Page 13 of Like Fathers, Like Son
Daddy Dory crouched in front of me, holding onto my shoulders as he questioned me.
“In… the… the car… he… he… he’s hurt.”
“Fuck! Wilma, stay with Blaze and the others, okay? I’ll see how Gray is.”
“Oh god, I hope he’s okay. Please let him be okay,” mum whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks, as she watched dad run to the car and open the passenger door.
“Fuck! No, don’t be ridiculous! Get back in the car!”
Daddy Gray was struggling out of the car, and daddy Dory was trying to stop him, running around the other side.
“Jesus fuck, Gray! I need to get you to A&E right now! How are you even walking right now? You must be in agony! Get in the passenger side! Wilma, I’ve gotta take him to the hospital. You guys get to bed. I’ve got this.”
“Jesus, Dory! It’s just a fucking burn, I’m fine!”
“Get in the fucking car, Gray. Don’t try me right now. Don’t even fucking try.”
Daddy Dory practically shoved daddy Gray in the car, but he was careful of that burned arm. He helped him with the seatbelt, and then he ran around to get into the driving seat, and they left.
I was shaking and crying like a baby.
“It’s my fault, mum.”
Mum hugged me tight against her big rounded belly.
“Don’t be silly, sweetheart. Your dad knows the dangers of what he does.”
“The… the bag was going to catch fire, and I reached for it. That’s why he got burned. He was saving me!”
“That’s his job as your dad, Blaze. Let’s get inside and get to bed. I think we both need a hot cocoa first. Just to calm our nerves. Come on.”
They were gone so long that I fell asleep. Mum was snuggled up on my bed with me, while we waited for them to get home, and I didn’t even know they were until I realised I could hear whispers in my room.
“Fucking stubborn bastard wouldn’t stay. They wanted to keep him in.”
Mum gasped, pushing up from the bed.
“Where is he? I’ve been so bloody worried.”
“It’s bad, Wilms. Seriously, he’s probably gonna need skin grafts or something later. His clothes were melted into his skin.”
Mum made a choked sound and when I opened my eyes, daddy Dory was holding her tight against him.
“Where’s dad?” I asked, sitting up and rubbing at my eyes.
“He’s in our room, son. Don’t worry, he’ll be fine.” That sounded like the opposite of what they’d been saying before they realised I was awake.
“I need to go see if he needs anything,” mum muttered, coming back to kiss my forehead before she left the room. I started to push the bedding away.
“No, stay here, Blaze. It’s late and you need to sleep.”
“I can’t sleep, dad. I don’t know how I even fell asleep before. I need to know I didn’t hurt him too bad.”
Daddy Dory sighed, and took mum’s place on the bed, tucking me against his side.
“You’re not to blame for anything, Blaze. Your dad explained what happened, and it was just really bad luck. I know you’re both really careful when you’re out setting fires.”
He rolled his eyes then as I looked up at him. “I know, I’m talking about arson like it’s a fun father son pastime, but I know you both love it, so who am I to judge?”
