Page 54 of Cross Checks

Chief, do you remember when we had that fire at the town arena in the early fall, and I pulled a guy out of the locker room?

“Of course I do. You exhibited some outstanding spur-of-the-moment judgment there, and wasn’t he a hockey player? What was his name. Chase? Chase something?”

“Chase Taylor,” I said.

“Okay, and I’m still confused. What does he have to do with everything else.”

“I’m in a relationship with Chase Taylor,” I blurted out. Lyle squeezed my thigh in support.

Chief Newton’s eyes widened with surprise. “Well, I’ll be damned. Congratulations, and can you explain what that has to do with the firehouse? He’s certainly welcome at our events here if that’s what has you worried.”

“Well, Chase had some excellent news recently. He’s signed a contract with an NHL hockey team, the Florida Panthers.”

Chief Newton blinked. “Now, I’m starting to put it together. Are you planning to move to Florida?”

I nodded, but I also want you to know one more factor in my decision. Lyle turned to look at me as I prepared to share the part he didn’t know.

“My parents told me that my dad is taking early retirement, and they are moving from Portland to Florida. They will be less than an hour away from us down there.”

Chief Newton suddenly grinned from ear to ear. “I wish I could be less than an hour away from my son. He’s all the way out in California. I don’t see my grandchildren nearly as often as I want.”

Lyle smiled at me. “I bet that made the decision a lot easier.”

“It did. My parents are excited. They’ve welcomed Chase with open arms, and they can’t wait to see him play at home games in the NHL.”

“Congratulations, Hank. I don't think this could have happened to a better man.”

“Maybe me,” Lyle suggested, and we all laughed.

“So, now you want to share it with the rest of the crew.”

“Yes, Chief, if that sounds good to you.”

“Of course, and much better to hear it directly from you than through me.”

Lyle grinned. “You’ve done a lot of good here, Hank, and remember, we’ve got your back.”

As Lyle exited the office, Chief Newton asked me to hang back for a few minutes.

"Hank, I've seen a lot of good men and a few women come and go in this place," he started, “but you are one of the few who truly has something special. It's not just about how you handle the fires. It's about how you handle people, your team."

"Thanks, Chief. That means a lot, especially coming from you."

"You know, when I started in this job, I thought I'd be here till I dropped. But life has a way of throwing curveballs. It took me a while to learn that sometimes those unexpected pitches are opportunities in disguise."

I nodded. "It's hard leaving this behind. I can’t emphasize that too much. It's been more than just a job for me."

"I understand, but let me tell you something," he said as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "This place and these people are a part of you now. That doesn't change just because you're moving to a new state. You take a part of them with you, Hank. They’ve shaped you."

A lump formed in my throat. "I hope I can live up to their expectations, Chief. I want to make you all proud down there."

"You already have, son," he said softly. "You already have. And remember, being successful isn’t about not failing. It's about getting up every time you do."

I smiled. "I'll remember that."

He stood and placed a hand on my shoulder with a fatherly grip. "You're going to do great things, Hank. Chase is lucky to have you, and so were we."

Gathering my courage, I entered the common area, where the crew relaxed and chatted. They sensed something was up, and they all fell silent as the three of us entered.

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