Prolouge: Present Day
Prologue: Present Day
Malcolm MacKenzie was sleeping soundly when his phone rang. It was 4 AM, and he’d just completed 48 hours at the Firehouse, no way were they calling him back in! He rolled over and checked the phone, he groaned when he saw the name on the screen.
MOM
Malcolm sat up and grabbed the phone. He would always answer the phone for his mom, day, or night. Being a firefighter Malcolm knew that one could never really know why someone might be calling in the middle of the night, but he had a feeling he knew what this call was going to be about, but he refused to take his assumptions for granted.
“Hello,” he answered groggily.
“Malcolm? Did I wake you? I thought you were on night shift…” Skye spoke softly.
“No Mom, I worked a 48, but I just got home a couple of hours ago,” Malcolm exhaled, she hadn’t called to give him bad news, he was grateful, but now began the nagging that came with each of Skye’s calls, “What are you doing up so early, Mom?”
“Oh well, I’m glad you asked,” Skye’s thick Scottish accent washed over Malcolm, making him homesick.
“The Fire Chief, Anthony…you remember Anthony, right?” She barely paused for confirmation before continuing, “Well he has decided that our town is big enough to employ a full-time fire crew, but literally all of the current volunteer firefighters haven’t got an interest in being full-time firefighters. So, Anthony is looking to recruit others from all over the State, and he specifically asked about you!”
Malcolm’s sleepiness began to dissipate with each word his mother spoke. He’d been feeling worn and missing home for a while now. Maybe this was the answer he’d been searching for.
“Well?” Skye asked. Malcolm realized she’d stopped talking and was waiting for an answer.
“Oh! Right, umm, that sounds interesting mom, why don’t you give Anthony my number and have him give me a call. I have the next 3 days off.”
“Perfect! I’ll let him know, I love you Malcolm, and I really miss you,” Skye’s voice trailed off sadly.
“I know mom. I miss you all too, speak to you later,” Malcolm ended the call.
On one hand, he’d been correct about the purpose of the call, his mom had been trying to get him to move back home for almost ten years, but he had been so reluctant to go, but he didn’t really understand why. Hell, Malcolm hadn’t even been back for holidays.
He thought back to the day he left when he and his brothers had left…
