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“Hey, Walter, how’s it going?”
“Can’t complain. Is there something I can help you with?”
Inhaling deeply, I run a hand through my hair. “Yeah actually, if you could help that’d be amazing. I’ve got a toddler coming to live with me. There’s a lot of stuff I need.”
He laughs, walking back on his heels. “Don’t I know it. I have a three year old myself.”
“I’m new at this,” I shrug. “I need all the help I can get. What would you recommend? This is the car seat he had. They were in a wreck, and I just wanna get him the stuff he might enjoy.”
“Yeah, sure. Let me get one of the big carts; a shopping cart isn’t going to handle this.”
“Thank you so much.”
In the middle of all this, I don’t feel so alone. I know I need to call my parents and let them know what the hell is going on, but it’s so much to explain, and it’s almost unbelievable. It requires more brain power than I have at the moment. When he comes back with a trolley, I give him a smile. “Okay, I’m ready to take all the advice you’re willing to give.”
“This one is the car seat the child had,” he says, pointing up to the top shelf.
Together we get the box down and put it on the trolley. “Okay, what about a toddler bed, and a dresser? Maybe some toys he might enjoy?”
“Yeah we have all of that.”
Together we walk through the store, him giving me everything on my list, along with some new clothes. I’m not sure what size he wears, but with Walter’s help, I’m able to guess. As we’re about to get to the checkout, I notice a display of teddy bears, and I can’t help it. I have to reach over and grab one. This is my second chance, and I’m devoted to getting all of this figured out.
* * *
A few hours later,I’m sitting in my spare bedroom trying to figure out how to put this shit together. This is never what I imagined when I thought about putting furniture together for my kid. It was always a crib before me, and Delia had just brought him home from the hospital.
Just as I’m about to give up, my doorbell rings. Sighing, I get up and head to open it. I’m surprised when I see the rest of the firehouse standing on my front porch, holding up pizza and beer.
“What are you all doing here?”
Cam reaches forward, putting his hand on my shoulder. “Because this is what you all did for me when I found myself with a daughter I had to care for by myself. No one should be alone with all the big shit you’re going through. We’re here to help you. You’ve got a lot to put together, and we’re here for you.”
I wanna cry and I almost do, but I pull it together just in time.
“Come on in, and thank you all for coming. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You’re never gonna have to find that out, buddy,” Danny says as he enters, handing me a beer. “We’re here for you, and you won’t have to do this on your own.”
“Thank you. I don’t know what else to say.”
“There’s nothing else to say. We got you, and we always do.”
The Next Morning
A hospital foldout isn’t conducive to sleep, especially when they come in every few hours to check my son’s vitals. I’m fucking exhausted. When the doctor comes in, I’m hoping like hell they’re gonna say we can blow this joint.
“Good news, looks like he’s going to be able to go home.”
I rub my eyes as I sit up, hearing every part of my body crack. I’m not as young as I used to be. “Perfect. What about Delia?”
“She gets to be sprung too. I’ll have discharge papers drawn up for the both of them.”
As happy as I am, nerves also start flowing through my veins. I’m nervous to have them come to my home, for Gavin to see what we all did for him last night. It’s all there in a ball, in the middle of my stomach. I imagine it’s how it would’ve been had I been able to bring him home from the hospital as a newborn. Although I’m doing it differently than I would’ve in the beginning, I’m realizing this is part of a blessing as well. I’m getting to have my own moments with him. Had they not showed up when they did, I wouldn’t get to have the chance to build these memories.
“Thank you. I’m going to take a shower if that’s okay, and then we can wake him up?”
“Take your time; it’ll be a while before we’re able to get the discharge paperwork for both of them.”
