The Contingency Plan (The Lonely Heart Series) by Latrivia Nelson

baritone in his voice.
    The chief looked down, showing the balding top of his nearly all grey head.  “She didn’t make it, son, but it was nothing that you could have done about that.”
    Alex’s lip curled up.  Swallowing hard he let a tear fall to the side of his bruised face.  “I remember now. She was just a kid, barely ten years old.”  His voice cracked.
    “She was twelve.  You did the best that you could, more than any of us did.  You can’t let it get to you,” the chief said, walking over to the bed to stand over him.  “The most important thing is that you get well.  Thank God, Jesus and all the Saints that you’re alive.”
    Alex tried to adjust in the bed but realized that he was incapable of moving himself. “What’s wrong with me?” he asked, pushing up on his elbows.  His heart began to race. 
    “Calm down, baby,” Charlie said, rubbing his arm. 
    “Broken leg, broken arm, shattered knee, internal bleeding that they were able to stop, concussion. You took a beating.  But Charlie has been here the entire time and your folks are right outside of the door,” Chief said, slipping on his cap.  “I’ll go and let your mom know that you’re awake. I think that she finally went down to get some food from the cafeteria.”
    “Thanks, Chief,” Alex said, stretching out his fi n gers.
    “Awh, hell boy.  I love you like my own damned son.  I’m just glad that you’re recoverable,” he said, raising his furry brow.  “Charlie, do you need an y thing?”
    Charlie shook her head and muttered, “No.  Thanks, Chief,” before she looked back down at her broken fiancé.  “I’m so proud of you.”  Leaning closer to him, she kissed his lips.  “I’m so very proud of you.”
    “For what?  She’s dead.  Didn’t you just hear him?  She’s dead,” Alex repeated, eyes watering again.
    “But baby, you did all that you could. You always do.” Charlie’s heart ached for him.  Alex had always been so passionate about his job.  Plus, she knew about the nightmares and the flashbacks he still had from 9/11, which seemed to make each new occurrence of death that much harder for him to handle.
    “I don’t want you to feel sorry for me,” Alex said, fighting back his tears.  Wiping his face with the hand that presently had an IV sticking out of it, he straigh t ened up a little more.  “The people who should be crying are the family members of that girl, not me.”
    “But honey, it’s okay to grieve,” Charlie said, fee l ing him put his wall back up.
    “I’ll be fine,” Alex said, closing off.  Reaching over, he touched her hand and nodded. “I’ll be fine.”
    Charlie nodded back, hiding her worry behind a soft smile.  Hearing the familiar voice of his mother behind him, she wiped her eyes and turned.  “Maria,” she said, stepping out of the way.  “He’s finally up.”
    “Praise Jesus, Mary and Joseph,” Maria said, mo v ing to stand beside Charlie by the bed.  “It’s so good to see my baby boy’s bright brown eyes again.”
    “Ma, you act like I was unconscious for a year,” Alex said with a chuckle. Although he didn’t feel like perking up, he did so to make her feel better.
    Maria couldn’t help but laugh. “But it seemed like a lifetime.  Your father and I have been praying the rosary for six hours.”
    “What a good Catholic you are,” Alex taunted as she bent to kiss him. 
    Maria made the sign of the cross over her body.  “Aye, some body has been praying for you.  This is why you are alive.  Intercessory prayer works every time.”
    Charlie stepped back from the two to give them room to talk as the rest of his brothers, father, family members and fellow firemen tried to get their chance to get inside the room.  “I’m just going to step out for a bit,” Charlie said, walking to the door.              
    “Well, hun, you don’t have to go,” Maria said waving her back.
    “No, there is only like two people