“It was part of it, yeah. But I want more. I want everything with her, Eli. I love her.” I look at him, wishing he would allow himself the opportunity to find love and not just the chase of temporary lust.
“Dude, everyone that is around the two of you for three seconds can tell you are both over the moon for each other. You are basically a walking heart-eyed emoji following her around.” He cracks himself up, opening another box; this one reveals a nursing pillow covered in little pink hearts.
“I’m going to ask her to marry me,” I announce, calmly rolling paint onto the wall, never more sure of a decision in my life.
“Holy shit. Don’t you wanna finish unpacking her boxes first?” He gives me a teasing grin.
“You know that’s all done, dipshit. We just had the party. And it feels right. Some people might think it’s fast, but I have known from the minute I met her that she was different.”
“I’m really happy for you, Rem. Truly.” Striding across the space, Eli clasps me in a tight hug. “Let’s finish this room, yeah?”
“We don’t have a lot of time, but I think we will barely make it under the wire. And then I was thinking on one of our next days off, you could come with me to look at some rings?” I can’t hold back my smile when I look over at my best friend.
“Hell, yes! I haveexcellenttaste ... Um, but maybe we should consult one of the girls?” He rubs the back of his neck apprehensively.
Laughing I tell him, “Don’t worry, I already asked Kendra to help me, and she said yes.”
“What the fuck! You toldKendrabefore me? That’s not fair, I’m your damn brother.” He crosses his thick arms over his chest, ready to argue.
“Well, I wasn’t going to. But she cornered me at the housewarming party demanding to know my intentions with ‘her bestie,’ and I just gave it to her straight. Figured that was for the best.” I give him a knowing look.
“Yup, alright. You did the right thing. Kendra is tiny but can be scary as shit when she wants to be.” He grimaces.
“Don’t I know it.”
Laughing we get back to work, making a special space for Sutton and Kinsley to come home to.
41
Lainey
Remington was scheduled to work today, but Chief let him have the day off so he could help bring Sutton and Kinsley home. The fire station is not just a job, it truly is a family, and the more time I am around them the more evident it becomes. Sutton is not even a fire spouse or significant other, but because she is important to Remington, she is important to the rest of them. Ever since Derek’s death, they have all stepped up to be there for Sutton sure, but also Remington. He lost his brother-in-law and one of his best friends. Now he’s doing something today that is both beautiful and difficult. We are all thinking about the man that is missing from this moment.
Earlier today Jess and Kendra came by and decorated Sutton’s front yard, so when we pulled up there was an adorable wooden stork dressed in pink, a baby in a blanket hanging from its beak. Big letters spelling out “IT’S A GIRL” sprawl across the freshly cut green yard, and there are balloons tied to the mailbox by the driveway.
“Oh my gosh!” Sutton gasps when she sees the cheerful surprise.
“Welcome home,” I tell her with a smile.
“This is too much, you guys didn’t need to go to the trouble.” She wipes a tear as Remington parks in the driveway.
Helping her out of the car carefully he says, “Sut, we are going to celebrate you and Kinsley every chance we get. Today is a special day, and we are going to commemorate it. Let’s get a picture of you two by the stork!”
Bubbling laughter comes from his sister as she nods and slowly makes her way toward the lawn, Remington getting the car seat. I pull out my phone and snap the pictures of the new mom and her precious baby cradled in her arms. Remington’s right. We need to keep celebrating the moments we have, even if they feel a bit hollow. Kinsley deserves the memories to be captured and the effort from all of us.
Renee opens the front door and says, “Charles, Charles! They’re here, our girls are home.” We help Sutton and Kinsley inside, and Remington grabs the rest of the bags and supplies. Once the door is shut, we all take a collective sigh. Kinsley is home, safe and sound. It’s a new chapter for her and Sutton, one that is going to be hard to write, but we won’t let her do it alone.
“Okay, Kinsley,” Remington says in a sweet, low voice. “Are you ready to see your room?”
“Rem, her room is not quite done yet,” I whisper to him, urgently.
“It’s done.” He smiles and winks at me.
“How?” I ask in disbelief.
“I spoke to the muralist,” Sutton says from her place on the couch, stroking Kinsley’s tiny hand. “They had time to squeeze me in when I was in the hospital. I asked Rem to come let him in so they could paint.” She smiles down at her daughter, contentment and sadness washing over her features in tandem.
“That’s wonderful! I can’t wait to see how it turned out.” I clap my hands.
