“I went out to get the mail and fell off the curb. I drove myself to the emergency room. I didn’t think I would be there so long, but there’s a fire and a few people have been hurt.”
“Liam has been worried about you. He’s been trying to call you.”
“I left him a message on his phone. He should have seen it by now since the girls need to be in bed because of school.”
“You should have called Liam on his cell.”
“I would have, but I don’t remember the number. I usually call the house when I want to talk to him. I was at the hospital when I realized I’d left my address book at home.” Betty limped toward the door into her kitchen, her jaw set as though she was in pain.
“Can I help?”
“Unless you can walk for me, no. The doctor gave me some pain meds to take once I got home.” She unlocked her door and went inside. “Why has Liam tried to get hold of me?”
“He was called into work because of the grass fire.”
“Where are Madison and Katie?” Grimacing, Betty clutched the counter to steady herself.
“Let me help you to your bedroom. Then you should take your meds and rest. The girls are with a friend, and I’ll take care of them tomorrow afternoon and evening. You need to take care of yourself. And next time you can’t get hold of Liam, call me. I can help. You shouldn’t have driven yourself to the hospital.”
“You were working.”
“I could have figured something out. It’s okay to ask for help.”
Betty leaned against Sarah as she hobbled down the hall. “Then I’m asking. I need a few days before I look after the girls. My foot is throbbing and I have to go back in for it to be set and cast after the swelling goes down. Depending on what the doctor does, it may be hard for me to get around for a while.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll work it out with Liam. Madison and Katie will be taken care of. You concentrate on getting better and, remember, when something like this happens, call us.”
“I will. I realized it as I was driving to the hospital, but I was only a few blocks away so I kept going. I didn’t have any way of getting hold of someone.”
“Get a cell phone.” Sarah helped Betty to her bed.
“I’m too old to learn something new.” She sank down on her coverlet and handed Sarah her purse. “Would you please get me a glass of water? The meds I’m supposed to take are inside.”
Sarah rummaged in the big purse, found two bottles of pills and put them on the nightstand. “I’ll be right back with the water.”
As she strode to the kitchen to get Betty’s drink, she tried Liam’s cell phone. After several rings, it went to voice mail. “This is Sarah. I’m at your aunt’s house. She broke her foot and was at the hospital. She’s home now and will be all right. Don’t worry about the girls. Mom and I will take care of them tomorrow. Call when you get a chance. Stay safe.”
As she filled a glass, something Betty had said resurfaced in her mind. People were being hurt enough to come to the emergency room because of the grass fire. And Liam was there to fight it. Please, Lord, don’t let one be Liam.
When she took the water to Betty, she helped make her comfortable. “I’m going to stay for a while to make sure you’ll be all right.”
“They sent a walker home with me to help me keep my balance. It’s still in the car. Will you please get it for me and put the garage door down?”
“Of course.”
After retrieving the walker, Sarah stepped out of the garage. The smell of smoke overwhelmed her for a moment as she looked toward the south. Fire lit the dark night sky. Eerie. Menacing.
She shivered and couldn’t get Liam out of her thoughts.
Please stay safe.
* * *
As dawn on Friday lightened the smoke-filled air, Liam trudged behind the anchor line, a gravel road, toward the refreshment table and snagged an ice-cold bottle of water and an energy bar. His legs felt as though he were carrying around twenty-pound concrete slabs. He collapsed on the ground near Brandon and removed his yellow helmet and black leather gloves.
After shoveling and raking for hours to make the fire lines, all Liam wanted to do was catch a catnap. But first a drink and food. “This fire isn’t slowing down.”
Brandon’s tired eyes gazed at him for a long moment before he said, “If only the wind would die down, we might have a chance to contain this.”
Liam bit off a piece of the energy bar. “We might not be able to protect those houses.” He lifted his hand and pointed north toward Buffalo. “Especially if the wildfire jumps the highway and catches the woods between the subdivision and the road on fire.”
“Yeah, and the wind is blowing in that direction.” Brandon took out his cell phone. “I’m gonna check on my kids before we head back out.”
Good idea. Liam retrieved his cell and noticed there was voice mail for him. He listened to the message from Sarah, his hand clutching the cell phone tighter as her words flooded his weary mind. He hated calling her when it was only a little after six, but he might not have another break for a long while.
He moved away from Brandon and placed the call. When she answered, the sound of her voice overwhelmed him with all the reasons he was falling in love with Sarah. Its warmth wrapped around him as though she embraced him.
“How’s it going? Are you containing the fire?”
“It’s still spreading. Pray for the wind to die down or a sudden downpour.”
“I have been all night.”
“Did you get any sleep?”
“Not much. How about you?”
“No. I have a break right now, but I might be too tired to sleep.”
“You got my message?”
He closed his eyes, a vision of Sarah popping into his mind. “Yes. How’s Aunt Betty?”
“I’m still at her house, and she’s sleeping. She’s worried about you. I told her you’re too stubborn to have anything happen to you.”
He chuckled.
“Liam, like I said in my message, don’t worry about anything here. I’ll take care of your nieces. When your aunt wakes up, I’ll make sure she’s all right before I leave. I’ll pick Madison and Katie up from school. I’m going to stay with them at your house. That way I can check on Betty throughout the afternoon and evening.”
“How about work?”
“I’m going to take the girls back to the salon and let them keep Nana company.”
“Are you sure?” Liam took another swallow of the cold water.
“Nana said something about showing them Sammy. He’s usually around the salon in the afternoon. She was excited and really looking forward to Saturday and Madison’s birthday party. Don’t worry about a cake. Mom has something in mind.”
“What?” Liam imagined her sitting on his aunt’s couch, her long, curly, blond hair framing her beautiful face.
“She wouldn’t tell me. She’s going to bake it tonight while I’m at your house. She thinks I might let it slip, and she wants Madison to be surprised.”
An all-encompassing weariness enveloped him. “Thank you, Sarah.”
“I can’t fight the fire like you can, so I’m glad to do this to help.”
“Talk to you when I can,” he murmured, his eyelids sliding slowly down.
“Stay safe.”
When he disconnected, he checked his watch. He had enough time to catch that nap his body was screaming he take. The last words Sarah said to him drifted through his mind as sleep descended.
* * *
Saturday morning Sarah found Madison outside in the backyard at Betty’s house, staring south. A furrowed forehead and thin lips greeted her as the child glanced at her.
“Hon, are you okay?” Sarah purposefully stood in front of the girl, trying to block some of her vie
w.
“It’s twelve and Uncle Liam isn’t here. It’s so hazy I can’t tell if the fire has been put out or not.” Madison took a step to the right, her gaze glued to the sky.
Sarah put her arm around the child and peered south. “I was listening to the radio on the way from the salon and it looks like they’re making some good progress toward containing the fire.”
“He isn’t gonna make my birthday party, is he?” Madison blew out a sigh, her shoulders hunching.
“He’ll be at your party if he can.”
“It starts in two hours. He won’t leave until the fire is out.” Disappointment coupled with something Sarah couldn’t pinpoint resonated in Madison’s voice.
The light breeze carried the stench of smoke. “Let’s go inside.”
“What if he can’t stop the fire? I have a friend who lives near it. She’s supposed to come to my party.”
Sarah hugged the girl against her. “If you’re talking about Libby, her mom called the salon and let me know they would be there. They evacuated and are staying with relatives not far from here. Libby is really looking forward to your party.”
“What if something happens to Uncle Liam? Have you heard from him since we talked with him last night?”
“No, but that doesn’t mean anything.”
She wasn’t going to tell Madison because the firefighters were making a stand at the woods between the road and the subdivision, trying to put out any sparks that hopped the highway. The child was already worried enough—as was she. She’d refused to think what would happen if Liam was hurt. She’d prayed throughout the morning as she’d fixed her clients’ hair and readied the salon for the party. Her mother had stayed a little longer to finish up.
“Nana came home with me. She was wondering where you were.” Sarah held out her hand to Madison. “Let’s go in. We still need to walk to my house and check on Gabe and Junior.”
As Madison entered Betty’s house first, Sarah’s phone rang. “It’s your uncle. I’ll be inside in a minute.”
Relief sagged Madison’s shoulders even more.
Sarah took a few steps away from the doorway and waited until the little girl disappeared inside. “Hi, are you all right?” The question rushed out of her mouth before she could censor herself.
“Yes. It’s been a long night. If nothing unforeseen happens, we should start the mop-up soon and make sure there are no hot spots that could start the fire all over again. How are the girls and my aunt doing?”
“Fine. They stayed with Aunt Betty for a couple of hours this morning. Betty seems to be better. At least her foot isn’t hurting quite as much. She’s keeping her foot raised and not walking on it a lot. Madison and Katie have been helping her.”
“Good. Please let Madison know I’ll make her party if at all possible. It’ll depend on how fast the cleanup will be. Give both of them a hug for me.”
“I will.”
“Save the birthday cake until the end. Hopefully I’ll be there by that time. I’ve got to go. The sooner we start, the sooner I’ll be home.”
Sarah’s heart throbbed. The urge to put her arms around him and never let go swamped her. She wanted to make sure he was okay with her own two eyes.
The next ninety minutes went by fast. One of Betty’s friends came to her place to keep her company. Madison and Katie kissed their great-aunt goodbye. Sarah promised Betty she would take a lot of pictures to show her.
Next stop was Liam’s house, where the girls dressed for the party, then Sarah drove Nana, Madison and Katie to her house to make sure Gabe and Junior had food and water. At the salon fifteen minutes before the party was to begin, her mom met them at the door.
“I was about to send out a search team for you all.”
Madison headed into the shop. “Junior got loose and was climbing the fence.”
“I rescued him.” Katie puffed out her chest. “I saw where he was before anyone else.”
Madison stopped halfway through the salon and rotated slowly around, taking in the multicolored streamers from the ceiling, the big banner declaring she was eight years old today, the photo booth setup and the array of dresses and costumes. “You did all of this for me.” The child faced Sarah and her mom, her eyes glistening. “It’s perfect.”
Emotions swelled into Sarah’s throat. She swallowed several times. “Go into the back area and check out the decorated table—” she slid a glance at her mother who nodded “—with your cake on it.”
A squeal pierced the air before Sarah entered the room. When she and her mom stepped inside, both girls were staring at the birthday cake.
Madison pointed at it. “It’s like fingernail polish of my favorite color. Who made it?”
“My mom did. She loves to bake.”
Madison swiveled around and rushed to Sarah’s mother and threw her arms around her. “Thank you. It’s the neatest cake I’ve ever seen. I love the pink.”
Stunned, Sarah’s mother was speechless as she peered down at the child and folded her in an embrace. When she glanced at Sarah, her eyes glistened. “I had so much fun making that, especially trying to figure out how to do the brush coming out of the bottle. It’s strings of black licorice with pink frosting dripping off it.”
“This is the best day ever!” Madison exclaimed, returning to stare at the cake.
Her expression solemn, Katie walked a few steps to Sarah’s mom. “Will you make my birthday cake in October in the shape of a cat like Blackie?”
Her mother clasped her shoulder. “I’d love to, sweetie.”
“Yay!” Katie pumped her arm in the air. “I agree. It’s the best day ever!” Then she hugged Sarah’s mom.
Her mother closed her eyes, but a tear slipped out and ran down her cheek. She turned away from Katie when the child pulled back. “Now I’d better get my supplies set up for the onslaught of girls in ten minutes.”
Katie didn’t see her wipe her hand across her face, but Sarah did. Her mom had wanted a house full of children, and in this moment Sarah wished she could give them to her. She would make a great grandmother.
She shuffled into the back room. “A car is parking. It’s Britney. I’ve got everything set up to do everyone’s nails.”
“Good. We need an extra pair of hands.” Sarah headed to the front to greet her friend. As she opened the door, Colt’s truck pulled up with Beth smiling from ear to ear.
The next hour sped by with Sarah fixing hair while Britney helped the seven girls find the perfect costume and then ran the photo booth, which was a big hit. Occasionally, Sarah found herself checking out the window for Liam’s car. If she could have postponed the party for a few hours, she would have, so he could have been there the whole time.
Katie, dressed in a purple ball gown with a tiara on top of her brown curls, motioned Sarah to lean down. The six-year-old whispered into her ear, “I’m starving. When are we gonna eat the cake?”
Sarah had been trying to delay the opening of presents and the eating of the goodies until Liam showed up, but she couldn’t much longer. “Give me fifteen minutes. Beth is getting her nails done and they need to dry. Mom is almost finished with Libby’s hair.”
She dropped her head forward. “Okay.”
Katie trudged away until Madison waved her into the photo booth for a picture with Ellie and her. She perked up and hurried toward her big sister.
As soon as Libby was done, Nana assisted Britney to cram everyone into the booth for a group shot.
Sarah’s mother joined her, watching the giggling girls juggle for a place. “The limousine is going to be here in forty-five minutes. We can’t wait for Liam any longer.”
“When they’re through in there, we’ll open presents then have cake and ice cream. I’ve taken some pictures of the cake for Liam.”
“He’s a good man
.”
“Mom, don’t—”
“I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know. He just spent nearly three days fighting a fire to protect this town. That’s a hero in my book.”
Her mother was right. Liam and the other firefighters often went above and beyond to do their jobs. She couldn’t imagine how tired he would be. A flash of red out the front window caught her eye. On closer inspection, she grinned. “He’s here. Just in the nick of time.”
Her mother and Britney herded the girls to the back room while Sarah hung back and greeted Liam at the door. She wanted to wrap her arms around him and make sure he was all right. She didn’t, but it was hard not to.
A grin dimpled his sun-kissed cheeks. “I would have been here sooner, but I didn’t have Madison’s present. I had to swing by the house and retrieve it from my hiding place.”
“They just went in for presents and cake. Perfect timing. You’ll get to see the results of an afternoon at the beauty shop.”
When Liam entered the back room, Madison spied him and cheered. As the other girls saw him, they did, too.
Libby approached him and embraced him. “You saved my house. Thank you.”
His grin grew as all of the kids group hugged him. He stood in the middle of a crowd of girls, his face flushed as though the wildfire had scorched his cheeks.
Madison tugged him toward a chair next to hers. “I’m opening my presents now and just wait until you see what Sarah’s mom made me.”
While his niece tore into the first gift, Liam withdrew a small box from his pocket and put it with the others. He peered up at Sarah and winked.
Warmth flowed through her. He looked so capable and commanding in his navy pants and shirt with the fire department’s emblem on it. The sight of him, exhausted but safe, caused her heartbeat to race.
He didn’t give Madison his present until the end. When she ripped the paper off the box and lifted the lid, her mouth fell open. She held up the necklace for her friends to see. A gold heart-shaped locket dangled from the chain.
Her friends and Katie admired it while Madison leaned over and kissed Liam on the cheek. “I love it. Will you put it on me?”
The Firefighter Daddy Page 13