Page 34 of The Fire Captain's Unexpected Baby
Mr. Oakley complains a little, but lets me go. After the day I had yesterday, the only thing I want to do is immerse myself in work.Every day that I get to come to the hospital, I feel lucky to help people. To do work that I love.
The emergency room is busy today. We stitch up wounds and X-ray broken bones. I bandage and wrap sore muscles.
I almost forgot that I have other responsibilities until my cell phone rings and Levi’s number flashes.
“I got called into work,” he says. “I can’t collect Noah from the daycare today.”
“I got called into work, too.” I squeeze my eyes shut in sheer frustration and pinch the bridge of my nose to help me think. “Who’s taking care of your kids?”
“My in-laws,” he says. I barely know Levi’s in-laws. He knows I would never ask them to help me with Noah. “I’m sorry, Paige.”
“It’s okay. I appreciate that you watched him yesterday. We’ll find a solution. Go take care of the station.”
I flip through the Rolodex of names in my mind. Levi has to head into the station. My mother is out of town today, visiting a childhood friend a few towns over. Summer and Zachary left for their honeymoon this morning.
That leaves one person who can pick Noah up from daycare.
* * *
Aaron
“No, I didn’t get called into the station.”
Paige sounds desperate for me not to be at work right now. I had been planning on surprising her after work with a bouquet of flowers or something small. Noah would be home, so I wasn’t going to stay long.
Just enough to see her one more time.
“Good,” she says, resignation in her voice. “Because I need a favor.”
She explains the situation, how everyone she knows and trusts is too busy to help with Noah today. I let her ramble on until she apologizes for being inconvenient.
“You and Noah aren’t an inconvenience,” I cut her off. “I would be happy to pick him up. Just tell me what time to be there.”
A deep breath rattles on the other end of the line. I can’t tell if it’s a relieved sigh or a nervous tic.
“Four o’clock sharp,” she says. “He’ll be hungry when you pick him up, so bring a snack. He likes graham crackers and bananas. I have plenty in the cabinet at the house, if you don’t have any.”
“I’ll make sure he has something to eat, I promise.”
“Levi has the spare key to the house,” she says. “I’ll meet you there when I get off at six, okay? Dinner is on me tonight.”
The hospital loudspeaker sounds, muffled through the line. Paige lets out a soft curse under her breath and rushes off the line to go do her job. I picture her rushing to an ailing patient, fussing over them the way I’ve been fussed over by nurses in the past.
But I don’t have long to think about it.
With my nap cut short, I decide to get ready to run errands. I have two hours to make it to the grocery store, pick up the spare key, and go collect Noah from daycare.
At the grocery store, I load a basket with everything I think a toddler might like: Goldfish crackers, graham crackers, bananas, soft oatmeal cookies, and strawberry yogurt bites. The cashier doesn’t bat an eye, allowing me to pretend for a little while longer that I could really be a dad.
Levi meets me at the bay door of the station, key in hand.
“She’s trusting you with Noah,” he says, toying with the key before handing it to me. “I hope you know it’s a big deal.”
“Paige and Noah are a package deal,” I remind him. “I knew that when I got involved with her.”
We talk for a few more minutes before I leave. I pull up to the daycare with fifteen minutes to spare. Unable to wait another moment to prove myself to Paige, I step into the air-conditioned nursery.
A harried teacher approaches the door, seemingly relieved to have one fewer charge in a minute.
