Page 35 of Courageous Devotions

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, just a lot of things hitting me at once.”

“Clear your head, Colton. Our fight isn’t over.”

“Yes, sir,” he replied, looking at Justin’s face and nodding. The time for the mental breakdowns, the flood of worry, the thoughts of ‘could I have done something different’ would all have their moment later… but for now, he needed to focus on the building before them. If it was a complete loss, then they had to manage the fire at this point to make sure it didn’t spread to the other homes nearby.

Eventually, the team climbed back into the truck and thankfully there wasn’t another call just yet. They were all going to head back to the station, get some food, rest, and take a little time to unwind… if possible. Colton yanked off his helmet, and the sock protecting his head, and immediately finger-combed his hair back down as he looked at the other tired faces in the cab with him.

Exhausted, he unfastened his jacket and reached into his shirt pocket to find his phone. He hoped Eris had responded to his text messages or said something… and felt his heart turn over seeing three messages on the screen.

One was a photo of Zane at the store, picking out some clunky-looking, brightly colored plastic cars… and he was glad. She was taking him to get some toys just like he’d asked. The idea of lying on the floor and playing cars with his son, was not something he’d ever thought he would be doing – and now couldn’t wait to do so!

But the other two texts really hit him.

Maybe when you get home Tuesday morning, we can have coffee and breakfast together?

Be safe out there, okay?

He quickly replied, hoping that no one noticed just how freaking happy he was right now. It was taking everything in him not to shout or grin like an idiot at the screen as he quickly replied.

It’s a date.

I promise to be careful – especially knowing that I’ve got an incredible date coming up… and I get to play cars with my boy afterward.

Only to see three dots appearing immediately. She was texting him back so quickly, so maybe his original thoughts that she was ignoring him was slightly paranoid… okay, maybe ‘a lot paranoid’… and this actually wasn’t the case.

What time will you be here Tuesday?

Probably around 7:30 a.m.

Sounds good.

If you want to sleep in, it’s okay.

No, but Zane will be asleep a little longer.

Just you and me, then?

Yes. I’ll have something waiting.

Colton swallowed, feeling something wash over him at the thought of Eris and his son at home with him. It would be so nice to have someone to come home to, someone waiting to see him, and he hoped with everything in his heart and soul that they could work this out between them – because he wanted this. He wanted a relationship with her and his son with every fiber of his being.

I can’t wait to see you.

That simple reply was as obvious and open as he could let himself be right now because they still had so much ground to cover between them. There were bound to be discussions and hurt feelings on both sides, and he was surprised that there wasn’t a bitterness within him worse than what was there. He’d missed three years of his son’s life; but he would fight tooth-and-nail to get a chance to experience it all again with her, someday if they were blessed with another child.

Colton swallowed and looked out the window of the truck, trying to blink back the tears stinging his eyes. The idea of having it all seemed so overwhelming and yet so close now he could practically taste it. Life was no longer about getting through the next shift but had taken shape before him, coming into focus sharply.

He had a family.

“What’s your deal?” Alec grinned, looking at him. “Got a little something sweet on the side sending you dirty pictures?”

“I wanna see!” Lance immediately chimed in, looking stunned and excited at the same time. “Don’t hold out on us, bro. Flip your cell phone around!”

Colton grinned.

“Actually, things have kinda changed at home,” he began and paused. “Well, they’ve changed a lot. My ex-girlfriend is back in my life, and well… ah… we got married.”

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