Robert
Andy's phone dinged with a notification or text.
"Don't get it."
"It could be Ruiz."
I groaned, letting go of her.
Andy grabbed her phone.
It was an e-mail notification.
She opened it.
"Dear Lieutenant Andrea Herrera,
With your excellence performed at Stations 19 and 23 as Lieutenant and Chief McCallister's letter of recommendation, I am promoting you to Captain of 12. I wish you the best of luck as Captain. And hope you continue to excel as a Firefighter. You start as Captain of 12 on Monday.
Sincerely,
Battalion Chief Young." Andy read out loud.
She selected a picture attached to the e-mail.
"Battalion Chief Young,
I believe Lieutenant Andrea Herrera of Station 23 is best equipped to be Captain of 12. She has experience from her father, Captain Pruitt Herrera. Andrea Herrera also has the most heart and compassion than any Firefighter Lieutenant I know. And I've gotten to know all of SFD Firefighter Lieutenants. She is the only one who stuck out to me. And not because Andrea is a legacy kid. She has excelled at Station 23 after her transfer from Station 19.
Sincerely,
Chief McCallister." Andy read.
"I guess McCallister came through for you."
"I guess so."
"You did it, Andy. You made Captain. And all by yourself."
"Yeah."
She sighed.
"What?"
"It seems surreal."
"What does?"
"The puzzle pieces all coming together. Us, trying to start a family, making Captain."
"It was meant to be."
"Let's not tell anybody at 19 we're trying for a baby. Because I know Maya and Carina have been trying for awhile."
"Yeah."
"With no luck. And I don't want to rub it in their faces how much easier it is for us."
"I get it."
"And plus, we deserve all the privacy we can get."
"I know."
"Thank you for understanding."
"Of course."
"It's a lot better when there's no secrets between us."
"I agree."
"We can't have secrets between us if we want this to work."
"I know."
"You cannot be checked out with this baby. Because we will have one."
"I know."
"I can handle when you're checked out with me. I understand why too. You- You've seen and done things I can never imagine. No matter how hard I try."
"Yeah."
"We have to be 110% committed. To us, to our family."
"I will be."
"I hope that's true. Because if it's not, I'll raise the baby on my own."
I nodded my head.