Page 11 of From the Flames
It was time to put this conversation to a stop. “Let’s talk about something else, okay? I like Kevin, and I think he and I are becoming friends. But I’m not going to jump into a relationship with anyone, no matter how hot he is. I have two kids to think about, and what I do affects them too.” He hit her with a stern look.
“So you did notice he was hot,” she said and then broke into laughter, with Willy joining her. “So is there anything you need for your new place?”
“Are you kidding? The kids have two outfits each, and the landlord is helping with a couple of bed frames, and she says she has a few pieces of furniture. But other than that, we have nothing. After class I’m going to the consignment shop in Mechanicsburg and the used furniture store on Bedford to see if they have anything that isn’t hideous.”
“I thought so. I went through what we got stuck with from my mother-in-law, and she had some nice kitchen things. There’s dishes, silverware, glasses, and pans… all that sort of stuff. It’s boxed, and I’d dearly love to get it out of my basement.”
“Oh gosh….” He swallowed hard. “I’d appreciate all of it. I mean, I don’t know where I’m going to sleep, but the kids will have beds and rooms of their own. As long as they’re safe and happy, that’s what counts.” He went on to explain where his new place was. “The plan is to move in tomorrow.”
“Then I’ll have Dennis load the boxes, and we’ll bring them over.”
Willy checked the time again. “I need to get ready for class, but I’ll see you,” he said and took care of his mug before leaving the room. He returned to his office, got his materials together, and went to the classroom to set up for his lecture.
BY THEtime his class and the afternoon faculty meeting, which actually accomplished very little, were over, Willy was exhausted. His head ached, and he didn’t even have time to work on the data for his latest research project. All he wanted to do was get out of there. After checking the time, he raced to the daycare facility and arrived five minutes before late pickup cutoff. Both kids were ready and waiting. He thanked each of their teachers and got them back to the car.
“Daddy, are you going to marry Kevin?” Grant asked. “The teacher for Blue Turtles is marrying his boyfriend in two weeks, so are you going to marry Kevin?” Sometimes he was way too smart for his own good.
“No. Kevin and I are just friends.” Yeah, Kevin was a friend that he happened to have dreams about. Dreams that he was not going to even mention to the kids. Hell, he shouldn’t even be thinking about those with the kids in the car. “Did you have a fun day at school?”
“Yes. We learned our ABCs.” He then proceeded to sing the song out loud and proud. He did great until he sang “elephant-o-p.” Willy corrected him gently, all the while trying to stifle his laughter. Grant then proceeded to try to teach it to April, who did her best to follow her brother. It was so funny, and the sound of their joy and happiness filled his heart with hope that they wouldn’t be scarred by what had happened. His worst fear was that the fire would affect them emotionally. The kids sang all theway to Kevin’s, and then they had to sing for Kevin… and then the dogs.
“What’s the plan?” Kevin asked once the kids were at the table with their dinner.
“Well, Ellen said she’d have beds at the unit tomorrow, so I figured we’d go ahead and move over there. I thought about looking for furniture after dinner, but I’m worn out.”
“Can you do it in the morning?” Kevin asked.
“I’ll have to. All I need is a few basic things. Maybe I can head to Target and find some big throw cushions. The kids can use them to sit on the floor. I also thought about going to pick up a television and stand.” It just seemed like there weren’t enough hours in the day to do everything. “One of the other profs, who happens to be your aunt, has a bunch of kitchen stuff that she said she’d bring over.”
“Okay,” Kevin said gently. “I should have known you worked with Aunt Evelyn. I just never made the connection.”
“Did you want me to make us dinner?” Willy asked.
Kevin shook his head. “It’s all set. Our dinner is in the oven and will be ready in about an hour. Once you get the munchkins fed, I figured you could get them bathed and into bed. Then you and I could have a quiet dinner.”
“That sounds amazing.” He was so relieved.
“Go on upstairs and get cleaned up. I’ll sit with these two and get them to eat and stop feeding the dogs.”
Kevin was truly a godsend, and Willy lightly kissed him without thinking about it before going right upstairs. He jumped into the shower and washed quickly without giving things too much thought, because if he did, his attention was certain to turn to Kevin, and he didn’t have time to let his mind wander to all the wicked places it would certainly like to go.
He got out of the shower, dried off, and dressed in a pair of sweats and T-shirt before going downstairs to find his kids playing “toss the food to the dogs.”
“No,” he said firmly. “That is for you to eat. And the two of you are going up for your baths and then to bed in a few minutes. And if you don’t eat, you aren’t getting a cookie before bed.” He definitely knew how to motivate his kids, and both of them returned their attention to eating. Once they were done, Willy took both of them upstairs and got them in the tub and then their jammies. He gave each a cookie before bed and then got them to brush their teeth. Each of them wanted a story, so he read to them while the dogs got comfortable.
Once both were settled, he returned to the kitchen, which smelled amazing. “What’s this?”
“I made one of the dishes we like at the fire house. It’s a chicken and biscuit dish.” Kevin pulled a casserole out of the oven and set it on the top of the stove. The entire room smelled of herbs and chicken, making Willy’s belly rumble. He hadn’t realized how hungry he was until this moment. Kevin got plates and dished some up for both of them. He also got a bottle of wine from the refrigerator and poured them each a glass before bringing everything to the table. “I really hope you like it.”
Willy took a small bite. The flavor was rich, the chicken tender, and the biscuit flaky. “It’s so good.” He closed his eyes for a second before taking another bite, this time getting a bit of carrot. It was a lot like a chicken pot pie, but with biscuits, and he loved it. “Thank you for doing this. Well, for everything.” He sipped the wine. “I don’t know what we would have done if you hadn’t helped us.”
“You would have figured everything out. You’re smart, and you are determined to land on your feet. You’d have found a place to stay and an apartment. I just helped make some things you’d have done for yourself happen a little faster.”
Willy set down his fork. “Do you always do that? Minimize what you do for others?” He had heard Kevin do it before. “You saved my life in that building—and my kids’. I wouldn’t have made it out if it wasn’t for you. The ceiling of the hall was on fire and it was going to collapse, and we had no way to go but through that mess to the door. Then you took us in, and then you helped find us all a place to live. You did way more than any other firefighter would have.”
Kevin shrugged. “What was I supposed to do? Let you all sleep in a tent in the park? I only did what I thought was right. Besides, those kids of yours, they just get hold of your heart and they don’t let go.”
For a second Willy was jealous of his kids. Or maybe it was just their way of trusting that everything was going to be all right. He always had to think things over from every angle and chew on it until most of the flavor was gone before he could make a decision. Kevin just seemed to know what to do and did it.
