L is for Love

By

Jane Royce

Joanne smiled as she enjoyed the heat of the shower she was enjoying. It had been a week since Roy had been at home at night and she enjoyed the warmth of her man sleeping soundly beside her.

When they first met in high school, she had dreamt of what married life would be like with Roy. There had been no doubt in her mind when she first met Roy, that he was 'the one'. She fell instantly in love and all of her friends used to tease her about it. 'How can you know Joanne, you're too young and you've never had a boyfriend before' was a common line. Somehow, she just knew.

When they married, Joanne knew that Roy was fire department bound. He had jumped at the opportunity to apply for the service when they announced the need for new recruits. Joanne knew the dangers but hid her fears as her man went off to work daily. She enjoyed the commaraderie of the other wives who all knew what their husbands did for a living. Each wife vowed to help another when there was trouble, injury or fear. It was a network of women who were available to one another, a system of friendship and support that would prove to be so necessary in Joanne's life.

Becoming a paramedic may not have been on Roy's mind when he joined the fire department but when he made that change, it gave Joanne great relief. 'He wouldn't be in as many fires' she thought, but she proved wrong. His job was the same but now had more added duties and responsibilities. Joanne was proud, proud of the man she married, proud of the man he continued to become and proud to be his wife.