Page 34 of From the Flames
“I’ll watch for it,” Willy said and showed both of them to the door. Once he saw them out, he checked around out of habit before closing and locking the door.
“Can we go to the park?” Grant asked.
“I don’t think so. It looks like rain. But you can play here in the house. Go get your toys and play for a while.” He figured April would be ready for a nap in an hour or so, and if he was lucky, he’d get Grant to be quiet for a while.
“I’m tired,” Kevin said, yawning.
“Then go on in and get some rest.” Willy would see to the kids and the dogs.
“Can we watchEncanto?” Grant asked, and Willy put the movie on. If Grant wanted to watch it again, then he could suffer through it, and Grant would stay glued to the movie until it was over. He got Grant settled on his pillow and sat on the sofa with April in his arms. She watched for a little while but got sleepy, and after maybe half an hour, he took her to her room and settled her in bed.
Now it was just Grant and him. Willy checked on Kevin, who was sound asleep with two of the dogs curled around him. Willy wished he could join him. The bed looked comfortable, and he wanted to slip in next to Kevin and hold him, but Grant neededhim. He closed the door most of the way and found Grant in the living room, still glued to the movie.
“Come sit here with me,” Willy said, and Grant climbed onto the sofa next to him. Willy turned the movie down, and Grant continued watching, but soon enough, he was asleep, and Willy took him in to bed as well.
A few minutes all to himself—that was a rare treat. He had plenty of chores to do, but he lay on the sofa instead, figuring he’d close his eyes for a few minutes. But soon his exhaustion caught up with him and he drifted off, only to wake quickly for no apparent reason. The house was quiet, the kids still asleep, the dogs all set, and even Kevin was snoring loudly enough to wake the dead.
Maybe everything was okay… at least for now. He’d been in crisis mode for too long, and it seemed strange not to have a million things pulling him in different directions. He sat on the sofa again, picked up his book from the table, and opened it. He tried to concentrate but put the book down again and just sat in his chair, staring at the wall. Willy knew something was going to happen—the man who threatened them would see to that. He just wished he knew what.
Chapter 12
AFTER THREEdays, Kevin was still coughing and had no energy.
“You need to give yourself some time. You had a burning ceiling fall on you, and you’re wondering why you can’t just walk away as though nothing has happened. Think of it this way: you got some burns through your fire suit. Well, your lungs got some as well, and they need a chance to heal too.”
“It’s getting better, just not fast enough,” Kevin groused, knowing he was complaining about something he could do nothing about.
The doctor pulled up a stool and sat down in front of him. “Look, I know you well enough to understand that sitting still is the last thing you want to do. You would rather run into a burning building than take a few days to rest and relax. But that is what you’re going to have to do. I can’t clear you for work when you’re not ready to go back.” He met Kevin’s gaze with his caring one, but behind that care was absolute steel.
Kevin took a slow, deep breath and then let it out, pleased he didn’t cough.
“If I let you go back and you went on a call and couldn’t perform well, that would put others in danger. You know that.”
“Shit, now you’re using guilt?” Kevin knew the doctor was right; he was just getting impatient. It wasn’t that he didn’t like spending time with Willy. In fact, what was driving him crazy was that Willy and his little family had places to be and things to do, while Kevin had spent much of the days home alone now that the weekend was over.
“Whatever it takes.” The doctor slid back and stood. “Give it some time and stop trying to push it. You’re only going to make things worse.”
“Fine. I was hoping you could give me a pill or some antibiotic or something to make me heal faster.”
“Nope. You just have to wait like all the rest of us mortals.” He chuckled. Kevin tried not to laugh but failed and ended up coughing and proving the doctor’s point. “Go on home, rest, and give yourself some time. Looking at the tests run at the hospital, there is nothing that suggests you won’t heal up naturally on your own.” He stood at the computer station. “Now, if you don’t continue to improve, then I want you to come back. And we’ll make an appointment for two weeks to see how you’re doing.”
Kevin huffed but thanked the doctor anyway. He had thought he’d be off work for a few days, but it looked like it would be longer.
Kevin left the exam room and made the appointment on his way out before returning to his truck. He thought of going home. He had been at Willy’s, but he knew he was getting in the way and didn’t want to be another thing Willy had to take care of.
His phone rang, and he answered it through the Bluetooth.
“What did the doctor say?” Willy asked right away.
“That I need to give it time,” he grumped. “I don’t do sitting on my butt doing nothing very well.”
“At least you admit it. That’s the first step to recovery.” Sometimes Willy was a real smartass.
“Har, har.” Kevin pulled to a stop at a light at the north edge of town. “He says he wants to see me in two weeks. I thought it was only going to be a couple of days, and now….”
“It’s okay. Just relax and try not to worry. You’re getting better and have coughed less over the last few days, and I have no doubt it will keep improving.” Voices carried through the line from behind Willy. “I need to go to class in a few minutes, but I’llsee you at home in a few hours. Also, I got a call from Red. He asked if he and Carter could stop by this evening.”
“All right. I’m going to stop by my place to pick up some fresh clothes, and I’ll see you when you get home.”
