by Rod Lee
However, in the morning it made sense. He shouldn’t make himself grieve for her for his whole life. If he could find love, why shouldn’t he try to see where it would go? Was Kitty someone he could love, and who would love Veronica as much as he did?
Those were things he didn’t know the answers to yet but he knew that Veronica really liked Kitty. This was a good enough start for him.
“Hey daddy, don’t forget that we have to take Veronica the chicken nuggets you made last night.” Veronica called out as he walked out the door after hugging her goodbye.
“I won’t sweetie, I’ll pick you up at day care today.” Chase told her and left.
Driving to work he let his mind wonder to Kitty a bit more. He didn’t know much about her but a little bit he had learned from Ms. Simmons and Kitty herself. Her childhood didn’t sound like a very good one from the little bit he had heard. He wondered why her parents had never supported her becoming a model. He wondered many things about Kitty, especially whether or not she would be interested in dating a single father.
Chapter 16
Chase went to see his Captain as soon as he came into the fire station, “Hey Captain, I was wondering if you had a moment?”
“Sure Daniels come on in. What’s up?” The Captain sat back in his chair.
“I was wondering if there are any openings in the Fire inspector’s office that I could possibly move too.” Chase said.
“Well I think Jones is set to retire in about six months. But until that time, they don’t need anyone else. Can you hold off that long?” The Captain stated.
“Yeah that’s not a problem. Honestly if I didn’t have my daughter to worry about I wouldn’t even be asking you this. I’m going to miss being in the mix of things.” Chase commented.
“I can’t blame you though, you know your mother won’t be around forever. What would you do then? If something happens to you in the mix of things, your little girl will be a burden on you. It really is a smart move on your part, since you’re the only parent.”
“Yeah I know. Time to start really thinking about my future and being there for her.”.”
“Hey you act like you haven’t done a good job already. Hell man, plenty of other guys would have never taken on this challenge like you did. You’ve done a great job being there for your little one. I can tell by looking at her, you’ve done a nice job of raising her too. She adores you, I can see it the few times you’ve brought her in here.” The Captain commented.
“Yeah and I adore her too!” Chase said.
“I’ll let them know that once Jones retires you want to be considered for the job. I don’t know if they’ll choose you or not but I’ll put in a good word for you.”
“Thanks a lot Cap, I appreciate it!”
Chase felt better knowing that six months out he wouldn’t be involved in the more dangerous aspects of his job. But part of him was already starting to dread the idea as well. A big reason he had become a firefighter was the adrenaline rush he felt when he would help people out of burning buildings. He loved being someone who could actually do something in this world to help out people.
All he had to hope was that in the next six months he could stay safe, and cross his fingers they would pick him to replace Jones. If he wanted he could seek out employment in another district but that would mean traveling a lot more, and he wasn’t interested in that at all.
That would mean taking time away from Veronica, and he was not willing to do that. Or he could move but again, he didn’t really want to uproot his daughter and move her to a new school and a new home. He tried to make sure most things in her life were left alone, after all it had to be tough to not have a mother.
He wondered what Veronica felt about that? She really never seemed to be too bothered by the fact of only having a father. But he was sure she missed her mother as well, or did she?
The truth was Veronica had barely met Jen, before the doctors had removed her from the room. They had been trying to stop the bleeding, and save Jen. So, Veronica was put into an Isolette as a precaution and then later given to her father.
Perhaps the child didn’t have as tough of a time as he did dealing with this. However, he knew she was curious to know what her mom was like, she was always asking him about her.
Chase loved telling Veronica about Jen. She had been an amazing woman and one that he missed tremendously. The dream popped back into his head, “Don’t be alone Chase, find love and happiness.” He could hear Jen saying to him.
He checked his watch, the day had flown by with no calls. It was just ten minutes until he was off. He planned on picking up Veronica, and stopping by home to get the nuggets. They would have a quick snack and off to visit Kitty.
He felt his heart begin to beat faster at the thought of seeing the woman again. He smiled as he got into his jeep and went to pick up his daughter.
Chapter 17
Veronica asked as soon as they were in the jeep. “Are we going to see Kitty?”
“I figured we’d go home and grab a snack first and maybe get freshened up.” Chase told her.
“Don’t forget the nuggets either, we have to take them to her. I’m sure she’ll love them, and then she’ll know you can cook too!” Veronica smiled at him.
“Veronica, let me ask you something.” Chase wasn’t sure how to phrase his question.
“I like her a lot and I’m sure mom would understand, after all she died. You can’t help that, you know, you can’t be alone forever.” The girl said as if reading his mind and being way more prophetic than any six-year-old should be.
“Wow you so bright for someone so young.” He commented.
“Sometimes mommy will talk to me in my dreams. She told me last night to make sure you and Kitty had a chance at getting to know each other.” Veronica said.
“Is that right?” Chase commented. It made a tingle go down his spine at her words. “Do you miss your mom Veronica?” He asked.
“Why would I miss her when she’s always with me?” The asked.
Chase shook his head, “Yes she is always with you, you’re right.”
“Daddy, mommy doesn’t want you to be alone forever.” She said
He looked at her dumbfounded and unsure of how to answer the girl.
“Mommy also told me that last night, she is worried that you will continue to hold onto her and not find love. Even if it’s right in front of you.” Veronica stated.
“Okay, I’ll try honey.”
Chase was quiet the rest of the ride home, absorbing the words that Veronica claimed Jen had told her in her dreams the night before. It matched very closely with the same thing he had dreamt. Was it possibly that Jen was really talking to their daughter in her dreams? He heard of wild things like this before. But had never experienced them himself.
Veronica ran inside and got the nuggets out to take along. “I got these, don’t worry I won’t eat them!” She told Chase when he looked at her.
“I know you won’t!” He picked her up and hugged her, “Thanks for telling me about your dreams sweetie. They helped me out a lot.” Chase kissed the top of Veronica’s head.
“No problem daddy. Mommy made me promise to tell you this. Sometimes she just tells me other things and shares information about the stars, that’s why I love them so much.” Veronica told him.
Chase stared at her, “You are so much like your mother in so many ways. She would have been very proud of you.”
“I know she told me she was last night.” Veronica stated firmly.
***
Chase wasn’t sure how to take all of this information yet. Many parents might think they child was suffering from a mental illness if they were told by the child the same things Veronica had said to him.
But the girl was so firm in her words that Chase had to believe Jen had come to her last night. He also believed that Jen had come to him in his dreams now.
“Daddy do you think Kitty is pretty? I know she will have a scar but that doesn’t matt
er, she is really sweet.” Veronica asked him out of the blue, making him come back from his musings.
“Yeah she is pretty.” He admitted.
“I think you should make sure you tell her that today. She’s so upset about her burn, she’s going to think she’s ugly to everyone.” Veronica commented.
“Okay sweetie. Eat your snack so we can go. I’m going to take a shower and get changed.” Chase told her.
“Okay daddy, put on something nice.” Veronica called out as he left the room.
Chase rolled his eyes, his daughter was fast becoming cupid’s little helper. She had her mind set on the fact that Chase needed to ask Kitty out. Veronica had reminded him about asking the woman out to her birthday party as they ate too.
After Chase came out of his room, Veronica looked at his clothes, “Yeah that will do.” She commented.
“I’m glad you approve!” He laughed. “Let’s go.”
Veronica grabbed the packet of nuggets and her book on stars to take along. “Okay I got everything. I hope she likes the book but she’s going to have to help me pronounce a lot of the words.”
“I doubt she’ll mind.” Chase stated.
“No, that’s why I like her so much.” Veronica said.
Chapter 18
As Chase and Veronica walked into the room, they saw Kitty cover up the side of her face. “Don’t look at me, I’m hideous now.” She cried out.
Veronica walked over to her and touched her hand, “You are not hideous, trust me.” She pulled Kitty’s hand away from her face.
The injury was red and puffy, filling up most of her cheek. Chase had to admit it did look bad but really didn’t detract from her overall looks, at least not for him.
Chase stepped closer to the bed, “I think you are still beautiful.” He commented.
Kitty looked up at him. Tears welled up in her eyes, “But no one else will.”
“That’s not true, I think you are very pretty.” Veronica said.
Kitty smiled slightly, “Thank you very much, you are such a sweet little girl. Oh, I made something for you today, it’s not really that good.” Kitty pulled out the purple scarf she had crocheted in the afternoon with Ms. Simmons.
“It’s my favorite color, I love it thank you. Oh, and we brought you this.” Veronica handed her the nuggets, “My daddy made them last night for supper, they are much better than McDonald’s, even if I’ve never had their food.” The girl smiled brightly.
“Thank you very much, that’s so kind of you. After I get out of the hospital I’m going to have to go on a diet for sure.” Kitty said as she put one of the pieces of chicken into her mouth, “Wow these are delicious.” She commented, covering her mouth as she talked.
“He’s a great cook!” Veronica said. “Ask her daddy.” She turned to Chase and said.
Kitty looked up at Chase and asked, “Ask me what?”
Chase shuffled his feet and looked down at the ground. “I asked Veronica what she wanted to do for her next birthday last night. She wants us all to go out for pizza together.”
“Well I can’t really eat pizza but I would love to go and celebrate your special day with you.” Kitty said and smiled at Veronica.
“Why can’t you eat pizza?” Veronica asked.
“As a model, you have to stay a certain weight, or they won’t hire you for any jobs. If I eat too much, I’ll gain weight.” Kitty explained.
“But I thought you said you couldn’t be a model anymore? So why not eat?” Veronica said bluntly.
“Veronica that’s not very nice to say.” Chase commented to her.
“It’s the truth, she said just yesterday she doubted she would ever model again. Also, it can’t be good to not eat food, you look way too skinny.” The girl said with blunt honesty.
“It’s okay, she’s right. I most likely will never model again. I guess I’ve just gotten so used to eating barely anything, it’s hard to imagine eating what I want.” Kitty stated.
“You have to eat so your body is healthy, it will help you heal quicker too.” The Veronica remarked. “We learned about the body and how it heals at school last week. She stated proudly.
Chase shrugged his shoulders, “She is right, you will need to eat to heal. So, are you up for pizza in a few weeks?” He asked.
“Sure, why not. I don’t think I’ve ever really had pizza in my life. I sat with people who ate it and picked off some of the toppings. But eating a whole piece, never.” Kitty said.
“You’re going to love it. By the way my dad likes women with meat on their bones.” She whispered to Kitty.
Kitty laughed, “Where in the world did you hear that saying?”
“Down at the fire station when I visited my daddy once. They were looking through this calendar and all the women were so skinny, even more than you. He told the guys he liked girls with some meat on their bones!”
Chase turned bright red, “Enough already.” He said but couldn’t help and laugh at the six-year old’s replay of the events.
Kitty looked up at him, “She is so bright.”
“Yeah sometimes at my expense.”
“I think it’s cute.” Kitty smiled, “You have a very honest and open little girl.”
“She’s the apple of my eye!” He stated.
***
Veronica pulled the chair closer to the bed and got her book out, “I brought this book to show you today, it’s all about stars. One day I want to be astronomer and discover more about the stars.” She said to Kitty.
“Why don’t you sit up here on the bed with me? There’s plenty of room and I’ll be able to see the book better.” Kitty said.
Veronica climbed up on the bed and reopened the book. She started showing her the various pictures and talking about them.
Chase smiled at her broadly, she was so much like Jen at that moment he couldn’t believe it. “Her mother loved the stars too.” He explained.
“I thought you were going to read to me too.” Kitty smiled.
“I don’t know all the words though.” Veronica admitted. “My grandma read this to me a few times and so did my mommy when I was growing inside of her.”
“I’ll help you with the words. Here start here and maybe we will learn more about the stars together.”
“Okay.” Veronica smiled up at her. She started to read the book to Kitty. With the words, she couldn’t make out Kitty helped her pronounce them.
Chase sat down beside them and looked at the book as Veronica read it.
After a few hours, the girl had started to get tired, Kitty said, “We can read more tomorrow if you want.”
“Really? You liked it?” Veronica asked.
“Yes, I did, and it is very interesting, I feel a lot smarter already.”
“Great, is that okay daddy?” Veronica turned to ask Chase.
“Sure, we can come back tomorrow.”
Kitty sighed loudly, “It is nice to have you both come and visit me. It means a lot to me. Ms. Simmons stopped by earlier, that’s who taught me how to crochet.” Kitty stated.
“It was nice of her to visit you.” Chase commented.
“Yes, but she told me she called my parents and let them know what happened. They told her they would be coming out to visit. Honestly, I would rather they didn’t come and see me.” Kitty said.
“Are your parents mean to you?” Veronica asked.
“No, they just always thought I could do something more with my life. They never thought being a model was a good idea.” Kitty explained to the little girl.
“I remember you saying that yesterday. But I don’t get it. Daddy told me he would support me in anything I do, why aren’t they the same way?” Veronica asked innocently.
“I don’t know, I guess your daddy is nicer than they are.” Kitty wanted to say, that her daddy obviously loved Veronica more than her own parents loved her but she didn’t.
“Come on munchkin, we should be going.” Chase grabbed the girl. He turned towards Kitty, “Just d
on’t let them make you feel bad. If you need to talk you can call me, here’s my number.”
She took the number from him, “I may just do that.”
He smiled at her, “I think I would like that too.”
Chase pulled Veronica from the room, she didn’t want to leave but talk more. She was still busy asking questions about Kitty and her parents.
“Come on munchkin, I think Kitty could use some rest.”
“Okay daddy.” She sighed, not liking the fact she hadn’t gotten the answers she was asking for.
Chapter 19
Kitty looked at the phone wondering if it was too early or too late to call him. Chase had left less than an hour earlier, and she didn’t want to seem desperate but she also wanted to hear a warm friendly voice.
She sighed and dialed the number, he picked up on the second ring, “Hey, how are you?” She said to him.
“I’m good, just got the little one to bed. She didn’t want to sleep but wanted to talk about you and ask me more things.” Chase sighed.
Kitty laughed, “She is just trying to understand everything. I don’t mind the questions, I just really don’t know how to answer them.” She admitted.
“Well I’m glad to hear that, because once Veronica has an idea in her mind, she wants to know it to completion.” He chuckled.
“You should be proud of her always asking questions. It means she won’t be fooled by things that aren’t real.”
“Yeah I know but sometimes I wish she would just let something go for a little bit.”
“I think she’s precious.” Kitty commented, “I can tell how much you love each other too, it is nice to see. That was something that was sadly missing from my childhood.”
“I’m sorry about that Kitty. Maybe your parents will not be bad when they visit.” Chase commented.
Kitty couldn’t help but laugh, “You don’t know my parents very well. The first thing they will do is gloat and tell me they were right all along. After that they’ll make sure I know how much of a whore I looked like in all the pictures they saw. After that, who knows but most likely they’ll be on that for most of the visit.” Kitty said bitterly.
