The Fireman's Wife by Richard Bausch
"The Fireman's Wife" by Richard Bausch explores the complex emotional landscape of Jane, the wife of a firefighter named Martin. Set against the backdrop of an unnamed Illinois city on a September evening, the narrative unfolds during a gathering with old friends, highlighting Jane's feelings of isolation as she navigates her role within the group. After a game of Risk, Jane engages in a deeper conversation with Milly, who questions Jane's apparent unhappiness in her marriage.
As the story progresses, Jane grapples with her desire for a child while reflecting on her relationship with Martin, which reaches a critical point after a tragic event at work leaves Martin injured and mourning the loss of his friend Wally. The aftermath of this trauma forces Jane to confront her feelings and the nature of her commitment to Martin. Ultimately, she decides to stay with him temporarily during his recovery, discovering a profound love within herself as she cares for him. The story poignantly examines themes of marital struggle, emotional intimacy, and the transformative power of love amidst adversity.
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The Fireman's Wife by Richard Bausch
First published: 1989
Type of plot: Psychological, domestic realism
Time of work: The 1980's
Locale: A city in Illinois
Principal Characters:
Martin , a firefighterJane , his wifeTeddy Lynch , andWally Harmon , firefightersMilly , Wally's wife
The Story
"The Fireman's Wife" unfolds from the point of view of Jane, the firefighter's wife. It is a September evening in an unnamed Illinois city. Jane and her husband, Martin, are at home, entertaining their friends Wally Harmon and Teddy Lynch, also firefighters, and Wally's wife, Milly, who is expecting a baby soon. All are old friends and native to the area except Jane, who feels somewhat of an outsider.
After dinner, Martin proposes a game of Risk, which all but Jane have played for years. Jane resists, claiming a headache and concerned about the lateness of the hour. However, Martin insists. As preparations are made for the game, Milly mentions a dream she had the night before about her pregnancy. Milly's dream prompts others to recount particularly vivid recent dreams of their own: Jane of fishing with her father, who had in fact died when she was a baby; Wally of drowning and, paradoxically, having to be the one to break the news to his wife; and Teddy of being shot and falling on concrete.
Jane and Milly are the first to lose and leave the game. They retire inside the house to converse. Milly talks about her pregnancy and about how uneasy her husband's dream mak.es her and then probes Jane's moodiness. Jane is defensive and claims she just has a headache. However, Milly suggests that perhaps Jane is unhappy in her marriage, feeling trapped and angry.
Jane does not commit herself one way or the other. However, there are indications that Milly is correct. The game finally ends, and the others go home, leaving Martin and Jane to prepare for bed. Martin wants to make love, but Jane again claims a headache and goes to sleep.
The next morning, Martin is sheepish and Jane is distant as she helps him get off to work, more it seems to speed his departure than to show support or love. She works at a car dealership, and soon after her arrival, Martin calls. He is apologetic and tries unsuccessfully to prompt some affectionate responses from his wife.
That evening, Jane and her coworker Eveline go to a local café. The night is stormy. While talking with Eveline, Jane daydreams about having a baby. She is surprised to discover that she wants a child and that Martin in her daydream seems different from the Martin she knows and lives with. The storm intensifies; Milly Harmon arrives and joins Jane and Eveline.
Almost immediately Milly tells Jane that she had a troubling dream the night before, as she had suspected she would after hearing Wally's dream. She dreamed that Wally left her soon after the baby was born. As they talk, thunder, lightning, and wailing sirens add to the tense atmosphere. The storm abates, and Jane returns home.
There, in the late evening, the full weight of her unhappiness reveals itself to Jane, and she decides to leave her husband that night. She begins to pack but decides to wait until the morning to make a final decision. She falls asleep.
Sometime later she is awakened by the voices of firefighters who are bringing her husband home. The sirens were from trucks responding to a major fire, in which Martin was injured and Wally was killed. Martin, in great pain from serious burns on his hands, sleeps on the living room sofa.
In the morning, Jane helps Martin with routine personal activities that are now difficult for him, owing to his bandaged hands. He is distraught over Wally's death (he held his dying friend in his arms) and also shocked by the discovery of Jane's partly packed suitcase, intuitively recognizing its meaning. He promises to try to do better for Jane, and she treats him with great gentleness and understanding. Later, she reminisces about their marriage and decides to stay temporarily until Martin recovers. The decision, which she intends to keep to herself until the end, brings her relief and a sense of certainty.
Jane's certainty, however, does not last long. There is so much she has to do and decide, and the extent of Martin's dependency is much greater than she anticipated. Recognizing how much her husband needs the healing effects of sleep, she helps him into bed and lulls him gently, tenderly to sleep, almost as a mother would a child. As she is leaving the room, she realizes with wonder and amazement that such tenderness and solicitude for another can only come from the deepest love.