“Did they know I was your dad?”
“No, and they still don’t.”
“That’s good. No need to bring attention to it…unless it helps you get a better grade.”
“Dad!” she says, slapping me on the shoulder.
“You’re getting stronger. Been working out?”
“Not as much as you apparently. I can’t believe you carried him out of there like that. He looked like a little sack of potatoes on your shoulders, and I know he’s not a small guy.”
“So you know who it is?”
“Of course I do, which makes this thing all the more amazing.”
“You’re not the only one who thinks so.”
“What do you mean?”
“Hollywood is already knocking. They want the rights. And there are a few publishers who’ve called me to say they’ve lined up ghostwriters and they’re ready to tell the story. I think they want the book out there as soon as possible.”
“It’s an amazing story, no doubt. I’d read it. Of course I’d think it were fiction if I hadn’t seen it with my own two eyes. And you should have heard what my teacher said.”
“What did she say?”
“She told the class she hasn’t watched one of those helicopter live freeway news things since OJ Simpson, and was glad this one had a much better ending.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, I never in a million years expected to be mentioned in the same sentence as OJ.”
“You can say that again.”
I turn my gaze back forward as we keep walking. Everyone’s been through a lot lately and I don’t really want to add more chaos to everything that’s already happening. I don’t want to, but I have to. I need to come out with this. I don’t want to keep this a secret anymore. I’m proud of what Amy and I are building and I want everyone who’s close to me to share in my happiness.
“Dad?”
“Yes, dear.”
“Is there something else you want to tell me?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean…well…I was just thinking about everything that’s happened lately. It seems there are a lot of coincidences, but when they’re all looked at under the same microscope they don’t seem so much like coincidences anymore.”
“You know they always say that parent’s should try to pull the wool over their kids eyes. That kids are smarter and more intuitive than we give them credit for.”
“You’ve never pulled the wool over my eyes.”
She holds out her hand, which I proudly take in mine. I may be forty-two and she may be twenty-one making us both adults, but she’ll always be my little girl. And I’ll hold her hand and walk around Griffith Observatory tonight just like we did on the night of her fifth birthday.
“You never deserved to be treated that way, to be left in the dark or deceived, and you certainly don’t deserve it now.”
“It’s okay, dad. I already figured it out.”
“Figured what out?”
“You. You and Amy.”
“Oh. You did?”
“Yeah. I had a hunch after that night I made the phone call. I mean, even if your buddies changed your ringtone, how unlikely was it that they changed it to the exact same one she had. Plus I went over to her house to return a sweater and she wasn’t there. Her parents thought she was at our house.”
“I guess technically she was,” I say.
“Was. That’s something else I need to talk to you about. Since I’m taking summer classes it’s going to allow me to graduate after the fall term, a full semester ahead of schedule.”
“That’s great.”
“And what’s even better is that there’s less competition for jobs that time of year, so much so that I already have an offer. One that I accepted.”
“Unbelievable! The good news just keeps coming,” I say, hugging her tight.
“Thanks, dad. So I guess that was my house, but now it’s your house. Yours of course and, well, kind of Amy’s depending on how things go.”
“Things between us are going great, and they will continue to do so, but no matter what that’s always our house. You don’t just stop being my daughter, and you know what that means. I’m always going to be looking out for you and you’re always welcome to come back to dad’s house for as long as you want. The door’s not only always open, but the welcome mat is always rolled out too. Scratch that…it’s a red carpet. You’ll always be a VIP in my house, whether you’re technically living there or not. And you’ll always live with me, in spirit and in thought.”
“Dad?”
“Yeah.”
“Amy’s making you soft.”
“What do you mean?”
“Live with you in sprit? You’re starting to sound like one of those NorCal hippies!”
“Very funny.”
“It’s not a bad thing. I mean Ben and Jerry were hippies right? Followed the Grateful Dead around before they started making ice cream.”
“You want some?”
“Can we?”
“Always, honey.”
“Which one are you going to get?”
“Cookie dough. You?”
“Chocolate fudge brownie.”
“Ohhh, a great choice.”
We turn direction walking a little quicker now making our way towards our cars.
“I’ll follow you to the Albertsons right by the house.”
“It’s a deal. Meet you in the ice cream section.”
“Let’s walk in together. Once you move out we won’t have the chance to do that so much anymore.”
“You got it dad.”
“Love you.”
“Love you, dad. Oh, and dad.”
“Yeah.”
“Life is short. This whole episode really reminded me of that. We’ve got to go for what we want in the limited amount of time we have on this planet, and I’m proud of you for doing just that.”
“Thank you.”
“And the more I think about it…you two make a great couple.
Her blessing means more to me than she’ll ever know, just as being my one and only little girl does.
EPILOGUE
Amy
Two weeks later
“Ladies and gentlemen, Los Angeles Fire Chief Ralph M. Terrazas.”
The room fills with the sound of polite golf claps.
“Ladies and gentlemen, men and women of the media, thank you for coming here today to witness a very special moment for the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the entire city of Los Angeles. It’s not every day that we present the Medal of Valor, but then again it’s not every day we meet a fireman as brave, selfless, and heroic as Mister Benjamin Burns.’
The Fire Chief turns to look at Benjamin and I can’t help but squeeze his hand even tighter. I’m so proud of him and so thankful that he saved my dad’s life.
“I had a long speech prepared, but today was supposed to be Benjamin’s day off so I’ve decided to cut it short.”
Laughter fills the room.
“Ladies and gentleman, it is an honor to present to you Medal of Valor recipient Benjamin Burns.”
I release his hand as he walks from the side of the stage toward the microphone. With my other hand I reach down and place it in my father’s. It’s been a couple weeks now and he’s made a tremendous recovery. He’s already back to about ninety percent of his normal self and doctors say he’ll be back to one hundred percent in another week or two. Things are definitely looking up.
“Thank you everyone,” Benjamin begins. The crowd is still cheering, whistling and applauding with everything they’ve got. Benjamin is the kind of hero Los Angeles really needs right now. His modesty has really united the city. I didn’t know the full extent of how vital he was to our city until recently. In addition to fighting fires he really donates a lot of time to charity work, much more so than I already knew, and all the fireman often take the truck into the inner city and urban areas to visit with the kids and build trust and teamwork.
They really do bridge potential gaps in the community, and it’s absolutely beautiful to see.
“Thank you Chief Terrazas,” Benjamin says, after the chief places the medal around his neck.
“The real reason the Chief cut his speech short is because I asked him to, because I have one of my own.”
I feel my dad’s grip tighten even more, and I look over at him. He’s smiling at me, and he nods, releasing my hand. I’m confused.
“Amy, can you please join me on stage?”
I’m not used to public speaking, or public anything really. And I’m definitely not used to walking in heels.
I carefully make my way to center stage where he takes my hand. Surely he can tell I’m a sweaty, shaking mess. Then again maybe he can’t, because once I place my hand in his I feel balanced again. And not just balanced in my shoes, but balanced in my life. That’s one of the things that’s most important in our relationship. When I’m with him everything feels right and anything feels possible. I’ve never felt that way before, and I want to feel this way for the rest of my life, if I can.
“My daughter recently reminded me that life is indeed short. I think her exact words were, “We’ve got to go for what we want in the limited amount of time we have on this planet.” And she couldn’t be more right. This big day for me wouldn’t mean anything if I didn’t have you all here to share it with. And by you all I really do mean all of you. But there is one very special person in particular who truly makes it all worth while.”
He bends down in that beautiful black fireman’s dress uniform with the gold buttons and shiny black shoes and takes a knee.
He places his forearm on his knee and reaches into his hat, removing a dark box with the letters HW embossed on it. Oh my god, Harry Winston.
There’s a crease in the top of the box, which he opens in each direction, the two sides fanning out like wings. In the middle sits an absolutely stunning, huge, perfect diamond engagement ring.
“Amy. Beautiful. We’ve known of each other for years, but it’s only recently that we’ve grown to truly know each other. And even though I’ve learned so much about you already, I want to know more. Everything. And to do so it’s going to take a lifetime together, forever. And that’s exactly how long I want to be with you…forever. Will you make this incredible day, perfect? Will you marry me?”
I’m blinded by the flash bulbs of the press in the front row. For a moment I almost can’t see him…almost, because no matter the distractions today, tomorrow or in the future, I’ll never take my eyes off him. And now I won’t have to because he’ll be by my side forever, and I’ll be right there by his to support him, cherish him, and clean him up when he gets home covered in soot and ash from a long day of being a true hero.
“Yes!” I yell. “I’d marry you right now if we could!”
He stands up and I jump into his arms.
Chief Tarrazas taps on the microphone three times. “Is there a clergy member in the house?”
The entire room fills with laughter, including us, but it’s not because of the joke, although it’s a good one. It’s because we’re giddy in love, like school kids.
“Did I make your incredible day, perfect?” I ask.
“You make every day perfect,” he says.
A chorus of “awwws” fills the room.
“The mic is still on!” my dad yells from the side of the stage.
“Then this is the perfect time for me to thank you for giving me your blessing to marry your daughter,” Benjamin says.
“Wait!” one of the reporters in the front row says. “You’re marrying the daughter of the man you saved?”
“You have no idea how deep this story goes,” he says.
“First rights! We’ll pay you thousands.”
“Hundreds of thousands,” the reporter next to that one yells.
“A million dollars. Cash!” another shouts.
“Sorry, what we’ve got isn’t for sale. It’s priceless. Right, my fiancée?”
“Right my fiancé,” I say.
“This is the happiest day for any man ever, thanks to you. I love you.”
“I love you,” I say as his lips meet mine, and I look forward to the day when our two hearts officially become one.
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Fireman's Filthy 4th: An Older Man Younger Woman Holiday Romance (A Man Who Knows What He Wants Book 22) Page 7