1.7 The Choices We Make

The next few weeks became much the same. Breanna and Rags both excelled at school and anticipated becoming young adults. Jenna continued to deal with many small house fires. A sleepy town like Castle Canyon just doesn’t see major disasters. This relieved and irritated Jenna. So far she only has one official life saved. When in the world is something interesting going to happen around here. 

One afternoon while the girls were out  looking things up for the school scavenger hunt there was  an unexpected visitor.

"Hello, um it's Shane right? Somehow I know you but have forgotten when we've met"

"Yes, Shane Jackson, you've saved my home a few times when you first started with the fire crew"

"Oh yes, you have trouble keeping your incense burner from setting fires"

Chuckling at the memories. Ah if you only knew those were deliberate. I had to find some excuse to meet you dear sister. Yes, well I've given up the incense burner, more trouble than they are worth I tell you!"

Laughing Jenna replies, "It's probably for the best, so um forgive me for asking, but why exactly have you come by?"

"You are very perceptive Jenna, I guess you could say this isn't a social call. I have some intel to share with you."

"And just what use would I have of intel? I'm a fire fighter, not a cop, detective, or politician. My interests are strictly in dealing with emergencies."

"Oh, this is right up your alley, Jenna. What I have to tell you will save lives, yours included in the near future. . Plus, it would be a great help to us, we hope you agree."

" We? Right up my alley? I'm not sure I like the sound of that. What exactly do you want, and who do you work for?"

"I work for all of Castle Canyon, I have connections in every key office and business in the town and have the ear of the Mayor. Russell confided in me when I asked him about the incident."

"So why pretend I was a great hero, if you knew the whole story, why give me a medal and a ceremony?"

"The town needed a hero, and in a roundabout way you did save his life. His insurance covered his medical expenses and enough to pay off his debt to The Alto. Sure you beat him to a pulp, but the incident kept the debt collectors off his back long enough to pay his debt and then some.  Look, you are the only one we can trust with this situation."

"So this is blackmail? I return the favor or the truth comes out?"

"Not at all, your secret is safe with me, no one else knows. It's your position with the fire department that makes you the obvious person, your unique way of dealing with any problem that comes up is exactly what is needed. This other incident merely confirms that you are exactly who we need for the job."

"So just what is this situation?  And what exactly am I supposed to do?"

"Why, you do what you do best. It has come to my attention that The Alto has coerced some of the local scientists into building him a weather machine. My contact on the inside says testing is to begin tomorrow. They have arranged for a little glitch, well major glitch, to happen when they turn the machine on. You of course will be called to handle the emergency, no one else has the experience, and well what you do when you get there is up to you. I have every confidence in your abilities to 'help' in the little matter. Now there are some things you need to know about the machine......

As Shane showed her the floor plan of the lower levels and the blue prints of the machine Jenna thought about just what she should do. Do I save The Alto and have the criminal ring owe me, or do I let the machine take them out and then turn it off. Either way I'm not sure I can live with myself, either option is wrong. What happened with Francisco was family business, this is judgment. They have left me alone after that first robbery, I have no quarrel with them.

"Well, that is as much as I know. What do you think?" He says bringing her out of her thoughts.

"I think that I am stuck between a rock and a hard place. Either choice just seems wrong to me."

"Jenna, I'm sorry, I don't mean to put you into a difficult situation, if you simply turn off the machine and save them we will be grateful, if you delay the rescue we'll still be grateful, mainly the machine needs to be destroyed. I merely came to you ahead of time to give you information. What you choose to do is up to you.  I'll be in touch." Soon sister I will tell you. Will you hate me I wonder? If only the Mathews hadn't moved to Riverview our lives might have been very different. Do you ever wonder about your family? Do you even know you were adopted? How do I even tell you that our father is rumored to be the head of the very criminals you will save tomorrow?

Jenna heads to the station to work on the Woo Woo 4000, working on things helps her think.  Ok, so I don't have to do anything but what I do best, go in turn off the machine and what happen,  happens. But why bring it to my attention if there isn't a desired outcome? Or is it something else? Just who is Shane Jackson? Why do I feel like I know him, there is an odd connection, like I know him as well as I know myself? I know he knows something, something personal about me, I can feel it. When this is over he has some questions to answer.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Breanna and Rags split up hoping to gather all the things they need for the school scavenger hunt. Breanna heads to the Community garden hoping to find some butterflies around the plants.

When he stepped out of the cab Breanna could sense him.  She felt him hesitate and she almost started to feel uneasy. 

"Breanna? I'm sorry, you are Breanna Mathews right? You look so much like your mother"

Turning she says yes, I'm Breanna, you look familiar, have we met?"

"Um, yes, we've met, though it's been some time since I last visited. I uh, I work with your mother, my name is Francisco Russell. I'm....."

"my father" she finishes for him. "So where have you been? Mom just tells me that you guys don't talk anymore and that your really busy with work. I appreciate the gifts you send but would it kill you to come visit?"

Coughing to cover his surprise he smiles, "Yes, you are just like your mother, a very strong young woman. Well, the thing is I got into a bit of trouble when you were a toddler and your mother and I felt it was best if I kept my distance until it blew over to protect you."

"You mean mom found out and threatened to put you in the hospital if you showed up?"

"Nothing gets past you does it? Well no, she already did that, she threatened to turn me over to those that were looking for me if I showed up and I believe she would have."

"No she wouldn't have, I know mom says outrageous things sometimes, but family is family, and no matter what they do you stand by family."

"I'm not family", he begins, "I don't deserve to be family."

"So why come up and talk to me now? It's been years and other than a birthday gift each year, nothing from you. For years I wanted a father in my life and now, well now, I don't need you. I have mom and I graduate in a few days. It's too late to be a father now."

"I'm sorry Breanna, I had hoped you could forgive me for not being there. I was there nearly every day until just before your 5th birthday. I know that means little when the last 13 yrs I've been MIA, but I hope one day we can be friends. I'm not going to be around much longer, today is my elder birthday and after that only the reaper knows how long my days will be."

"I don't know, it's a lot to think about, I know I don't want you to just leave us alone, but I'm not ready for you to be a dad ok?"

"Thank you Breanna, it's more than I have a right to ask too. I'll see you around, and if you need anything just let me know ok?"

"Yeah sure, look I need to go."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Mom? Are you ok? You let dinner burn, good thing I came home when I did, the alarm didn't even faze you."

"Oh Breanna, I'm sorry, thank you dear, you did a great job on that, got it just in time. I guess as I get older I lose focus a bit more often.  It's always been there but I can usually snap back before disaster strikes."

"Is everything alright? You only zone like that when your stressed."

"I guess work has been getting to me" she lies and hates herself for it. There is just no way to tell her that tomorrow she may not make it home from the job. This machine they are planning to set off could be more than she can handle. "Same old same old, I'm grateful that no one has been in harm's way but at the same time really wish I could save a few people. It won't be much longer before I'm too old to do this job and what kind of Fire Fighter goes their whole career without saving more than a few people? " Sighing Jenna looks at her daughter, nearly a young adult, and such a good person, she is very proud of the young woman she has become. "I'm sorry your father wasn't around more often, I'm afraid that's my fault. I'm not an easy person to get along with and it was me that pushed him away from you as well as myself. I shouldn't have done that to you,  but...."

"It's ok Mom, he's too blame too. He made the choice to stay away. You hungry? I'll fix us a salad for dinner, Rags should be home soon and I'm sure she'll be hungry too."

"Thanks dear, but I think I will get to bed, the next week at work is supposed to be a tough one. I will be training new recruits when I'm not off on calls."

As she watches her mom head to the bedroom she feels a bit guilty for not mentioning  meeting her father at the garden today. I should have told her, it feels like a lie not telling her.