“Sure,” I said, nodding. It was more than okay.
“Great,” Tara said. “Then, just sign this, and you can go.”
I scribbled on the page and then let my mom help me to my feet. I used my crutches but I was so clumsy Mom asked if I needed a wheelchair. I ignored her and got myself to the parking lot without assistance.
Mom drove me home, and when we stepped up to the front door, it flew open, and twenty people screamed “surprise”. I looked around to see all my buddies crowded inside my tiny ass apartment. With a laugh, I let my mom lead me through the door. I said hello to everyone, accepting hugs and slaps on the back. My leg was starting to feel weak, but I pushed through, keeping myself on my crutches until they pissed me off so much that I sat down on the couch for the rest of the night.
“I’m leaving, honey,” Mom said, leaning down to kiss my cheek. “Have fun but take it easy.”
“He’s in good hands,” Chief Johnson said. Mom hugged me and slipped out the door.
The chief fell onto the couch beside me, handing me a beer and sipping his own slowly.
“When can I get back in the rotation?” I asked, holding the beer in my hand without drinking it. I was still on painkillers that couldn’t be mixed with booze.
“When you’re back on your feet, Lewis,” Chief said. “Don’t rush it, kid.”
“I’m ready,” I said with determination.
“You can’t fucking walk yet,” Chief said, snorting. “Calm the hell down.”
“I can’t just sit on my ass,” I said. “I need to do something useful.”
“You are,” Chief said. “You’re healing. That’s more important than you know.”
“It’s not enough.” I groaned and threw my head back against the couch cushions.
“What you did for that family was a goddamn miracle,” Chief said. “Be grateful you’re alive.”
“It wasn’t a miracle,” I said. “It was the job.”
“Really?” Chief raised his eyebrows and nodded toward the front door.
I turned around to see a familiar face walking through the door. It was the same man from the apartment fire. He was no longer covered in ash, and his face was set in a broad smile instead of a panicked grimace. Behind him, stood his wife and little girl. They glanced around the room, smiling nervously until Greg ran up to greet them.
They all hugged Greg and whispered something to him I couldn’t hear. He glanced at me and led them over. I felt my heart pound in my chest. What would I say to them?
“Caleb!” Greg said. “Someone’s here to see you.”
I smiled and tried to stand up, but the man shook his head and put his hand on my shoulder.
“Don’t stand up,” he said. “We wanted to come by and thank you for everything you did for us.”
“It was nothing,” I mumbled.
“You saved my wife and my daughter,” he said. “It was everything.”
“I’m Grace,” the wife said. “And this is Hannah.”
“Hi Hannah,” I said kindly. The little girl smiled but hid behind her mother’s skirt. “Thank you for coming by.”
“We wanted to tell you that your medical bills are covered,” Grace said. “We’re taking care of everything. It’s our way of saying thank you. Thank you for everything.”
“You don’t need to do that,” I said quickly. “Really, it’s not necessary.”
“We just received a huge inheritance,” Grace said. “We were moving and had almost everything out of the apartment when the fire happened. We barely lost anything at all, and because of you, we’re still alive.”
“It’s the least we can do,” the man said. “Please, let us.”