by Sarah Cole
“Oh, my goodness, please tell me you brought me dinner.” I say.
They follow me inside and through to the kitchen.
“Heavens yes, boy!” I go to take the dish from her, but she snatches it just out of my reach.
I look at her, confused.
“Well, you get it if we get to love on that great niece of ours.”
“Well, of course.” I say and she hands it over, standing up on her tippy toes to land a kiss on my cheek, and my uncle claps me on the back.
“Good to see ya, boy.” Uncle Mitch says in his gruff voice.
“Just pop that in the oven at three fifty honey.” She says, and I head to the oven. I’m just closing the door when my phone alerts with the ringtone I have set for the fire department. I finally told them it was ok to put me back in the volunteer rotation for emergencies.
I reach over and snag it off the counter, “Yeah?”
“Xander, man, it’s Lucas.”
“Hey Lucas, what’s going on?” I ask.
“We need you, man.”
“I can’t tonight. Clara already went home for the day, and I don’t have anyone for Emma. She’s worked too much, and needs some rest.”
“That’s why I’m calling. The call was from a neighbor at 360 Birch Lane. Isn’t that Clara’s place?”
“I’m sorry, what?” My fingers tremble on the phone as my heart races.
“Flynn. Man… just get over there as soon as you can. They need help, and I’m on my way now. It’s spreading quick.” Lucas says, and the call ends abruptly.
“What’s the matter honey? You look as pale as a sheet.” Irene asks with concern.
“That was Lucas Buxley and apparently there’s an emergency at Clara’s. Can you guys please stay with Emma until I get back? I- I have to go.” I stumble over my own feet hurrying to the door to pull my work boots back on. I place a quick kiss to Emma’s forehead, and turn back to my Aunt and Uncle.
“Be safe, Flynn. I’ll be praying for Clara.” She says gently. My jaw clenches and I have to force a nod as I make my way to the door.
I don’t have the heart to tell her that after everything I’ve seen and done, I stopped believing in God a long time ago. I climb in my truck, the satellite radio blasting some sappy ass country music, and all it does is make me think of Clara as I race to get to her.
I see the smoke and flashing lights before I can even see her house. I see her SUV in the driveway and notice the flames curling out of the garage and downstairs windows. I throw the truck into park and propel myself out, not even bothering with the door as I sprint towards the door.
“Xander, stop!” I hear Coach yell my name and I stop.
“Where is she?” I yell, panicked.
“We haven’t been in yet! We just pulled up!” he shouts back, his words barely audible over the roar of the trucks and equipment getting pulled out. I don’t hesitate for a second when I take off towards the porch.
“Xander, you need gear!” I hear someone else shout, but I ignore him. Clara is inside this house, and a heap of gear isn’t going to keep me from getting to her. I know I’m breaking protocol by going in without a second and without gear. I’m breaking command, but I am fucking command. I’ve spent over ten years in a war zone receiving and giving orders. I’ve been through worse shit, and I’ll be damned if I ignore my gut now.
I put my hand up to the door and luckily it is only warm to the touch, so I know the fire hasn’t reached this far yet, but it is locked, so I quickly jump over the porch railing and down to one of the front windows and use the heavy heel of my boot to break the glass. After a few kicks, the glass splinters and gives way. I tear off my t-shirt, laying it over the jagged edges still lingering in the window frame, and hoist my body through the window. The lower level is filled with smoke and the chemical stench of gasoline. From where I stand, I can see flames licking at the far wall of the kitchen near the garage entrance and crawling across the floor.
“Clara!!!” I yell, coughing as I inhale a lungful of smoke.
I run through the first floor calling her name with no sign of her. I take the stairs two at a time to the next level, continuing to shout for her- nothing. Usually calm under pressure, I begin to panic. Where the hell is she?
“Clara!!! Baby, where are you?” I open the doors to the rooms. Finally, I come to her bedroom, and she’s nowhere to be found. The smoke is heavy in the air, my eyes and throat stinging from running around without a mask on.
“Clara?” I call again, and I hear a faint thumping sound.
I run through the doors to the master bathroom where the shower is still running.
“Where the fuck are you, baby?!” I yell, tears and smoke burning my eyes. I’ve been in worse situations, but I can’t keep a level head when it’s her life on the line.
Another soft thud catches my attention, and I realize it is coming from the master closet on the other side of the wall.
I go to open the door, but then I realize someone has busted the locking mechanism. I hear a hoarse cry and another thump from the other side of the door.
“Hang on, angel. I’m going to get you out. Get away from the door, ok?”
I’m overcome with a coughing fit and I hear a scrambling on the other side of the door. I take a few steps back, and with all my might, I run at the door. It barely budges and I know I have to focus and get her out. I’ve busted down hundreds of doors, but usually with tools or a team of guys. The importance of all of those situations before, seems to pale in comparison to this.
The smoke is getting thicker and heat is getting worse despite the fact I can now hear the guys moving around downstairs. I step back one more time, knowing I need to make it count and count to three in my head. I launch myself at the door, and this time it splinters and gives way with my weight behind it and an I fall into the closet. My eyes immediately seek out Clara who is cowered and shaking on the floor in the corner. She’s soaking wet and wearing nothing but a bath towel.
“Oh, baby…” I rasp through my raw throat and rush to her, scooping her up to my bare chest. She buries her tear streaked face into my neck as she wraps her trembling body around me. I take her and bolt for the door and run down the stairs. I reach the bottom but as I head to the front, the entire foyer is engulfed in flames. The guys must have started at the garage with the hoses.
“I’ve got you, angel. I’ve got you.” I whisper into her ear.
“Coach?! Lucas?!” I call out. “I got her!” my voice cracks.
“Back’s clear!” I hear a muffled shout from towards the kitchen.
I take off towards the back and see the back slider towards the deck that has been busted through to get the extra hoses in. We burst through the opening, gasping for fresh air. It stings my smoke ravaged lungs, but that doesn’t stop me from tearing ass to the front where I know there is an ambulance waiting.
CLARA:
I cling to Flynn for dear life. I thought that was it. I thought I was going to die, and the only thing that came to mind was Emma… and Flynn and how I wouldn’t get to see them again. When I heard those footsteps and that voice, I knew it was him. I just knew I had to hide, and the closet was the closest place. In hindsight, it probably wasn’t the smartest idea, but when you’re wet and naked, you go for what’s convenient. There wasn’t really much more I could’ve done since I don’t own any weapons.
“Someone get me a blanket!” Flynn rasps out, but I don’t bother to lift my head from where its buried in his neck. It feels too good here- too safe, and I know I don’t want him to let me go.
I feel a scratchy blanket wrap around my bare shoulders, and despite the summer heat, my body is shivering uncontrollably. Whether from fear, the fact I’m still wet, or adrenaline I don’t know, but I’m willing to bet it’s a good combination of all three.
“I’ve got you, angel.” Flynn repeats in my ear, and I try to bury myself deeper into his bare, muscular chest.
“I’m going to set you down, baby. We�
��ve got to get you to the hospital.” He rasps, his throat no doubt as raw as mine from the smoke.
I grab him tighter, not willing to let him go. “No, please! I can’t go there.” I cry, but only a squeak comes out.
“I’m not going anywhere. I’m just going to set you down, Clara. But baby, I’ve got to look at you.”
Reluctantly, I give a small nod and begin to unwind my body from his as he guides me gently onto a waiting stretcher. I pull the blanket tighter around my shoulders as I feel the bath towel beneath it slip.
“Jesus Christ, angel! I’m only going to ask once. Who the fuck locked you in the closet? Who did this?” he grates, his voice breaking from emotion. He gently takes hold of my hands, and only now do I realize they are bloodied and raw from beating and clawing at the door, trying to free myself. My fingernails are also peeled back and torn to shreds.
My mind swims and my stomach rolls, as I debate with myself on how to answer his questions. Through my watering eyes, I can barely make out his soot and sweat streaked face as he stares me down with his unwavering azure gaze. I can’t tell him. If I do, I have to tell him everything and I’m too much of a coward to do that- especially right now. But the way he’s looking at me almost makes me want to spill all of my secrets and show him all my cards…almost.
“Flynn, we’re going to load her up now.” One of the EMT’s says, and I panic. I can’t go to the hospital. There will be records, and I’ll have to give my information, and that’s just one more clue for the media that has so far been kept at bay.
“I can’t go. I can’t go there, Flynn. Please.” I beg, scrambling to climb off the stretcher. He catches me gently around the waist and lays me gently back onto the starchy material.
He studies my face for a moment, almost as if he’s hesitating to say what he’s thinking. Then I see the ‘to hell with it’ moment, before he leans in so we’re practically nose to nose.
“I know what you’re hiding from, Clara. I know who you are, and it’s alright. I won’t let anyone find anything out that they shouldn’t. Trust me.” he kisses my forehead and lovingly smooths my still wet hair from my face.
“How?” I manage.
“I’ve known pretty much since day one, angel. I saw the picture of you and your siblings at your house, and I thought your brother looked familiar, so I checked into it. Then I realized you were Roxie Scott’s grandkids that used to visit every summer.”
“I’m sorry.” I cry. I feel terrible that he knows I’ve been lying to him this whole time. “What they say about me… it’s not… that’s not me. That’s why I’m here. This is who I am.” I choke out, as the sobs rack my body. It feels good to release all this pent-up emotion.
“Don’t you think I know that Clara? I’ve been gone – deployed for over ten years. I didn’t have time to pay attention to that shit. I made my judgements based on the girl I met, not the one I see on the front cover of a fucking gossip rag.” He says emphatically, clutching my dirty tear stained cheeks between his rough palms.
“Now, Clara…” he levels me with another intense look, “Do you know who did this to you?”
I nod my head, and begin to tell him I know who it is, but don’t have a name or really even a solid physical description, but as I open my mouth I’m overcome with a coughing fit that sends my stomach somersaulting as I gasp for my next breath. It’s too late to stop it once my stomach starts heaving. I empty the contents of my stomach, heaving everything I have onto the driveway right next to Flynn’s boots. He doesn’t hesitate, just grabs my long hair with one hand and gently rubs my shoulders with another.
“I’m sorry.” I choke out before my stomach rolls again.
“Baby, stop.” He drawls. “Don’t apologize for something you can’t control. This happens all the time. Adrenaline and smoke inhalation are a sure-fire way to upset your stomach.” He softly murmurs more encouraging words as he waits for me to be finished.
My brain barely registers the fact he’s been calling me baby since he pulled me from my closet – like I belong to him. But don’t I though? Haven’t I since day one? I think a part of me has been falling in love with this man since the first time I laid eyes on him, but the attraction and the feelings I have keep growing and changing as I witness on a daily basis the type of man he is. He’s an amazing father and friend, a man who drops everything to help someone else out, a respected veteran, a man that is patient and unfailingly kind, and sexy as sin. A man. Sure, he’s troubled and flawed like everyone else, but he isn’t hurtful or cruel – he just needs time to come to terms with the fact he needs help. Help that I’m not qualified to give him.
One of the EMT’s hands us a bottle of water. Flynn takes it and tilts it up to my mouth for me.
“Just swish and rinse, angel. Then take a small sip. You don’t want to get sick again if you can help it.” he soothes in a raw voice.
“Ok, we have to get going.” The EMT prompts again, having waited for me to finish before loading me up.
“Flynn, sorry man. You’re going to have to follow us.” he says.
“No, please. Please let him ride too.” I plead.
“Ma’am. I’m sorry, but it’s policy.”
“Fuck your policy, Jeremiah. Where she goes, I go.” Flynn snaps, and climbs in after me despite Jeremiah’s best efforts. The EMT finally gives up with a defeated sigh and a shake of his head.
***
Flynn made certain that we were both in and out of the hospital as quickly as possible with little hassle. I ended up with a few stitches across my knuckles, and both of us with smoke inhalation, but after a hefty dose of oxygen, they assured us that we should be alright at home. They scheduled us for follow ups with the in-town doctor in two days just to make sure everything is on the up and up. Flynn’s uncle Mitch showed up to pick us up and bring us home. Home. Flynn insisted that this is my home now for as long as I want it to be, or need it to be, and honestly I didn’t really have many options considering my home and nearly all of my belongings are ruined. We’re going to try and see if anything can be cleaned and salvaged. Flynn assured me that he would have his guys restore and rebuild everything as quickly as possible around other jobs, but my heart is broken. It isn’t about my belongings, but the house and all of the memories it holds. It feels tainted now.
It didn’t hit me right away because there was too much going on, but now that I’m sitting here, finally able to process everything that has happened in the past few hours, it hits me like a ton of bricks. The tears begin to fall silently at first, then in painful waves as my sore throat and chest clog with violent sobs. I hear heavy footfalls bounding down the steps then feel Flynn’s arms reposition me in his lap.
“Breathe, Clara. Shhh. You have to breathe, angel.” He says in my ear as he lightly rocks me back and forth on his lap. The motion works to slowly calm my breathing.
“I- is Em-ma as-slee-eep?” I can hardly get the words out, as my body is still trying to recover from crying so hard. I don’t think this has happened to me since I was a little girl.
“Shhhhh… just breathe, baby. Breathe with me.” Flynn soothes, taking slow, deep breaths that I try to mimic. “Yeah, she finally got back to sleep.” She just started sleeping long stretches through the night last week, but she must sense the chaos because she woke up just after eleven and it took a good while and a bottle to calm her back down.
We are just sitting, breathing together when we hear a soft knock at the front door. My heart starts beating double time in my chest again, and I’m terrified of who it might be. Flynn hasn’t asked me again about who it was, but I know it’s only a matter of time. When the police followed us to the hospital, Flynn all but bit the deputy’s head off for trying to get answers. He told him if he wanted to talk to me, he could come knock on his door tomorrow. The finality and fierceness of the situation sent the officers all but running off with their tails between their legs.
“Stay here.” He lifts me from his lap and places me on the couch a
s he strides to the front door.
I hear a woman’s voice then the closing of the door and some footsteps. I turn to see Maggie and Flynn walking into the room with a few shopping bags. I stand to greet her.
“Oh, heaven sakes, Clara! Honey, sit down. You look exhausted.” She waves me off as she sets the bags down and plops herself next to me on the couch, pulling me into a warm hug.
“I know I’m probably a couple sizes bigger than you, but I figured you could use some clothes until you can get yours cleaned or get some new ones. I also brought some extra girly things. You know, just in case.” She says, reaching into the bag and pulling out some soft pajamas and t-shirts.
“Thank you, Maggie. You didn’t have to do that, but I really appreciate it.” I say.
“Oh stop! When Lucas got home and told me what happened, I couldn’t not. I was worried sick. Thank goodness you’re ok!”
I look down at myself clad only in a one of Flynn’s t-shirts and a pair of rolled up athletic shorts that still hang past my knees, and I’m overcome with this sense of peace. These people in this town have been nothing, but kind to me and are just genuinely nice people with no agenda. The only people I know like that back in LA are Landon and Emily- whom I’m starting to miss a lot.
“I’ll go ahead and get out of you guys’ hair. I’m sorry it’s so late, but I didn’t know when you’d get home and I figured you’d need clothes for the morning.”
I stand along with her and pull her in for another hug.
“Thank you, Maggie. I’ll call you later tomorrow, if that’s ok?”
“Yeah, of course. Y’all have a good night, and try to get some rest.” She says, and Flynn walks her to the front door.
12
FLYNN:
I’m lying in bed, wide awake. I can’t sleep or even get comfortable – not when I still don’t know what happened at Clara’s, and certainly not when she’s just on the other side of this wall lying in bed. I’m trying to keep things in check, but it’s becoming more and more difficult. She doesn’t pull away from me – quite the opposite actually. She sinks in and let’s herself melt into my arms. I know I shouldn’t push it and I should just let her go for Emma’s sake. But really is that what’s best for Emma? Me shying away from a potential relationship with a woman who clearly loves my daughter and would make a perfect mother, just because I’m terrified of losing her? You can’t lose what you don’t have, right? Right. Except, for her… I think she’s worth the risk because I want everything. She’s been stealing my heart piece by piece since day one, and I just want to hand the rest of it over to her for safe keeping.