Unfortunately, one chapter today since today feels rather off for me, dunno why but ugh... Anyhow, enjoy this new chapter.
"Mom, could you repeat that?"
"Arnold… I think you should marry Spinelli." Arnold stared at her blankly for a minute. "Look, honey, I'm not saying that I'm forcing you to do so, I'm only encouraging you to do so!"
"Mom, please! I can make-"
"But, Arnold!" The two kept talking over each other. "Look, she more than makes you happy, and quite frankly has been the only girl to truly understand you, and you understand her!"
"Well, what about Phoebe?"
"Oh, who are you trying to fool? I know you guys dated a short time during high school, but that was before you had noticed your true love in Rhonda. And besides-"
"Mom…-"
"Don't 'Mom' me, I'm telling you what's best for you, and I know your heart belongs with Spinelli now." Arnold did not argue and just stared.
"Mom, I hear you loud and clear, but Arnold and I just recently started dating!" Spinelli was on the phone with her mother, Flo. She was also toying around with Andy. "Honey, I'm only suggesting her, but we feel like your heart found a place in Arnold's heart. You two are so adorable together!"
"Look, I hear you, ma, but I'm honestly not certain whether we should rush all the way to marriage that quick!"
"Engine 55, Ladder 55, respond to car fire in 3651 Southwest Ave." The dispatcher started as the station alarm was triggered.
"So much for no call-outs, huh?"
Almost everyone started gearing up as the two trucks were fired up.
"Mom, I'm not saying I disagree with that idea, I love it! But the truth is, I'm not sure whether Arnold wants to remarry, you know what he's been through!" Spinelli mentioned as she carried Andy, who was making her usual baby sounds.
"Look, Ma, I don't know what to even say to you except… I know where my heart is, and it belongs with Arnold. But I don't wanna be like a replacement for him simply because he's- he's…"
"What's wrong, honey?"
"He's all torn up inside… and needs someone beside him…" Spinelli then looked at Andy. "Pookie? What's wrong?"
"He's all torn up inside… And I've been his closest friend and the best person he's ever been with. After all this time… I'm the one for him . . . Mom, I think I'm ready for marriage. I love Arnold, and he loves me."
"That's the spirit, Pookie!"
"Only question I have is… does he want to marry me?"
"Mom, I hear you loud and clear, but I'm a grown man, and I can make my own decisions!" Arnold got up and started walking away. "Arnold, wait!" Stella tried to grab his arm, but he was already walking to the garage.
"Yup. This is what I get for encouraging my son to marry his love." Stella rolled her eyes and sat back down for a minute.
Arnold only sat on the hood of his truck and pulled out the ring from his pocket. He looked at Rhonda's initials.
"Am I ready to remarry?" Arnold whispered to himself. Arnold knew his heart belonged with Spinelli, but he was rather unsure whether it was time to let go, and remarry to his new love.
"Sir, DON'T!" Donovan ran over to the owner of the car, who was attempting to open the door.
BOOM
A violent explosion went off when the car door was opened. The owner was blasted back as his entire body was burned, and his facial muscles were exposed from the blast.
Donovan got hit in the face with a burning piece of debris. The object was small so his injury wasn't severe or bad.
"Dispatch, this is 55, requesting an Aid Car. We have a severely burnt civilian."
"Roger that, 55. Sending an Aid Car to your location."
"Yo, you alright?" Michelle came over as Donovan was bleeding from the side of his forehead. "I'm- I'm alright."
"Guys! He's dead…" Tommy checked for a pulse, but several pieces of glass had penetrated through the owner, killing him.
"Not the most ideal way of dealing with those aides, but it'll all build up. That son of a bitch Jalen will pay if he thinks I'm working for him! I'll do all this shit myself if I have to!" The hooded figure told itself, watching from afar.
"Brooke?"
"Stella? I didn't expect to see you here. How's it going?" Brooke had come over to deliver a special surprise. "Fine. Why are you here? And what gives with that shoe box?"
"It's a surprise Arnold requested, but I didn't get the chance to hand it over. Is he home?" Brooke replied. "I didn't see his truck leave the garage… He should be there." Stella looked at the driveway, with Diesel soon walking over.
"Hey, boy! How's your new home?" Brooke smiled at Diesel, who barked at her and had a happy look. She soon started walking to the garage.
"Alright, Mom… I'll see where things go from here and see what happens. Later, Ma, love you."
"Love you too, Pookie." Spinelli hung up her phone and put it in her pocket. She then sighed.
"I don't even know what to think right now." Spinelli groaned as she put a hand on her head. Diesel walked in with a tiny box in his mouth.
"Diesel, I thought we told you to stop eating cardboard! Wait, this isn't cardboard…"She took the box from his mouth. "Is this… Rhonda's ring?" Spinelli had opened the box to reveal Rhonda's old wedding ring.
"Wow… Now a literal dog is encouraging me to marry his owner?" Diesel snorted and shook his fur. "Maybe… I'll try it on for size. Wouldn't hurt." Spinelli shrugged.
"Hm. Fits perfectly, surprisingly." She slipped on the ring and admired it for a few seconds. She then took off the ring and put it back in its box. She only sighed, while Diesel wagged his tail, sitting down.
"Welcome home the newest member of the family!" Brooke opened the shoe box with holes, to reveal a two-month-old Corgi.
Arnold gasped. "Is this…?"
"I know I might have delayed this, but he's finally here! And I hope you and Spinelli will enjoy having another companion around." She smiled. Arnold picked up the little Corgi from its box as it started giving a high-pitched bark.
Arnold laughed a little as the Corgi licked his face.
"You know, that little Corgi reminds me of when Andrea was born. I remember just how happy the two of you were. How's Spinelli doing as her new mother?"
"She really exceeded my expectations. I never knew she could be like an actual mother. And please, don't say anything about marriage."
"How'd you know?"
"Are you serious?" Arnold looked in confusion. "Ok, ok. Maybe I had that idea for a while now, but… Oh, I minus well shouldn't say anything except… Follow your heart, and you'll know what's best for you two."
"Well, that's the first helpful thing I heard all day." Arnold replied as the Corgi looked around curiously. "But since you put it that way…" Arnold pulled out his ring. "I just might do so and follow through. I'll think about it and maybe soon enough, I'll be remarried. Maybe." Arnold replied with a small smile as he looked at his ring.
"That's the spirit, hun. I'm proud of you." Brooke smiled. "I better get going now. Buckley and I will be back to look after things here, I heard MedStar is busy ever since that airport fire."
"Thanks again, mom." Arnold smiled. "Anytime, sweetheart."
"It's funny how our dog is smart enough to bring over a box, while other owners can't even stop their dog from drinking toilet water." Spinelli was now seated with Stella.
"Oh? What was inside that box?" She asked. "Eh, just a shirt."
"That's it?"
"To be fair, yeah."
"Oh, sweetheart! We have another responsibility to take care of!" Arnold chuckled as the Corgi barked and stuck its tongue out after. Spinelli looked over and gasped.
"Arnold, you did not just… You got us another dog?" She immediately walked over. "He's so precious!" Spinelli tickled his fur. "Any name for him?"
"Bandit?"
"That's a great name." She smiled. "Welcome to your new home, Bandit." Spinelli petted his head. "Looks like we'll be taking care of two furballs now." Arnold chuckled.
"Arnold, you're the best!" Spinelli gave a kiss on his cheek. "I can say the same about you, honey." Arnold smiled.
While their new Corgi kept barking, Arnold and Spinelli were starting to feel a deeper connection to their deepening relationship.
I find funny how some chapters are all calm, while others are action-packed lol. Anyhow, I can't wait for the upcoming chapters!