Chapter 35 - Perfect Day

Day 35 - rolled 5 found $500

Kaitlin took Brooke home and Reese to the hospital. Leroy stayed with the kids. Reese wound up with a cracked rib and Kaitlin a $250 ER bill. Reese had calmed down considerably, probably a result of the pain pills, but he still ignored Kaitlin all the way home. When they walked inside, he went straight into his room shutting the door harder than necessary.

“How's Reese?” asked Leroy when Kaitlin sat down exhausted next to him on the couch.

“Cracked rib. He just has to keep it wrapped for a few weeks. Picking up Sam will be hard.”

“That's good, but not what I meant. He was pissed. Is he still mad at you?”

“Did you not notice the door slam?”

“Ha. Couldn't miss that statement. Maybe the right question is how are you feeling?”

Kaitlin frowned. “Disappointed. Sad. Afraid,” she said sadly.

Leroy pulled her to him on the couch. “You don't have to be afraid anymore. I made a few phone calls while you were gone. You can mark Reid off your list."


Kaitlin looked up at Leroy surprised. The way he looked at her with those emerald eyes sent shivers down her spine. No one ever looked at her like he did. "I feel loved too," she said with a smile.

Leroy pulled her up grinning. "Come on Sexy Kate. Everyone's asleep. Let's go to bed too.” Then he grinned and whispered conspiratorially, "How quiet can you be?”

“Leroy, the babies are asleep in my room!” she said her eyes wide.

“Exactly. That's why you have to be quiet.”

* * *

The following week, Kaitlin had a conversation - or heated discussion - with Brooke's father and her older brother, the one that punched Reeese. Her father wasn't happy that she wouldn't give permission for their kids to get married. However, he finally conceded to allow Brooke to live with him but refused to allow the baby to live at his house once born. Kaitlin agreed that she and Reese would take responsibility for the infant's care until the kids graduated and Brooke moved out.

He claimed he loved Brooke and only wanted what was best for her. In his mind that was marrying her baby's father. She hated that Brooke had to live there but Brooke had repeatedly assured Kaitlin that while her father was angry with her he wouldn't hurt her. Her father and her brothers needed her.

Kaitlin was more worried the emotional toll on Brooke could be hard if they weren't accepting of her decision. Kaitlin misjudged just how strong Brooke was. Brooke seemed so sweet with a big heart and she reminded Kaitlin of how she had once been in a similar situation herself.

Over the past two weeks, Brooke had become a fixture at their home and Kaitlin had grown very fond of her. Brooke was pleasant, resilient, strong and hard working. She never complained and quickly pitched in without being asked. Since she had no mother, Brooke had become a caregiver to her brothers and father and as a result she was naturally maternal towards little Sam. It was obvious how much she and Reese adored each other too. As Kaitlin observed the two of them together it was clear that love was growing between them and it warmed her heart.

* * *

Kaitlin wanted to lighten the mood and do something fun. Since Reid was still stuck at the firehouse, and Leroy had assured her he was no longer a concern, they decided to go to the beach before summer was gone. Kaitlin happily packed hot dogs and the boys dug out their fishing poles.

Once at the beach, Kaitlin put the little ones in a playpen in the shade. Maddy settled in the sand making sand castles next to where Kaitlin and Leroy were lounging. Brooke, Reese and Ben ran straight to the water to go fishing. Kaitlin couldn't help but smile as she watched her growing family doing perfectly normal things. She could almost pretend this wasn't just another stolen moment in time. But that's what these perfect days were to her. Stolen moments. She would have to go back to reality soon enough.

Kaitlin decided to sit with Maddy and help her make sand castles so she wouldn't have to play by herself. "Mommy, look what I find!" said Maddy as she picked up something she had dug up.

Kaitlin got up to look at what she had. "Give it to Mommy. It's nasty! Yucky!" said Kaitlin trying to coax it from her.

"No! Mine!" protested Maddy.

"Here, let's trade. You take this shovel and I will take the yucky thing," Kaitlin negotiated. Finally Maddy agreed and handed her the item she had found.

It turned out to be an old wallet with a few deteriorated pictures. When she opened it further, she found $500 in cash inside. She showed Leroy and they determined it was at least 10 years old. He told her to keep it. There was no way to figure out who it had belonged to. That would help offset the cost of Reese's hospital bill. This day was more than perfect!

Suddenly, the scream of a fire truck's siren drowned out the sounds of laughter and children splashing in the water.

After it passed, Ben came running up to Kaitlin and Leroy. “Mommy! Did you see the fire truck? Mr. Reid was on it and he waved to me!” he rattled out excitedly.

Kaitlin felt the blood drain from her face. “Are you sure he saw you or he was just waving to everyone?”

Ben was beaming. “Yes. I could see him! He waved to me!"

Leroy spoke up, “That's great Buddy. Why don't you go tell Reese and Brooke we are going to eat in about half an hour.”

“Okay Mr. Leroy!” he replied and ran off towards the water.

Leroy turned to Kaitlin when Ben ran off, “It’s okay Kate. Don't let that ruin our day. He can't get to us. I told you, I have taken care of it. We have security until I get what I need to stop him for good.”

“Do you smell that?” asked Kaitlin as the smell of smoke permeated the air.

Leroy nodded and they both stood up and looked around. Sure enough you could see smoke in the distance.

“Wow, it must be a large fire. At least it's not close to either of our homes,” commented Leroy.

"Yes. Okay. Well, let's eat!" said Kaitlin and went to the picnic tables and fixed an old time favorite - hot dogs.

After they finished eating, Sam started to fuss so Brooke immediately went and picked him up from the playpen and entertained him. Over the past few weeks he had really taken to Brooke. She was able to soothe him even when Reese couldn't. Kaitlin couldn't help but smile as she followed suit and grabbed up Hailey and they all headed back to the car and home.

* * *

When they returned home that evening, Reese turned on the news to see if there was anything on about the fire. Coverage of the fire was on all of the local channels. It was a 3-alarm fire. One of the biggest in a long time in Twinbrook.

Ben was captivated as they were showing live shots. “I wonder which one is Mr. Reid? I think I want to be a firefighter too! That's so cool,” he said as he watched them spraying copious amounts of water onto the burning structure.

“That's a noble but dangerous profession Ben,” said Leroy.

After about an hour of watching, it was late. “Okay Benjamin," said Kaitlin, "It's time for you to go to bed.”

“Moooom. I am not a baby!” whined Ben.

“OH MY GOD!!!” screamed Brooke, “The roof collapsed and there were firemen on it!”

* * *

The next morning, Kaitlin retrieved the newspaper as soon as it was delivered. She wanted to see if they had a story about what had happened. The five of them had remained glued to the television for a another hour after the collapse before giving up. Kaitlin and Reese got in the car and drove Brooke home while Leroy had stayed with the kids. When she opened the paper, sure enough the fire was the main headline.

Arson Suspected in Death of Firefighter

Last night three stations were called to help combat the a fire on Charles Street that took the life of one fireman (name withheld pending notification of next of kin) and has a second fireman fighting for his life in the local hospital. Early investigation points to arson as the likely cause of the blaze.

The first alarm sounded at 6:00 pm yesterday afternoon when a neighbor smelled smoke and upon investigation saw smoke coming from a downstairs window.

The roof collapsed as one firefighter tried to go inside and rescue possible victims. The second man went in to pull out the trapped firefighter. He pulled the man out but he had suffered smoke inhalation and severe burns. The second man also suffered smoke inhalation and was rushed to the hospital for treatment after CPR was administered at the scene.

The fire appears to have started in one central area and the smell of gasoline was prominent in areas where it shouldn't have been leading early investigators to believe it was arson. 

Kaitlin was ashen as she showed it to Leroy. “As much as I think Reid is delusional, I pray it wasn't him.”

“Kate, honey, I think he may be the second fireman,” said Leroy as he showed her his phone, “There are rumors all over Facebook this morning. People are sending out get well wishes to Reid.”

“Oh God! At least he isn't dead," said Kaitlin.

“No, but I think his condition must be grave. He's such a damn exhibitionist when it comes to that shit that I’m surprised he hasn't gotten hurt before now. He thinks he's invincible. This time it just might cost him his life. He was probably trying to be the hero and save the other man.”

"That's horrible!" said Kaitlin and tears began to form.

Leroy got up and put his arms around her. "Sweetheart, don't cry for him. He doesn't deserve your sympathy."

"I can't help it Leroy. It's Ben....he will be devastated if anything happens to Reid."

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