LIFE WE LIVE (DISCONTINUED)

Chapter 2

"Chris? Chris is here?" Tim whispers, his eyes widening, filling with tears. "Are .. Are you sure it's Chris?"

"Yes, well, I'm pretty sure. The presence I feel is sweet, loving and protective." Adam says with a smile as he brushes Tim's hair behind his ear. "Tim, he's here watching over us."

"Oh, my God." Tim sobs, raising a shaking hand covering his mouth.

"And I believe the longer he's here, the stronger his spirit will get." Adam says softly. "That's why I'm able to smile. It comforts me knowing that my big brother is here."

"Do you ... do you think he can communicate with us like Esther Rose and Jennifer did?" Tim asks.

"I think maybe eventually he'll be able to. When he's stronger." Adam nods.

"You guys alright in there? You didn't flush yourself down the toilet did you?" Chance chuckles on the other side of the closed door.

"No, we're fine." Tim says as he quickly grabs some toilet paper and wipes his eyes.

Adam waits for a nod from Tim before opening the door for Chance.

"What are you doing home so early?" Adam asks as he opens the door.

"I was going to wait until all of you are in the living room before I tell you." Chance says. He couldn't help but notice his cousin's red swollen eyes but thought it best to leave alone.

"I'm done if y'all wanna help me up." Tim says, trying to avoid direct eye contact with Chance.

Chance leans over and wraps his arms around Tim's waist. Tim puts his arms around Chance's neck and hangs on tight. As Chance lifts Tim up, Adam helps him with his pants before Chance sits him in his chair.

"I think you're getting lighter." Chance says.

"Kelsey said that I've lost weight. Just don't allow me to get as skinny as Austin." Tim grumbles as he leaves the bathroom.

Adam and Chance smile and shake their heads.

They walk into the living room where Kelsey and Austin were already waiting.

"What about Avi and Rob? Shouldn't they be here to hear this?" Adam asks.

"Uh, no, they already know. I called and talked to them earlier at the bank." Chance says as he sits down next to Austin, putting an arm around the smaller man.

"Okay? So what's going on?" Kelsey asks.

"Our firehouse is like a secondary firehouse to the main one. Not a lot happens. So the chief decided to lay off a couple of guys." Chance says.

"What!!?? They laid you off!!?? But you've been there longer than most of them!" Austin says in shock.

"Now, just hold up a second, Baby, let me finish." Chance smiles. "Before I made a decision, I called Rob and Avi and talked it over with them. We all decided that it would be a good idea for me to take a voluntary layoff. I'm needed here."

"But what about your pay?" Adam asks.

"I'll get an unemployment check. It just won't be as much. That's why I called the other guys to ask their opinion. We'll be fine, money wise. Rob and Avi are still working. I'll get a check. You guys get you disability checks. Plus Chris left a very large insurance policy." Chance says as he looks around at Tim. "He wanted to make sure that if anything ever happened to him that you would be well taken care of."

Tim smiles and hangs his head.

"Not to mention, I'll be going back to work after the baby is born." Kelsey adds. "I think we'll be fine."

"I hear there is a great daycare in town." Chance says with a slight smile.

"Oh, I know. I've already checked into it. You really don't expect me to leave her here with a bunch of roughneck guys, do you?" Kelsey laughs.

"I was kinda hoping not." Chance laughs. "I'm not much at babysitting."

"I wouldn't do that to you, Chance." She laughs as she stands from her chair. "Y'all want anything to drink?"

"Can I have a beer, please?" Tim asks, politely.

"A beer? Honey, you haven't asked for a beer in a long time." Kelsey says.

"I feel like drinking a beer." Tim says with a shrug.

"One beer coming up." She smiles as she heads to the kitchen.

Tim takes his beer and goes back over to the window. His favorite place. He frowns as he sees the old picnic table that Chris had found at a yard sale. The bbq grill and firepit left exactly the same as they used it the last time before Chris passed away.

"He never did finish it, did he."

"What?" Tim asks as he looks around at Chance, who was now standing by his chair.

"The picnic table. The bum never finished painting it." Chance smiles.

"No." Tim laughs as he stares out at the half painted table. "He also left all the grilling utensils dirty on the grill."

Adam and Austin join the two at the window. Memories of their cookouts and sitting cuddled next to the firepit.

"You think maybe we could finish it for him?" Tim asks before looking around at his cousin.

"Sure. You feel up to it?" Chance asks as he rubs Tim across the shoulders.

"Yeah." Tim answers quietly with a nod.

"The cookouts were always so much fun." Austin says as he bats back a few tears.

"Y'all remember that time that bee chased Chris all over the backyard." Adam giggles.

"Yeah, that was hilarious." Chance smiles.

"The bee never bothered anyone but him." Tim chuckles and bites his bottom lip.

They could all imagine Chris, in his sleeveless tee shirt and shorts, running and swinging his cowboy hat at the bee.

"What's going on outside that is so interesting?" Rob says as he and Avi walk in and looks out the window also. Neither knowing what they were supposed to be looking at.

"We're watching Chris run from that bee." Austin smiles.

"Huh?" Avi asks, a little confused, as he slides his arm around Adam.

"Oh, my God." Rob laughs hysterically. "That was so funny." He takes off his glasses to wipe his eyes.

"You know what?" Tim says as he quickly wipes a tear that ran down his cheek. He sniffs as he turns his chair to face the others. "It stops here and now."

"What stops, Timmy?" Rob asks.

"Thinking that Chris is gone. He's not gone. He's here." Tim says as he glances at Adam's worried expression. "He's right here and here." Tim adds as he points to his head and his heart. "As long as his memory is within each of us, Chris is with us."

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