Michelle gave him a puzzled look. "We? Are?"
Mike nodded and explained. "Station 51 is getting a new engine. It's being donated so there's a small catch. We have to go to New York to pick it up and drive it back to Los Angeles, We'll also be making some stops at schools along the way. Dick Friend is going and a couple of other firemen. I thought you'd join me for the trip out, maybe leave a day early, enjoy the city. Then you can stay a few more days if you like... just as long as you're here to greet me and my new rig when I get back."
Michelle hesitated slightly.
"Come on," Mike urged. "It will be fun... like a pre-wedding honeymoon."
New York
"This view is amazing." Michelle was looking from their hotel room window on the tenth floor.
Mike watched her shift slightly. "It sure is," he observed. Mike came up behind her slipping his arms around her waist and nuzzling her neck.
Michelle turned in his arms. "We didn't have to come to New York to do this," she teased. They kissed anyway.
When they pulled apart Mike asked, "What do you want to do today?"
Michelle shrugged. "You decide. You're the one leaving tomorrow morning. "
Mike thought. "Let's have lunch in Chinatown. And then how about the Central Park Zoo?" Michelle was nodding. "Oh, and you know what I'd really love to do?" he continued. "I would love to go to the New York Improv. See the new comedians, maybe take Chet some new material."
Mike was beaming with excitement as he and Michelle sat at a table at the comedy club. Mike was running down a list of famous comedians who'd gotten their start "on that very stage". He paused in his chatter to give a waitress their drink order. "You never know we might be seeing the next big name tonight." Mike ran his hand over her hair. "I'm so glad you came with me." He retracted his arm when the server came back. She set down a beer for Mike and an orange juice for Michelle.
"Can I get you anything else?" she inquired.
"You hungry," Mike asked Michelle.
Michelle shook her head. The waitress departed.
Mike reached into his pants pocket and retrieved a slip of paper, the fortune he had gotten at the restaurant where they had had lunch. For some reason he had suggested they wait until later to read their fortunes. " Now seems like a good time." He unfolded the paper. "Look no further than right next to you," Mike read.
"Look no further for what?"
Mike leaned in close. "For love. Happiness. Whatever."
Michelle chuckled. "Don't take a message from a cookie too seriously," she warned.
Mike whispered in her ear. "I don't. I've known this since the day we met." He sat up and looked into her eyes. She returned the gaze. Finally, Mike said, "What's yours say?" Michelle rolled her eyes. "Come on," Mike implored. "Just for fun."
Michelle reached into the small zippered compartment of her purse for her slip of paper. "Oh, how terribly cliche'."
"What is it?"
"It says you will meet a tall, dark, stranger," she read in her best impression of Natasha Fatale.
The couple continued to enjoy the club and each other. They did not know that they were being observed.
The young comedian watched the Stokers' interaction. His friends were watching him. "Uh...uh... uh. She's too old for you, man," one said.
"Not to mention too engaged," said another. "Look at that rock on her hand."
He continued to watch. "Those two are so in love."
**********************************************************
The morning air was crisp. Michelle stood beside Mike checking out the brand new Ward LeFrance engine. Dick Friend was nearby talking with the press about the pending cross country public relations tour.
Mike turned to Michelle. "Isn't she a beauty?"
"She sure is," Michelle agreed.
"Almost as beautiful as you," Mike told her.
Michelle slapped at him playfully. "She's sure a lot bigger than the crown."
"Best part is," Mike added. "Closed cab. No more riding out in the open."
Dick Friend was still talking. "Mike Stoker, one the best engineers in the LA County Fire Department will be breakin' her in on this 3000 mile test run." . Dick added that Fireman Stoker had his fiancee there to see him off.
"Hey, you two, how about giving each other a kiss for our audience," a reporter requested.
Michelle rolled her eyes. "Kissing on command. My favorite."
Mike laughed. "Let's give the people what they want," he said bobbing his eyebrows. With that he took Michelle in his arms, bent her backwards and kissed her passionately.
Her long hair caught by the breeze Michelle brought her arms around Mike and shared the moment enthusiastically. It was reminiscent of the sailor kissing the nurse at the end of WWII. Everyone who had gathered applauded.
**************************
Inside an apartment the television droned with the report of the impending trip of the Ward LeFrance from New York to Los Angeles.
"Are you just getting in?"
"Yeah. I didn't get on stage."
"You will tonight."
He leaned over to catch sight of the farewell between Mike Stoker and his fiancee, recognizing them as the very much in love couple from the Improv the night before.
*************************************************
Mike and Michelle broke the kiss. "I'll call from the road." Mike told her. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
They kissed again before Mike climbed into the cab of the Ward. The engine pulled away with blasts from the air horn. Michelle waited until the engine was out sight before walking away.
Michelle returned to the hotel to relax a bit. She and Mike had had a late night and a very early morning. Not much sleep for either of them and Mike had to drive. She lay on the bed and did not realize she had fallen asleep until the phone ringing woke her. "Hello."
"Hey, gorgeous."
Michelle sat up. "Mike! Where are you?"
"A grade school in Upper Darby Pennsylvania."
"Upper Darby, Pennsylvania?"
"Yeah, You know Dick Friend... only the major cities." He and Michelle laughed.
"So, do you love the new rig? How's she handling?"
"She's giving me a great ride," Mike told her. "Although, you still might have to massage my..."
"Mike!"
Making a quick subject change Mike asked, "So what are you going to do today?"
"I haven't really decided. I'd like to visit the United Nations. Go to Greenwich Village. I don't know what I'll do tonight, though."
"Why don't you go back to that comedy club," Mike suggested. "You really had a great time there."
"I may just do that."
"Well, I've gotta go. Kids waiting to see our presentation." There was a pause. "I miss you already."
"We'll see each other in four days. That's not so long."
"It is when all you've got to look at is Dick Friend. You get a tall dark stranger," he joked and Michelle heard Dick's voice saying, "Hey, I resemble that remark."
**********************************************
Following Mike's suggestion Michelle found herself at the New York Improv later that evening. She entered stopping at the bar to order her usual orange juice. Taking her drink she made her way to a table. She wasn't seated two minutes when she was accosted. "My compliments to your breasts."
Michelle ignored him.
"I'm Ricardo and I'm the answer to all your prayers."
The exchange was witnessed by the young comedian from the night before. He started for the table his friend following telling him it was none of his business. As he arrived at the table his friend threw up his hands and returned to where their other friends were seated.
"Hey, amigo," he got the accoster's attention and proceeded to tell him in Spanish how he was putting his life in danger. Final line was, "Su novio es un linebacker."
Ricardo made a hasty retreat, leaving Michelle looking up at a grinning young comedian.
"I could have handled that."
He was not fazed. "You really should leave those at home." He indicated her chest.
"I would but they don't like to be left alone."
The young man laughed. "Well, if you must bring them with you you really shouldn't sit by yourself. Come on and join us."
Before Michelle could say that she'd rather not he had picked up her glass and her purse and was heading towards his companions, one of whom turned to the rest and said, "I can't believe he just did that."
Someone else said. "I can."
Michelle caught up with her belongings.
"Nice, purse, Freddie," someone at the table commented. He quickly handed it to Michelle.
Setting the glass on the table he said, "This is a friend of mine.. uh.. uh." It was then he realized he didn't know her name. Michelle folded her arms and with an almost satisfied smirk looked up at him. The two held a silent communication for several seconds. "Come on," he begged through his teeth.
"No, I think you're doing just fine." Michelle stifled a laugh. Those at the table did not. There were more seconds of his silent pleading and her amusement. Finally, she turned to those present and said, "I'm Michelle."
Freddie reacted by singing, "Michelle, ma belle..."
Like Michelle had never heard that one before.
With one hand Freddie pulled back a chair. With the other he practically pushed a startled Michelle into a sitting position. "I'm about to go on."
Michelle listened as a host introduced the young man then watched in dismay as he drank half of the juice in her glass before heading to the stage.
Any annoyance Michelle was feeling soon gave way to laughter. The young man was funny. And upon returning to the table his first words to her were, "Did you like it?"
******************************************************************
Michelle kicked off her shoes right inside the hotel room door. Another very late night. Considering sleeping in the clothes she wore she made a dive for the bed.
Ring!!!
"Hello?"
"Hey, beautiful, you're finally back."
"Mike, where are you? Why aren't you sleeping?"
"I was. And I could ask you the same thing except I know. You just got in from the Improv. Laughter is addicting. So, did you have a good time?"
Michelle proceeded to tell Mike of her slightly bizarre encounter. Mike laughed. "You need to learn to heed the words of the great Chinese bakers."
Michelle was puzzled for a moment then realized what her fiance was talking about. "My fortune said I was going to meet a tall, dark, stranger," she informed him. "Not someone who is tall and strange. Mike, go back to sleep."
"Goodnight. Have pretty dreams."
Michelle awoke late, managed a shower and had thrown on some comfortable sweats when the phone rang.
"Michelle, it's Tammy. I've got a problem." Tammy was in charge of the business end at the charity co-op while Michelle managed the creative end.
"Hi, Michelle. How's New York?" Michelle asked semi-sarcastically.
"Sorry," Tammy apologized. "How's New York?"
"It's been interesting," Michelle admitted, then relented, "What's the problem?"
"Look, it's not that we are helpless or anything but you do handle the creative stuff and this is a creative problem." Tammy proceeded to tell her that a client didn't care for the flyer that was designed in her absence and was insisting that Michelle redo it but then it wouldn't be done in time.
Michelle was explaining how the client charity was a difficult one and if they thought she had created the flyer they would be happy, when there was a knock at the door and a voice saying, "Room service."
"My breakfast is here," Michelle told Tammy and kept talking as she went to the door and opened it. She was only half paying attention when she said, "Just set the tray on the table." She returned to her conversation with Tammy. "Just make those couple changes in the wording and assure them that I redid the whole thing." She listened to Tammy's response while reaching for a pen to sign the room service ticket. "What are you doing here?"
"We're talking about flyers remember?" Tammy said.
"Not you," Michelle said into the phone. "Look, do what I suggested." She threw a glare to the 'waiter'. "I've got to go." She dropped the receiver into the cradle. "I repeat what are you doing here?" Michelle asked the smiling young man who was now sitting at the table inspecting her food.
"I got the tray from the guy in the hall." He dumped the provided brown sugar into the bowl of oatmeal. "No milk?"
"I'm a vegan. And why are you here?"
He tasted the cereal.
"Besides molesting my breakfast."
Freddie leaned back in the chair. "Last night you said you didn't know what you were going to do today."
Michelle stepped forward and took her bagel from his hand. "Yes, I did say that. But I don't recall saying I wanted to spend it with you."
He leaned forward. "But you didn't say you didn't either. I know this great place...." The kid was unstoppable.
The phone rang again. "Michelle, it's Tammy. Please call Cat's Haven. They aren't believing the story about you doing the flyer."
Michelle rolled her eyes. "Alright," she said in a tired way. Tammy gave her a number which she scribbled. Michelle disconnected from her colleague then dialed. "This is Michelle from Cooperative Charities. Yes, I really redid the flyer. I gave all the changes to... Yes, I know it's important to you. It's important to us. Yes, I will be back in Los Angeles in time for the actual event.... New York is lovely. You too." Another roll of the eyes and Michelle hung up and flopped on the bed.
Freddie joined her on the bed receiving a cold stare. "So where are we going?"
*******************************************************
Three a.m. How did she get talked into yesterday anyway? This time she didn't even kick off her shoes before falling into the bed. She was somewhere between wake and sleep when the phone rang.
"Michelle, I've been calling all night." Mike sounded frantic. "Where have you been?"
Michelle's mouth seemed to go on auto. "The MOMA, Little Italy, Rockefeller Center, Washington Heights..."
"Washington Heights?" Mike interrupted
"And the Improv," Michelle continued as if Mike had said nothing. "Oh, and Washington Heights."
"You already said that."
"I was there twice."
"Besides, what's in Washington Heights?"
"Slums with trees," Michelle replied groggily."
Mike shook off the confusion. "You sleep. Explain it to me in the morning or rather later."
"Hmm mm," Michelle agreed her eyes closing. Unfortunately, she managed to get the receiver into the cradle.
The phone again startled her awake. "You forget something?"
"Yeah, I forgot to tell you I need you to come to the Improv tomorrow night. I've got a new bit you gotta hear."
"Freddie?"
"Yeah. You can make it can't you? You don't leave until the day after." The was silence on the line as Michelle drifted toward slumber. "Michelle...Michelle," a little louder. Then finally, and very sweetly, "Michelle, ma belle..."
"Hmm?"
"You'll be there tomorrow night?"
"If I say yes will you hang up."
"Yes."
"Yes."
Click. Dial tone.
Michelle was awakened hours later by the phone ringing. She hadn't remembered actually hanging up on her end but she must have.
"Good morning, sunshine."
Michelle smiled at the sound of Mike's voice but said, "Speak for yourself."
"Maybe you should just stay in today and rest," Mike suggested.
"I'd love to but I think I promised Freddie I'd go to the club and hear some new routine he came up with between the time he dropped me at the hotel and got home."
"Well, at least you've had some company. I admit I was worried about you being there on your own."
"I'm a big girl, Mike."
"I know. But anyway the improv shouldn't be til much later. You can just hang out at the hotel this afternoon."
There was a knock at the door and Michelle told Mike not to bet on it.
Another day in Washington Heights. And then it was off to the Improv.
Freddie was in rare form on stage. He spoke of a new friend of his who should have been a cheerleader 'cause she came equipped with her own pom-poms. There were several more jokes of that nature before he changed subject.
"What'd you think? You know that new bit?" he asked upon returning to the table.
Michelle smiled. "It was very funny. But, you know, the person you were talking about would probably be pretty upset."
Someone else at the table leaned to a friend beside him. "She's got to be putting him on?"
"I don't know," was the response. "She doesn't seem to know she's... you know."
"No, she's messin' with him. She's got to be."
The last thing Michelle remembered was leaning her head against the window of the taxicab. When her eyes popped open it was daylight and she was on a couch, a pillow under her head, a blanket covering her. Damn! She recognized her surroundings. She was in Washington Heights. She sat up and finding her purse on the floor beside her she made a hasty exit from the apartment, taking a cab back to her hotel.
Her phone was ringing when she entered her room.
"Where...the...hell...have.... you been?" Mike was doing his best to keep calm. "I have made Dick and the guys crazy stopping every half hour to call you. Do you realize you haven't been there all night? Do you have any idea how scared I've been?"
"What do you want me to answer first?"
"Take your pick," Mike said flatly. Then he turned to his companions. "I found her."
"Okay," Michelle stammered. Before she could even try to explain there was a frantic knocking at the door. Michelle looked upward. "Oh, no." She carried the phone to the door with her. When she opened it Freddie about charged into the room.
"How could you take off without saying anything. You had me scared to death."
Michelle was tired physically and emotionally. "I'm going to let you two talk to each other." She handed the receiver to Freddie. "Here, introduce yourself to Mike. Tell him where I was last night. And maybe tell both of us why?" She retreated to the bathroom. When she emerged about ten minutes later Freddie returned the phone to her.
"I'll see you later at the club."
Taking the phone Michelle shook her head. "No, I'm not going tonight."
His eyes gleamed. "Yes, you will." He left her room.
Michelle put the phone to her ear. "Mike?"
No preamble Mike said, "I told him to let you rest this afternoon."
"I wish you'd told him to let me rest tonight."
"He's lonely."
"Lonely! Mike are you kidding me? You ought to see the group that hangs with him."
"That just means he's not alone. You know that." He heard Michelle's tired sigh. "Go to the Improv tonight. Come on you're leaving town tomorrow."
"Alright," Michelle relented, only because she was thinking about seeing Mike again.
"Oh," Mike continued. "He didn't mean to upset you. And he apologized for worrying me." There was a pause and Michelle heard Dick Friend say something in the background. "Gotta run. I'll call you tonight."
***********************************************************
"I'll bet you miss LA," someone at the table was saying.
"Mostly, I miss Mike," Michelle responded.
"I hear he calls you at least twice a day," someone else said.
"He does. But it's not quite the same long distance."
Freddie came up behind her. "The next best thing to being there," he joked before sitting beside her.
"I think it's terribly sweet," observed a young woman at the table.
Freddie looked thoughtful. "Really."
"Yes," she added. "That way they get to say good morning and good night. I'd miss a guy like that too."
"Well, what I've been also been missing a lot of on this trip is sleep," Michelle told the group as they all looked at Freddie who looked up innocently. "I'm going to call it a night." She rose from her chair. "It's been fun. It was nice meeting everyone."
Freddie rose and walked out with her. "That poor girl," observed someone at the table. "She thinks after tonight she's rid of him."
*************************************************************
"Just a few hours now," Mike told Michelle the next morning. "Remember to meet us at the maintenance hub. They're going to go over the rig again before putting it at 51."
"I'll be there."
"If you're really early maybe Charlie can entertain you."
"I've had enough entertainment for one week."
"See you soon," Mike said. "Have a safe flight."
Michelle reviewed her day's schedule in her head. Check out time was noon. Her flight was at two which gave her plenty of time to get to the airport. She ate a leisurely (and undisturbed) breakfast in her room, had a nice long shower, got all her stuff packed and just laid back until time to leave. She grabbed her suitcase and exited the room. "Ahh!" She jumped about ten feet in the air. "What," she began. "No. I'm not even going ask." She started down the hall.
Freddie followed her. "Come on, you can't take a plane without someone to see you off."
*****************************************************
Michelle sat in the airport listening to Freddie's chatter. After what seemed like forever her flight was announced. She bounced to her feet. "Well, that's me. It was nice meeting you. And thank you for showing me New York."
"Are you going to miss me?" He was grinning at her.
Michelle shook her head. *"Gott in himmel, du machs mir meshuga."
"You were probably crazy before you met me," Freddie told her without missing a beat. Michelle just stood there dumbfounded. "Come on, you're going miss me. You are. Say it. You're going to miss me."
Michelle found her voice. "What I'm going to miss is my plane."
"I know you're going to miss me."
*******************************************************
Michelle landed in Los Angeles and was picked up at the airport by her sister Bev. Bev drove them to the maintenance hub. While they waited for the Ward's arrival they had coffee and talked. Soon the new rig arrived providing its own fanfare. Mike leaped from the cab to greet Michelle. The two kissed for some time.
"I missed you so much," Mike said.
"Me too."
"Me too." That was Bev.
"Hey, Bev," Mike greeted his future sister-in-law. "What do you think of the rig?" he asked her.
"It's big," Bev told him.
"Hope you're talking about the engine," one of the other firemen said.
"Well, Jeff and I are taking you two to dinner," Bev informed them. Jeff and Bev had been married for less than a year.
On the way to Bev's car Mike asked Michelle, "Can you take another day off?"
"I suppose. Why?"
"Well, I'd really like to spend the day together. I'd actually like to go house hunting."
"I think that sounds great."
This time Bev rolled her eyes. Were she and Jeff that goofy before they got married?
Mike and Michelle spent the next day looking at houses... and they found one they liked, three bedrooms, each with an en suite bathroom, plus a half bath off the very nice kitchen.
****************************************************
The next morning before going to Cooperative Charities Michelle stopped by Station 51. Captain Stanley, Mike, Marco and Chet were out back admiring the new addition to their station. Soon John and Roy arrived. "Isn't she a beauty?" Mike asked them.
The alarm sounded and Captain Stanley invited the paramedics to hang on to the back of the engine and help break her in. Michelle watched the rig go down the street then headed for her own office.
******************************************************
Michelle was sorting through some papers that had accumulated on her desk in her absence when Tammy entered her space. "Have you looked at your messages?"
"I'll get to them."
Tammy started to leave then turned back. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure."
"Correct me if I'm wrong. But aren't you engaged to that really good-looking fireman from station 51?"
Michelle looked puzzled. "You know I am."
Tammy picked a stack of pink message slip from the corner of the desk. "Then who is this Freddie who keeps calling?"
*Yiddish for G-d in heaven, you make me crazy.