Dominant Fireman Daddy by Scott Wylder
CHAPTER THREE
Frank
As soon as Chris rolls up in his red truck, Talia takes her thumb out of her mouth and folds her arms. I could tell her that Chris is a Daddy too, but that’s his story to tell.
“I wish for once you’d get a sedan, or an SUV at least.” I say as I direct Talia to the middle seat of the truck. She does so without asking. She trusts me.
“I’m not ready for a mini-van yet, Chief.” He laughs.
“An SUV is not a mini-van, you Hot Shot.” I grumble.
“Who do we have here?” Chris asks as he drives just the few blocks back to the station. I hope her wet bottom is not getting his seats wet. I see her whole body pulled up and encased by my coat like a cocoon. I’m glad Chris isn’t asking too many questions of the Little. She is already so scared and regressing, but not in a good way.
“Her name is Talia, and she just had a bit of an oopsy-daisy.” I explain. Chris turns to me over her head so she can’t see and asks with his face, really?
“It was just an accident.” Talia says. She curls into the jacket more trying to disappear making her more seen to the Daddy in me.
We pull into the side parking lot next to the fire station. Chris comes around to the passenger side as I help Talia down out of the truck. “Chris, are we all fully staffed tonight? Got enough EMT’s? Can you cover supervising tonight?” I ask. Chris is my right-hand man and is up for chief as soon as I retire. He has all the certification, just not the title.
“You bet, Chief.” Chris assures me. “We even have Dave and Titus hanging around ‘volunteering’ tonight, but really their wives are trying to keep them out of the casino.”
“Ha, I am not the betting kind.” I see Talia standing their looking helpless all drenched, but her eyes wide and trusting. “I have my own vices, I suppose.”
“Don’t we all.” Chris says. I look up to him from Talia and he is smiling. I guess he got me into all of this. He and his Little Chloe seem so happy. I started going to their mixers they call “Recess” in the next county outside of prying eyes. “Recess” is a monthly meeting/party of sorts where those in The Lifestyle can meet each other in a safe space. It is nice to be along likeminded souls. I am looking at Talia to see if she looks familiar.
“So, I’m going to take off for the rest of the day, okay?” I look at my watch. “It was only going to be another six hours anyway. Would you tell the team, please?”
“Sure thing, Chief.” Chris says heading back inside the firehouse.
“Oh yeah,” I call after him, “make sure you feed Roscoe.” He waves knowing he got my instruction.
I look to Talia again. “We need to get you home. Get you a bath. Some clean clothes. Who would you like me to call? If you had a cell phone in your pocket, it’s probably trashed now.”
“I don’t have a cell phone” she says. She looks at her shoes, they are wet and squeak as she wags one of them across the floor. “I don’t have anyone to call. And my clothes are in my car. If you could just give me a ride back to my car, that would be nice.”
“What do you mean, your clothes are in your car?” I ask.
“Never mind,” she says. She looks away again. She has a tell. “It’s okay. I will walk. Thanks for saving me. Here’s your coat” She starts to take off my coat and she shivers and coughs.
“It’s not okay.” I say and get and closer. I smooths down the shoulders of the coat so she knows it’s hers for now. I get on one knee to get on her level. She looks at the ground like she did something wrong and I don’t think either of us know if she has or not. I soften my voice and say, “I’m not going to tell anyone. It will be our secret, okay?” she nods. “Do you have a home? A home where you are safe?” She shakes her head, teeth chattering. “That’s what I figured.” She starts to cry. Not out of fear, not out of loss, because she does not know what else to do with all the emotion. She’s regressing alright.
“I know, this is scary,” I say. I have never seen a person more in need of a hug, but not here. It’s unprofessional. “It’s okay to cry, but do you think you can hold on until we go somewhere away from all these firefighters? They are tough guys, you know.” She nods. “Do you want to go to my place?” she nods. “Is your car parked somewhere safe?” She nods. “Okay, we can pick your car up later. How about you come home with me. Get warmed up and then we figure things out.” She freezes. At least the tears stopped. “Maybe you will let me make you some cocoa?” She still doesn’t move. How can I convince her best choice right now is me? “I have this big fluffy blanket. It is white and fuzzy, almost like a real polar bear.”
“But not a real one, right?” she asks.
“No, not like a real one,” I say. She smiles. “Maybe we can watch a princess movie until we get warmed up and feel better, okay?” She seems to be warmed by the very thought. “We could watch the one with the singing candlestick and the pretty yellow dress.” She tilts her head back and forth like she’s weighing her options, but like a child who’s only options are chocolate or vanilla sprinkles.
“Hot cocoa does sound good” she says, and I am relieved.
