Epilogue
Asher
Sienna and I stood in the doorway of the apparatus bay. She knelt down to affix a set of bunny ears to Oscar’s head, and I swear when the poor dog looked up at me, I could see the humiliation in his eyes.
“Babe, I don’t think he likes the ears.”
“Shush.” She smiled at me. “The kids will love it.”
Station 47 was having its annual Easter egg hunt in the park next door. It was something we did every year for our community. The sun was warm overhead, and after a few days of rain, we couldn’t have asked for better. If you looked hard enough, you’d see the gleam of the few golden eggs we’d hid around the park.
“Let’s go.” Sienna tugged at my hand. “We’re going to miss seeing Roman collect eggs if you don’t move your butt.”
The air buzzed with children’s laughter as they started to gather in droves, clutching their colorful baskets, eagerly awaiting the start of the egg hunt. Coop and I stood in full uniform since we were on duty. He held his daughter, Summer, on his chest while Haley held Roman’s hand, awaiting the countdown.
We’d divided the park up into sections to give each age group a chance. The thought of having my own kids here one day just made it all the better.
“Alright, everyone!” Cap spoke into the megaphone. “The Easter egg hunt begins in three… two… one… go!”
Like a floodgate opening, the older kids sprinted around the park, looking behind trees, while the younger ones looked under bushes with the help of their parents.
Coop nudged my arm, then pointed towards Haley and Roman as he laughed. “My boy got one.” I spotted Roman bending down to pick up an egg from a patch of flowers. He’d held it up triumphantly, showing it to Haley who clapped her hands and cheered.
Sienna chased everyone around, taking pictures on the new camera she’d also gotten for Christmas.
The smile across her face brought an ache to my chest. I couldn’t wait to be standing here watching Sienna collect eggs with our child. All in due time. Right now, we had a wedding to plan.
Roman ran towards us, his little basket bouncing and spilling eggs everywhere. Haley laughed as she collected them as they fell on the grass. When Roman reached us, only three eggs were left in his basket. Haley had the rest in her hands.
Roman reached into his basket and pulled out a pink egg, holding it up to his sister. “This for Sissy? Thank you, buddy.” Coop gave the egg to his daughter, who quickly attempted to stuff it in her mouth, which is where it seemed everything went at her age.
The minute Roman spotted Oscar, the basket was long forgotten. Nothing held his attention for more than a few seconds. “Look Daddy, silly dog.”
Oscar’s head rested on Roman’s shoulder as the boy gave him a hug. Oscar’s bunny ears went crooked, which made Roman laugh. Sienna captured it all, clicking away.
She smiled up at me, lighting up my world. A hundred unspoken words crossed between us in that moment. She was on the same page as I was, which meant it was time for naked pancakes and a discussion about picking a wedding venue. Then we could talk about leaving her birth control on the shelf.
Sienna slipped her hand in mine, making another beautiful memory. I raised our hands to my lips, kissing the hand that held the diamond ring I’d placed there at Christmas. I couldn’t help but think how different it could have been.
All the what ifs were humbling.
What if she ran and never gave me a second chance after I stupidly tossed her out of my truck?
What if Diesel had ended her life before I’d gotten to her?
What if she never said yes when I asked her the question that would forever change my world into something I never dreamed I’d ever find?
I would have given up my life for Sienna’s but having Liam and his brotherhood in our court made things much better. Plus, now, I had my brother back. Something if you had asked me a year ago, I would’ve never believed would happen.
There wasn’t one redeeming factor about her ex-Diesel other than if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have my girl or my brother in my life. I wouldn’t be standing here now, seeing what my future could be like. I pulled Sienna into my arms, kissing the top of her head. “I love you so much, Berry.”
Sienna gave me a wry smile. “I love you more, Asher Basher.”
Home safe. You can stop worrying now. Enjoy your night cuddling with Hawk. Love you
The meteorologist had called it. We’d gotten a beautiful sunny morning for the kids to enjoy their egg hunt and pictures with the fire bunny as he predicted we would. Jackson from the third shift dressed as the Easter bunny this year, wearing a fire hat and bunker pants. Sienna had taken all the photos.
The sky had opened up just before dinner, dumping buckets of rain on us.
I couldn’t help worrying whenever she was out of my sight. She was my world.
Tones echoed throughout the station. We were all up and moving while the call came through.
Engine 47, Engine 45, Engine 42, Medic 47, Medic 42, multi-vehicle crash intersection of Main and Sossoman. Reports of entrapment. Caller says woman trapped inside is in labor. Time out 1732