She gave a little wave. “Hey.”
Titus introduced the two unfamiliar faces first. “This is Brenden Nguyen and Kurt Amsler.”
Each nodded as Titus said his name.
Brenden spoke. “Are you Tessa Blythe’s sister?”
“I am. You know Tessa?”
“Not really, but my sister goes to Harmswood, and I know Tessa’s the dean of library studies over there.”
Jenna smiled. She was proud of her sister. “She is.”
Kurt came over to get the doughnuts, taking the boxes from Titus and Jenna. He gave her a longer-than-usual look, then glanced at Titus. “Three dozen today? Does that mean you have bad news?”
Titus shook his head. “Third dozen is from the deputy.”
“Hey, thanks,” Frank said. “We always run out of doughnuts too fast.”
“Not today,” Jenna said.
Titus hung his keys on a pegboard by the door. “If you have time to lean, you have time to clean. Trucks need washing. Floors need mopping. Toilets need scrubbing. Let’s get the doors open. Don’t make me find work for you to do. Breakfast in thirty.”
Liam raised his hand, his smirk hard to ignore. “Chief, one question.”
“Yes?” Titus said.
Liam glanced at Jenna. “Are we allowed to keep our shirts on?”
Titus laughed while Jenna rolled her eyes. “Until Real American Firefighters starts filming here, shirts will remain on. Now get moving.”
And just like that, the men scattered with a chorus of “Yes, Chief,” and “On it, Chief.”
Jenna snorted. “It’s good to be the boss.”
“Takes a lot to keep this place running right.” He went over to a rack on the wall and took down two aprons. He threw one to her. “Put this on. We have work of our own to do, Deputy.”
“You Merrows are all alike. So bossy.” But she put it on all the same. Maybe happy to hide her T-shirt for a little while.
“You can always leave.” Grinning, he tied his, then headed for the big stainless-steel fridge that looked like an industrial version. He yanked the door open and started collecting ingredients.
“You need help?”
“Sure. Take these.” He handed her two dozen eggs and a big package each of sausages and bacon. He came out with two gallons of milk in one hand and a gallon of orange juice in the other. “You can put those on the counter.”
“What else can I do?”
“Bowls are in the big cabinet against the wall. We need three big ones. Get the set of measuring cups, plus the big Pyrex one with the handle. And the cookie sheets.”
While she did that, he got the rest of the ingredients together.
Before long, things were cooking, and delicious smells were filling the space. While he poured pancake batter onto the griddle and fried the bacon, she made more coffee, checked on the biscuits, and turned the sausages. They took turns stirring the eggs and watching the home fries.
Jam, butter, and syrup made it to the big table, along with stacks of plates, utensils, juice glasses, and coffee mugs.
Finally, Titus added a few more pancakes to a big stack, then nodded at her. “Go ahead and ring the bell.”
“Bell?” She looked around. “That one by the door?”
“Yep.”
She went over and gave the clapper a few good rings. The peal rang out over the station, and within a few seconds, the men started returning.
They filled in around the table and began loading their plates with food.
She took her seat beside Titus and helped herself to a pancake and some bacon, the two things closest to her.
The phone rang.
Kurt jumped up. “I got it.”
He answered the old-fashioned black phone on the wall. “Nocturne Falls Fire Department. Yes, she’s right here.” He looked at Jenna. “It’s for you, Deputy. It’s Birdie, down at the sheriff’s department. She says it’s important.”
“Thanks.” Jenna got up and immediately pulled her phone out of her back pocket. She’d had it on silent and had missed two calls, both from Birdie. “Rats,” she muttered.
She went to the phone on the wall, taking the receiver from Kurt. “Hi, Birdie. Sorry I missed your calls. I was helping Titus make breakfast for the guys at the station.”
“How nice! Well, I’m sorry to interrupt your domestic bliss, but a woman just came in here looking for you. She says she’s only in town for a few days and thought you worked here and wanted to get in touch with you. She says she’s an old friend and that you go all the way back to something called battle camp? Said you served together?”
Jenna’s memories of those days came flooding back. They were good times. Battle camp had provided some of her favorite moments growing up. Her time in service had been harder, but the friendships she’d formed had helped. “Was it Ingvar Swenson?”
“Yes, how did you know? Beautiful girl, although—”
Jenna interrupted to answer the first question. “Ingvar is an old friend. She contacted my mom, trying to find me a day or so ago. I can’t believe she’s here. I haven’t seen her in ages. Did she leave a number?”
“She did. But, Deputy, I have to say, even if she is a friend of yours, she gave off a slightly creepy vibe.”
Jenna laughed. “That’s Ingvar. She’s a seer. They tend to be a little different. Seers are kind of the ancient Norse version of a witch. They also do some healing work.” Now that Ingvar was in town, she might be able to help figure out the spell that had been cast over her and Titus. “Let me guess. Was it the raven’s claw necklace or the tuft of cat fur in her hair that got your attention first?”
“Ugh.” Birdie sniffed. “Is that what that fuzzy headband was? I thought I smelled cat. I’ll text you her number, although she said she already had yours. She was just hoping to surprise you.”
“Thanks. Did
