Fireproof by Alex Kendrick Page B

it’s . . . it’s over. She said she wants out.”
    â€œWell, we’ve all felt that way before, son. She’s a good woman and she’s worked hard to get where she is in her career. Giving up just doesn’t seem like her style.”
    â€œShe’s probably right, though,”Caleb said.“It’s just not working.”
    â€œListen, why don’t I come down so I can talk things over with you.”
    â€œUh . . .” Caleb knew his parents had gone through a recent spiritual revival of sorts, and he had a sudden vision of his father pushing religion on him. All that God-talk was fine for them, but it wasn’t really Caleb’s thing. Nevertheless, he caught himself saying, “Sure, you can come over. I’ll be home.”
    â€œOkay. Well then, I’ll—”
    The fire alarm sounded throughout the station, setting bells ringing.
    â€œDad, I gotta go.”
    Caleb stood and snapped his cell phone closed. The clock was ticking in his head now, counting each second the crew took to get moving through those bay doors. Every moment mattered.
    Overhead, the female dispatcher’s call came through the fire-house speakers: “Public Safety to Engine One, Battalion One. Respond to the intersection of Roosevelt and Kelley. Ten-fifty-I Rescue. Time out, 12:21.”
    Car accidents were often the worst.
    Caleb rocketed from his office into the bay, dreading what he and his crew might find. He saw Simmons coming toward him as Terrell slid down the fire pole.“Hey, this one’s close by. Lieutenant, you and Terrell get the other truck and go with us.”
    â€œTen-four,” Simmons said.
    Already standing in their boots,Wayne and Eric were suiting up, pulling heavy fire-retardant gear over their station uniforms. Caleb yanked suspenders onto his shoulders, gearing up in stride as he’d learned to do over the years. He climbed aboard the engine, with Wayne in position as driver and Eric in the cab’s backseat pulling on his scuffed yellow helmet.
    â€œOkay,” Caleb said. “Let’s roll.”
    The driver gave the affirmative and flicked overhead switches, kicking in the lights and sirens. He blasted the deep horn as he pulled onto North Jackson Street, with the aerial following close behind. They threaded tree-lined avenues on their way through town. The emerging sun was pleasant and cheery, giving no indication of the life-threatening scenario they might soon encounter.
    Caleb spoke into the radio.“Engine One is en route to Roosevelt and Kelley, Ten-fifty rescue.”
    Dispatcher: “Ten-four, Engine One.”
    Terrell’s voice: “Aerial One is responding with Engine One.”
    â€œLieutenant,” Caleb radioed to Simmons, “you and Terrell have the Hurst tools ready if we need them.” He then turned to Eric behind him. “You stay with me when we pull up.”
    Eric, his forehead already pricked with sweat, gripped the handhold by his door. “Yes, sir.”
    The engine turned, running parallel to the train tracks now. Trees and houses were set back from the area, but the scene was rapidly becoming congested with well-meaning citizens.
    â€œWe’ve already got a crowd,”Wayne said.
    Caleb craned his neck for a view of the accident. “Can you see it?”
    â€œWe’ve got one car on the tracks.”
    â€œYou’re kiddin’ me.”
    Rarely serious off duty,Wayne was all business while on a call. “No, it doesn’t look good, sir.” He blew the horn to clear people out of the way.
    Caleb got on the radio again. “Engine One is Ten-twenty-three. We are Roosevelt Command. We have a two-vehicle accident with possible entrapment. One of the vehicles is on the train tracks. Please notify the train dispatcher to stop all trains in progress.”
    â€œTen-four, Command. Be advised that EMS is en route.”
    Eric was squirming in the back.
    â€œRookie,”