Chapter 71
Three hours later, the fire is out.
It took longer than I expected for the fire department to get the whole thing under control.
Teddy and I were huddled in the back of an ambulance for most of that time, but I didn’t want to leave because I was scared if we went to the hospital, we would be separated.
And we were both okay after all. I got him out of there in time.
Yes, we are both still coughing a bit, but our lungs just need time to clear out. Also, a paramedic pointed out that I have blood caked on the back of my head, and I pretended like it was related to the fire, even though it’s not. I don’t have the energy to tell the entire sordid story—not now.
Half an hour ago, I got a text from Jeremy that his plane landed.
I got through to him soon after the firemen rescued us, and he raced to Logan and somehow managed to get on the next flight back to JFK.
He made it back in record time, and he’s been giving me updates about his progress in the Uber back from the airport.
But now he shows up in front of the ambulance, out of breath, holding a small overnight bag, his dress shirt rumpled and his hair sticking up.
“Daddy!” Teddy shrieks.
Teddy squirms away from me and flies into Jeremy’s waiting arms. Jeremy picks him up, and now Teddy is sobbing. But the more surprising thing is that Jeremy is crying too. I’ve never seen him cry in all the time I’ve known him, not even close, but now there are tears running down his face.
“I’m so glad you’re okay, Teddy,” he manages.
“Daddy” is all Teddy says as he snuggles into his father’s arms.
Jeremy’s eyes meet mine over Teddy’s head. “Ronnie.” His voice cracks as he says my name. “Thank you. Thank you for getting him out of the house. I owe you everything.”
I nod, also too choked up to speak.
The police will have a lot of questions for me. After all, two people are dead in the cellar. The truth will now come out about Teddy, and I welcome it.
But as I watch Jeremy sobbing as he embraces his son, I know that I have to handle this just right.
Jeremy needs to know the truth, but I can’t take that boy away from him.
I will need to break it to him carefully and let him know that he will always be Teddy’s father.
Even if he isn’t Teddy’s biological father, he has a permanent place in Teddy’s life if he wants it—and I hope that he does.
I will never take that away from either of them.
I have my son back. And now that I’ve got him, everything will be okay.