Chapter 19
NINETEEN
Three Months Later
Kennedy was more than happy to head to work at John and Donna's house instead of her own apartment. It meant that she got to clear all of her wedding planning brochures from the dining table that she and Walker rarely used.
Donna met her at the door as she was leaving but had time for a quick hug before she headed to work. "He's been going through a bunch of reports this morning," Donna grinned at her, "and he's been humming."
Kennedy was happy to hear that. "Sounds like a great way to start the day."
Donna gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Let me know if you need any help planning, okay?"
"Well," she drew in a steadying breath, "you and John have been a huge help in just keeping me sane after what happened at WCCN."
Donna had been a rock for her and for John. After the hubbub about the shooting died down a little and Kennedy was ready to get back to work thanks to the dedicated physical rehab at Cole Medical, the station manager had called her in to tell her that she was out of a job. Somehow being shot had brought 'adverse attention' to the station and her image was 'no longer needed at WCCN.'
The fact that the six o'clock newscaster on the desk had been caught, literally, with his pants down around his ankles behind a day care, and kept his job had many people telling her to sue the station, but Kennedy had gone against the grain and decided to just move on. She had her hands full just as it was.
It helped that John had decided to go with her, even though the station manager had offered to let John keep his job. He just had to cut ties with her.
John had offered a not-so-gentlemanly reply telling the man to, "Take this job and shove it."
And together, the two of them had created a news channel of their own on YouTube, with supplemental coverage on Patreon, and a podcast that covered more in-depth storytelling when their viewers asked for it. Viewership had been building and soon, she continued to cross her fingers, they'd be back making the same money they had at WCCN. Hopefully.
Lucky for them both, that Donna still had her family plan from the School District. They were both covered by her medical plan and she'd had no interruptions in her care.
The times that Kennedy had brought up the idea that he could still go back to work for WCCN, John had given her a look that said he thought she was off her rocker.
And even though he hadn't said the words, John never made a move to go back to the News Station or to stop working with her. Something she was and would forever be grateful for.
"Kenny?"
She looked up from the table where she was going through their upcoming production schedule. "Hmm?" She brightened when she saw John's smiling face. "What's going on?"
He looked over her shoulder at the brochures on the table. "What are those?"
Kennedy sighed, her shoulders lifting and falling. "Looking at wedding stuff. I talked to Walker and while I thought he'd be okay with pushing things back until we got our channel on solid feet." She held up both of her hands, fingers crossed on both hands. "I know it's going to happen. With the two of us putting all of our skill and hearts into it."
He nodded. "And unfettered from the strings and shackles of WCCN, we can pick which stories to tell and how."
She grinned at him as she lowered her hands down to her lap. "Terrifying," she tipped her head to the side, "but freeing." She touched her fingertips to a couple of the brochures. "You know," she hesitated before speaking again, "part of the challenge of going forward with planning on the wedding is that I don't want to spend a lot. That doesn't mean that I want to have a wedding that isn't as beautiful as it could be." She picked up one of the brochures. "This is a company, a new catering venture started by some local chefs who are training local teens in culinary skills to give them a leg up in the workforce."
John set his laptop down on the table and pulled out a chair.
Kennedy picked up another brochure. "This," she opened it up and put it in front of him, "is from a company which is turning the tops of buildings into farmland. They're growing food and flowers. There are bee hives and worm composting."
"And..." John dropped his chin and smiled at her.
"And?" She grinned at him. "What do you think is coming next?"
He lifted his shoulders and gestured at the brochure. "I know there's more. This is Kennedy Heart we're talking about. There's always something more. I can practically see the cogs turning in your head."
She bobbed her head, nodding. "Besides the fact that I got the chefs from the catering company to talk to the rooftop farming company to support each other. The farming company is using labor from local shelters. Job skills are important and a great step forward. I'm planning on using them all for the wedding, but I'd also like to do some videos about the companies during the planning of the wedding but also showing how they contribute to the event."
She lowered her chin to look at him.
"But I cut you off. You were smiling about something?"
John nodded and pulled out the chair beside her. "I've been looking at the views and ad revenue for our channel."
She swallowed and let out a breath. "Okay... I'm ready."
John looked at her and shook his head. "You're acting like I'm going to be reading our obituaries."
"You know me. I get all wrapped up in the negatives and worries." She put her hands over her heart. "I'm ready."
She saw John roll his eyes and turn the laptop around for her to see. "What... what's that?"
John chuckled. 'Those are numbers."
She glared at him. "John? Are you serious?"
He shrugged. "Sometimes. But today I'm going to cut you some slack. But those numbers you're squinting at? Those are good. Really good."
"That's good. Right?"
He leaned in and nodded. "Kennedy. Those numbers are great. Before we left WCCN, your YouTube videos-"
" Our videos," she corrected him.
"Yes," he huffed with a smile, "OUR videos were already the best watched videos on the WCCN channel. Since we've gone out on our own? People have been coming to the channel. Subscribing. And now, as of the last numbers?"
She saw the smile on his face and the sparkling light of laughter in his eyes. "We're going to be okay?"
"Kenny? If these numbers continue to trend like this? Build up like they have been? We're not going to have to worry about money." He tapped the screen. "If things continue at this level, based on our split? I'm already back at full time work."
She could only stare at him.
"The money we were making at WCCN? Boy, they made a huge mistake firing you."
She smiled.
She couldn't do anything but!
"Holy Cow!" She turned to look at John, wide-eyed and grinning. "You're serious, right?"
"Honey, I don't joke about money. It's nothing to joke about."
In that, they were of the same mind.
"Wow."
John put his arm around her. "We're going to be okay, Kenny."
She looked at John and felt tears welling up in her eyes.
He looked horrified. "Is something wrong?"
She shook her head. "I can't explain how relieved I am. I feel like... No. I know that you and Donna have been such a huge support, standing by me through all of this. I owe you both-"
"You don't owe us a thing, Kenny. Donna and me? We..." He drew in a lung-filling breath. "You're not just 'like' family. You ARE family."
Kennedy closed her eyes and opened them slowly. "I... I was planning to talk to you both together, but I think I need to ask you now. Would you... Would you walk me down the aisle. Do the whole 'Father of the Bride' thing?"
John didn't immediately answer her, and she panicked.
She liked asking people questions, but the answers they gave didn't mean this much to her.
"I... I was going to ask Donna to be the Mother of the Bride, but if you're not on board, I'm not going to ask her, because I don't want this to be awkward. Not that it's not super awkward right now. Cuz it is and-"
"Ken-"
"I was kind of weird to ask, right? I mean, we work together. And I'm grateful that you've done so much for me, both of you... And the family thing?"
"Kenny-"
She bobbed her head. "That family thing was just hyperbole, right? I'll just-"
"Kennedy!"
She froze, looking at him. She was so worried, she could barely feel her face.
"Kenny," he smiled, "sweetheart."
He reached out a hand and touched it to the side of her face. "I would be... beyond honored to give you away to Walker."
She sighed in relief. "You will?"
He nodded and then turned his head slightly, narrowing his gaze at her. "Does that mean I get to interrogate the detective about his intentions?"
"Intentions?" She snorted a laugh. "I'm pretty sure he put the ring on my finger tells me his intentions."
He tipped his head back and forth. "Maybe, but you gotta let me have some fun with the man."
She lowered her head and her shoulders shook with laughter. "Just remember that he has a gun."
John sat back in his chair covering his heart with his hand. "It would be extremely rude to shoot the father of the bride."
They stood, wrapping their arms around each other in a big hug.
Kennedy sank into his comforting embrace.
John had become a father to her.
He'd taught her so much about her job and how to run her own camera set up.
But he'd also been there to help with her nerves and anxiety.
As they broke apart, she looked up at him and remembered something.
"You know. Back when the city was going kind of crazy?"
He narrowed his gaze and one side of his mouth curled up a little. "Isn't that everyday?"
They shared another laugh.
"True enough. True enough." She shook her head grinning at his comment.
"I know what you're talking about. What about it?"
"I still have the footage I shot when I was in downtown. Maybe we can go over that footage and see if there's anything we can use for the story." She smiled, liking that idea more and more. "After all. I was told that any footage I hadn't used for WCCN was now mine. I can use anything we have on those tapes for the YouTube channel."
John shook his head, smiling. "They really made a mistake when they let you go. You're going to make something special here."
"We," she nodded at him, reminding him that they were a team. "We have something special."
Walker didn't like 'going out' to other people's houses all that much. When you were in someone else's house you had to worry about overstaying and not catching the 'hints' that people would give. He wasn't all that big on catching those signals.
Solving crimes? Fuck yeah!
Knowing when someone wanted to kick folks out? He usually depended on others. He'd watch when people started to leave.
It was worse when it was a small gathering.
He usually avoided those like the plague.
Unless it was family.
And family, he relaxed into the couch, was growing.
Tonight, there was a small gathering at Kate and Rock's place which was in the same building where he was living with Kennedy. It was nice to have Kate close.
He and Rock were just settling into the furniture when the door opened and Kate came in with Kennedy.
They started to get up from the chairs like gentlemen, but even Kate's pointed glare didn't stop them.
Kennedy brought an armful of trays over to the coffee table and gave him a kiss as she sat down beside him and started taking the clear plastic covers off.
Walker had to stop himself from rubbing his hand over her hip and down to the curve of her ass.
She looked good. Really good.
And the ring on her finger? That was the icing on his own cake.
Kennedy turned to look at him over her shoulder. "Thanks. Glad you think so."
Walker froze for a second. "What?"
Rock was already over at the counter with Kate, helping with something. "Your inside voice isn't all that quiet, Walker."
Walker rolled his eyes. "I'd be better at it if I was at home with Dee. I could put my hands all over her and-"
Walker was pinned against the back of the couch, with Kennedy's hand over his mouth.
Kate laughed and crossed to the door as a knock sounded. "Hey, you two!"
Walker was busy trying to peel Kennedy's hand off of his mouth as Roan and Pilar walked in the door.
One look at him, and Pilar laughed out loud. "Good. We have another pair of hands to keep him quiet."
Kennedy laughed and he was able to free himself. He looked at his brother. "Hey! Aren't you going to say something?"
Roan gestured at Pilar. "She's right."
Walker held up a middle-fingered salute.
Kate sighed. "Now, now, children. Be nice."
Walker and Pilar spoke at the same time.
"But Mooom." "Right, like he'd behave."
Kennedy moved toward the door, holding his hand and dragging him along with her.
They greeted the other couple, and everyone picked up something from the counter to bring to the table. It took mere moments to get everything settled before they relaxed into the evening.
Walker was surprised how easily Kennedy became a part of the family. Not that he thought his family wouldn't like her. He was worried how she'd react to all of the crazy that already existed.
When Roan and Pilar got together, Walker was surprised. Not that his brother would fall in love, but when it was a police officer, Walker had chuckled a little to himself. They were both intense people, but Roan was a healer and Pilar? Well, she came from a whole family of law enforcement, both at the local level and federal, too.
Even as serious as they both could get, Pilar had also brought out more lightness in Roan.
Then Kate had fallen for Rock. It was hard for Walker to remember the man's real name. Martin Ferris had been called Rock as long as Walker had known him. The man was a well- known fixture in the CCFD. Having him working close by was good for Kate. Good for them all.
"Rock?"
Walker turned his head toward Kennedy who'd spoken.
Rock lowered his beer to his thigh. "Hmm?"
"Are you coming to the Carson Parks event tomorrow?"
Walker took her hand in his, his fingertips brushing against her engagement ring, and turned to look at the other man.
"Absolutely." Rock wrapped his arm around Kate. "I'm not on schedule at Twenty-Nine. The whole Rescue Team is going to be there and Braun from the ladder truck is coming." He gave Kennedy a knowing nod. "But you knew that part."
She nodded back. Gibson Braun had been a huge part of planning the events at Carson Parks and other housing areas. A number of firehouses in Center City were doing similar events across the city, but Carson was special to her and to Twenty-Nine since they'd started the programs there.
"So you're going to be there, too?" Walker leaned forward, his expression curious.
Kennedy nodded, covering his knee with her hand. "Are you worried about your reception there?"
Walker gave her hand a squeeze, wanting her to know that he was there to support her, but her smile didn't dim. Instead she met the question head on. "I know it was tough at first. People wondered if I blamed the people there for the shooting."
Walker lifted their joined hands and pressed a kiss on the back of her hand. After the shooting had been tied to men who lived at Carson Parks, Kennedy had been shocked and hurt. Many people told her that she should stay away from the people there and the housing development.
But Kennedy was persistent.
She didn't upset the families there.
She was patient.
She was kind.
And when they saw that her interest there wasn't just about news stories but trying to help them, she was welcomed in.
And through all of her visits and the connections she'd made for the community, she'd become an important part of Carson Parks, something that Rock wouldn't have known. It wasn't as if she made it public knowledge.
Much of her efforts there weren't public knowledge, and it was the way she preferred it.
"So this event is going to be a good one for the community. I think the kids want to show everyone how much they've learned since the last time your fire station came by a few months ago."
"When was that?" Kate's brow was creased just above her nose.
Rock lifted his hand with the beer in it, gesturing at Kennedy as he talked to Kate. "The first time we went in we walked around the housing area and talked about fire safety. There was a lot of trash built up."
Kate snapped her fingers. "I remember now! The kids didn't have clear sidewalks and there were some issues down at the trash office. Some people weren't doing their pickups at the housing area and because they got a call from the CCFD white shirts, they had to get their shit together and show up, on time, taking away the trash." Kate leaned forward and smiled at Kennedy. "You're a bad ass."
Kennedy shook her head. Walker was familiar with how much she pushed away recognition for her efforts.
"It was the women there. Before the... shooting, they came to me for help. They were hurting for services and basic stuff that everyone else seemed to get with no effort. I just knew the people to talk to and," she gave Rock a grin, "that's why I was there at Twenty-Nine that day."
"You know," Roan shared a look with his wife before meeting Kennedy's gaze with his own, "maybe you should consider running for local office. An Alderman, maybe?"
"Uh, no."
Walker shifted a little beside her and drew their linked hands into his lap.
"I think it's a good idea."
She turned her head and stared at him with wide-open eyes. "What?"
Walker shrugged a little. "It's kind of your superpower." He turned to look at the others. "She was telling me about this school that wanted to put together a garden for the kids. Not just flowers but food. It's a school in a low-income area and many of the kids go hungry in the summer and on breaks. So, if they could plant crops on the grassy part of the school they don't use otherwise, they could have food to take home."
He turned to Kennedy and saw her brilliant smile. "I talked to them about Victory Gardens in World War II and that got the history teachers involved. Then I found a couple of garden stores in the area. They donated some tools and seeds. They even came out to the school to talk to the kids and staff. Then the math teachers helped them plot out the plots. And the science teachers came up with projects they could use in their classes that went with the gardens."
"And art?"
Kennedy smiled at Pilar. "Exactly! It's been a lot of fun. And I go back to do stories on their progress. The teachers are involved, and we make videos that are shareable so other schools can use them."
Kate let out a low whistle. "I think you really should think about that Alderman thing. It sounds like you're already doing some of the job now."
Kennedy was almost shuddering beside him. "No, really. I'm happy to help, but I'm not interested in running for office."
When Kennedy looked at him, Walker took a good long look at her face. "Hey, if you want to, Dee? I'll be right there beside you, shaking hands. Talking to people."
There was a strange silence in the room.
They were probably wondering if he'd lost his mind.
Well, he had.
And his heart, too.
Kennedy leaned in and gave him a kiss. "You're sweet for offering, but you're in no danger of becoming an Alderman's husband. I really do love what I'm doing. And John says the numbers, views, subscriptions, and revenue are picking up."
Walker shook his head and leaned in for another kiss, loving the way she melted into him.
When he pulled back, he murmured under his breath. "I'm so damn proud of you, Kennedy. So damn proud."
"Well that's good," she smiled back. "I'm proud of you, too."
Walker started to lean in for another kiss when Kate's voice reached his ears.
"Get a room, you two."
Walker tugged on her hand, but she gently pushed him back against the cushions of the sofa. "Hey, Kate was going to kick us out. I have no problem with that."
Kennedy looked up at him. "I'm hungry. We haven't eaten yet."
Blushing, she looked up and Pilar stepped in.
"I agree, Walker. You need to feed her and the food," she gestured at the coffee table in the center, "you might as well stay for the food."
"And," Kate gestured to the notebook she'd placed on the edge of the table, "we have more wedding planning to do."
Walker couldn't argue with that. "Okay, okay." He reached out and took the plate that Rock handed him and gave it over to Kennedy before he took one for himself."
As the couples started to make their plates, Walker leaned into her shoulder and saw the look of excitement on her face, he grinned. "Thanks for saying yes."
She cast a look at him. "Of course I did. Who else would handle me getting grumpy when I'm hungry."
"Hey, that's my line."
She rolled her eyes at him. "It's our line," she chuckled. "It's the least I can do for a man who didn't try to 'fix' me."
He lifted a brow at that. "There's nothing wrong with you, baby. Me, on the other hand..." He sighed.
"Walker." She tucked her chin down and looked straight into his gaze. "I love you. You make me crazy, and you make me happy. I don't think I could love you any more and then I just do."
"I can't believe you're willing to take me as I am."
"How could I not?" She leaned and placed a kiss on his lips. "You do the same for me."