Table of Contents
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About The Author
Copyright © 2017 by Samantha Lind
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
ISBN-13: 978-1545422410
ISBN-10: 1545422419
No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, distributed, stored in or introduced into any information storage or retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic, photocopying, mechanical or otherwise, without express permission of the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, story lines and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons, living or dead, events, locales or any events or occurrences are purely coincidental.
The following story contains adult language and sexual situations and is intended for adult readers.
Cover Design by MG Bookcovers and Design
Cover Photographer by Reggie Danching with RplusMphoto
Cover Models are BT Urruela and Jess Epps
Editing by Virginia Carey
Proofreading by Nicole Bailey of Proof Before You Publish
Interior Design & Formatting by Juliana Cabrera of Jersey Girl Design
To my husband, Hans, for always believing in me and allowing me to follow my dreams.
Tessa
5 Years Ago
Today has been just one of those days. Every L&D room has been full and as soon as we get one patient moved out, another one arrives. Talk about a baby boom! I love being a nurse on the L&D floor. Helping bring new life into this world is so amazing and I love every minute of it. I’ve been on my feet for the past 7 hours straight and by the looks of it, the rest of my 12-hour shift will be the same. I am so looking forward to getting off tonight, as both Matt and I have the next 5 days off. We’re taking Tyler out to my parents’ cabin on the lake to just get away and have some quiet family time together. We have been looking forward to this mini-vacation for weeks now, and I can’t wait to get away with my boys!
It is almost 3pm when I come out from settling a new patient in and come up to the nurses’ station. Dr. Scott is there writing out orders for some of her patients, as is Bridget, my charge nurse. She’s on the phone when I arrive and by the look she is giving me, she isn’t receiving good news on the other end of the phone. As soon as she hangs up, she turns to me and I immediately know something is wrong.
“Tessa, that was the ER, they need you to head down there immediately. Matt was hurt in a fire and is being treated. Don’t worry about your patients, I am calling in Michelle now to come cover the rest of your shift.”
I immediately run toward the elevator bank and head to the ER. I’m scared shitless. Once I make it down to the ER and make my way to the nurses’ desk, I am surrounded by Matt's fellow firemen. By the looks on their faces I know something is seriously wrong. I just start praying in my head for him to please be okay. I can’t imagine what I will do if he doesn’t make it. How will I explain to my one year old that his daddy isn’t coming home? I inwardly tell myself to stop thinking the worst and to not go to that place mentally until I find out more details and talk to the doctors. A few minutes later a doctor- I don’t even catch his name- approaches me and asks if I’m Matt’s wife. I don’t even remember answering him when he asks if I will follow him into a private room so he can discuss my husband’s injuries with me.
We enter a consult office and two other doctors and a nurse come in with us. By the number of medical professionals in the room, I quickly realize that the news isn’t going to be good.
“Mrs. Daniels, I am sorry to tell you that your husband is in critical condition. He was trapped for over an hour after the roof collapsed in on him and one other firefighter. He has sustained multiple injuries and is currently on a ventilator and is being prepped for surgery. He has multiple broken bones, a brain bleed and internal bleeding. We are doing all we can to keep him alive, but I need you to know how serious his condition is.”
I’m in too much shock to know what I’m feeling or thinking but I know I have to see him. “Can I see him before he is taken to surgery?”
After agreement between all the doctors, the doctor tells me what will happen in surgery. Their priority once they get him into the OR is to stop the internal bleeding and then they will bring in the orthopedic team to start working on his broken bones. I sign all the forms approving his surgeries and the charge nurse takes me where he is so I can at least see him for a few minutes while they are waiting on the OR.
As soon as I step into his room, I gasp. I can’t believe what I see in front of me. My life as I know it will never be the same. He is bloody everywhere, has IV lines running into both arms, and there is a breathing tube coming out of his mouth.
The doctor steps back in. “Mrs. Daniels, it’s time for us to take him to the OR. We have assigned family waiting room C to him for you and anyone else you would like to wait with you. We will come find you there when we have updates.”
As soon as they wheel him out, I drop into the chair and start bawling. The love of my life was just whisked away. Matt’s fire chief comes in and gathers me in a hug.
“Tessa, everyone at house 48 is here for you and Tyler. Please let me know what we can do to help you during this time. Do you need me to call anyone to come sit with you?”
I’ve been so distracted up until this point it hadn’t even crossed my mind to call either of our parents or siblings.
“Thank you for the offer. I will call our families now. The doctors said I can wait in family waiting room C on the surgery floor if anyone from the firehouse wants to move to there to wait for his surgery to be completed. They estimated it will take hours.”
I leave the room to go call our families. That’s when I realize I left my phone and purse up in my locker. As soon as I reach the L&D floor, Bridget runs up to me and engulfs me in a hug. I break down even more while she’s hugging me, not knowing if my husband will be making it out of the OR alive. I finally pull myself together enough to tell her his known injuries and update her that he is currently in the OR. I tell her I just forgot my stuff and will be heading down to the family waiting area.
After grabbing my stuff from my locker, I decide to call our parents from the break room. I have a feeling the family waiting room is going to be full of Matt’s co-workers. I call my parents first since they have Tyler today. My mom picks up and I can hear my dad and Tyler busting up laughing in the background. This makes me smile, but burst into tears once again.
“Tessa, what’s wrong?” my mom says to me.
“Mom, it’s Matt…. He was hurt in a fire and they don’t know if he is going to make it. He’s in surgery right now.”
“Oh, honey, we are on our way. Do you need us to bring you anything?”
“Not that I can think of. I need to call Aubrey and Dave. Can you call Brian and David and let them know what is going on?”
“Of course, I will. We will be there shortly. Love you, Tessa.”
“I love you too, Mom.”
After hanging up with my parents and allowing myself to cry for a few minutes, I finally get the courage to call my in-laws. Thankfully, Dave answers on the first ring.
“Hey, Tessa, what’s up? I thought you were working today?”
“Hey, Dave, I am…”
I think he can hear the break in my voice as he immediately asks me, “What’s wrong?”
“Dave, it’s Matt. He was hurt in a fire and is in surgery. The doctors are not giving him a very good chance of surviving. Can you and Aubrey please get down here as soon as possible?”
“Of course, we will. I will go get her now and we’ll be on our way. Do you need anything? Where is Tyler today?”
“He’s with my parents and they are on their way down here as well.”
“Ok, sweetheart, we’ll be there as soon as we can. I’ll call Heather, Nicole and David and let them know they should head down to the hospital as soon as possible.”
“Thanks, Dave, I really appreciate it.”
I need to get down to the family waiting room soon – even though I am pretty sure it is going to be a bit longer before they have any news on Matt. I quickly call Caroline, as I need her as well. She has been my best friend since we were babies. Her phone rings until I get her voicemail. I don’t know if she would be able to understand a message from me because I’m so upset, so I hang up and text her.
Tessa: Please call me ASAP, it’s an emergency.
I’m sure she is probably busy with Jack now, so I decide to head down to the family waiting room. Just as I’m about to get onto the elevator, my phone starts to ring. I’m the only one in the elevator, so I answer it.
“Tessa, what’s wrong?”
“Caroline, it’s Matt.” I break off in a sob.
“What’s wrong? Was he at that fire where the building collapsed? It’s all over the news. They’re saying two firefighters were trapped and hurt badly.”
“Yes, he’s one of them. Can you please come down to the hospital? I’m headed to family waiting room C to wait for the doctors to update me. Our parents are on their way and they are taking care of calling all our siblings.”
“Yes, I’ll drop the boys off with Luke and head to the hospital. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Let me know if you need anything.”
After hanging up with Caroline, I make my way to the waiting room. Chief Miller is in there, as well as a few other firemen. They all greet me when I enter and the chief informs me that no one has come in to give any updates yet. I don’t know what to do with myself as my husband lies in the OR fighting for his life. He is only 25 years old. How can this be happening? A few minutes later my parents arrive with Tyler and rush to my side. I pick up my boy and just hug him close. My parents surround me to give me their support. My mom leans in and whispers to me that they haven’t told Tyler anything, as he wouldn’t understand what’s going on. About 10 minutes later Matt’s parents, as well as my brother, Brian, arrive. After receiving hugs from everyone and informing them all that I don’t have any new updates, we all take a seat to wait.
About 30 minutes later, Caroline arrives, as well as Matt’s two sisters. Everyone is so worried, but I am clinging to the “no news is good news” saying at this point. About an hour later the remainder of our family has arrived and Caroline offers to have Luke come pick up Ty and take him to their house to feed him dinner and let him play with Jack. He is getting fussy being kept here in the waiting room, so I decide that isn’t a bad idea. My brother Brian’s girlfriend, Sara, offers to go and drop him off so Luke doesn’t have to load up Jack and bring him down to the hospital. My dad goes with her to help load him in their car so that they don’t have to move his car seat to Brian’s car for the short drive over.
About 5 minutes after Sara leaves with Tyler, the doctor enters the room. The look on his face is grim and I immediately stand and start to cry. He approaches me. “Mrs. Daniels, I am sorry to inform you we have done everything we can, but your husband has passed away.”
My life crashes before me. I go completely numb. I would have hit the floor if it weren’t for my dad standing right next to me and catching me. The sounds of sobs from all around me are deafening. I don’t really know what to do right now, so I just lean on my dad and cry. The doctor stays in the room to answer any questions we have as well as bring up organ donation. Matt is a registered organ donor and was adamant that when he died he wanted anything that could be donated to save another person’s life be donated. I agreed to the donations, and asked if I could see him again. The doctor agreed and with the support of my parents and Matt’s parents I was led into the OR to say goodbye to my husband, the only man I had ever loved and kissed; the father of our son. I go into the OR and since he had died during surgery, his body is mostly covered. They are keeping his body breathing with machines until his organs are harvested for donation. This will take place in the next few hours as they line up recipients for the organs. I kiss his cheek and tell him how much I love him and will miss him. I tell him that Tyler will forever know how great of a man he was. After spending time saying goodbye to Matt, I leave the OR and head back to my family. The thought of having to start planning Matt’s funeral and everything that will take starts bombarding my thoughts. I don’t even know where to start when it comes to all of that.
When I get back in the waiting room, a representative from the fire department has arrived who is there to help me with everything. The first thing I have to do is pick a funeral home and decide if he will be buried or cremated. Due to his job, we had discussed all this type of stuff shortly after he joined the academy. We knew he performed a very dangerous job and every time he walked out of our door, I was scared. The liaison from the fire department, Becky, thankfully had the information on the different options in our area, and I knew Matt wanted to be cremated. That was an easy item off the growing list of things we had to take care of. Becky suggested we call it a night as it was getting late. She said no other decisions had to be made tonight, but that she would be in touch the next day and that she was available if I needed anything before then. Before leaving, a nurse informs me that 5 people will be receiving organs or tissue donations from Matt. They were able to find a match for his heart, kidneys, liver, and lungs. I know he would be happy to know he could save so many lives from this tragic accident.
I am still so numb to everything that has happened today. I am lost and not quite sure what I need to do next. All our family is still there at the hospital with me. Most of the firefighters left hours ago. Chief Miller is still here, and I appreciate his support. I imagine it is hard on a chief when he loses a man in a fire. I then remember the news that there had been a second firefighter trapped with Matt and realize I never asked if he made it or not.
“Chief Miller, can you tell me anything on the other fireman who was trapped with Matt? Did he make it? Will he be ok?” He replies, “Yes, the other firefighter will make a full recovery. He had some broken bones, a few burns and some smoke inhalation. He will spend a few days in the hospital and then be sent home to finish recovering.”
I’m relieved that another family will not have to deal with what we were. Like the saying goes, I wouldn’t wish this nightmare on anyone.
Tessa
Present Day
Fuck, fuck, fuck… I just walked into my kitchen to find a few inches of water all over the floor. It appears to be leaking out of the ceiling, which tells me either my washer has flooded or my bathroom has, since both are above my kitchen. I don’t know how many more things can go wrong with this house. It seems like every time I turn around something is breaking or stops working correctly. It’s days like today that make me miss Matt even more. He would know exactly what to do and how to fix the issue. I, on the other hand, don’t have a handy bone in my body when it comes to home repairs. Just then my cell starts ringing. I’m sure it’s Caroline calling to bug me again about what we are going to do next month for my “Dirty 30”. Sigh…
“Hey, biotch, what are you doing today?” sh
e asks as soon as I put my phone to my ear. I can’t help but laugh.
“Well, if you must ask, I’m currently standing in a few inches of water in my kitchen. The entire floor is covered.”
“Oh shit, that sucks, what happened?” she asks.
“I have no idea. Something must be leaking in my bathroom or the laundry room. I literally just found the water a minute before you called. I’m going to call my dad and David and see if they can come over and help me.”
“Sounds like a good plan. I’ll head over in a few to help you clean up the water and then maybe we can take the kids to the park to run off some energy while we soak up some of this wonderful sun we have today.”
“Sounds heavenly! Ty is still at my parents’ house. He had his Friday night sleepover with grams and gramps last night. See you soon.”
After hanging up with Caroline, I call my dad to see if he can head over to help me with the leak issue. I ask him if Ty can stay with mom until after I get everything cleaned up and tell him I will just come get him then. Thankfully, my parents are super helpful and have no issues with him hanging out at their house when I need help with him or when I’m at work. I also call up my brother, David, to see if he can come over and help dad out.
“Hey, what’s up, sis?” he asks upon answering his phone.
“I have a major leak, Dad is on his way to help me. Do you think you could stop by to help as well? With the amount of water that is on my floor, I imagine it’s going to be a bigger job than I will be able to help with.”
“Yep, no problem. Kate and I are just on our way home from grocery shopping, so as soon as we get home, I can head your way.”
“Thanks, David, I really appreciate it. Tell Kate I said hi and that we need to get together soon for a girls’ night out.”
“Will do, sis, see you soon.”
A couple of hours later my dad and brother have found the problem and thankfully replaced the cracked pipe. Caroline was such a lifesaver coming over as well to help me clean up all the water. Unfortunately, it looks like there was enough water damage that I will need to replace the kitchen flooring. It really isn’t that big of an issue as the flooring was old and has been on the list of things that need updating. But it’s just another thing I must add to my growing list of things to get done sooner rather than later.
Tempting Tessa Page 1