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“I know my baby is going to a better home than I could ever give him,” she told us at the station on Friday afternoon. She wasn’t sad or overly emotional—she spoke matter-of-factly. “It makes meso happyknowing you’re adopting him.”
I put my arm around Derek and hugged him. “You’re going to make a great father.”
He raised an eyebrow. “What makes you say that?”
Taylor snorted. “You kidding, Chief? The last two weeks prove you’re made for this. It’s a shame you haven’t had a bunch of kids already.”
“I don’t know about that. But I promise to do the best I can.” He nodded once at Melanie. “I owe you a lot of thanks, too. And not just for letting me adopt Anthony.”
She frowned. “Why’s that?”
Derek hesitated. I got the impression he wasn’t sure he wanted to say a lot in front of Jordan and Taylor. But then he charged forward anyway.
“I grew up in a foster home,” he explained. “My mother putmeup for adoption when I was young. I never met her, but I hated her for it. For abandoning me.”
Melanie’s eyes went wide. “Um, is this supposed to make me feel better? Because it’s kind of doing the opposite…”
I nudged Derek in the ribs. “Get to the point before she starts crying.”
“I hated my mom because I couldn’t wrap my head around why she would do that,” Derek said. “But after talking to you, and hearing your story about the pregnancy and why you’re giving up your baby? I understand, now. I can’t know for sure the circumstances of my own mother, but I’m choosing to believe she was a lot like you, Melanie. A young woman who was just trying to find the best life for her baby.”
Melanie crossed the room and hugged him. “I’ve never had anyone thank me for being such a big screw up.”
“I’ll try to be more empathetic with other people’s situations,” he replied.
“That’ll come in handy now that you’re a dad!” Taylor chimed in.
“Especially if the baby grows up and does somethingreallybad,” I said. “Like leaving an oven onwarmfor an hour to keep some Italian food from getting cold.”
Derek glared at me, but it was playful rather than bitter.
We said our goodbyes with Melanie and got back to work for the afternoon. Derek and the guys had chores to complete in the firehouse, like re-folding the fire engine hoses and cleaning the spare equipment. I spent the time watching Baby Anthony sleep in his bassinet in front of the TV.
Before we knew it, it was evening and nearly time for the switch-over with the other shift. Jordan was practically hopping from one foot to the other with excitement.
“I can’t wait to see the look on Billy’s face when you don’t step down.”
Derek let out a long breath. “Actually… Well, now’s as good a time as any to tell you guys. I’m still stepping down as Captain.”
All of us gasped. “What? Why!” Jordan demanded. “You found a way around Billy’s blackmailing.”
Derek smiled sadly. “I’ve loved working here in Riverville. But the unorthodox hours aren’t going to work now that I have a baby.”
“We can keep the baby here!” Taylor said. “Just like we’vebeendoing.”
Derek gave him a patient look. “We all know that’s not ideal. Besides, it’s too late. I already put in for a transfer. There are already three stations vying for me to take over.”
Jordan and Taylor looked at each other quietly. “You’re just going to leave us here?” Jordan asked.
“Jordan,” Derek said gently. “This will be good for your professional development. Both of you. A new Captain with a different leadership style…”
“Fuck that,” Taylor said. “Take us with you!”
Jordan whipped his head around to him. “Us?”
“Why not?” Taylor ran his fingers through his yellow hair. “A Fresno station would be closer to my college classes. And Jordan, you don’t have any roots here in Riverville. Whynottransfer to Fresno?”
“I doubt the station Derek applies to would have positions for both of us,” Jordan replied.
