Saved By The Firefighter
Chapter 35

Kathline's Point of View.

"Hey Mel, how has he been?" I smile at my child minder who is in a bright orange dress today with thick yellow stripes on the flowing skirt part of it.

"Not a peck of bother, although I have to tell you, he is saying that you have a firefighter for a boyfriend to the other kids," Mel whispers to me. "Oh, he asked Davey out right the other day, it was so embarrassing," I sigh.

"Well, he seems to like Davey, and he is really happy to show off that his Mam has a boyfriend. I think he kind of felt left out with so many kids having dads, and stepdads at school," Mel tells me.

I cannot help but agree, it is really quite obvious that he has felt something was missing from his young life. My heart breaks for him, he deserves so much better than what he got for a father.

"Come on Andy, we have to go," I shout over to my little man, as he bound over, grabbing his coat from the banister it is hung over and ties it around his waist with the arms.

"It is too hot to put it on," He informs me, and I just smile and ruffle his hair.

"Thanks Mel, see you tomorrow." I smile at her, then we wave goodbye to the other kids walking across the road through Barnes Park.

"Can I go on the adventure park.... Pleeaaasssseeee?" Andy pleads with me.

"Okay, five minutes, then we have to get back," I tell him and take a seat on the wooden bench and watch as he climbs up to the highest rope bridge, and carefully begins to walk over it. I hold my breath, because he has never been that heigh before, and if he gets stuck, there is no way in hell I can go up there and get him.

My phone pings, and I pull it out of my bag.

Davey Hey, I am at yours, xxx

Kathline - Oh, wasn't expecting you to come till later, we are just at Barnes Park on the adventure playground xxx

Davey- I will head over, see you in five xxx

I smile to myself; my stomach feels like a kaleidoscope of butterflies have taken flight when Andy suddenly shouts. "Mam, I am scared," he cries out.

I look up and he is right in the centre of the rope bridge, hanging on for dear life, as it swings about, a group of kids all behind him shouting at him to move out the way, as he sobs slightly, terrified. "s**t," I curse under my breath.

Heights are really not my thing, and wood planks held together by rope that swings high between a slide and a rope climbing frame, which probably will not hold an adult's weight, is not my idea of fun.

"It's okay Andy, take a breath," I shout up at him, wondering how the hell I am going to get him off the thing.

"Mammy, I am going to fall," Andy sobs out, his little body shaking with fear, as the bigger kids start to push past him, bringing him closer to the edge and causing him to squeal out.

"Oi, stop pushing past him," I shout to the older kids, fearful myself that he will fall through the gap between the ropes, not that he could if I look at it objectively, but my own fear, and concern for my child, has set in and being totally rational at this point is never going to happen.

"It's okay Andy, I am coming up," the deep voice of Davey shouts over my shoulder.

I let out a long breath, thankful that he is here. Davey climbs up the rope frame, then leads to the narrow rope bridge, asking the kids to step aside, which they do without question. He walks over the planks, reaching my son. Rather than just pick him up and bring him down though, Davey crouches down to his level with a smile.

"Hey kidder, let's do this together, shall we?" He smiles.

Andy sobs clinging to the rope.

"I will not let you fall, trust me, I will talk you through what you need to do," Davey reassures him.

"Okay, so take hold of both sides of the rope. Now don't look down, look straight across at that tree over there." Davey points to one of the large trees in the park.

"That's it, good boy. Now, keep your eyes on the tree and just take a step," Davey tells him.

"But I might fall through the gap," Andy protests with another small sob.

"I know if feels like the gaps are big when you are up here, but they really aren't. So just one step, I am here, I can catch you at any time," Davey reassures him.

"It's wobbling," Andy's terrified voice rings out.

"I know, but don't worry about that, it's very secure. Just one step Andy, there's a good boy," Davey encourages him.

Andy hesitantly takes a step, and I watch on in awe as Davey soon has him moving slowly but surely across the bridge on his own. They reach the end, and Davey sits down on the top of the slide, picking up Andy and placing him between his legs. Then counts to three, and the pair of them slide down together.

I rush over to Andy and give him a huge hug.

"I did it Mam, can I do it again?" Andy beams with pride.

I am about to say no, when Davey chuckles beside me.

"Go on then, if you need me to come up again give me a shout, just remember to concentrate on the tree," Davey encourages him.

Andy runs off, then climbs up towards the bridge once more, as Davey chuckles beside me, grabbing my waist and placing a soft quick kiss on my lips.

"Hi," he grins at me.

"Hi." I smile back at him.

"All he needed was a little bit of confidence to get across, look he is crossing it like a pro now." Davey grins nodding towards the bridge.

"I am glad you were here, because I hate heights," I sigh looking over at Andy.

"Not a problem. God am I happy to see you," he sighs, taking hold of my hand.

I look down at our entwined fingers, as he grins at me.

"So, how do you and Andy feel about heading down to the Barnes Toby Carvery for tea?" he asks.

"When? Tonight?" I ask him.

"Sure, if you want." Davey smiles at me.

"Our first date." He grins at me.

"What with Andy in tow." I laugh slightly.

"Yeah, I am dating both of you." Davey winks.

I let out a light laugh and nod my head at him.

"We best get the little monster home and changed then." I smile.

"Hey Andy, time to go now son," I shout over at him.

"Aww, okay... I have to go now, with my Mam and her boyfriend." Andy turns to a kid he has made friends with.

I close my eyes, wondering just what Davey will think about my son insisting he is my boyfriend.

"I think that has a nice ring to it, don't you?" Davey asks, reaching out and taking my hand once more.

I smile shyly, saying nothing in return and Andy runs in the middle of us, breaking our hands apart then grabs each of us so that we are all holding hands together.

After quickly getting Andy changed, we walk out of the house towards the Barnes Toby Carvery. It is a short walk at the bottom of my street, across the pedestrian crossings, then past the garage that sits next to it. We walk in and ask for a table for three. Taking our seat in the long booth at the side, the smell of roast beef, pork, gammon, and turkey fills the air, and instantly my tummy rumbles in appreciation. The waitress comes over and takes our order for drinks, and Davey tells her it is three for the carvery. She nods her head and tells us to go up to the food counter when we are ready.

"How was Liv when you left?" I ask him.

Davey sighs, shaking his head slightly, a look of annoyance flashes on his face.

"Upset, but she is okay. I bought some food, so she has enough to eat, I also paid the gas and electricity bills off, so she has power. But honestly Kathline, we have been here before, not as bad, but still, she always takes him back," Davey sighed out, clearly frustrated.

"Well, I had a word with Larry who works in my old place, he said he will take a look at the evidence and make a decision on if it is worth going down that route. He will look at it as a favour to me, but if he takes the case, I am not sure if he will do the whole thing for fee," I tell him.

"Thanks, Kathline, you are a super star. Come on let's go get some food." He smiles, shuffling out of the booth as Andy follows him, chatting away to him, holding his hand. I walk behind the pair of them smiling. Maybe I should discourage Andy from getting to attached to Davey, after all, who knows if this thing between us will work or not but seeing him so happy to have a man around him, I do not have the heart to tell my little boy he needs to be careful.

The chef asks me which meats I, Davey, and Andy want. Andy picks the turkey, as Davey asks for turkey and gammon. I go for the beef and pork. A giant Yorkshire pudding is placed on each of our plates, then handed to us. We move along the large pots filled with every kind of vegetable you can think of, along with mashed potatoes and roast potatoes. We all pile our plates high, then head to the smaller counter and put lashings of gravy all over the food, then return to our seats to find our bottomless diet cokes waiting for

us.

"I like broccoli Davey, do you like broccoli?" Andy asks, his eyes wide with wonder as he stares up at him.

"I do, I like all my veggies, are you going to eat all yours up?" Davey asks placing a fork full in his mouth as if to make his point.

"Yes, I will." Andy nods.

Now that is new, because he normally only eats broccoli and carrots, but here he is shovelling green beans, peas, cabbage and broccoli into his mouth.

"I am back to work tomorrow, got to get there for 5:30 in the morning, ready to start at six. Finish at six, if we are not on a shout, was wondering when we are done with work, if the weather is okay taking this little one to the B.E.A.C.H." he says spelling out the word in case I don't like the idea.

"It is a little late if I am honest, I bath him at seven then bed by half-seven, but you are more than welcome to come over, if you want." I smile.

"Sure, he goes to bed quite early then." Davey grins at me.

"Yes, and he is flat out all night." I roll my lips together as Davey raises his eyebrow at me.

"Interesting." He winks.

We finish our food, mostly talking to Andy about his day at school, as Davey walks to the counter to pay, and we head off back to my house.

As I walk in, I run up the stairs to start running Andy's bath, getting his PJ's out of his drawer, and placing them on the bed.

"Andy, bath time," I shout downstairs.

Andy makes his way up the stairs, and I strip him out of his clothes, and give him a nice, but quicker than normal bath, before taking him into his bedroom, and putting him in his pj's.

"I will go down and get you some milk and cookies, you chose which book you want to read tonight," I tell him.

"Mammy, can Davey come up and help read my bedtime story?" Andy asks.

I nod, then make my way downstairs to find two hot cups of tea made.

"I am just going to get him some milk and cookies, then read his bedtime story. He kind of asked if you would do it," I say, unsure what Davey will think about that.

"Of course, I will." Davey grins following me up the stairs.

Andy eats his supper, whilst Davey reads him the Gruffalo, then he hops out of bed to clean his teeth before jumping back in under the covers.

"Night, night my gorgeous boy, I love you all the world," I tell him.

"Night, night, I love you all the world too." Andy smiles.

"And you Davey," he adds.

Davey chuckles and ruffles his hair as I place a soft kiss on his head.

As we step out of the room, Davey looks at me.

"s**t, I forgot, I bought him a nerf gun when I was away, I left it in the car," He tells me.

"Erm, thanks for that, but if I get covered in bruises off it, I will be hiding it in the 'oh it got lost' cupboard. Just so you know." I grin at him.

Davey laughs, then grabs me by the waist.

"So, what game do we play now the child is in bed?" Davey asks with a panty-melting smirk on his face.

I bite my bottom lip, then tilt my head to one side.

"Teenagers on a beach, sounds good to me." I wink at him, and he lets out a low growl.

"That, ... is a very, very good game," He agrees, as his lips crash into mine.