31. River
CHAPTER 31
River
It’s been a few weeks since Kennedy and I discovered this unknown link in our lives. It’s interesting how grief can hit you, feeling that loss all over again, even years after the fact.
When I first started this with Kennedy, in the back of my mind, I would wonder what my dad would think of her. I think it’s only natural to wonder something like that when you lose a parent too soon. You’re always looking at the life you’re building and wondering how that person would take in the choices you’ve made.
I’m well aware that my dad had no idea who Kennedy was at that time. Nor did he understand the person she would grow to be in my life. But there is this part of me, deep down, that feels this connection to her in a different way now. It feels as though a part of her was meant for me and vice versa.
After she calmed down and we were able to talk about it without feeling an overwhelming sense of emotion, we called my mom and explained everything that had come to Kennedy’s realization. Clay was still there, and the moment Kennedy explained her reaction, there wasn’t a dry eye on either side.
My mom was overcome with a sense of closure, although what Kennedy experienced with my dad was so different than the last few moments of his life. But for my mom, after years of hoping to know more about how his day had gone up to the point he entered the tower at the World Trade Center, she got a little piece of him back with this story.
There’s no way to look at this and feel complete though. That’s something we all have to come to terms with as we realize this new link between Kennedy and my family. Three people were lost amongst us, along with thousands of others. Amidst the tragedy that day holds, we’ve found a way to carry on, but the pain lingers deep in our core.
I’ve pretty much spent every waking moment at Kennedy’s if I’m not on shift at the station. I feel like I’m here more than at my own place, so much so that Lola hasn’t been back to our apartment in weeks. Something feels right about it, and it seems neither of us wants to say anything to change this new normal we’ve fallen into.
I’m walking out of the room to find Lola snuggled next to Kennedy while my girlfriend is smiling at something on her phone. It isn’t until I get closer I see it’s someone on social media getting engaged.
“What is with you and proposals?” I ask, not sure if she’s trying to drop hints or something.
“I honestly love proposals. I have this thing about them; they just make me smile. Even years ago, I would stop to watch a proposal if it was happening at a game or at some popular spot in the city. I’ve always loved them,” she explains, all while watching her screen.
“Are you hinting at something?” I can’t help but ask.
In all honesty, I’ve thought of ways I would ask someone as strong-minded as Kennedy to marry me, but I haven’t thought of the best way yet. I know when the idea hits me, it will be epic.
“Oh, stop, River. That is not what’s happening. I’ve loved proposals since before this whole thing with us started. Come to think of it, I think it all started with my parents,” she continues, smiling, this time swinging her gaze to me.
“Don’t leave me hanging, Skip,” I say as I make my way to the kitchen to grab some food to take to the station.
“My parents didn’t fight often, but when they did, no matter what the discussion was about, in hopes of making my mom smile, my dad always asked her if she would marry him again, even after making her mad,” she chuckles, “and she would always say yes.” She shrugs her shoulders and keeps scrolling on her phone.
For someone who was so adamant about staying single and not committing to someone, I love seeing her melt a little at seeing people propose.
* * *
The holidays have just ended, and I am cringing at the thought of taking down all these decorations. Experiencing the magic of Christmas with Kennedy was fun for me. I remember we’d stand so far away from the mistletoe at parties, sending each other seething looks. But this year was quite different, and I know we had a lot of fun making up for lost time each chance we got.
I’m lost in thought, grabbing a snack in the kitchen, when I hear Kennedy in the other room.
“Oh my god, River!” I slam the fridge as she yells.
She comes running over, my dog at her feet, getting excited over the prospect of whatever is getting Kennedy all riled up.
“The twins are coming! Sam is in labor!” She shoves her phone in my face, and once my eyes focus, I see the text from Ashton.
“That’s exciting. Are you going to head over there?” I ask, realizing the time and the fact I need to head out soon.
“I guess? I can text her and see. Last she went to the doctor, they were going to do a C-section because the babies aren’t in the right position or something. I guess her water breaking means the party is happening early,” she says excitedly.
“Keep me updated. I can always try to run to the hospital if it’s not too busy,” I say, grabbing the last of my things before I give Lola some attention and give Kennedy a kiss goodbye.
“Riv?” she calls after me before I close the door.
She comes running over and stops me by bringing her lips to mine.
“Please be safe tonight. I love you,” she says, a soft smile taking over her face.
“Love you, and I promise I will,” I say and then call out, “Keep me updated on the babies and Sam.”
The elevator chimes, and I head in, blowing a final kiss her way. I’m officially a lovesick puppy because as I make my way out of the building, I’m already counting the hours until I’m back in her arms.
* * *
My brother and I are on shift together, and we’re both digging into our dinner, nodding our heads at the same time. I doubt it goes unnoticed by the guys that some twin things are just hard to explain. We finish each other’s sentences, move our bodies in the same way, and even answer things at the same time by gesturing with our bodies.
Out of nowhere, Rios comes strolling in, and I can bet money he’s going to bring up the whole Kennedy and my dad connection again. He hasn’t stopped talking about it.
“Dude, I’m still shocked with that story about your dad and Kennedy. I mean, what are the chances? It’s wild. I can’t believe it.” He whistles at the end, bewildered by the news, even all this time after I told him the first time.
Now that he’s made comments left and right about the fact Kennedy and I share a deeper connection, I sort of shrug because Rios is like a broken record.
It’s hard to ignore what a busy night it’s been so far, with a call coming in right when we came on. We barely had time to put our things down before we heard the call, sending us out.
I’ve gotten a few notifications from Kennedy regarding Sam and her care. It turns out the babies are still not in the right position to try a natural birth, so the last text I got was that they were prepping Samara for surgery. The babies are coming earlier than expected, but nothing uncommon for twin deliveries. Luckily, the hospital is one of the top ones for delivering multiples; they’re in good hands.
Ashton texted me once, all with GiFs of characters freaking out. The last one was of that movie Airplane where the pilot is sweating bullets. I can’t lie: that one made me laugh out loud. The last text I got from Kennedy, she was preparing to head to the hospital once Ash gave her the go-ahead.
It’s getting close to midnight, but the last text was about two hours ago, so she should already be there. Sam’s parents arrived before Ash and Sam did, so Kennedy was planning on hanging out with them while waiting for the surgery to end.
I can’t help my mind drifting to this big moment for my best friends. The day they become parents is finally here. This pregnancy felt long for me as an onlooker because we knew about it quite early on. Now that the babies are coming, I can’t wait to meet them and to watch Ashton handle this new chapter in his life.
Rios is still mumbling to himself, and it causes my brother and I to turn to one another and smile. Clay was pretty quiet when Kennedy explained the connection we had, and it took some time for all his feelings to settle. It wasn’t that he was mad about it; it was just unexpected.
We finish up, and I clean our dishes while he grabs us more water. It’s then we hear the breaking news on the television of a fire that broke out right outside of town. Right then, Rios grabs the remote and turns the volume up.
From the look of it, this is going to take a lot of manpower to stop. It’s an old factory, one that hasn’t been functional in decades, yet a fire is taking over the structure.
We get the alert we are needed, and we run toward the truck, pulling our outfits on and preparing for a long night ahead.
* * *
The moment we reach the call, we see the building engulfed in flames. Our captain is barking orders at all of us, everyone making sure their gear is set to walk into the flames.
I take in the disaster in front of my brother and me as we prepare to make our way in. The heat is immediate, and my body kicks into gear to get further into this place and check for anyone who might be injured or trapped.
We have a blueprint of the place to inspect each location. Although this building was abandoned, kids liked making their way inside, and from what some of the teens who were being cared for by paramedics in front were saying, there are two unaccounted for in their group.
I break off with my group to move through the large area, my brother going with Rios and a few other guys, and I hang back to assess some portions of the foundation below. We make good time inspecting downstairs, realizing no one is hidden in any corners, nor did anyone call out.
We make our way upstairs, going through an area my brother and the others haven’t gone. I hear a faint sound and then see movement to my right. I call out, making sure they know help has arrived. I reach the teen, who now has his shirt covering his face. I pull the face mask onto him, watching him take deep breaths of fresh air. His buddy is nearby, a gash in his leg.
One of the guys in my company, Bently Denko, is caring for the friend while I make sure the kid in front of me can get up and walk. He’s limping after hurting his leg, but with the amount of smoke engulfing the room, I can’t wait for him to walk slowly through the place. I have no option but to carry him out. A further inspection of his wounds will need to be done once we get outside.
We had communicated we had found the two missing teens; however, it took longer than either of us would have liked, and now we are hustling to get out. I look over to see Denko picking up the other kid, the gash in the teen’s calf deeper than I imagined.
We give each other the signal to move out, the need to move fast very much at the forefront of our minds. That’s when I hear the creaking take over. We begin to move faster, knowing this building is unstable and might start to come down on us.
Our radios begin to project my captain’s voice, telling us to move out. I hear my brother, along with others from the station, call out that they’re headed out of the building right then. We are making our way downstairs, but the stability of the wood in this portion of the building is weak. I can feel the ground beneath my feet giving out a little more with each step I take.
We’re finally close to the exit, and that’s when we start to see more debris falling from above us. Denko is able to get the kid out, and when I get close to the entrance we initially came through, I hand the boy off to some other firefighters from another station. Elation overwhelms me with the fact the teen got out of the burning building and should be okay. In the next second, there’s a shift in the atmosphere around me, and before I can process what’s going on, everything behind me gives out, and I’m engulfed in darkness.