By that point, they already had Tiago loaded on the backboard and a cot. They lifted him into the back of the ambulance and pulled away. Peter handed Blue off to Dean and cut across the beach in a sprint to meet them near the helo. They lifted Tiago into the Bell 429. Ronnie jumped in after them, holding a saline bag and IV line, her face a mask of concentration, no hint of the panic from before. She started to close the door, yelling over her shoulder at the pilot to get going.
She was back. But she would need all the support she could get as soon as they took Tiago out of her care. Now he could help. He could be there for her. Peter held the door fast, blocking it. “Ronnie, want me come with you or follow in my truck?”
Her face was hard, lips drawn tight, nostrils flaring. “Don’t bother following. I don’t want you near me ever again.”
“What—”
“Stay away from me. Now get out of the way. Family. Only.” She slammed the door and he staggered back.
The helicopter rose up, the blades slicing the air, whipping his hair across his face.
He’d seen plenty of disappointment in the eyes of people he cared about in the last two weeks, a lot of anger, plenty of failure and letdown. But Ronnie’s amber eyes burned with a hatred that speared his very soul.
Right. Maybe he couldn’t blame her. She was upset.
She’d come around. Maybe.
Please.
The sounds from the fire drew him back to the scene. He grabbed an extra jacket and helmet from the pump truck and helped aim one of the hoses at the roof.
The building was a lost cause, but they could at least keep the fire from spreading.
With the rest of the town, he fought the fire and watched the Westerman Hotel burn to the ground.
Chapter 16
Ronnie paced the waiting room for the millionth time. Her nails were chewed to the quick. Shoved out of the emergency room upon arrival, she had nowhere else to go, nothing else to do.
And the beefy guy at the nurses’ station had threatened to kick her out of the building if she didn’t leave them alone and stop demanding updates.
But that was her baby brother in there.
How was she supposed to sit and wait?
She wanted to walk down to the vending machine to find something to drink and clear away the smoky taste in her mouth, but she’d forgotten her purse somewhere along the way.
Back in Deep Haven.
A town she never wanted to see again. She hated the place, the people. The life that might have been theirs.
An illusion.
And if Tiago didn’t make it…
No. She couldn’t go there.
He had to make it.
She resumed pacing, ignoring the glares from the middle-aged man in the corner flipping through old Golf magazines.
“Ronnie!” Megan and her family whooshed through the door. She engulfed her in an embrace despite Ronnie’s stiff posture. “How is he?”
Ronnie couldn’t look her in the eye. She fixed her gaze on Megan’s shoulder instead. “I don’t know. He never regained consciousness and they haven’t updated me.”
“He’s a strong kid. He’ll pull through, Morales.” Cole’s steady hand landed on her shoulder. The other was around Josh.
She nodded, the lump in her throat choking off words. She wanted to turn to the kid and ask him what they were doing at the hotel. Why had they gone into that fire trap? And why hadn’t he gotten Tiago out?
But shouting wouldn’t bring her brother back to life, would it?
Megan handed Ronnie her purse and a small duffel bag. “I hope it’s okay, but I brought some things from home. Toiletries and clean clothes for you and Tiago. And we have Blue at the house too.”
Ronnie turned away from them and looked out the window. She could see Lake Superior, the sun glaring off the water as it sank below the horizon. She should thank Megan. She should. But right now, she wanted to forget them all. Forget how much she’d hoped she’d fit in to the small town and how instead it had wormed its way into her heart—then destroyed it. She wanted to take her brother and drive far away from it all.
No matter what Megan called it, Ronnie had no home.
“Ronnie, can we get you anything?” Megan stood next to her.
If that meant they’d give her some space… “Yeah. I could use a coffee.”
“Sure.” She told Josh to sit while she and Cole went to find the cafeteria.
Ronnie stared out the window and saw nothing. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. In a perfect world, she and Tiago would be fixing up that cute little house on the hill. He should be playing with Blue or riding his skateboard in the park.
Not fighting for his life.
She was supposed to take him away from danger. Keep him safe. But no. She’d gotten soft. Weak. She’d let Deep Haven and Peter lure her into a false sense of security.
She was such an idiot because she’d known—just known—this would happen.
Josh came up to the window. “Um, Ronnie?” His voice shook. “Do you think he’ll be okay?”
She should probably sugarcoat it and make the kid feel better. But she wasn’t doing him any favors with that. Better to know now how cruel this world was and prepare him for it. “I don’t know.” And then she couldn’t stop herself. She rounded on him. “Wanna tell me why you two were out running around town when Tiago said you were going to be playing video games?”
Josh took a step back. “It was hot in the apartment. We went to take Blue for a walk along the lake.”
“Then what?”
“We heard some popping sounds and Tiago saw some smoke coming out of the windows of the hotel. People were yelling inside, like they were in trouble. Then Blue broke away and ran into the building through a hole in one of the doors that was boarded up, but it was too small for us. Tiago and I ran around until we found another opening. A window. Tiago went in after Blue and to save those others. He told me to get help.”
She stared at Josh, trying to sort out his words. He was crying softly, and deep inside, she believed him. Still, “Why would he do that? He’s just a kid!”
The man in the corner looked up from his magazine with another glare. She hadn’t meant to yell. But what was Tiago thinking?
“He…he wanted to save Blue and…and he said this is what you and Peter would do. You would try to save those people. He said you two always think of others first and he wanted to be like that too.”
She stared at him, her eyes filling.
Oh, Tiago.
From the periphery of her vision, she saw Megan and Cole standing in the hallway with coffee and a roll.
“Josh, did you see those other people?” Cole asked, walking over.
He nodded.
Cole squatted down in front of him. “Son, you need to tell us what you saw. Who was it?”
Josh looked up at his mother, then over to Cole. “Ben Zimmerman and his friends. They were crawling out of a different door when I came around the building, and they ran away. I went to the door they came out of and yelled for Tiago. But the fire was already close. Tiago said he almost had Blue and I needed to run for help.” He turned to Ronnie again. “He was supposed to be right behind me. I wouldn’t have left him if I knew—” He started crying again, his hands over his face.
Cole drew him into his arms. Megan kneeled by them both and hugged them.
Ronnie turned away.
She was just sick of it. Just wanted them all to leave. They’d done their good deed. They should leave and let her figure out how to pick up the pieces.
If she helped them feel better, hopefully they would. “Josh, it’s not your fault. It’s mine.”
Megan looked up. “Ronnie, what are you talking about?”
“Nothing.” What was she going to say? That she’d been an idiot and given her heart to a man—just like her stupid mother—and he’d shown her exactly how much power he had over her. If Tiago hadn’t been on that beach…
She couldn’t trus
t Peter.
And she certainly couldn’t trust herself when he was around.
“Ronnie, you know this wasn’t your fault.”
But it was. “I should’ve never come to Deep Haven. It was obvious from the beginning we didn’t belong. Tiago knew that and I should’ve listened to him.” She looked at Cole. “You need to find yourself another paramedic.”
“Hey, let’s not make any hasty decisions here—”
“No. It’s over. We’re done here.” She turned back to the window. Maybe they’d get the hint that she needed to be alone.
But they stayed. They settled into the hospital chairs, their presence rubbing her wounds raw. Ronnie paced and sipped the coffee Megan put in her hands. She didn’t taste it, just swallowed. Her hands still stung from the spill she’d taken, but at least her chin had stopped bleeding.
Minutes or hours passed, who knew. But darkness had smothered the city outside when finally a doctor came in with an update. She sank into a chair as fragments of what he said computed. Coma. Touch and go. PICU. Smoke inhalation. Second-degree burns. Head trauma.
And she was done waiting. Done asking. She stood toe to toe with the doctor. “Let me see him. Now.”
Megan held out the purse and duffel bag again. “Ronnie, we’ll be right here. I can stay the night if you like.”
She was done begging people to stay. Done letting them into her heart. They might mean well now, but in the end, no one really stuck around.
She had no one else to blame for this tragedy but herself.
“No. Go back to your home and family, Megan. It’s just me and him now.”
And she needed to start getting used to that all over again.
Peter leaned hard on his shovel, watching the smoldering remains of the Westerman. The dark of night fell as the fire died. The scrape of shovels filled his ears as the others overturned ash and debris. They stood watch over the pile, making sure nothing reignited.
His crew worked around him, many townspeople too, some with their own shovels. Others used their headlamps to help light the scene or held flashlights. Seb handed out bottles of water. Ingrid and Ivy Christiansen fed them with simple ham and cheese sandwiches. Everyone pitched in.
He was surrounded by people he’d known his whole life, both sides of his family finally coming together for a good cause—and yet, he’d never been more hollow or alone.
Peter’s phone buzzed. Cole. Finally. “How is he?”
“He’s in a coma, in the pediatric ICU. Doc says it’s really touch and go, but all they can do now is wait.”
“And…Ronnie?”
Silence.
“Cole. How is she?”
“She’s hurting. What do you expect?”
“Should I come? I think I should be there—”
“No, buddy. She’s…she doesn’t want anyone here.” Silence and Peter winced, his heart thudding.
“She told me to find a new paramedic.”
Oh, Ronnie. Don’t give up on us. Not when they’d come so far. “You’re not going to, right?”
“She’s pushing everyone away. And I get that she’s trying to cope, so we’re leaving. Giving her space.”
They were going to leave her there? Alone? What were they—
“Peter, there’s more. Josh told us what happened. He said he saw some older kids climb out of the hotel as it was burning. Tiago was trying to help put out the fire and save his dog. But these other kids? Well, I have a feeling they started the whole thing.”
A fire ignited inside him. “Who was it?”
“Ben Zimmerman and his friends.”
He wanted to throw the phone. “You sure?”
“Josh wouldn’t make it up.”
No, he wouldn’t. And Ben certainly hadn’t proven himself very trustworthy these days. Peter had tried approaching him last week about the fireworks and lighter and the kid had blown him off. Cussed and lied to his face. The shifty eyes and tough-guy bravado had only convinced Peter that Tiago was right. But Elton wouldn’t hear it. He’d denied everything and backed up his son, lashing out at Tiago and Ronnie even more.
Cole ended the call. Peter slipped his phone back in his pocket and dug his shovel deep into another pile of glowing rubble. His gut churned. His own family was responsible for this destruction.
Conversation carried over to him.
“What a tragedy!”
“How did this start?”
“Wouldn’t take much. The place was full of old curtains, mattresses, and furniture.”
“I bet I know who started it.” Elton’s cocky smirk was visible in the spotlight of a work lamp. He stood and watched everyone else work. “I bet it was that Hispanic kid they found out back.”
Peter froze.
“Who?” Aunt Carol asked. Wait, Aunt Carol? A Dahlquist voluntarily talking to a Zimmerman?
“It was that Hispanic kid. I’m telling you, he’s trouble. And it’s all his sister’s fault for not keeping an eye on him.”
Aunt Carol nodded. “Yeah, we have had a lot more problems since they moved here. I heard the boy was in trouble in the Cities too. That’s why they had to leave. No wonder she wanted a youth center, so others could babysit her delinquent brother.”
Uncle Charlie lumbered up to them. “I told you she’d be trouble. And now look at this mess.”
Seriously? Seriously? Peter threw down his shovel. “You don’t know anything about how this fire started. You don’t even know what’s going on in your own family. And you certainly don’t know anything about Veronica and Tiago!”
Elton stepped up into his face. “I know if it weren’t for that woman brainwashing you and ruining things, this building would still be standing here.”
Aunt Carol and Uncle Charlie nodded in agreement. Others gathered around for the show.
Yeah, well stick around and grab the cotton candy.
“Ronnie wasn’t the only person who wanted the youth center. It wasn’t even her idea. But you’re right in that she brainwashed me. Got all the cobwebs and lies right out. Showed me that you all might be the most selfish people I’ve ever met.”
“She’s been stirring up trouble from the moment she rolled into this town! She kicked my dad off the first responder team. Who does that?” Elton said, his expression lethal.
Peter met it with one of his own. “She gave him a fair shot like everyone else on the team. All she ever wanted was to make our EMS staff the best it could be, make a difference here. She wanted to make a home for herself and her brother—a place to belong. And here I kept telling her it was possible, that Deep Haven was a great place to call home. But now I’m ashamed. I’m ashamed of all of you, my own family.”
“Well, that’s obvious since you turned your back on your own flesh and blood! You chose her. This”—Elton pointed to the remains of the hotel—“is her fault. And I tried to warn you.”
Peter shook his head and then he raised his voice loud enough for the entire county to hear him. “You wanna know who started this? Your son, Elton. Ben started this fire.”
“Liar,” Elton said. “You don’t know what you’re talking about!”
“A witness saw him climbing out of the hotel and running away after the fire already started. And can’t say I’m surprised when I found out Ben bullied a younger kid to stash fireworks and your lighter. But you wouldn’t listen to me.”
He turned to Aunt Carol, whose smug look said she was enjoying Elton’s humiliation a little too much. “And like your kids are any better. Tommy and Gina were out at that pit party, drunk. Making fools of themselves. Vivien’s idea for a youth center was something a lot of people in this town wanted. I wanted it. And maybe if your kids had something better to do than bully others, vandalize property, get drunk, and set fires, we wouldn’t be in this mess either.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Peter caught movement just as Elton shoved him.
He looked at Elton. “Really?”
Elton swung at him, but Peter deflected it. “Wha
t is wrong with you?”
Someone in the crowd screamed.
Elton pulled his arm back for another swing.
Okay, buddy, let’s go then.
One quick duck and jab to the chin, and Elton staggered. Peter’s follow-up punch landed Elton flat on his back.
Peter stood over him and stared down the Zimmermans and Dahlquists gathered there. “Before you go pointing fingers and blaming others, why don’t you shut up, take a hard look at your own lives, your own kids, and show a little compassion for others!”
Uncle Charlie and Aunt Carol stood silent, mouths open in shock.
A slow clap started behind him.
Huh?
It built, and Peter turned around to see the rest of the crowd clapping, drowning out all other noise.
Vivie was crying, grinning, and she came over and hugged him. “Who said you don’t belong on a stage? That was fantastic. You’re like Hugh Jackman! Tough and tender.”
Whatever. He set Vivie away. Elton had gotten up, swearing, but walked away.
“Let’s get back to work,” he said and picked up his shovel.
But as the crowd dug back into turning over the fire, Peter walked to the edge of the water.
“Feels good, huh?” Pastor Dan joined him, hands in his pockets, looking out across the moonlight on the lake.
“What?”
“Letting that warrior out. Standing up for what you believe in.”
Peter breathed in deep the fresh air scented with pine and smoke, trying to calm down the rush of adrenaline still in his veins. “My whole life I tried to keep everyone happy. Tried to keep the peace. Love others. But I just couldn’t…” The rest of the thought escaped him.
“Keeping others happy is not your job, Peter. We are called to love God and love our neighbor, but that looks a little different at times. There’s a time when it means to keep the peace, but there’s also a time to fight, to defend others. A time to build and a time to tear down. And there’s a time to put a bully in his place and stand up for truth. That’s when you go ahead and roar.”
Crazy for You Page 23