front of Shelby and himself.

          "We should do something tonight, dinner or something?"

          "Whatever you want babe," he says. "I have to be at work at twelve."

          "You work?" Shelby looks at him oddly. Braden not usually working two days in a row.

          "Yeah, Cooper is out sick, so they are one man down."

           "Oh," Shelby pokes at her food a bit. "Well, do you want to go to that new Indian place near the firehouse then?"

          "We can. You okay?"

          "Mhm," Shelby smiles. "I just don't like you working two days in a row, you know?"

          "Babe."

          "I know, I know. You're fine," she looks at him. "You've been doing this forever. You were born to do this," Shelby repeating all the things Braden normally tells her.

          "Shelb."

          "What?"

          "You knew what you were signing up for when you said yes to my proposal."

          "Stop," Shelby laughs. "This has nothing to do with you being apart of the fire department. It has to do with the fact that you work hard and in a dangerous job and working thirty-six hours so close together is not safe."

          "I know," sliding his hand on hers on the table. "But I mean it is part of the job."

          "I know. Just don't do anything stupid please."

          "I never have."

          "You married me," Shelby smirks.  

          "That wasn't a stupid decision whatsoever," he winks at her.