And he was absolutely right. And the fact that we’d likely gotten pregnant that first night was just more fuel for the fire. We were really meant for each other. Perfect for each other from the start and in every way.
Including the baby making.
Bryson started talking about having a big family and I had to remind him over and over that we hadn’t even had our first yet, but I have to admit that as much as I was trying to temper his excitement I was ecstatic inside.
But depending on when my brother broke the news to my parents I’d see just how ecstatic, or not, my supposed closest supporters would be.
CHAPTER 17
Aubrey
“You’re what?” my dad says.
So much for him being excited or supportive.
Not five minutes later the call is over and I can tell my parents are beyond disappointed. All I really got out of the call was, “Your dreams are shattered…blah, blah, blah…your life is over…his job is dangerous and risky and you could end up alone with huge expenses…blah, blah, blah…oh this is terrible.”
The only thing terrible to me was that it was now us against the world. And the more I thought about it that wasn’t so terrible at all.
We’d managed to build a really peaceful existence together in such a short amount of time and with everyone else out of the way that peace was guaranteed not to be interrupted. Granted it came at the expense of everyone else’s peace, but I learned long ago not to worry about things you can’t control. I fail at that often, but for some reason I just knew this wasn’t going to be one of those times.
CHAPTER 18
Aubrey
Two months later
Bryson and all the other guys from the station paddle out past the surf in San Luis Obispo, or SLO as it’s known.
Once they’re all out there they form a circle in the water as they sit on their boards. Although “paddle outs” as they’re known, aren’t usually used to celebrate weddings, I think it’s the perfect idea.
The rest of the other firefighter’s wives and I stay on the shore and watch from a distance. I’ve been very lucky that the other wives have adopted me into their tight knit community. There’s so much lingo and so many things to learn when you’re married to a fireman, and I will be officially that later this afternoon.
The only downside is I really wish my parents and brother were here. I haven’t spoke with my brother at all since his little unexpected visit and my parent’s pretty much shortly thereafter. My mom tried to talk me out of this for about two weeks, but after she realized her unsolicited advice wasn’t going anywhere she gave up…completely.
I’m a bit sad to be cut off from my family, but I’m starting a new family of my own and that’s what matters most.
It’s hard to believe just three months ago I passed up on starting my career for a babysitting job. The idea would have seen foolish to anyone but me at the time, but sometimes you just have to go your own way no matter what everyone, and I mean everyone, else thinks. It’s part of growing up and being an adult, and I’ve definitely been on that path since I arrived out here in California.
Babysitting Delilah has made me realize I didn’t know nearly as much about being a mother as I thought. It seemed kind of easy from a distance, but once I got in there and got my hands dirty, both literally and figuratively, I realized the work involved is very real and there are absolutely no breaks.
But the most important thing Delilah taught me is how much I do love kids, and how much I want an entire houseful of them to join her. Little brothers and sisters for her to play with. Happiness, chocolate chip cookies, and sleepovers. It just sounds perfect. And I know nothing will make Bryson happier than when he comes home from the station only to be greeted with a child hugging each of his legs before he scoops them up and tells them about his day as a firefighter and they tell him about all the interesting things they do in school and the people they meet.
My mind is already so far into the future it’s scary. I feel like I want that big family right now, almost skipping all the childbirth parts and the early years…but why would I ever want to do that.
Seeing Delilah take her first steps took my breath away. I never truly realized how some of the simplest things in life could be so rewarding. And it feels so much more fulfilling when you watch someone else “succeed” than when you succeed yourself. And after numerous attempts to stand and take those first few steps I know that “success” is definitely the right word. She was smiling so big and laughing so loud after she successfully put one foot in front of the other and didn’t fall that it brought a tears to my eyes. Bryson said a gnat flew into his eye, and I won’t press him for the real truth, but I know he was touched too.
And just to think I’ll get to experience that again soon. Sometime in the next year and a half or so.
Us ladies look out and see our men slapping the water with their palms down before turning their hands over and splashing it.
The way the late morning light reflects off the droplets causes a prism to form…a little rainbow on a sunny day.
And nothing could be more appropriate. I found my pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and it was Bryson, Delilah, and Douggie…and soon to be one more.
CHAPTER 19
Aubrey
My maid of honor helps me with my final touches and leads me down to the front of the church. I’ve got a bunch of helpers with my dress and I truly feel like a princess ready to become a queen with her king.
As we approach the doors to the church I see a man in a gray suit facing forward, looking at the closed doors. That’s weird. What’s he doing here.
I’m so focused on not tripping or getting my pristine white dress dirty I give it no mind. Plus I really need to concentrate where I’m walking.
But as I get closer I realize that random man is anything but.
I feel my lower lip begin to quiver and right on time I’m handed a tissue to wipe away the tear that is threatening to cause havoc on my makeup.
“Daddy.”
My father turns around with his hands cupped together in front of him. He looks so handsome and almost out of place in a suit, but out of place he is certainly not. He’s right where he belongs and where I’d secretly wished he’d be, but knew he wouldn’t.
I’ve never been so happy to be wrong in my entire life.
“You didn’t think the people that raised you would miss this moment did you?”
My dad quickly moves down the hall and takes my arm, guiding me to the doors.
“With your blessing, I’d like to continue our little walk another fifty feet or so.”
His words hit me like a ton of bricks and all I can do is nod my head. He removes a tissue of his own and dabs at my eyes.
I hear the organ begin to play and to my surprise two of my little cousins pull the big church doors open with huge smiles on their faces. I look inside and see my brother stand first, as he locks eyes with me from the front row.
My side is much more filled out than I’d expected, and certainly more people are there than there were last night at our walk-through.
And my eyes move a bit towards the center and I see my king. My fantastic fireman. My everything.
“Shall we?” my dad says.
“Thank you. Thank you, daddy,” I say.
I haven’t called my dad daddy in years, but for some reason it just feels right now. I just feel like a little girl. Like a princess in that make believe fantasy world I created when I was a child. But sometimes dreams really do come true. And mine is about fifty feet or so, as my dad said, straight down that aisle.
My dad carefully and slowly helps me down the aisle. I look to my right and two my left and see so many people I hadn’t expected to turn up today.
Today was already the best day of my life no matter if no-one showed up but Bryson, but if I’m being honest with myself I need these people here. I need my support system and as tough as I’ve been trying to act these last few months tryi
ng to be prideful and pretending like I wouldn’t be hurt if my family weren’t here I always knew I’d look back and see the day as incomplete.
Now all those thoughts are completely gone. My perfect day truly is perfect.
And when I reach the front row I see my mother there, holding Delilah. A show of support that hits me right in the chest.
She has to hand off Little D to my brother so she can dab at the tears flowing from both of her eyes. I stop briefly and we exchange kisses on the cheek. It’s something we’ve never done before but for some reason now we think we’re European or something. I laugh at the thought, but it’s out of my head just as quickly as it entered.
There are just so many thoughts flying in and out of my head right now it’s incredible, but after I turn back to the front and take the last few steps with my father my mind stills…because I’m completely focused on him…again.
The man of my dreams. My first crush. The only man I’ve ever given myself to, and not long from now the whole world will know that we’ve given ourselves to each other officially forever.
Good things really do come to those who wait, but I don’t want to wait any longer. I move up the stairs as quickly as I can ready to become Mrs. Aubrey Blaze. My new initials will be the first and the second letters of the alphabet. One and two.
I’m not the best at math, but my new favorite equation is two and one.
As in our two hearts beating as one together…forever.
“You look beautiful,” he mouths to me.
“Thank you,” I mouth back.
“I love you.”
“I love you.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to witness the….”
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
Bryson
Twenty-five years later
“Fireman-“
“Uh-uh,” I clear my throat.
“Firefighters,” the chief says as his eyes find me in the crowd, “of the graduating class of 2043…”
I squeeze my wife’s hand and we look at each other.
Suddenly I feel Bryce’s hand take my other hand and in no more than a few seconds our entire family is holding hands in the stands as we support our Delilah today as she graduates from the Santa Barbara Fire Academy and officially becomes a firefighter.
It’s a big moment for everyone, especially Delilah, but even more so for me if you can believe it.
I served alongside her father and was there when he gave his life so that a child could live. And in doing so his own child became my child.
I know he’s up there today looking down on us, proud as heck that his little girl has followed in his footsteps and is living her own dream, which just so happened to be the one that was shared by the two of us.
I’m long since retired but I feel a special pride knowing my daughter will carry on the Blaze tradition of serving the community. And Bryce, our oldest son, will likely be on this same podium next year following in his older sister, and my, footsteps.
They’re the newest “heroes” of our family.
But there is only one true hero and that’s the woman who’s by my side, which is exactly where she’s been ever since she flew out to California twenty-five years ago.
Without her heroism, and it truly was that, that led her to take such a big chance I’d just be some grumpy old man living at home listening to the Dodgers baseball games on the radio most evenings. Not exactly living the dream, is it?
But thanks to her I am living the dream. And it’s a dream I didn’t even really know existed, at least in this form.
I’m a happy person in general, but I never knew how happy I really could be. You think everything is fine when you don’t know what you’re missing out on, but once you see “the other side,” well there’s no going back. The only time our family goes back is to tease one another for outfits we may have worn in pictures, or silly things we did on family vacations, at school…actually we tease each other a lot. And it’s a good thing. We keep each other grounded and down to earth, even though my head is still in the clouds.
But today there’s not a cloud in the sky. It couldn’t be more perfect. And after the ceremony our entire family will go for a surf and then we’ll head to Delilah’s favorite Italian restaurant for dinner, where I’ve made a secret reservation.
And it may not seem like a big deal, and may go unnoticed, but tonight Delilah will get the spot at the head of the table. It’s a spot I’ve always taken. I am the man of the house after all and it’s my job to watch over my family and lead our kids into the future.
But I’m now fifty-six years old and the future is here. Our kids don’t need anymore “leadership training.” In many ways my job is done. Now I’m better off to support them in whatever they do and only provide guidance when they ask. It’s time for me to watch them lead their own lives, and I know soon enough they’ll be the heads of their own families.
Aubrey and I can hardly wait.
That’s one of the benefits of having such busy, driven kids. They have so much that they want to do, and having a family is part of that. But there are only so many hours in the day so that means ol’ grandma and grandpa will be called upon to help.
And I’ll get to take part in those first steps, that first ride on a bicycle down the street without training wheels, and catching their first fish. Jeez, I’m turning into a big ol’ softie in my old age. A big ol’ guy like me is now nothing more than a gentle giant, a big ol’ teddy bear.
And a big ol’ teddy bear that my wife loves to hug all night as we lie together in bed, our two hearts beating as one.
Life has blessed me with a lot of things, but none more important than her. And she’s the gift that just keeps on giving. Love, support, encouragement…and most importantly our children.
She’s the hero. She’s the leader. And she loves me so much that she let’s me feel like I’m in charge, but I know the truth.
Without her our family wouldn’t function. With her we’re a smooth running well-oiled machine.
And the only thing that matters to me is family, and there is no family without her.
Which means there is no life without her.
But I’ve got her. She’s mine and only mine.
And tonight after dinner when the kids are in bed I’ve got a surprise for her. The kids are old enough to take care of themselves these days…at least for the couple months that we need.
That should be enough to explore the French countryside and the vineyards of Tuscany, don’t you think? Soak in the warm sun while we take dips in the Mediterranean and feed each other just like the two lovers that came together twenty-five years and got this big ol’ family started.
I can’t wait for our first date in Europe. We’ve had a lot of first together and there’s more to come.
She’s an incredible woman and even to this day I’m still learning more and more about her. She’s intricate. She’s beautiful. And she’s perfect.
And most importantly?
She’s mine and only mine.
Forever.
A MAN WHO KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS
Book 1: Baby Lust
Book 2: Veteran
Book 3: Built
Book 4: Bambino
Book 5: Rescued
Book 6: Leader
Book 7: Professor
Book 8: Burned
Book 9: Worldly
Book 10: Pistol
Book 11: Policed
Book 12: Driven
Book 13: Lucky 13
Book 14: Lumberjacked
Book 15: Protector
Book 16: Carpenter
Book 17: Italian Stallion
Book 18: Gardener
Book 19: Budapest Billionaire’s Virgin
Book 20: Billionaire’s Babysitter
Book 21: Cocky CFO
Book 22: Fireman’s Filthy 4th
Book 23: Mechanic
Book 24: SEAL’s Secret
Book 25: Police, Pooch, and Smooch
Book 26: Fireman’s Fake Fiancée
Book 27: Billionaire’s Virgin Ballerina
Book 28: Bitcoin Billionaire’s Babysitter
Book 29: Veterans Day Daddy
Book 30: Cowboy’s Christmas Carol
Book 31: Police Officer’s Princess
Book 32: Statham
Book 33: Bodyguard
Book 34: Greek God
Book 35: Billionaire Single Dad's Babysitter
Book 36: Mountain Man
Book 37: SEAL’s Justice
Book 38: Royal Romance
Book 39: Doctor Mountain Man’s Special Delivery
Firefighter's Babysitter Page 6