Saved By The Firefighter
Chapter 120

Kathline's Point of View.

Finally, I am finished for the day which has been hell on earth. Hardly able to concentrate on my work, I have taken twice as long as normal just to draft a simple contract and dictate a few letters. My mind constantly wanders every two minutes to Davey and the fire he is busy fighting.

All I want to do, is go home, grab Andy some clothes, and toys, then pick up my boy, and hold him close to me, then get him and Cal's kids to Whip-me's house to be with the others. Fear consumes me, as I stand up from my desk, grabbing my coat, and make my way out the door as quickly as I can.

"Kathline, the news just said that they are sending another team into the factory. I hope it is not Davey." Tracey said as I passed her desk, as always she is the last to leave the office.

As much as I know she is trying to help, her comment really doesn't help me at all, only causes another wave of pure terror to wash over me.

"Yeah." Is all I can muster in reply as I rush out the door, giving a small wave with my hand in the air.

Unshed tears begin to choke me as I run, as fast as I can in a pair of heels and a tight pencil skirt to my car. Finally able to succumb to the emotions that have threatened to grip me in their iron grasp all afternoon, the tears begin to fall unchecked, streaming down my cheeks. Passers by look at me, their eyes filled with concern, some whispered to each other, verbalising their concern for the crying stranger as I staggered on the cobbled stones, making my way over the narrow road to the rear carpark.

Finally, in the back lane of the offices, I slow my breakneck speed down slightly, as I press the unlock button on my key fob, the bright orange lights flashing twice, the sound of the beeps echoing around the back of the terraced buildings, that were once homes, but now contain offices, mainly solicitors. Opening the door of my car, I climb inside, barely shutting it before my silent tears turn into large sobs. Placing my head in my hands, I allow myself a few moments in time to break down. Once I pick up Andy, I have to keep my emotional state in check, so as not to frighten him, or Cal's kids. The last thing I want is for my six-year-old son to be worried about his new daddy.

My nose is now running as freely as my tears, and I scramble in my mulberry bag for a packet of handkerchiefs so that I can clean myself up a little bit. Gasping for air, I try to regulate my breathing, to get myself back under control, and bury my emotional state. I have to be strong, no matter what. I am a mother first.

Finally calming myself down, I start the car, and focused my attention on getting home, and gathering some things for Andy. The journey took longer than normal, as I paid extra attention on the road, making sure that it has my full concentration. Pulling up outside my home, I open the door to the car. The first thing I notice is the smell of burning, even this far away from the factory, the stench catches my throat. I look up the street to see smoke filling the sky over the roof tops of the houses. Seeing the plumes of thick black smoke in the air makes the whole thing even more real than it already is. I blink my eyes, holding back the tears, as I make my way into the house, to grab some things.

I frantically search through the washing pile that was waiting for my attention tonight, coming across Davey's spare uniform. I take hold of it, and gather it close, to my chest smelling it. But his scent has been washed away, and the only thing I can smell is the lavender fabric conditioner I use. More tears begin to form in my eyes, and I take a shaky breath, as I blink them away. Unable to put Davey's uniform down, I search through the un-ironed washing, with one hand, grabbing things for Andy. The fact they will be creased means nothing at this moment in time. My normal OCD of ironing everything from socks to underwear disappears from my mind. I just need to grab what I can and get out of my house and to my son. Once I have what I need, I reluctantly place Davey's uniform back in the basket, then kiss the tips of my fingers and run them over his gold embodied name that sits underneath the fire brigade's crest.

"Be safe, please, for the love of God, be safe." I whisper at the uniform.

Turning around, I grab a bag, stuffing the clothes for Andy into it, then pick up a couple of his toys from his toybox, then make my way out the door of my home, remembering only after I have loaded the car with the bag, that I needed to lock it. Getting back out of the car, I go lock the door, as my next-door neighbour pulls up on their drive. As they exit out of their car, Mr Robertson nods in my direction as his wife climbs out.

"Nasty business this fire, Kathline. Is your young man involved?" She kindly asks.

"Yes." I nod.

"Oh dear, I hope he will be okay." She offers me a small smile.

"Thank you, I have to go get Andy." I answer her, getting back in my car, not wanting to be delayed any longer.

I reverse out of the driveway towards the main road, then slam the breaks on when the sound of a horn beeping startles me. I realised that I was about to pull out on a car heading up the road, nearly crashing into it. I shake my head. I have to concentrate, I have to get better control of my emotions, right now, or I will put myself and the children in danger.

Maybe I should pick them up in a taxi, but I am already on the road, swinging round the car, and heading towards Mel's house. Waiting for a taxi would take far too long, I just need to focus, all of my attention on my driving.It is what Davey would want.

As I pull up on Mount Road, I ran to Mel's door, and gave it an urgent knock. She opens the door, and her normal happiness is replaced with a furrow of her brow as she gives me a concerned look.

"Hey, they are all ready for you. Cal dropped off a bag of things for Kristie and Dante, along with their car seats. These are my last three pick-ups so I will give you a hand getting seats in your car." Mel tells me, giving me a look of understanding that I am not in the mood for a chat. "Thank you." I whisper.

"Do the kids know?" I ask her, as the three children all stood looking at me wide-eyed. Andy unusually quiet.

"Yes, some of the kids were talking about it. I told him not to worry about it, but he has been a little withdrawn since he found out." Mel whispered back.

"Right kids, who wants to go see Joanne, at Kelvin's house." I said to them, forcing a smile on my face.

I frantically search through the washing pile that was waiting for my attention tonight, coming across Davey's spare uniform. I take hold of it, and gather it close, to my chest smelling it. But his scent has been washed away, and the only thing I can smell is the lavender fabric conditioner I use. More tears begin to form in my eyes, and I take a shaky breath, as I blink them away. Unable to put Davey's uniform down, I search through the un-ironed washing, with one hand, grabbing things for Andy. The fact they will be creased means nothing at this moment in time. My normal OCD of ironing everything from socks to underwear disappears from my mind. I just need to grab what I can and get out of my house and to my son. Once I have what I need, I reluctantly place Davey's uniform back in the basket, then kiss the tips of my fingers and run them over his gold embodied name that sits underneath the fire brigade's crest.
"Mam, is Dad, okay?" Andy's little voice asks me, and I can see tears welling up in his eyes. Myheart constricts in my chest, as I swallow the lump that forms in my throat.

"He is okay Andy; this is his job." I attempted to reassure him, but the words sound hollow to my own ears.

"My daddy is going to the big fire as well." Kristie tells me.

"Yes, I know. But he is not fighting the fire today, just helping Uncle Ben and Davey and Aunty Josie out, making sure they have everything they need." I smile at her.

"Uncle Ben is in the fire with Andy's daddy?" She asks, as the realisation hits her that Ben is fighting the fire.

I let out a breath, I could kick myself for not realising the three-and-a-half-year-old would not put two and two together. "Yes, but he is very good at fighting fires, they all are." I smile down at her. trying to keep my voice as cheerful as possible. "My Dad will look after him, Kristie, and your Daddy as well." Andy tells her, puffing his little chest with pride.

I offer them all a soft smile, then take a breath, as Mel comes back from my car.

"The seats are all fitted, here are the bags from Cal." She tells me, passing me a couple of bags containing clothes and toys.

I grab the bags with one hand, taking Andy's little hand with the other, as Mel lifts Dante up in her arms, and holds onto Kristie with her other hand.

"I gave them all some food. I thought you probably would not be in the right mindset to want to bother with cooking anything." She tells me.

"Thank you Mel, you are a life saver. Just add the cost to my bill at the end of the month." I tell her.

"Don't worry about it, I wish there was more I could do." She tells me.

"Thank you, seriously, I never even gave food a thought." I smile at her, truly thankful for her help.

She smiles warmly at me, and nods her head at me, as I put the bags in the footwell of the passenger side of the car, whilst Andy climbs into his seat at the back. I make my way round strapping him in, then strap Dante into his seat, before double checking that all the seats are installed correctly, a force of habit that Davey has drilled into me. Mel gets Kristie settled and strapped in to her seat, and also double checks that her car seat is fitted correctly, before closing the door on them.

"Let me know what is happening Kathline, and if you need me for anything, no matter what time of the day or night, just give me a ring, or drop me a text and I will be there in a flash." She tells me.

I reach out and gently place my hand on her arm, nodding my head, then climb into the car, and set off for Kelvin's house.

I pull up onto the drive, then get the kids out, as they all rush to the door. Joanne answers it, a forced smile on her face as she ushers the children into the house, then looks at me, as I grab the bags. "Any news?" I ask.

She slowly shakes her head at me.

"Our guys are in the factory now, trying to find the last two people who are unaccounted for." She tells me, her voice slightly cracking, and I close my eyes, and not for the first time today offer up prayers for the love of my life as wave after wave of sheer terror begin

once more to consume me.