CHAPTER SEVEN

Lee

Three days before Christmas, and they were fighting another intentionally set fire. Lee had hoped these days were behind them as the authorities closed in on the arsonist. At least this time, the fire was contained in an abandoned three-story building on the outskirts of Brighton.

They pulled up to find the third story fully engulfed in flames, and as they began rolling out the hoses, he caught sight of Shadow and Spider emerging from the surrounding woods carrying a man who looked to be hog-tied. Dante, Coop, and Vincent walked out behind them as Shannon pulled up with an SUV.

“They got the bastard,” Gabe said to their group. “He stuck around to watch the show.”

“Finally. This is finally over,” Lee said as he shrugged on his gear and air tank, grabbed the end of the hose, and headed in with the rest of the team. Some carried axes, others held Halligan bars, which were crucial for cutting, prying, and chopping wood walls and doors, punching ventilation holes in buildings, or pulling down walls.

With any luck, they could put this out without the fire spreading too far. When they reached the second floor, it was already heavy with smoke, and by the time they rounded the stairwell on the third floor, the flames were already licking around the door frames and along the ceiling.

The team spread out and went to work. The flames forced them back down the stairs at one point, but they regrouped and fought their way back up. The heat washed over them as Lee used his bar to tear down the wall to his left. Ben had taken over the lead with the first hose as a second was brought up the staircase.

The idea was to remove anything burnable from the approaching flames, giving it no fuel to continue burning as it got down to the concrete and metal beams. They were making headway and pushing the flames back when Lee heard the crack above the roar of the fire. He spun around in time to see the ceiling begin to give way above the hose team.

In a flash, he took two steps in their direction and threw himself forward, using his momentum to clear the distance. He shoved the two men holding the hose back against a nearby wall as the ceiling collapsed around him. The last thing he remembered was a sharp pain radiating up his right leg, then nothing.

***

Frank

Frank walked into the emergency room of Brighton General Hospital to find the room filled with people. Firefighters, police officers, Sentinel team members, and EMS stood when Frank entered through the sliding doors. Lee’s father and mother were with him, and Jacob stayed home with Frank’s parents, waiting for word. He didn’t want to make their son feel any worse by seeing all the worried people and medical staff. He’d call when he had word on Lee’s condition.

“How is he?” Frank asked as Gabe met them at the desk.

“He’s in surgery.”

Frank could feel the blood drain from his face and was thankful for the hands on his shoulders keeping him upright. His worst nightmare was coming true.

“How bad is it?” he asked. No one would tell him over the phone.

Before Gabe could speak, the ER doctor came out from the back treatment area.

“Mr. Rogers?” he asked.

“Yeah, that’s me.”

“Your husband is in surgery. We were lucky to have an orthopedic surgeon on staff, so we didn’t have to wait.”

“How is he?”

“His right leg is broken in two places. He suffered a concussion and two broken ribs. The rest are superficial cuts and scrapes, none concerning or requiring intervention.”

“Will he be okay?”

The doctor smiled wide, which Frank found odd given the situation.

“Before they took him into surgery, your husband wanted me to tell you that it would take a whole lot more than this to get rid of him.”

Frank felt the tears roll down his cheeks even as he chuckled at his husband’s words.

The doctor placed his hand on Frank’s shoulder. “He’s banged up and bruised, but he’ll heal just fine.”

“Thank you. Thank you so much.”

***

Lee

“Here you go,” Frank said, handing Lee a cup of coffee.

“Thanks.”

The day was drawing to a close as he surveyed the mounds of wrapping paper and boxes scattered across their living room floor. It’d been the perfect Christmas surrounded by family. Presents had been handed out, and even though Frank’s parents didn’t celebrate Christmas in the Santa Claus kind of way, they oo’ed and ah’ed with every gift Jacob opened. Their bellies were full from the traditional kosher meal they’d prepared, and their spirits high.

“It’s time to light the menorah,” Frank said.

Lee’s father pushed his wheelchair to the bay window where their new menorah sat. Hanukkah began on the twenty-fifth of this year at sunset, and it felt like the perfect time to combine their two families and beliefs.

“This is for you, Jacob,” Frank’s mother said as she handed him a package.

Excitedly, he tore it open, revealing a bag of gelt—silver foil-wrapped chocolate coins— a book, and a new dreidel, which would be a lot of fun playing this evening. Under the book was an envelope, and when Jacob opened it, Lee could see the cash inside.

“That is for your savings, Jacob,” Frank reminded him.

“I know, for college,” he replied with a smile. “I’m going to be a doctor, like the ones who helped my dad. Thank you, Safta and Saba.”

Lee could feel his heart beating faster at his son’s announcement. He’d never indicated what he’d like to be when he grew up.

“That is an honorable and selfless profession. Good choice,” Saba said.

Everyone gathered in front of their Menorah as Frank placed a candle in the first right branch of the holder. In the center sat the shamash, the candle used to light all the other candles from left to right. Considering it was the first night of Hanukkah, there was only one candle to be lit by the shamash.

Frank removed the center candle and recited the ancient prayers with his son, his father, and mother. “Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kid'shanu b-mitzvotav, v-tzivanu l'hadlik ner shel Hanukkah. Blessed are you, Our God, Ruler of the Universe, who makes us holy through Your commandments, and commands us to light the Hanukkah lights.”

Then Frank lit the shamash and handed it to Jacob. “You can light the candles this year, son,” Frank said as he wrapped his arm around Lee’s shoulders.

“Really?” Jacob asked.

“Yeah.”

Jacob took the shamash and lit the first candle of Hanukkah before placing it back in the center.

“Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, she-asah nisim laavoteinu v'imoteinu bayamim hahaeim baz'man hazeh.” Saba recited the after-candle-lighting blessing in Hebrew.

“Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who performed wonderous deeds for our ancestors in days of old at this season.”

In the light of the Hanukkah candle with the flashing of Christmas lights in the background, three families, three generations, and two traditions came together in one glorious celebration of life, love, and family.

Lee hugged Frank and Jacob close, as did their parents. His entire world could be summed up in this moment with one word.

Home.

Happy Holidays, Everyone. Lots of Love, Michelle XO

GREY

L.P. MAX A

This is so niche, but to all the girls who chug sparkling water.

Love is messy, because we’re all a little messed up.

—Pretty Poetry