by Tara Randel
He slowly opened his door, stepping out into the night. That’s when he noticed the smoke in the air growing stronger. Fueled by instinct, he jogged up the walkway, now noticing a flickering orange tint through the windows. He ran up the steps and quickly unlocked the front door. Once inside, the scent of burning grew heavier. A haze hovered in the air.
He quickly scanned the living room to determine what was going on. His eyes fell on paint cans stacked by the French doors, cleaning rags piled nearby. Concern growing, he strode to the pile, gathering up the rags to safely discard on his way out. That’s when his gaze caught sight of the flames licking the rail of the deck.
He went to open the French door, the handle hot to the touch. Jerking back, he then wrapped the rags around his hand for protection. He stuck his head outside, getting a better view. The section of the deck flush against the house was swallowed by a wall of fire. Flames were swiftly moving up the structure, dangerously close to the kitchen window. Below the window, cans of what he assumed were deck stain burned with a fiery vengeance.
Save Heidi’s house.
The words echoing in his head, he ran inside, heading straight to the pantry, where he remembered seeing a fire extinguisher. If he could stop the flames from spreading, perhaps he could end this disaster.
To his horror, the crackle from the out-of-control flames had breached the interior. The window cracked and shattered, shards flying across the room. He ducked, but several sharp pieces grazed his skin. He ran his hand over his chin, his fingers damp. No time to worry about cuts right now.
He opened the pantry door, grabbing the extinguisher to point at the unrestrained flames. He pulled the pin and to his dismay, a slight drizzle of white foam dropped to his feet. Great. He tossed the useless equipment down.
Maybe he could use water from the tap? He hurried to the sink, but the fire had now jumped to the wall, fanning out in either direction from the sides of the window. At that moment, Reid realized this was too much for him to handle on his own. He pulled out his phone from his pocket to dial 911, then remembered the cans in the other room. He had to move them, fast, before they blew up.
As he reached the entryway into the living room, an explosion to his left threw him off-balance. He bounced hard against the opposite wall. The phone flew from his fingers as he threw up his arms to protect his face. The acrid scent of chemicals filled his nose while a greasy, dark smoke blurred his vision. Once he straightened himself, he saw that the flames had jumped in from the burning deck, causing the paint cans to explode.
Time to get out of here.
The smoke grew thicker. Reid pulled his shirt collar over his nose, unable to believe how quickly the situation had escalated. The chemicals released into the air were making him light-headed. He doubled over, coughing. If he could get to the door, surely he’d be okay. His vision went fuzzy. Suddenly, his knees gave out and he fell, hands out to steady himself, the heat pressing against him as the intensity of the roaring flames grew.
* * *
HEIDI JUMPED INTO her car and zoomed out of the community center parking lot. Her first thought was to drive by the Masterson Enterprises building. Surely Reid would be there, despite an argument with his dad. He had to be there, she reasoned. It was the one place on earth that had the tightest hold on him.
Even more than you.
Yes, the truth pierced her deeply, but it faded in light of the circumstances. She had to find Reid. Later, they’d figure things out.
Even if it means you end up alone?
Yes, because helping Reid was her number one priority right now.
She careened into the parking lot of the office building, then slammed on the brakes. Empty. Not a vehicle in sight. Okay, she wasn’t expecting that.
Undeterred, she backed up, driving down Main Street toward the house where Reid was living with Logan. The lights were blazing inside, so she parked in front of the house and ran to the door, alternately banging and pressing on the doorbell.
“Hey, what’s all the commotion?” Logan barked, jumping aside when Heidi barged inside.
“I need to talk to Reid.”
His eyebrows rose at her tone. “He’s not here.”
“What? He has to be.”
“Sorry.” He frowned as he watched her run to check the kitchen and back. “Heidi, is something wrong?”
She quickly explained the call from Mrs. M.
Logan’s face instantly showed worry. “That’s not good.” He stalked to the kitchen and returned with his car keys. “Where have you checked so far?”
“The Masterson office. His truck wasn’t there.”
“Where else might Reid go?” Logan asked.
Right. She should know since she’d been spending so much time with him lately. She focused, then said, “The new renovation maybe? I’ll see if he’s there.”
Logan nodded and together they rushed for the door.
With an exaggerated nod to Logan, Heidi ran to her vehicle. Once she started the engine, she headed up the twisty mountain road to Reid’s latest project, all the while trying not to imagine the worst.
“Please let him be okay,” she whispered.
Her mind flashed to that night in high school after the championship baseball game. Reid had been furious after the fight with his dad, determined to do something stupid. Was tonight going to be a repeat of that? Was he off trying to assuage his anger? Let off some steam? Her heart sank. This time she wouldn’t be there to stop Reid from doing something he might regret.
She pressed on the gas, finally pulling into the driveway of the vacant house. Set off the main road, the residence was quiet and completely deserted. Not a light illuminating one square inch of the house.
She shivered. The thought of going in there alone spooked her, but not nearly as much as it might have, before she’d admitted her fears to Reid. Just knowing how upset he’d been by her mother’s disregard had given Heidi a newfound strength. She went up to the house just to be sure there was no one there. After a quick search around the area, she knew she’d have to try somewhere else. Reid wasn’t here.
Where could he have gone? Then she remembered his idle comment about leaving town for good. “No,” she whispered, her throat tight. Would he really just take off? Without at least saying goodbye?
Once inside the car, she rested her forehead against the steering wheel, trying to calm her racing thoughts. Maybe he’d gone to see his grandmother. But Mrs. M. hadn’t called her to let her know that, so he could be anywhere.
Sitting here was pointless. She fired up the engine and backed out of the driveway, intent on heading toward town. Halfway there, she passed Hanover Lane. On impulse, she turned. Maybe if she returned to the place where she and Reid had worked together, it might help her think more clearly about where he could have gone.
It was worth a try.
* * *
TRYING TO BREATHE, Reid fought against the overwhelming urge to cough and failed. His lungs felt like they were being torn apart, his throat rough and scratchy. The heat was so intense, Reid kept to the floor. He knew he had to move, find an exit, but couldn’t seem to work up the energy as flames crawled all around him.
Save the house.
The silent scream in his head gave him motivation. If it was the last thing he did, he wouldn’t let Heidi’s house be destroyed. In what felt like slow motion, Reid rose, his eyes watering as the smoke enveloped him. He coughed again, his chest burning, He blinked, but the tears made his already blurry vision worse.
He couldn’t give up. Just a few steps and maybe he could find his phone to call for help. A crashing came from the other room and a wave of hot air whooshed through the house. The fire was getting worse.
He couldn’t save the house. If he didn’t find the door soon, he might not be able to save himself. He took two steps and the dizziness had him tottering so that he sank t
o the floor again. He reached out to find something to steady him, his palm landing on the metal lid of a paint can. Scalded, he drew back, his palm sizzling in pain. Exhaustion sapped his strength.
He’d just rest for a moment, then try to escape again.
* * *
HEIDI WAS ALMOST to the house when she noticed lights flickering in the windows, as if someone was dancing in the shadows with a frenzy. Was the crew doing last-minute work in order to pass inspection? Reid hadn’t mentioned it, but his team could be working late to complete the job.
She pulled into the driveway, her heart nearly bursting with relief when she saw Reid’s truck. She ran to his passenger door. Her joy turned to confusion. The cab was empty. Reid was here, somewhere, so everything would be all right.
She was halfway up the walk when she suddenly realized something was wrong. She sniffed the scent of fire, growing stronger the closer she got to the steps. Understanding dawned. The light in the windows came from flames, not normal lighting fixtures. Black smoke curled out of the front door.
Her heart nearly stopped beating. Was Reid inside? She ran up the steps of the house yelling his name.
As she stood in the threshold, the scene was like a fun house gone insane. Flames licked up the walls to race across the ceiling. Through the thick smoke she could make out an orange ball of bright light that was the back deck. She threw her arm over her mouth and nose, afraid to go any farther.
“Reid!” she yelled again, coughing as the thick smoke clogged her throat. Eyes watering, she couldn’t see through the heavy haze. Could she have been wrong? Maybe Reid had gone somewhere safe to call for help.
She was just about to turn when she heard a weak moan. The sound piqued her attention. Cautiously making her way toward it, she nearly tripped over a pair of boots. Boots connected to legs that belonged to Reid.
“Oh, my gosh,” she said, sinking down beside him. “Are you okay?”
“Can’t...catch...my...breath.”
“We have to get out of here.”
He tried to lift himself up, but collapsed against her. Realizing he was too overcome by the smoke, she positioned herself behind him, pushed up his shoulders and then stuck her hands under his arms.
“You have to help me,” she shouted as she began to tug him to a standing position.
He shook his head. “Just...give...boost...”
As he tried to lift his weight, Heidi held on for dear life. He dug in his boot heels and soon had enough traction so that he could stand. She managed to pull him halfway to the front door before he slipped out of her hold.
“Get out,” he said, coughing again.
“Not without you.”
Sweating now and coughing, she draped his limp arm over her shoulders. On wobbly legs, he moved with her, a lot more quickly than she would have imagined in his current state. Once they were out the door, his arm snaked around her waist and he ran with her across the yard. When they reached the road, he slumped down, the motion taking Heidi with him. He frantically inhaled the fresh air, but it didn’t seem to do any good. His breathing was erratic between spasms of coughing. She sat beside him, frantic to help him breathe.
“Lost...my phone.” Reid coughed so deeply, the sound startled Heidi. “Need to...call nine...”
“I’ve got it.” Hating to leave Reid, but knowing it was necessary, she jumped up and raced to her car. Her phone was in the console. She grabbed it and dialed 911 as she returned to him. He was covered in soot, there were cuts on his face and his eyes were stark in the light from the fire. Lying on his side, he couldn’t stop the coughing.
The next few minutes were the longest of her life. Neighbors came out of their houses, hurrying over to help, but at this point there was nothing to be done for the house. The fire had consumed the entire structure. Someone handed them cold water bottles. Reid managed a few sips, but Heidi was too upset to drink. She watched helplessly as her house was engulfed in shooting flames.
Once she heard sirens in the distance, her pulse slowed marginally. Reid was still having difficulty breathing. She rubbed his shoulders, needing to touch him. Why wasn’t the ambulance here yet?
What if she lost him? She shook off the thought, instead focusing on him. She couldn’t let her mind go there.
Soon two large fire engines stopped haphazardly in the street, the firefighters dressed in protective gear, getting right to work. Hoses snaked through the yard and before long, water was dousing the flames.
The paramedics arrived and Heidi waved them over to Reid.
“Are you okay?” one of the men asked her as he set his large support bag down beside them.
“Yes. But Reid was inside. There was lots of smoke...”
“We’ve got it,” a second EMT assured her as they focused all their attention on Reid.
She tried not to hover, but her good intentions didn’t keep her from his side. Soon the EMTs attached a tight-fitting oxygen mask to Reid’s face. They checked his pupils, quietly asked him questions. When one of them gently suggested she give them room, Heidi shot the woman her scariest frown and stayed put. Her heart skipped a beat when she noticed the first paramedic wet a square dressing and place it over Reid’s palm, then wrap it with gauze. She was about to ask what he was doing when her phone rang. Reid glanced at her, then at the phone and up again. Right. She needed to answer. Looking at the screen she saw Logan’s number and quickly connected.
“He’s not at Josh’s or back at my folks’,” Logan said without waiting for her greeting.
“I found him,” she said, her voice shaky. “He’s...”
“Heidi?”
Suddenly she couldn’t speak. She swallowed multiple times but couldn’t utter a sound.
“Heidi! What’s all that noise?”
“We’re at the Hanover house,” she finally barked out. “It’s on fire.”
Silence. Then she heard him say, “Be right there.”
Reassured that family was on the way, Heidi hung up and took a step back, tears filling her eyes as the events of the night finally kicked in. The fire still raged and the chaos around them was a perfect backdrop to complement her inner panic. A window fell in with a loud crash and her spirits sank. All her dreams, literally up in smoke. Where did she go from here?
She jumped when the paramedic gently touched her arm. He nodded toward Reid, as if giving her the okay to join him, then packed up his bag. “The oxygen we administered helped, but I’d suggest you follow up with a visit to your doctor.”
Nodding, she tried not to feel overwhelmed. She could do this. Be strong for Reid. Stuff could be replaced; he couldn’t. When he reached out for her, she took his good hand, dropping down beside him, grateful that, although his breathing was labored, it was more regular now. The light from the flames created moving shadows across his precious face, highlighting multiple scratches, but he was alive. They both were. Taking a fortifying breath, she sent him a shaky smile.
She’d have plenty of time to break down later.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
HOURS LATER REID and Heidi still sat in the damp grass, watching the faint embers glowing in the partially collapsed house. The firefighters were finishing up, having stopped the blaze from spreading beyond the house and into the forest, but not being able to salvage the structure. The scent of damp wood and thick humidity hung in the air. Reid held on to Heidi’s hand like he was determined never to let go, which in all actuality was exactly what he intended.
What a nightmare. He still couldn’t believe Heidi had shown up. As much as he’d tried to flee the flames, the smoke had disabled him and he thought he was lost. Until one determined woman took matters into her own hands. Not giving up, she’d yelled at him to get moving and, wisely, he listened.
His family had shown up. His grandmother had aged visibly when she took her first look at Reid. His parents had joined her, eyes wi
de with shock. Logan took over, asking questions, barking orders and basically being the capable older brother. Reid still couldn’t talk, which was good, because he didn’t know what to say. He’d scared everyone tonight and deserved their anger.
Especially Heidi’s. After all was said and done, she might dump him, which was well within her rights to do.
He sneaked a glance in her direction, but her defeated gaze was glued to the remains of the house. He hated to look at the burned-out shell, the awful reminder of his failure, but he forced himself to stare at it. His heart sank at the sight. Would she ever forgive him for not saving her dream home?
The fire trucks finally drove away and a soft silence fell over them. A few neighbors waved goodbye, his family left, after first checking again that he was all right. He assured them he was, and they drove away, leaving him alone with Heidi.
It was now or never to discover what was going on in her mind.
Reid took a sip from a water bottle. Cleared his throat, happy that the burning sensation had subsided.
“What were you doing here?” he asked, his voice croaking.
She shot him a concerned glance. “I could ask you the same question.”
He coughed and she took pity on him.
“Your grandmother called,” she explained. “She was worried about you after the disagreement with your father.”
He grimaced. “Disagreement is mild, but yeah, we had words.”
“After hearing the news, I had to find you. I didn’t want you off doing something foolish like that night years ago.”
She hadn’t forgotten anything, and yet she’d still come to his rescue. But tonight had been different.
“You mean like leaving town?”
Her head jerked toward him. “Was that the plan?”
Time to be honest. “At first. But it was an impulsive reaction.”
“Like you never give in to your impetuous nature,” she chided, her tone dry.
He shrugged, embarrassed as he talked it through. “I thought it would be best for everyone if I just took off.”