by Lee Rose
He looked at the clock on the wall. He had to go and see her. Hash things out with her, She could yell and call him names and he would take it. Then he would confess his love and promise to be there for her and the baby.
“Want to go to the bar with us, Blake?” John, one of his co-workers asked. Adam usually tagged along with him and Ben but not lately. He hadn’t had the gumption to flirt with women that didn’t do anything for him. He hadn’t even felt the desire for his one-night stands, not since his obsession with Faith began.
“Not this time, John.” Adam put his phone back in his pocket.
“You haven’t been going with us lately?” Ben teased. “Got yourself a girlfriend?”
Adam smiled, feeling hopeful for the first time. Maybe saying it out loud would give him courage. “I just might, fellas. I was an ass to her, but hopefully she will forgive me.”
“Send her flowers,” Ken Johnson, another co-worker shouted out from the couch. He was watching the news. “That always works with my wife. That and good sex.”
“I like how you think, Johnson.” Adam grinned. The good sex part was easy. He and Faith together could burn down a village. “I am going to order flowers then I will call her and apologize.”
Before he could do any of that, the alarm rang. He groaned and got his coat. He would have to do it later and pray Faith forgave him. The alternative was too hard to bear.
* * * *
Adam was sitting in the truck, mentally preparing himself for the fire they were sure to encounter. He was mentally preparing himself for going in if needed.
He heard the address repeated over the radio and his heart dropped to his feet. He lost all of his focus.
“Holy shit. That’s Faith’s house.”
Ken was sitting across from him and gave him a curious look.
“That’s the girl I was talking about. Faith Davis.” He felt like he couldn’t breathe. This couldn’t be happening. He couldn’t lose Faith, too. This time it would be his fault for being so damn stubborn. “How much longer?”
“Two blocks,” John yelled out from the driver’s seat. “Hang on, Adam. We will get there in time.”
Adam closed his eyes and prayed hard. Please don’t take Faith from me. I will be brave and tell her how I feel. I’ll get on my knees and beg for her forgiveness. Just let her be alive.
The arrived on the scene. A police car with his lights turned on were already there. Neighbors were out on the lawn watching in horror. The smell of smoke was heavy in the air. Bright flames of red and orange blazed out of the back window. The front was still clear.
“Oh god no,” Adam muttered as he jumped out of the truck. He landed on his feet, putting his helmet on his head.
“Keep a clear head, Blake,” Ken cautioned him, stopping him from running in without thinking. “We do this by the book like always. We’ll get your girl out, but we don’t need to add you to the casualty list.”
Adam took a deep breath and nodded. He ran toward the house. He did his best not to panic and run in the house screaming her name. He knew John was right behind him. He placed his oxygen mask over his face and nodded at John. He counted to three with his fingers and kicked in the door. Smoke came out as if trying to escape the flames too. Adam and John went inside. The living room was free from the fire, but it was filled with smoke and dark. He saw a figure on the couch lying still. He rushed over and discovered it was Faith. Her eyes were closed and she didn’t even flinch when he picked her up.
He looked at John. He was overwhelmed with panic and he just wanted to get her outside and away from the smoke. “She has a sister. Check the back rooms.”
John nodded and headed to the back. Adam rushed outside and laid her on the grass. The paramedics were waiting. He looked up and saw Liam waiting.
Adam took his mask off as Liam put one on Faith. Henry, his partner, checked her vital signs.
Henry put a stethoscope on her chest, working silently. Adam sat frozen in the cold grass. He felt dizzy and more scared than he had in a long time. It was the same feeling he had holding Josie’s hand in the hospital so long ago. This couldn’t be happening twice.
“Her lungs sound good. We need to take her in to get checked,” Henry stated.
Liam slapped Adam on the back. “I’ll make sure she gets good care, Adam.”
“The baby?” he whispered with fear.
Liam looked at Adam with concern. His brown eyes were filled with sympathy. “I don’t know, Adam. When you’re done here meet us at the hospital.”
Adam nodded leaning down to kiss Faith on the forehead. He should have been with her, taking care of her. “Please be okay, Faith.”
John came back out. “No one else is in the house. The neighbor said the sister is at work. Someone is calling her to let her know what is happening.”
Adam sighed with relief. Chief Walker walked up to him as Liam took Faith away in the ambulance. “You can go to the hospital, Blake. I hope your girlfriend is okay. The fire just started, so we got it out already. Most of the damage is in the back of the house.”
Adam stood up, feeling anxious. He needed to make sure Faith and his baby would be okay. “Thanks a lot, chief.”
Drake, one of Noah’s deputies, gave him a ride to the hospital and offered to get in contact with Noah. Adam prayed all the way there. His heart was beating so fast, but he couldn’t relax. Not until he knew Faith and his baby were okay.
Chapter 11
Adam rushed through the doors of the ER in a panic. He spotted Liam and Henry right away. They stood in the hallway quietly. Adam felt his chest tighten with worry.
“They took her in. Doctor Denison is with her. He has a lot of experience. She is in good hands,” Liam stated right away in a calm voice. “We think she will be fine. They want to make sure the baby is good too.”
Adam sighed and sat down, thankful there was a chair nearby. His legs felt weak and shaky. “Thanks, Liam.”
“Noah called. He is on his way with Alana,” Liam added, sitting next to his brother. “I can stay until my next call.”
Henry offered to go and get coffee.
Adam sat there feeling like he was in a daze. What if he never got the chance to tell her what was in his heart? He knew he hurt her and he felt horrible about it. Would she listen or would she go on holding a grudge? He wouldn’t blame her if she did. He hated himself right now. He wasn’t sure how long he sat there before he looked up into Holly’s irritated face. She was crying and her cheeks were red. She had a long black coat on. She stopped in front of him.
“What are you doing here Adam?” she asked in a low, angry tone. “My sister said you two made a clean break.”
“I went to the fire. I pulled her out. She was unconscious.” The image of pulling up to see her house on fire played in his head over and over. It would be a long time before it left him. The feeling of panic and pain left him no doubt he loved Faith. Now he had to convince her and hoped she listened. He knew it was not going to be easy, but he would not give up. He had a lot to make up for and he would do it. He would prove to her he could be a good husband and father. He knew he had a lot to make up for and hopefully he had time to do it.
“Oh god,” Holly cried, losing her anger. Her distress was radiating off of her in waves. “The nurse at the desk said they had no information yet. How did this happen?”
“I don’t know,” Adam said. “I’ll get the report tomorrow but I know we put it out quickly. I think only the back of the house was damaged.”
Noah and Alana came rushing down the hall. Alana was visibly upset and gave Adam a big hug. She looked at Holly with teary eyes. “Any news, Holly?”
Holly shook her head no, wiping away her tears with her hand.
Alana sat next to her and patted Holly’s shoulder. “She’s in good hands now.”
Holly took the box of tissues Henry handed her. She gave him a shaky smile. “Thanks.”
Holly turned back to Alana. “I can’t lose her. She’s all I ha
ve. We just started talking to our mother again. I don’t know if I should call her.”
“Let’s wait and see what the doctor says. That way you can give her all the information,” Alana suggested, grabbing Holly’s hand. “Faith will be okay. She is a fighter. We have to believe that. Her and the baby.”
They all sat silently in deep thought until the doctor came out of the swinging doors in his white coat. “Are you the family of Faith Davis?”
Holly jumped up. “I’m her sister. Is she okay?”
He nodded, looking serious. “I think she got out of the house before any lasting damage could occur. Although she did inhale some smoke, it was not enough to do any damage to her or the baby.”
“Thank god,” everyone whispered around the hallway. Adam closed his eyes and let the good news soak into his brain.
“Is she awake?” Adam stood up and stood next to Holly.
“She came to for a minute, but she was in a panic. She fell asleep and had no idea the fire even started. We sedated her. We want to keep her overnight,” he informed them. “Tomorrow we’ll do a sonogram just to make sure the baby is okay. She is exhausted and I thought it best she gets a good night’s rest.”
Holly nodded. “She doesn’t sleep much at night, then she is up at five AM to open her café. I have been worried about her health.”
“Who is her OB doctor?”
Holly named the doctor who practiced in town.
“I’ll call him and get her records,” Dr. Denison said. He looked at his watch. “They will take her to a room in the next few minutes then you can see her briefly. She won’t be awake though.”
Liam patted Adam on the shoulder. “I have to go, Bro. We have another call. Glad she’s going to be okay.”
Adam hugged Liam, feeling a little lighter. “Thanks, man.”
Adam sat back down, feeling relieved. He had the chance to apologize for his lousy behavior and promise her he would never treat her that way again. If it took the rest of his life, he would show her he did love her and their baby.
“We’ll come see her in the morning, Adam,” Alana said softly, her eyes filled with concern. She kissed his cheek.
Noah patted Adam on the back and smiled at Holly. “Call us if you need anything.”
Once Adam and Holly were alone, Adam spoke up. He knew Holly didn’t like him and he couldn’t blame her. Faith deserved better than what he had given her.
“I know I’ve been an ass to your sister,” he began, running his hands through his hair.
“No argument there,” Holly muttered. “She said you wanted nothing to do with her. You heard the doc say the baby is okay. You can leave now. I don’t want her to be upset.”
He wanted to tell Faith he loved her first, not Holly. “I have been acting like a fool, but I do care about your sister, Holly. I’m here because I’m concerned about her, not just the baby. I made a lot of mistakes but I want to change all that.”
“Well she doesn’t need the added stress, Adam,” Holly told him coldly. “You broke her heart. Faith tries to act like she can handle it all. My mom always leaned on Faith to take care of everything because she was too drunk. I’m ashamed to say I depend on Faith a lot too. But she is human, Adam. She wants to be loved like anyone else. She loves you and you stepped all over her because she wasn’t your lost love. I am truly sorry about that, Adam, but life goes on. We process our pain and we move on. If you were so determined to be a hermit hiding from real life, you should have left my sister alone. I have seen you with those barflys. You should have stuck with them. They are as shallow as you are.”
“I know I made a lot of mistakes, Holly. I have clung to my past hurts, but I want to make it up to her. I want this baby and I want to be part of their lives,” he insisted. It was hell remembering all the things he spouted out of fear. Now a new fear was taking over. The fear that it was too late.
“I have never seen my sister so depressed. She might not forgive you, Adam. If she doesn’t, then leave her in peace. She is physically and mentally exhausted,” Holly insisted. “I worry about her health. She is not as strong as she should be.”
Holly walked away from him. He stood still feeling sad and worried. He would wait until tomorrow to see Faith.
Chapter 12
Faith lay on the bed as the technician put everything away. They had just given her a sonogram. She got to see the baby moving around and it filled her with relief. Her baby was okay. She had been poked and prodded and given a clean bill of health.
Her hair smelled like smoke and she desperately needed a shower. She had woken up and realized she was in the hospital. She had been filled with fear until the doc assured her she and the baby were both okay. She didn’t remember much except going to sleep.
Faith had no idea what they were going to do. They couldn’t stay in the house. She felt so tired, but she should be on the phone trying to find a new place to rent. Basically they were homeless now and it worried her. She had been through plenty of tough times in her life and she always made it through. She would just have to look inside herself and pull out the strength she needed.
She turned her head and saw a vase filled with red roses. She had read the card and had been surprised when the card read Get well soon. Love Adam.
How she wished that was true, but it was just one of those things people signed without meaning it.
“Hey lazy bones.” Alana peeked her head in the door. She walked in with a pretty silver balloon in the shape of a heart. She tied it to Faith’s bedside bars. She was dressed in black pants and a white shirt. Her hair was pulled back in a braid.
“How pretty.” Faith smiled, looking at the balloon floating in the air. She used the button to lift the bed into a sitting position. “Thanks, Alana. That is so sweet.
Alana sat down and glanced at the roses. “I see you got Adam’s roses. He has been so frantic ever since he pulled you out of the house.”
“I didn’t know he was there,” Faith told her with surprise. She had the basic details, but Holly hadn’t told her that part. Faith figured Holly was trying not to upset her. Anytime Holly brought up Adam’s name up in the last few weeks, Faith had gotten upset and angry. She refused to talk about him. She had to face facts that they would never be anything to each other.
“I fell asleep and woke up here. It was an awful feeling to wake up somewhere else. I was in a panic until Holly explained to me what happened. Thank goodness she was at work,” Faith told Alana, still feeling a little scared at what could have been.
“It could have been so much worse. You were lucky, Faith.” Alana shuddered visibly. “I’m just glad you’re okay. Adam said to tell you the chief said it was faulty wiring. He plans on coming by later to give you the report for the insurance company.”
Faith nodded, horrified at what could have happened. She could have died along with her baby. Holly had already cried all over her this morning. She went to a friend’s house to shower. She was going to see if any of their stuff could be salvaged. Faith hoped so. She had no idea where they were going to live.
“Hey, no worrying allowed.” Alana brought her out of her dismal thoughts.
“I know, but it’s hard,” Faith admitted with a loud sigh. “That place was a rental, but it will take time to look around for something else. I have no idea if I even have clothes left. I have work to worry about on top of everything else. I feel so overwhelmed with problems.”
“You and Holly can stay with me and Noah. We have a big house and plenty of room,” Alana suggested. “You’re part of our family, Faith, and we help each other out.”
Faith smiled and grabbed Alana’s hand. Alana was such a good person. The baby would have family even if Adam never accepted them. “Thanks, but let me think about it. I am exhausted right now and my mind is just too tired to think.”
“I have to get to work. I just popped in to say hi.” Alana stood up. “I’ll call you tonight. In the meantime, don’t worry. You need to rest and just worry about you and
the baby. Adam was really worried about you. I know he will be here soon.”
Faith took a nap and woke up when she heard the door creak open. The nurses were constantly checking up on her. It was annoying even though she knew it was their job. If only she had a home to go to.
Adam stood in the doorway, looking unsure of his reception. She was too tired to argue with him. He walked into the room slowly. She couldn’t help but notice how snug his long-sleeved gray shirt fit him, emphasizing his muscles. His hair was pulled back as usual. He looked tired.
He stood over her and she felt uncomfortable with him seeing her look so crappy. The nurse had helped her shower and pull her hair into a ponytail, but the white gown made her complexion look paler than it was.
“Hey.” He smiled gently, smoothing her hair back. She soaked in the feel of his hand on her skin. She closed her eyes and pretended for a minute that he really cared about her. It felt nice.
“How are you feeling?”
“Tired,” she replied. “Thanks for the roses and for saving my life. I had no idea you were even there last night. I don’t remember anything.”
“You scared the shit out of me. When I heard your address over the radio I was terrified.” He sounded upset.
Faith put her hands over her stomach. He was probably worried about the baby. Alana had mentioned he asked for a copy of the ultrasound. “The baby is fine, Adam.”
“I was worried about you, Faith. I may have given you the impression that I am an unfeeling bastard, but that’s not true. I do care about you, not just the baby,” he insisted firmly.
Her heart lurched with excitement and she had to calm herself down. He meant he cared as a friend. “Thanks. Us being friends will make it easier for the baby. I saw her today.”
She couldn’t hide her joy. Adam looked confused then his eyes widened. He grinned. “It’s a girl?”