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Fire and Lace
Fire and Lace follows the relationship of a young fireman and medical school student, Tommy McMichael, and a strikingly beautiful young woman, Aliana Kossarides. Casual acquaintances initially, Tommy and Al's story begins with his trying to get past his doubts and ask for that first date and progresses through the smooth sailing and the choppy waters most relationships encounter. Chapter 1 - A Nudge Reluctant to ask Aliana for a date because he doesn’t think he measures up to her expectations, Tommy gets some surprising advice from an even more surprising source. Chapter 2 - Crash and Burn He asks, she says no, and Tommy is understandably dejected. His friends however, bring him to see rejection not so much as an ending, but rather a beginning … an opportunity to show that he has the "right stuff.”
Chapter 3 - Trust An elegant first date ... an expensive restaurant, a striking couple, and an unusual conversation … at least for a first date. Chapter 4 - Equality Several couples meet at a popular “watering hole” after softball practice. The conversation gravitates to the question of the equality of the sexes and Tommy hasn’t much to say. And Aliana wonders why.
Chapter 5 - Mirages Delivering some “goodies” to the firehouse for an upcoming party, Aliana and her best friend Denise come across Tommy perusing some “classical art.” Disappointed at his choice of “reading material” Aliana enlightens Tommy as to what’s behind the mirages before his eyes.
Probably one of the three greatest nightmares a young man can face is for the father of the young woman he’s dating to come looking for him in bar. Why … two reasons. One, dad thinks he's hurt his daughter, and two, dad knows his way around the business end of a shotgun. Aliana’s dad comes looking for Tommy in his favorite tavern … and as Tommy lowers his glass, his blood pressure rises ... sharply.
Spending a rare evening alone with Aliana, Tommey encounters a young woman who is as hard as rock, and cold as ice. And Aliana explains to him, why. Chapter 8 – Shacking Up Curious about the things he doesn’t know about Aliana, Tommy wonders whether he might learn more about her by "playing house." A conversation with his boss however, leads him to wonder if it's not so much Ward and June Cleaver at the dinner table he’s thinking of emulating, but rather Rover and Fifi on the front lawn. Chapter 9 - Tests Studying for a chemistry exam, Aliana spontaneously shows up at the firehouse needing to talk. She makes a request of Tommy; one that is a test … a harder test than the one in the chemistry lab on Monday. You see, tests like this didn’t end in the Garden of Eden. Chapter 10 – Poison Softball practice is over, the ladies meet at a favorite after practice spot, and the guys are nowhere in sight. So it’s a rare girls night out and the conversation turns to a friend who’s been dumped... and dumped hard. And it leads Aliana to wonder if it’s because women today are being fed the same poison men are. Chapter 11 – Role Model After a baptism ceremony at a beautiful old church, Aliana and her friend Denise linger to talk. It seems that Denise is dissatisfied with the direction her life is taking and realizes she wants what Aliana’s got. Chapter 12 – Example It's "meet the parents" night, at least for Aliana, and she and Tommy are waiting for his folks. Understandably nervous, she wants to know what Tommy’s Dad is like. Tommy’s answer leads him to a wonderful realization.
Chapter 13 – Love Fifty percent of all marriages end in divorce, yet all the guys in Tommy’s orbit have been married for 20, 30, 40 years or more, and all seem very happy. And Tommy wants to know why. Chapter 14 – Pop the Question How does a guy know when to pop the question? A conversation with his boss and friend “Crazy Pat” sheds considerable light on the matter. Chapter 15 – Aliana Knows Attending a church celebration of married couples, Aliana encounters an unexpected and somewhat extraordinary group of angels … messengers who bring her to realize exactly what Tommy means to her. Chapter 16 – Bling Tommy's made a decision and it’s time to buy Aliana a ring. At a close friend’s jewelry shop Tommy gets an education he didn’t anticipate and a bargain he didn’t expect. And he appreciates both. Returning to the firehouse, Crazy Pat is impressed with the ring. All is set for popping “the big question” tonight … there’s just that matter of a pesky grass fire in the median out on the interstate. “Maybe it’s just what I need to get rid of the 'pre-fight' jitters” Tommy laughs, pulling on his boots and protective gear … Chapter 17 – Victimless It wasn’t a grass fire. Two minutes out, Company Five was redirected to a blaze in an “abandoned” warehouse. Hearing what he thinks are the cries of a child, Tommy bounds up the stairs only to have a wall collapse and the ceiling fall on him. Tonight, everyone was expecting to hear Aliana say ...“Yes” … not the hospital’s public address system blare … “Code Blue….” Chapter 18 – Miracles Late at night in the hospital cafeteria, the neighborhood gang clusters around a couple of tables littered with empty coffee cups. You get the feeling they believe that by sticking around they can will Tommy through this. And the conversation turns to some strange occurrences that has them wondering …
Andy Dawson, the son of a former firefighter at Company 5 is afflicted with Down Syndrome. And he is agitated. You see, Tommy is his best friend and Andy needs to talk to him. Things aren’t so good at the firehouse and Andy needs to talk about the situation … after all; he’s been talking to God for the last few days. Chapter 20 – Garnets A young friend surprises Aliana by her appearance. Both young women, needing a break, decide to treat themselves to lunch and some shopping … a girl’s day out. And both, dealing with their own ‘dark night of the soul,’ find beauty, solace, and meaning in something most others overlook. Chapter 21 – Proposal Tommy’s on the mend and today is discharge day. But first the party … or should I say parties. One at the hospital for their favorite patient, and one at the firehouse to welcome him home. A feast is to be celebrated … and a question to be asked Chapter 22 – Obey Society chased this word out of the wedding vows. And since it did, marriage has been crippled; probably because people have lost sight of its real meaning. Tommy thinks maybe it’s time to put the word back. What could be a happier occurrence than the wedding of two people a whole neighborhood loves? Join us in one of St. Katie's pews. Chapter 24 – Reception and Honeymoon Nick Kossarides is very protective of his girls. Especially Aliana. And young Andy Dawson makes an innocent remark that normally would bring, at the very least, a nasty scowl to Nick’s face. But this time … it brings a smile. |
Copyright 2009 Three Angels Publishing |