Chapter 15- What I Want
Six months later:
"Bags?"
"Check."
"Phones?"
"Check."
"Wallets and purses?"
"Check."
"Boarding passes?"
"Check."
"Blade?"
"Check." I grabbed the handle of the baby seat where my four-month-old son, Blade David Francis Hazelwood, slept. He had been born September twentieth, 2016, not even two months after I got back from Piston Peak.
Susannah hadn't needed much convincing to name our son after Blade Ranger. David was partly after me and partly after my father. Finally, Francis was in honour of Susannah's father. Our son hadn't been easy at first, having colic like I had, but I loved him just the same.
"Well, that's everything", Susannah reported. "I should've known it would be with you organising things, David Hazelwood."
I smiled. "Let's take our stuff outside."
Before we did, I took one last look around in the dark. I fought back tears as I looked into the living room, picturing myself, Chug and Dusty building forts out of cushions and blankets, entertaining ourselves with scary stories. Then I pictured the three of us when we were a little older, watching movies and eating popcorn. Then, when we were even older, Celeste joined the picture, the four of us watching the RSN or listening to music (often arguing over what kind of music to listen to).
Susannah put a hand on my shoulder comfortingly. "It's gonna be great. I love Boston and I know you'll love it too." Susannah didn't seem too upset about the move like I feared she might be; she kept insisting that I had always made sacrifices for my family. Now, it was her turn to make a sacrifice for me.
"Yeah."
You'll be back, I promised myself as Mom, Celeste, Rebecca, Dottie and Sparky helped us carry the last of our things outside. The sky was still dark with just the first light of day breaking through.
Waiting for us were Emma, Dusty, Chug, Skipper and Mayday. They had all come over to say goodbye. I was not looking forward to it. I had never had to say goodbye before, but it did not sound fun.
"How long until you have to go?" Dusty wanted to know.
I checked the time on my phone. "Our flight leaves in a half hour." I wished that our flight would be delayed, but unfortunately, I knew the plane that would be taking us from Propwash Junction to Minneapolis for our connecting flight to Boston. He was as punctual as an atomic clock.
"David!" Mayday exclaimed, his eyes filling with tears. "I can't believe you're leaving!"
"Neither can I!" I admitted. When I graduated high school, I'd never even considered college, refusing to leave my mother alone. Now, I could see that she wouldn't be alone.
"Are you sure you have to leave?" Chug asked sadly, only to be elbowed by Celeste.
"I'm sure", I replied, my voice breaking. "I'm going to miss you all so much, but I can't believe I got accepted into this university and I'm excited to start." It was true. I never thought I'd leave Propwash Junction, but this was what I wanted to do and it never would've happened if I'd never gone to Piston Peak. So, even though I failed to become a firefighter, at least I did get something out of my time there. (I just wish that Kimberly didn't have to die in order for me to know what I know now.)
"Well, that's what we all want", Dottie assured me, tears shining in her eyes. "For you to be happy."
I nodded. "Thanks."
"Don't forget; Celeste and I have a couple of races on the East Coast next month", Dusty reminded me. Given that emergencies were a rarity in Propwash Junction, Dusty was able to balance being a racer and a firefighter very well. "We'll have to meet up then."
"Absolutely." Susannah nodded. "You'd be more than welcome to stay with us in Boston."
"Yeah, you're all welcome to stay with us anytime", I added.
"I hope you'll come back here too, though", Skipper remarked.
"Yeah, we want to see your kid grow up!" Sparky informed us with a wide smile.
"And soon, I won't be able to fly", Emma pointed out, placing a hand on her stomach, even though a baby bump wasn't even visible yet.
Celeste beamed as she, too, placed her hand on Emma's stomach. "Thanks again, David."
I shrugged modestly. "It was nothing."
"Not to us, it isn't", Emma corrected me.
"I'd do anything for my family. I'm just really happy for you both", I insisted. I'd been honoured that they'd asked me. Susannah had been more than a little sceptical, understandably, but she understood my desire to help my family and agreed, albeit a little reluctantly. Besides, if anyone had to ask, I'm glad it was Emma and Celeste. I wouldn't be able to do it for anyone else. I'd want to know the kid.
"Well, anyway, we want our son or daughter to know her Aunt Susannah and Uncle David", Celeste informed me. "You've gotta come back!"
"We'll be back for any breaks I get", I promised. "And we'll move back once I've finished my studies."
"By then, we'll have a new doctor in the house!" Mom tried to smile, but she was on the verge of breaking down... Then there it came. "Oh, honey! I'm going to miss you so much!" She threw her arms around me.
"I'll miss you too, Mom!" I sobbed.
"We'll all miss you, David!" Chug blubbered.
"Good luck, David!" Mayday sniffled.
"We're so proud of you!" Celeste put in, also starting to cry. "We know how tough it is to get into this university. Well, for me, it would be tough to get into any university. You're gonna do great!"
"Brothers for life!" Dusty reminded me.
"Brothers for life!" I repeated, folding them into my hug.
Pretty soon, the twelve of us were all huddled together in a group hug, sobbing and whispering things like, I love you, I'll miss you and all kinds of promises about keeping in touch and visiting each other.
It was hard to let go of my life in Propwash Junction, but I didn't have to let it go completely. I'll be back. This wasn't an end; it was an exciting new beginning. Still, as I stood in that group hug underneath the sunrise, sobbing and feeling the love of my family and closest friends, I wished that time would stand still, that there could be nothing more beyond this moment...
The End
I hope you enjoyed that! I also have a prequel to Fly Away prepared, if anybody's interested...
