by Nina Singh
He squinted in the light to make out exactly what it was. Clarity and horror struck at once. There was no way to jump down the three stories. He turned and started running downstairs.
God, don’t let her be in the tea fields.
“Tavov,” he bellowed, not pausing to see if he was within earshot.
“My goodness, man.” Tavov ran toward him. “What’s the matter?” Mila followed on his heels. All three of them finally reached the front door step.
“The fields,” R.J. called out. “There’s a fire. Call for help. Now!”
“My crop,” Tavov wailed as he ran out the door behind him. “It’s on fire. The whole field will go up in minutes.”
“Angel!” R.J. yelled out her name even as he prayed she wasn’t in there. But his sixth sense told him otherwise. He heard a faint sob behind him and realized Mila had followed him to the edge of the field.
It was impossible to see more than a few feet into the fields. It appeared the flames had fully engulfed the center. If that was the case, and Angel was in there...
No! Not like this. God, he couldn’t lose her. Especially not like this.
“Angel,” he yelled louder. “Answer me!”
He quickly took off his jacket and shirt, subconsciously considering how flammable the material was.
“R.J.,” Mila’s despondent voice cried out to him. “What are you doing? It’s no use.”
He moved closer toward the fire.
“R.J., stop!” This time it was Tavov. “It’s destroyed. There’s nothing you can do. Where are you going?”
“Just stay back,” R.J. ordered and turned to make sure they had obeyed.
There was no time to explain. Besides, they would try to stop him. After all, he had no clear proof that she was in there. But his gut told him she was. And for now, that was all he needed.
He choked as clouds of black smoke hit his lungs. He’d had to escape and jump from blasts before. But he’d never actually been inside a fire. What if he failed?
His father’s voice chose that moment to ram through his panicked brain.
“You’re too big for your britches, boy. Sooner or later you’re gonna fail. You think you’re good enough to do anything. You’re not.”
He had to be. He had to be good enough for this. He had to get her out of there. Or die trying.
“Angel!” He looked around, his vision almost completely obstructed now. The hairs on his skin started to singe. He was running out of time. What if she was on the other side of the field? There were rows and rows of plants. She could be anywhere.
And then he knew. Or he hoped he knew. He ran to the other side of the field. He had precious little time.
Please, let her have gone there.
He was only a few feet from the spot where they had both struggled to unearth the one plant. The same spot where he’d given in to the urge to finally touch her. Where she’d made him laugh as she shuddered in fear and disgust at the many bugs he was making her sit in.
He wasn’t the kind of man someone like her deserved.
Or so he had thought. Now, with death staring him in the face, he almost laughed at that. It was up to him to become that man, and for her, he would.
If only he found her in time. He’d tell her all that. He’d tell her everything.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
ANGEL TRIED TO curb the panic surging through her. She had to think. Rapid tears ran down her face. Flames danced around her, courting her like a demonic partner. She wasn’t afraid of dying. At least she didn’t think so. She was afraid of the agonizing pain.
Could a person willingly force herself into a catatonic state? She was out of options here.
Options. Choices. Choices she’d had, and the paths she’d chosen. All of it flashed before her eyes in an instant. She felt a sob emerge through her as she gagged. If she’d have the chance to do it over again, she’d do it so much differently. She loved him. And he loved her. She would make him see that. Somehow she’d make him understand.
If given the chance, she’d show him he meant more to her than anything else. Definitely more than returning to her life as Richard Scott’s daughter and sole heir.
She choked out another sob as the thick smoke burned through her sinuses and throat. Consciousness slowly edged away, and she welcomed the comfort of darkness.
She could almost hear him. Could almost hear his voice calling out to her. But she knew it was a dream. Knew it was too late.
She managed to utter his name. And then the darkness started to press heavier and heavier. She felt the hard ground beneath her and realized she didn’t remember falling.
Coughing. Someone was coughing. Was it her? It was just so hard to try to concentrate.
Suddenly, miraculously, she felt herself lifted. Someone was here. Someone was helping her.
She could only pray she wasn’t imagining it.
* * *
The burning light was different this time. She could still taste the smoke in the back of her throat, but it didn’t burn as strongly. Angel fought to open her eyes, not sure if she really wanted to.
This light was different. It was coming from a lamp above her.
Did heaven have lamps?
“Well, look who’s finally stirring.”
And apparently heaven had greeters who sounded just like Shanna.
Angeline tried to speak, but dryness stilled her tongue. “W-water...”
Someone touched plastic to her lip, and she opened her mouth as cool, smooth liquid slid down her throat. It hurt like hell to swallow. She forced herself to open her eyes completely, slowly letting the brightness seep in.
A familiar face hovered above her. She felt a smile form on her lips.
“N-not heaven,” she croaked out.
“Well, I’m not sure how to take that comment.”
Angel felt a comforting hand gently take hold of her wrist.
“Shan.”
“Shh...” the other woman cooed. “I’m here, darling. I’m right here. But you take it easy, okay?”
“’Kay...”
“More water?”
Angel tried to nod but only managed a slight lift of her head. The plastic touched her lips again, and she sipped from it slowly. Exhausted from the small effort, she sank her head deeper into the pillow.
“Alive,” Angel muttered, more to seek validation of her unexpected state.
Shanna nodded above her. “Yes, darling. You’re alive. And you’re going to be fine.”
“S-sorry.”
“Well, you should be.” Shanna’s voice broke. “I distinctly told you when you left not to play with fire.”
Angeline did her best impression of a laugh. “Y-you m-meant R—” She stopped. It took several moments before she could resume. “R.J.” She finally managed to finish.
Shanna nodded. “Yes, yes, of course.” She then turned and left the room.
Angeline felt too tired to try to figure out why Shanna had left. And the burning sensation in her eyes was intensifying. Closing her lids slowly, she allowed herself to drift back to sleep, not even hearing the excited voices of the three people when they entered the room.
* * *
“You know they’re going to start charging you rent here if you don’t wake up soon.” R.J. tried to sound casual as Angel slowly roused herself from sleep. As jokes went, it was a pretty lame one. And her startled eyes told him she hadn’t really heard it.
She tried to sit up, and he immediately reached to help her. “Whoa, there. Take it easy.”
“What are you doing here?” She spoke very slowly, and he felt his chest tighten at the thought of all the pain she must be in. He sat on the edge of the bed near her pillow and gently took her into his arms.
“We’ve been waiting for you to wake up again. Who knew it was going to take you another whole day?”
“We?”
“Yeah, Shanna’s here, too. And my business partner, Tom. He flew her personally in the jet when they heard what had happened.”
“You flew back?” she asked him.
“He never left,” Shanna’s voice boomed cheerily from the doorway.
Angel’s confusion showed on her face. Shanna moved closer to the bed.
“How are you?” Shanna reached for Angeline’s hand and sat beside him on the side of the bed.
“I—I guess I’m fine.”
Angel turned questioning eyes back to him. He trailed a finger down her cheek. He had to touch her. To make sure she was really there. “I came back to talk to you. One more time, I figured, before I left for the States. I saw the fields on fire and realized you must have been in there.”
“B-but how?”
R.J. shrugged.
“Isn’t it just like a man?” Shanna gave him a mocking glare. “Leaving out the best details. He just knew, Angeline. And he managed to find you. Luckily, by then you’d managed to get yourself far enough away from the smoke.”
R.J. watched as Angeline’s mouth came open. “You saved me?”
He touched a finger to her lips. He didn’t need or want words of gratitude. She’d never understand fully that he’d jump into hundreds of fires for her if he had to.
She acknowledged the gesture with a slight movement of her head. “What happened? How did it start?”
R.J.’s arms tightened around her. “No one really knows. Probably one of the celebratory candles from the wedding made its way to the field. Or someone dropped a cigar that smoldered until it finally caught flame.”
Her lips tightened. “Is everyone okay?”
“You were the only one near the fields. No one else was injured. And the doctor Mila and Tavov had check you out said you were very lucky.”
She dropped her gaze, and he could anticipate her next question.
“The crop?”
He’d been right.
He tightened his lips, not wanting to dump the bad news on her. But she was going to find out sooner or later. “I’m sorry,” he replied finally.
“All of it?”
“I’m afraid every last plant was destroyed before they could put the fire out.”
She shut her eyes tight. “H-how are Mila and Tavov taking it?”
“They’re just glad no one was hurt,” he tried to reassure her.
He could see her desperate effort to try to compose herself as she processed the news. “There isn’t even one bush left? Nothing with which they can replant from?” she asked, her voice shaky.
He blew out a deep breath. “Angel, don’t do this to yourself.”
“Please, R.J. I need to know. Is there any possibility something was salvaged?”
He rubbed his face and stood. “I’m afraid not, sweetheart. The fire destroyed every single plant on the Bays’ property.”
Desolation filled her eyes, and he could do nothing but give her the full finality of it. “The Bays told me there’s nowhere else it can be found. It only grows on this soil. And every last plant is gone.”
Her reaction to this last bit of news confused the hell out of him. Her eyes grew wide, but not with sadness this time. Then a slow smile spread across her face. He watched in shock as the grin turned into all-out laughter. He decided to ring for the doctor when her laughter grew even louder.
“No, no. I’m okay. I think things may turn out okay, after all.” R.J.’s look told her he clearly thought she’d lost it.
“Angel, I just told you that the Bays lost every single last plant.”
She smiled again. “Maybe not,” she said. “Maybe not.”
* * *
“It’s wonderful to see you up and about again, dear.” Mila stood from where she was kneeling and brushed the dirt off her knees.
“How’s the soil prep going?”
“Fine, fine. Luckily, the ground was moist enough that it wasn’t damaged too deeply. And thank the heavens you had that plant in your room. I shudder to think what we’d have lost if you hadn’t had the impulse to want one in your room. With the way Mila’s Bloom divides and spreads, we might have a small harvest within a couple of seasons. Not much, but that will change with time.” She gave her a wide smile. “That would certainly make your product much more exclusive initially.”
Then Mila scanned Angeline with concerned eyes. “But enough about that. How are you feeling? Will you be able to make your trip tomorrow?”
“I think so. It’s R.J.’s company’s private plane. I’ll have the three of them to take care of me.”
As if on cue, Tom and Shanna materialized out of the fields. Shan had streaks of dirt around her cheeks and nose. Tom was fast on her heels. They both looked annoyed.
“Look, stop pestering me. I don’t need your help,” Shanna was insisting.
“Why are you so damn stubborn? All I did was carry some lousy water for you.”
They stormed right past Angeline and Mila as Shanna replied in a huff, “You’re the stubborn one. Even though I said not to, you yanked those buckets right out of my hands. If you’re planning to play hero, forget it. Been there, done that.” She threw her hands in the air.
Angeline watched them descend toward the house and turned to give Mila an inquisitive look.
“They’ve been acting like that since they got here,” the older woman said.
Angel smiled. “Looks like it’s going to be an interesting flight.” Her attention returned to the matter at hand, and the heavy weight once again settled inside her chest.
“Mila, I—I need to discuss something with you and Tavov before we leave. I meant to do this before—” she paused and let out a breath “—before everything happened.”
“Tavov had to go purchase some materials. Why don’t the two of us talk until he gets here?”
Angel started chewing her bottom lip. “I was kind of hoping to tell you both at once.”
Mila reached and took her hand. She started leading her to the wooden park bench a few feet away.
“I think it might be better if us girls chatted a little bit first,” Mila insisted.
Angel sat down on the bench with a thud, then shifted uncomfortably as her thighs hit the hard surface. She hadn’t suffered any serious burns, but her skin was still tender. It was like she’d fallen asleep under the sun.
For several hours, near the equator, in the nude.
She shook her head and berated herself for the negative thoughts. She’d been very lucky.
“All right, then,” she began. “What I’m about to say isn’t going to be easy.”
Mila gave her an understanding look. It was enough encouragement to just spill it all out.
“Mila,” she started again, “the ugly truth is that R.J. and I weren’t really together when I told you we were. I mean, at first we were. We were originally, but when we told you that we were, we weren’t.”
Mila’s expression didn’t change. “I mean,” Angel tried to continue, realizing she wasn’t making any sense, “we were, but we were officially separated.”
God, this was harder than she had thought. “We lied, Mila. I lied, so that Tavov would at least start negotiating. R.J. was just trying to help me. Then we were going to tell you, but I never mustered up enough courage to do it.” She was rambling. She thumped her palm to her forehead. “I’m not making any sense, am I?” She must not be because Mila wouldn’t still be sitting there so calmly if she was.
“Let me try this again.” She turned to face the other woman, then felt a reassuring squeeze on her hand.
“It’s all right dear, I think I understand.”
“No, you can’t really...”
“Angeline, dear, I do. I know all about it. I’ve known for a while now.”
Angel blinked. Once, twice. Mila’s hand patted hers. “But you never said anything.”
“I felt you needed to tell me yourself. After you and R.J. had worked out your—how do you Americans say it? Issues? Hmm?”
“How long have you known?”
“I wasn’t sure until the morning after the wedding.”
“What gave us away?”
“You mean besides the longing that was so apparent in each of you? I could see that both of you were keeping yourselves at a distance. But the looks you stole when you thought the other wasn’t looking... The real giveaway was your argument on the balcony that morning. Tavov and I were right below. We heard most of it.”
Angel put a hand through her hair and looked out at the sea. “Oh my God, Tavov heard it, too?”
“He and I spoke about it. We both agreed to let you two settle it between yourselves before having to deal with us. Then it appeared you’d never get a chance when R.J. announced he was leaving. We also agreed that you hadn’t actually ever lied to us. You were a married woman. And you both admitted to having problems that morning in Boston when I stopped by to check on you.”
She’d never thought of it that way. Mila’s words served as a figurative balm on her guilty soul. Much like the one she had to apply every few hours on her abused skin.
“Still, we should have told you that we knew. Please, please forgive us,” Mila pled and squeezed her hand.
Now, that was irony. Mila was asking for forgiveness from her. The heavy weight on her heart finally lifted. “Only if you return the favor.”
* * *
“It’s hard to believe we’ve only been living in this suite for a week.” Angeline stared out at the view from the balcony and felt R.J.’s hands on her upper arms.
“Something tells me you’re ready to leave.” She allowed herself to lean back into him. He felt so solid, so secure.
“I wanted to come out here one last time.” She turned to face him.
She rested her cheek against his chest. Still unable to believe he was here with her, holding her.