Page 9 of Single Mom's Firemen

“You’re going to stay at our place,” he says, after what feels like a long and heady silence.

“I’m going to what, now?” I blurt out, my brain failing to properly register what I just heard.

“You’re going to stay at our place,” he repeats, while Wyatt nods in agreement. Chase frowns slightly, but he doesn’t seem entirely against it, either. “Until you get back on your feet. You and the kids can stay with us. We have a house up on 7th Street, a couple of blocks east of the fire station.”

“Two bedrooms all to yourselves,” Wyatt says. “One for you, one for the little ones.”

I’m speechless. It feels like forever before I manage to string a few words together. “Have you three lost your minds?”

“No, but you lost the roof over your head,” Chase grumbles, almost insulted.

And now I feel bad.

“No. I couldn’t possibly impose, but thank you, guys, really, thank you.”

“Where will you go?” Chase asks, pinning me with his gaze.

I look around. “Where’s my phone? I’ll get a room.”

“Your phone is melted, and you said all your money and ID burned,” Eric sighs deeply. “Halle, they’re gonna let you out of the hospital tomorrow. You need somewhere to go. Just stay with us for a while until you find a new job and a new place to stay. You’re going to need to get a new ID along with any other cards you lost in that wallet. We’re more than happy to help.”

Wyatt’s eyes pop wide as he remembers something. “Hold up. Chief Holt needs a new PA. There’s a job opening.”

“Chief Holt?” I ask.

“Our chief at the fire station. Chief Ben Holt. Suzie retired about a month ago. He’s been practically derelict ever since. He’s had plenty of interviews but—”

“None of them stuck,” Eric interjects. “You know, Wyatt, you could be on to something,” he adds and smiles my way. “You should apply.”

“This is too much,” I say.

“What have you got to lose?” Chase asks.

I realize the answer is nothing. I literally have nothing left to lose.

“Only until I get my feet back on the ground,” I mumble.

“Only until then,” Eric replies with a cool grin. “You’ll have all the space and privacy you need. Our mom runs a daycare center, by the way. Worth checking it out for Luna and Sammy.”

This really is too much. I can’t process everything in one go. My eyes are getting droopy. I’m exhausted. “Thank you,” I say. “Thank you, Eric. Wyatt. Chase. I can never repay you.”

“You don’t have to,” Eric’s reply fades into the background.

I’m already drifting back to sleep, my eyelids coming down on their own.

The next morning finds me in a better mood. My shoulder and arm still hurt, but I am able to move a lot better. It will be a couple more days before I’m back at my full capacity. The doctor says I need a whole week of bandages before I can let the skin breathe, but he’s confident that the burn cream will do its thing.

Luna and Sammy are looking much better too. They’re still wearing last night’s clothes and soot from the fire, but they slept well, and they’re both too happy to be with me to even care that the three of us smell like a clogged furnace.

“I was so scared,” Luna says. She sits to my right while Sammy’s got my left hip covered, constantly caressing the top of my hand but careful not to bother the IV needle. He’s usually a Tasmanian devil, yet given the circumstances, he is so gentle, calm, and sweet.

“I know, honey. I was scared, too. But you were both so brave. I’m so proud of you.”

“Are we safe now?” Sammy asks, giving me one of his signature wide-eyed looks that melts my heart. I have no choice but to muster the most reassuring smile I can as I try to soothe his fears.

“Honey, we are absolutely safe. In fact, we’re gonna stay with those nice firemen for a while. They’re going to keep us extra safe.”

Luna gasps with excitement, tucking some of her brown curls behind one ear. “Oh, that’s so nice! Their house definitely won’t burn down!”

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