Flames from Ashes

by Caitlyn Willows

  “Not yet.” They were backpedaling on the sale. Everything was up in the air, because until the investigation was over, nothing could be done with the property. That news brought out the hand-wringing from Clint’s parents. Not his problem. He was done laying out money for the place. It could be auctioned off for back taxes for all he cared.

  “You should nap. I know you got little sleep last night.” Neither had he without her next to him.

  “You should go to work. Waiting here is going to drive you nuts.”

  “I’m content.” Clint texted Danny, then stretched out beside her on the couch and wrapped her in his arms. Sandy curled into him, her head on his chest, and drifted off. Her slow breathing soothed his soul. It wasn’t long before Clint fell asleep.

  A ring shattered sweet dreams, jerking them both awake and fumbling for their phones.

  Clint sat up, blinking his bleary eyes and turning on his cell. Five o’clock. He scrolled through the flurry of text messages. Keith had fallen for the trap hook, line, and sinker. He and his sister weren’t going to be a threat to anyone anymore.

  Sandy snickered. “Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.”

  She tossed her phone to the table. “Man, that smells like roast beef. I’m starving.”

  “It’s ready, but we’re waiting for Tommy,” Vivian said, coming out of the kitchen and beaming down at them. “I figured a good meal wouldn’t hurt him. He’ll be here soon.”

  Unfortunately, he brought their parents with him. Not intentionally, of course. They merely arrived at the same time and pushed into the house ahead of Tommy the second Dean opened the door.

  Mom barreled down on Clint. The movement bounced the sling holding her left arm. It had to hurt, but judging from her wild-looking eyes, Clint suspected drugs kept her from realizing it.

  “Annie’s sister says she can’t take the children. What are we going to do?”

  If Clint heard that phrase one more time, he was going to lose his mind. He didn’t know which was worse—hearing it from someone else or hearing it in his mind. At this point, he was wondering if it would be engraved on his tombstone.

  “We don’t want to raise these children, Clint,” his mother screeched.

  Neither did he, but they were his nephews and niece. The right thing to do would be to file for guardianship. All he could think, though, was hell no. He was tired of having to do the right thing, be the better person. Chuck’s and Annie’s arrests weren’t his problem. They’d done this. They’d been complicit in Marjorie’s and Julian’s deaths. Chuck’s excuse of following Martin’s orders was bullshit. Martin might have struck Marjorie on the head, but it was Chuck who sealed her inside the cooler, knowing she was still alive, knowing how she’d die.

  No, Clint didn’t want to raise Chuck and Annie’s children. It didn’t matter that Clint cared about the kids. He simply couldn’t do it.

  Then he looked at Sandy. Her eyes said it all. They’re children. It’s not their fault. They need a good home and someone to love them.

  “I’ll do it.” Tommy’s announcement jerked all attention his way.

  “You don’t know anything about raising kids,” Mom snapped.

  Tommy laughed. “Does anybody? Besides, I have a good role model.” Their parents’ chests puffed up a bit at that. Tommy pointed at Clint. “I’ve watched Clint with Caleb and Jenny for five years and have been taking notes.”

  Clint tried not to laugh when Mom and Dad looked crestfallen.

  “Are you sure?” Sandy asked him.

  “I am.” Tommy tilted a nod her way. “I figure it’s time for me to save the day for once.”

  “Well”—Mom hesitated—“if you’re sure.”

  “I am,” Tommy said. “Anything else? I see Danny just pulled up, and I’ll bet Vivian has dinner ready.”

  “Raymond and Eleanor, are you staying?” Vivian called out from the kitchen.

  Please say no. Clint’s gaze wandered to the DVD. He would not watch it with his parents present. Before Mom could answer, Danny rapped at the door and entered, as was their policy. His gaze swept the room and landed on Clint. Cocoa darted in, made a beeline for Clint, then jerked to a stop, looked up at Sandy, and jumped into her lap.

  “I think it’s love at first sight.” Laughing, Sandy curled her arm around the chocolate cocker spaniel. Cocoa agreed.

  “Boy, the three of you look like shit,” Danny told them.

  “Feel like it too.” Sandy pushed herself up a little more into a sitting position when Vivian breezed in, bearing a food tray for her. She had Cocoa’s full attention. Nevertheless, the little dog moved a respectable distance away to curl up on Sandy’s feet.

  “Here you are, angel.” Vivian placed the tray over her lap.

  Sandy’s face brightened. “I love your roast beef.”

  “I know, my sweet. With mashed potatoes, green beans, and baby carrots. I’ll get you some water. The rest of you are going to have to help yourselves.” She darted back to the kitchen with Cocoa hot on her heels.

  Danny acknowledged Clint’s parents with the barest of nods. They’d never understood Clint’s relationship with Danny and as a result didn’t care for him. The feeling was mutual.

  “We’ll be going now.” Dad extended a helping hand to Mom, coming a hair shy of yanking her to her feet. When the door closed behind them, everyone released a collective sigh of relief.

  Danny squatted next to Sandy. “I’m very honored to meet you.”

  “And you as well,” she said around a bite of food. “Kids okay?”

  “I haven’t told them yet. They both have sleepovers tonight, and I really didn’t want to ruin that for them. It’s been this long. A few more days won’t hurt.” He clapped his hands on his thighs and stood. “Are you sure you want to do this tonight? It’s been a hell of a couple of days for the two of you.”

  “I am.” Clint needed closure and forward momentum and knew this would help provide it for all of them—himself, Sandy, Danny, Marjorie, and Julian. Once the coroner released Marjorie’s and Julian’s remains tomorrow, they could finally be laid to rest with the dignity and honor they deserved.

  “Grab your food and come eat with me,” Sandy told them.

  “I’m with you on that.” Tommy charged into the kitchen. Vivian’s laughter rang out.

  Charmer.

  The six of them sat around the living room, laughing, chatting, and making pigs of themselves. Cocoa sat at the ready for anything that came her way. She finally settled for her own food, in her own bowl. Not that she gave up hope.

  Tommy left shortly thereafter while Clint and Danny helped with cleanup. Awkwardness settled the closer they came to finishing up.

  “We’ll be out back to give you some privacy,” Dean told him.

  “It’s not necessary.” Clint wanted them there for support, for him and Sandy. This wasn’t going to be easy. “I’d prefer you here.”

  “Okay.” Vivian ruffled his hair. “Go on. Get set up. We’ll be right there. You too, handsome.” She did the same to Danny.

  They returned to the living room to find Sandy with Cocoa on her lap, slapping dog kisses on her chin. Clint settled next to her, Sandy’s head in his lap. Cocoa curled into the curve of her body.

  “Ready?” Danny held up the DVD.

  “Yes and no.”

  “I hear you.” Pulling in a deep breath, Danny inserted the DVD. Once Dean and Vivian had taken their chairs, he returned to sit on the floor near Clint.

  “Up here.” Sandy tapped her foot against the couch cushion.

  Danny did so and pulled her feet to his lap. “Go.”

  Clint’s hand trembled as he aimed and pressed the button to start.

  Pictures were first. Shots Marjorie had taken that Easter and before, none of which were at the homestead. A series of photos followed of the cooler itself, her gathering ammunition against Chuck in case something happened again. Neither of them had expected him to follow through and seal the thing.

  Ther
e was a sudden bright flash with movement, and Marjorie’s blood-streaked face appeared. Clint felt his breath catch and heard Danny’s slight gasp. Her long brown hair was a tangled, blood-matted mess.

  “I’m trapped in the homestead’s cooler. I’m in labor. I heard someone outside and called for help. I think it was Chuck welding the door closed. He couldn’t hear me. The escape latch doesn’t work. My cell phone doesn’t get a signal. I yelled and beat at the door, and he still can’t hear me.”

  Tears scored through the dirt and blood on her face. She winced from what he presumed was a contraction. Grief slammed into his chest. Clint didn’t bother to hide it. He let the tears fall, holding on to the hand Sandy slipped into his.

  “I hope you find me in time. I hope you remember about me losing the bracelet here.”

  He hadn’t at the time. He’d been too upset she was missing to remember.

  “I was taking pictures and was in the cooler when I heard voices. Thankfully, my camera wasn’t discovered, or I wouldn’t be able to do this. I freaked out when I came to, but I was able to use my cell phone to find the camera. I’m hoping I brought enough batteries with me. I don’t want you to miss out on this. Not the most ideal situation for a baby to be born in, but…”

  Another wince jiggled the camera away from her. Marjorie worked it back to her face and told them the details of what she’d discovered. The only thing she didn’t know was who had been working with her father.

  “I need to use the camera light now. Be back soon.”

  The next sights and sounds were of her giving birth. She’d positioned the camera between her legs. Clint’s humor over her ingenuity gave way to tears of joy over seeing his son born, followed immediately by the knowledge he’d be dead soon. Marjorie leaned into the frame and bit the umbilical cord to free the baby. Breathing hard, she wrapped him in her shirt and pulled him to her chest as she wiped his mouth, nose, and eyes clear. Then she grabbed the camera.

  “It’s a boy,” she proudly proclaimed. “Say hi to your daddy, baby Julian.” She lifted his little hand and waved. “Hi, Daddy. What a good boy. You aren’t even crying.”

  No, but he was making the most adorable little grunts and squeaks. Clint covered his mouth with his hand to hold in the emotion.

  “He looks like you.” Sandy drew to her knees and wrapped her arms around him.

  “I think he looks like you.”

  They laughed at that one. Julian rooted for his fist.

  “I think he’s hungry too. Let’s give it a shot and see what I’ve got.” She pushed her bra down and offered her breast. He nuzzled and latched on. “Ow.” Marjorie giggled. “Eat up, little guy. Be back in a bit.”

  When she came back on, four hours had passed. She’d set the camera on something to have her hands free and leaned against the wall with Julian cradled in her arms.

  “My head really hurts. I feel like I’m fading in and out. I think we’re losing air. I put in fresh batteries. I…I don’t think we’re going to make it. Maybe Julian. I hope. I’m so thirsty.”

  Her lips were cracked.

  “Okay, so here it is. If I don’t survive, this is what I want you to know.” She stared into the camera. Little life sparked in her eyes. “Clint, you are the finest man I’ve ever known. I still can’t believe I was lucky enough to find you. That you picked me out of all those women sniffing around you. I wish I could have been a better wife, a better mother. Seems to me you really got a bad deal with me. I was self-centered, self-absorbed. I know I made you miserable. I’m so sorry. You taught me to be a better person, or tried to, and I didn’t really appreciate it until last night. I love you so much. I love our son so much. I can’t believe the horrible things I said to you the day I found out I was pregnant. I’m so sorry I hit you and lashed out at you, and if I survive this, I promise I’ll make it all up to you. I promise Julian won’t be our only child. You work so hard for everyone and never think about yourself. When stories talk about knights in shining armor, that’s you. You deserve someone like you as a wife, and if I get out of here, I will try my very best to finally be that woman. If I don’t…” Her face crumbled with grief. “If I don’t, I pray you are blessed with that woman.”

  Marjorie steadied her breath and regained some control. “Danny, we were so young and dumb. If we’d met when we were older, I’d like to think we would have been mature enough to work it out. Although if that were so, then I never would have met Clint, and we both know what a really great guy he is.”

  Sandy squeaked beside him and put her hand over her mouth. Clint cupped her head and drew it to his shoulder.

  “I do love you, Danny. You’re a good dad. I want you to know I appreciate that. I’m so glad you and Clint get along. You both make it so easy for Caleb and Jenny. If I die, it’s not going to be easy on any of you. I know that. Please don’t hesitate to turn to Clint. He loves those kids. They’ll need him. Hell, you’re going to need each other. Stand firm against my family. I don’t want them to get near my children without one of you there. Clint, Danny, you both work so hard. Remember to take time to play. Remember to take time for yourselves. You count too. You make sure Caleb and Jenny know how very, very, very much their momma loves them. Find that damn bracelet, Clint. Fix the clasp and put Julian’s silhouette on there. Maybe Jenny would like to have it one day.”

  She leaned back and closed her eyes, as if the effort of unburdening her heart exhausted her. Clint was sure it had. Julian started to fuss. Marjorie shook her head and smiled down at him.

  “It’s all right, little one. Momma’s got you. I’ll always be there for you. I love you. Daddy too. Uncle Danny too. And Caleb. And Jenny. Damn, it’s just not fair.”

  Another breath pulled her head up.

  “I’m leaving the camera on. I don’t know how much time I have left, but with fresh batteries, it should stay running for eighteen to twenty-four hours. If I can speak more, I will. When I’m gone, stop watching. I want the law to know how long Julian suffered. I want my father and whoever he’s working with to pay for this. Clint, you and Danny make them all pay.”

  Marjorie died thirty minutes later. Julian started crying shortly thereafter. Clint picked up the remote and turned it off.

  “Twelve.” That was what Dwight meant when he’d given Clint the DVD. “Twelve hours Julian cried before he died.”

  “I thought I was strong. She brings new meaning to the word.” Sandy plucked tissues from the box Dean put before them and blotted her tears.

  “Honestly”—Clint hated saying this—“I never knew she had it in her.”

  “Me either.” Danny smeared tears from his cheeks. “I guess it does show the true measure of what a person can do when circumstances force it.”

  Clint slipped his arm around Sandy’s waist and brushed his thumb across her tear tracks. “And some people prove it every single day in every single thing they do.” Like Sandy. He hooked his finger under her chin and kissed her. “How soon is too soon for you to marry me?”

  “I’d do it right this second if I could.”

  He smiled. “I love a challenge.” Pulling his phone from his pocket, he texted the firefighter hotline.

  Epilogue

  Six years later

  The day had finally arrived when they could wipe the slate clean. Fire-department personnel swarmed the homestead, checking their ignition trails. Sandy, clipboard in hand, dressed in her turnout gear, checked and double-checked the setup along with CJ. Even off-duty personnel were here for the chance to train, as were firefighters from other stations. Once the buildings were gone, SunSpots could take over this final patch of land to complete the solar field. It was quite the event, made even more supreme by the fact that Martin, Chuck, and Annie had been sentenced to ten consecutive life terms in federal prison.

  Danny was there with Caleb and Jenny. It was another one of those closure steps Danny felt the kids needed. Clint wasn’t sure about that. He hated anything that caused them pain. The saddest part was that t
hey had no memory of their mother at all. They’d been so little when she died. Upon the return of Marjorie’s bracelet, Jenny steadfastly refused to wear it. Instead, she and Caleb used their own money to have it cleaned and charms added to include all the kids. Then they gifted it to Sandy.

  Clint’s parents hadn’t lived long enough to benefit from the largesse from the sale to SunSpots. On his final roofing job, his dad fell and was instantly killed. In typical fashion, his mother blamed Clint and Tommy, saying their father would have lived longer had they helped him in the roofing business. Her rant brought on a stroke. She died the day after his dad.

  A reporter shoved a mic into his face. “Tell me, Mr. Clifford. How are you feeling this day?”

  “My momma’s a firefighter.” Pride beamed in his three-year-old son’s face.

  Five-year-old Emma nudged her brother. “Quiet, Lucas. We aren’t supposed to talk to strangers.”

  “But it’s true.” Marcus’s defense of his twin never failed.

  Clint juggled one-year-old Daniella to his other arm and pulled Marcus away from his sister.

  “We’ve got this, Papa Clint.” Jenny took the delighted baby, while Caleb distracted the boys. Emma wasn’t budging. She was a daddy’s girl all the way. This was a stranger talking to her dad, and she wasn’t having any of it.

  Clint bent down to kiss her. “It’s okay, sweetheart. Go with Jenny.”

  “But I don’t want to miss seeing Momma set fire to the place.”

  “You won’t. I promise.”

  Assured, she skipped off to catch up with the others.

  “She’s beautiful. Looks just like you,” the reporter said.

  Oddly, she did. Clint counted it as one of those blessings from above. She acted like him too. And though she definitely had a knack for sewing and knew her way around upholstery, she also had Sandy’s gift for gardening. “Thank you. If you don’t mind, I really don’t want to answer any questions.” I only want this done.

  “Your wife is one of the firefighters?” she pressed.

  “Yes, she’s in charge of arson investigation.” It kept her safer, which Clint definitely preferred, and mostly eliminated crazy day-on, day-off schedules. But she was often called away to work at a moment’s notice.