Becca sank onto the bed next to her husband. “Thank goodness. Everyone here has been great, but I’m ready for my own bed and something to eat besides hospital food.” She rested a hand on her expanded belly and laughed.
“I’m sure you are,” Bryce spoke up from the back of the room. “We’ve got a meal train all planned out, with the first delivery tonight for dinner. You shouldn’t have to cook for at least a week.”
Tears sprang to Becca’s eyes. “Thank you. We appreciate you all so much.”
Leslie released Clint’s hand to give the other woman a hug. They spoke for a moment, but the noise of the room drowned out their words.
A nurse pushed her way into the room. “Okay, okay. We’re going to need to break this party up. I’ve got some vitals to take before we start the discharge process.” Even though she spoke in a firm voice, she was all smiles.
“You heard the nice nurse,” Bryce’s deep voice caught everyone’s attention. “Let’s give them some space.”
They filed out of the room and gathered in the hallway as Leslie’s co-workers again told her how glad they were that she was okay.
Chet studied Clint, a serious look on his face. “I heard through the grapevine that you were supposed to have dinner at the station last night.”
“I’d been planning on it.” Clint reached for Leslie’s hand again. “I’m hoping for a rain check.”
Leslie tucked herself against his arm and rested a hand on his chest. “Absolutely. And we’re going to keep the teasing to a minimum, right?”
Chet tried to stay serious but failed miserably. Hechuckled. “I’m not going to promise that. But you’re welcome at the station anytime.”
Clint carefully put an arm around Leslie’s shoulders and steered her toward the elevator. “How are Cindy and the girls?”
Early this morning, Leslie had taken all three of them back to her place to stay until the inspection on Cindy’s house was completed and insurance did their thing. Once Clint made sure they were settled, he went back to his house for the rest of the night.
“They’re okay. Cindy has some bruising on her wrists and ankles, but otherwise, none of them were hurt. The girls were still asleep when I left. We’ll need some things, but Cindy and I’ll make a list after I get back.”
The elevator doors opened with a ding. They stepped inside and rode it to the ground floor.
Once they exited and were outside, Clint squeezed her hand. “So, we interviewed King again. Once he heard that we’d caught Jacob, he suddenly had no problem talking to us.” The security guard had practically begged for a deal if he shared everything he knew. “It turns out that Jacob was going to the same rehabilitation center for grief therapy. That’s where he ran into Ortiz. He also saw King accepting a bribe to turn a blind eye to drugs being sold on the center’s property. We haven’t had the chance to question Jacob yet, but he must have been planning his revenge for a while. When he found out Ortiz had trouble with kleptomania and worked for the same fire station where you were, he figured blackmailing Ortiz would be the best way to net him a set of gear.”
Leslie shook her head, a sad look on her face. “Losing a loved one is hard enough to navigate. It breaks my heart that he didn’t have the kind of support system he needed.” Shestopped walking. “I know he’s going to serve time, but are there any programs the court can make sure he gets into? Programs that could help him with his grief?”
Her kindness, even toward someone who had made her life such a nightmare these last few days, made Clint proud to know her. “I’m sure there are.” He smiled down at her and swept a section of hair behind her ear.
She studied his face, her lips transforming into a smile of her own. “What?”
He tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and led her the rest of the way to her car. Once there, he gently pulled her into his arms. “You’re amazing.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “I’ve always thought so. I’m kicking myself for not telling you sooner. I should’ve asked you out a year or two ago.”
“It’s okay, because we’re here now.” She stood on her tiptoes and brushed her lips against his. “Which is right where we’re supposed to be.”
Epilogue
Four Months Later
The sweet baby boy yawned before snuggling into Leslie’s arms. How Danny and Becca’s little guy managed to stay asleep with all the noise around them, she’d never know. Leslie considered sneaking into Bryce’s house and hiding out in one of the rooms so she wouldn’t have to relinquish baby Noah to anyone else.
Bryce and Megan had decided to host a barbecue for all their friends and family. Between the fire station and police station, it wasn’t a small gathering.
It was a beautiful spring Saturday in mid-March, and their collective group had a lot to celebrate.
An arm gently circled her waist. She turned her head to find Clint watching her, a glimmer in his eyes. He nuzzled her neck and kissed her cheek. “You look happy.”
“I am.” She reached for one of the baby’s hands. His little fingers closed around her thumb. “Isn’t he so sweet?”
“You know, I don’t think we’ve had the kid conversation.”
“What?” She took her attention off Noah and focusedon her fiancé. “I thought we agreed that we definitely wanted to have kids.”
