from Landon’s face, his expression serious.
Did he know? Could he have read Landon’s thoughts about Ashley and Cole and the life that awaited him back in Bloomington. He searched the man’s eyes. “You…
you did?”
“Yes.” The captain took a step back and crossed his arms. “You’re thinking it isn’t fair; you’re not next in line for a promotion like this one, right? Isn’t that what you were thinking?”
The man was partially right. “Yes, sir. Other men should have the chance before me.”
“You’re right, Blake.” His voiee fell to an insistent hush. “But other men aren’t brass material. The decision to promote you was unanimous, and in all my years one thing has always been true when we agree on the man we’ll promote.”
“What’s that, sir?”
83
kingsbury smalley
“We’re right.” He brought his tone back to a normal level. “Go enjoy the rest of your day off, Blake.”
Landon had taken the subway to the station, but now he wanted to walk, to suck in big gulps of city air and sort through everything he’d just been told. His station was only a block from Central Park. As he left, he took long fast strides toward his favorite path, the one that wound east and then north past several play areas and the skating rink.
The streets were crowded, full of the tourists who came for the fall leaves and milder autumn temperatures. Vendors shouted about Tshirts for sale and off-Broadway theater productions, but Landon hurried past, not paying attention to any
They wanted to make him captain? in January?
Instead of the hundreds of people he passed, his mind saw ‘only one face. His friend Jalen’s. Hadn’t that been Jalen’s dream? E,o make captain and o6e day find himself among the FDNY
:
,’-rass? Was he up in heaven right now, nudging God and asking at the plans for Landon s life include his very own long-ago lreams?
Landon walked harder, pushing himself.
two years he’d been too busy to think about the possibility romotion. Busy findingJalen’s body in the heap of rubble
the World Trade Center collapsed, busy getting established department last January. And most of all busy trying to out Ashley Baxter.
done everything he knew to win her heart, but where she? The answer caused a bitter burst of air to slip through teeth. She back in Bloomington avoiding his calls the e
she d avoided them back when they were in high way S°e was in the park now, shaded by the trees that lined the ‘ A dark-skinned man in a white coat caught his eye and
an ice-cream sandwich at him. “lee cream.., get your ice 84
REJOICE
kandon kept walking.
A hundred scenarios could have played out in that meeting room. He could’ve been under scrutiny for failing to file a report, or he could’re messed up on protocol at one job or another. They might have wanted his opinion about a certain call or
asked questions about the way a rescue had gone down. They could’ve even hinted at a promotion.
But captain? And a shot at one day becoming chief of the department?
All when hours earlier he’d practically heard God tell him to relax, rejoice, because the Lord’s plans for his life were set for him? It didn’t feel even a little possible that the timing of today’s events was a coincidence, kandon let his eyes fall to his feet, the way he was attacking the path despite his cramped uniform dress shoes.
“Hey, fireman!” The voice belonged to a young woman a ways behind him. “Wait up I wanna get your autograph. Hey, fireman!”
Landon didn’t look back. Since September 11, firefighters in New York City had maintained a hero status. Usually he did his best to accommodate requests from the public, but not today. He made a right turn and kept walking, his mind focused again on the matter at hand: God’s plans for his life, the way he’d heard God speak to him about plans hours before the meeting with the department brass.
The conclusion was easy,
God wanted him to stay in New York City.
Did he know? Could he have read Landon’s thoughts about Ashley and Cole and the life that awaited him back in Bloomington. He searched the man’s eyes. “You…
you did?”
“Yes.” The captain took a step back and crossed his arms. “You’re thinking it isn’t fair; you’re not next in line for a promotion like this one, right? Isn’t that what you were thinking?”
The man was partially right. “Yes, sir. Other men should have the chance before me.”
“You’re right, Blake.” His voiee fell to an insistent hush. “But other men aren’t brass material. The decision to promote you was unanimous, and in all my years one thing has always been true when we agree on the man we’ll promote.”
“What’s that, sir?”
83
kingsbury smalley
“We’re right.” He brought his tone back to a normal level. “Go enjoy the rest of your day off, Blake.”
Landon had taken the subway to the station, but now he wanted to walk, to suck in big gulps of city air and sort through everything he’d just been told. His station was only a block from Central Park. As he left, he took long fast strides toward his favorite path, the one that wound east and then north past several play areas and the skating rink.
The streets were crowded, full of the tourists who came for the fall leaves and milder autumn temperatures. Vendors shouted about Tshirts for sale and off-Broadway theater productions, but Landon hurried past, not paying attention to any
They wanted to make him captain? in January?
Instead of the hundreds of people he passed, his mind saw ‘only one face. His friend Jalen’s. Hadn’t that been Jalen’s dream? E,o make captain and o6e day find himself among the FDNY
:
,’-rass? Was he up in heaven right now, nudging God and asking at the plans for Landon s life include his very own long-ago lreams?
Landon walked harder, pushing himself.
two years he’d been too busy to think about the possibility romotion. Busy findingJalen’s body in the heap of rubble
the World Trade Center collapsed, busy getting established department last January. And most of all busy trying to out Ashley Baxter.
done everything he knew to win her heart, but where she? The answer caused a bitter burst of air to slip through teeth. She back in Bloomington avoiding his calls the e
she d avoided them back when they were in high way S°e was in the park now, shaded by the trees that lined the ‘ A dark-skinned man in a white coat caught his eye and
an ice-cream sandwich at him. “lee cream.., get your ice 84
REJOICE
kandon kept walking.
A hundred scenarios could have played out in that meeting room. He could’ve been under scrutiny for failing to file a report, or he could’re messed up on protocol at one job or another. They might have wanted his opinion about a certain call or
asked questions about the way a rescue had gone down. They could’ve even hinted at a promotion.
But captain? And a shot at one day becoming chief of the department?
All when hours earlier he’d practically heard God tell him to relax, rejoice, because the Lord’s plans for his life were set for him? It didn’t feel even a little possible that the timing of today’s events was a coincidence, kandon let his eyes fall to his feet, the way he was attacking the path despite his cramped uniform dress shoes.
“Hey, fireman!” The voice belonged to a young woman a ways behind him. “Wait up I wanna get your autograph. Hey, fireman!”
Landon didn’t look back. Since September 11, firefighters in New York City had maintained a hero status. Usually he did his best to accommodate requests from the public, but not today. He made a right turn and kept walking, his mind focused again on the matter at hand: God’s plans for his life, the way he’d heard God speak to him about plans hours before the meeting with the department brass.
The conclusion was easy,
God wanted him to stay in New York City.
Similar Books
