by S. J. Lynn
I want you happy, and I want someone to make you happy, which leads me to my main point of this letter. I can’t dictate who you should fall in love with. No one will ever be good enough for you. But give Luke a chance. He only now knows, in the letter I’ve written him, that I’ve known for years of his love for you. He’d love you beyond what any man could—I feel this is true. Also, if you’re reading this, then that means he’s taking a chance, and I can respect that about him.
So give love a try again…for me. Smile, laugh, read those damn books of yours…dance. Dance like I’m always watching.
I’m going to go now. You’re muttering something cute in your sleep and I want so badly to hold you.
Your forever love,
Josh
I had trouble processing everything he’d said. He wanted me with Luke, but I couldn’t help remembering all that Luke had told me. Josh went in for him, and I knew it must have been because he didn’t want his friend to lose his job. It was honorable, and something Josh would do.
“Magnolia?” Caroline asked, taking a seat next to me. Her lipstick was smudged and I wondered if it was from Bill. By the stolen glances he’d been giving her most of the day, I’d say it was safe to assume so.
“Yes.”
“How are you doing, sweetheart?”
“I’m going to be okay.” And I meant it. It hit me like a ton of bricks learning of Josh’s death—the whole truth—but his letter…it was almost like he knew.
“I’m so happy to hear that.” She hugged me, and I allowed myself a brief moment to accept the sympathy she gave. She pulled back. “Hey, where’s Amy? She was supposed to be front row with Jenny, wasn’t she? Or did I get that wrong?”
“No, she’s…” I paused to look around in my seat. “Hmm. I don’t see her. Maybe her grandparents are running late. You know how slow they can be, and forgetful.”
“Yes, I do. Gotta love those two old birds. Well, hopefully she gets here soon. Jenny is freaking out and wants to practice before they go on.”
As soon as she left, I dialed Amy’s grandparents. No one picked up, and I thought maybe they were on their way.
Five minutes went by then ten, and I grew increasingly anxious. Amy’s dance routine was about to start.
Feelings aside, I dialed Luke. Straight to voice mail. That was weird. I tried again. Same thing.
Then the sirens went off.
***
I didn’t think. I ran to my bike and pedaled as fast as I could toward Amy’s. Unless my ears deceived me, it was coming that way. Thick smoke loomed ahead and my heart squeezed in my chest. As I drew closer, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
Amy’s house was up in flames. Two firetrucks, three ambulances, and an audience all surrounded the area. I let my bike fall to the pavement and ran to get to her. Her grandparents wouldn’t have been able to protect her.
I darted past the crowd. Someone reached out and grabbed me, bringing me flush against them. I pounded on their chest and tried to break free from their clutches.
“Maggie! It’s Neale. Calm down.”
“Where is she? I have to get to her.”
Neale gripped me tighter. “She’s safe. She’s in the ambulance. They’re checking her over.”
My heart swelled at his words. “I have to go to her,” I said as I managed to break free. She was lying in a bed, an EMT at her side, fixing her oxygen mask. “Oh, thank God. Is she going to be okay?”
“Are you the mother?” the woman asked.
“No, I’m her teacher. I know her grandparents. She lives with them.” Oh God…the grandparents! “Are they out? Are they okay?”
The woman looked grim. “The grandmother is in critical condition and the grandfather hasn’t made it out yet. I’m sorry. That’s all I can tell you.”
“That’s okay. Where will you be taking her?” I gestured toward Amy. She was all tubes and wires.
“To the local hospital. I expect a full recovery in a few days.”
“Okay. Great. I’ll be back.” I looked at Amy one more time and hopped out of the ambulance and went in search of Neale. He shouted into the radio on his jacket. I gazed around the cluster of people, not seeing Luke anywhere. Maybe he didn’t work today. But I remembered him saying he had to.
No.
“Neale,” I shouted, not caring if I was interrupting protocol. He clicked off his radio and looked at me. “Neale, where are Luke and Amy’s grandfather?”
He shook his head. “There was an explosion. Luke and the grandfather are still inside.”
I brought my hand to my mouth to try and keep myself from screaming. Why was this happening? I felt the blood drain from my face. “Well, you h-have to go in there and find them. Please, Neale.”
He rested a gentle hand on my shoulder. “I can’t, Maggie. I’m sorry. It’s not safe for anyone to go inside. We’ve done all we can do. In the meantime, our men are desperately working at putting out the fire.”
Done all they could do? Luke was still in there! I rushed past him.
“Maggie! Someone get her!”
Almost to the flaming house, I tried to dash to the back, but someone grabbed me, pulling me away from my goal.
Ernie came over and grabbed my arm, gently pulling me away from the fireman. “Come on, sweetheart.”
“But I—”
“I know. Come here.” I went into his arms and he held me tight, gently swaying me from side to side. “It’s going to be alright. Luke’s going to be fine.” I wanted to believe him. I had to believe him.
A sudden bout of clapping and cheering broke out from the crowd, and I let go of Ernie and turned to face the direction they were looking. Out from the smoldering flames was Luke, his face covered in soot and blood. Gus was nowhere in sight.
I couldn’t move. I was rooted to where I stood, grateful he’d made it out alive, but equally sad at what his coming out empty-handed meant for Amy’s grandfather.
Luke scowled. Neale went up to say something to him, but he walked right past him and slammed his hand against the side of one of the trucks. Several medics came to his aid, but he thwarted them off. I wanted to go to him, but soon he was enveloped by his crew and the chief. So I went to check on Amy one last time. She was still out.
“Anything new?” I asked the medic.
“She’s stable. Just resting. She’s going to be okay.”
“Thank you.”
She smiled. “I’m not the hero in this instance.”
She was right. Luke was the hero, but he didn’t want to be bothered.
I knew the woman didn’t care all that much, but I told her I’d be in to see Amy and her grandmother tomorrow, to which she nodded and told me to go home and get some rest. I checked one last time with Luke, and he and the chief looked like they were having a long, deep discussion. So I grabbed my bike and left.
I didn’t go back to the festival. I knew they’d shut it down given the circumstances. With Amy on my mind, and Luke, it was enough to knock me out cold.
The sound of a door shutting woke me. My eyes tried to adjust to the dark. I could vaguely see Luke removing something from his waist and heard it drop to the floor. He must have showered. I’d decided to wait for him back at his place, not wanting to leave him alone for the night after how I’d seen him react earlier.
My eyes somewhat adjusted, I could make out his silhouette, naked and strong. There was nothing I wanted more at that moment than to hold him.
“Luke?”
He jumped and spun around. “Maggie.”
I came off the bed, turned on his bedside lamp, and went to him. His face was cut and bruised. “They said there was an explosion.” I touched his face lightly, and he leaned into me but didn’t say anything. “Gus?”
He opened his hooded eyes and shook his head. My heart broke for Amy. Her parents and now her grandfather were gone.
“I tried to get him out…”
I shushed him and took his wrist, leading him over to the bed. �
�I know. You couldn’t have done anything different.” Drawing back the covers, I told him to get in.
“I didn’t think you’d be here.” He sat back against the headboard.
“Amy didn’t show, so I went to check and see if she was okay. Then I tried calling you.”
He rubbed his hands over tired eyes. “You did? I must not have heard it.” When I made the move to join him, his eyes followed me as if he couldn’t understand what I was doing.
“You were busy saving lives.” I shot him a look. “My phone call could wait.”
“How are you?”
I could have laughed. “How am I? How are you?”
He shrugged. “Angry.” He shifted to face me. “Maggie, I’m so sorry.”
My hand went up to his mouth, and I brushed my thumb gently across his lips. “I could have lost you tonight.” Before tears could fall, I straddled him and leaned in to kiss him. I felt his hands tentatively rest on my hips as he gave in. I ran my hands through his damp hair and brought him closer, not wanting him to stop.
I brought my hands down to his shoulders, kneading out the kinks. He moaned and trailed kisses down my neck before shifting on top of me. He stared down into my eyes. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
He made love to me—an apology for everything he’d done. But I’d already forgiven him. When morning came, we were all limbs. My back was to his front and a gentle hand caressed my hip, lightly running his fingers up and down. I sighed, the gesture relaxing.
“I didn’t think you’d be up this early,” I said with a smile.
“A lot on my mind.”
I turned to face him. He placed his hand back on my thigh and stared at it. “Hey.”
His eyes found mine. “I’ll never expect you to forgive me. I should have been there for you. I wanted to be there for you.”
“I know. It’s okay.”
He muttered a curse. “It’s not okay, Maggie. You needed me and I was too wrapped up in my own guilt. It won’t happen again.”
He didn’t get it. That letter had given me peace. That letter was everything. And although Josh would always have a part of me with him, the rest was reserved for the brooding man in front of me.
I tapped the tip of his nose and laughed. He frowned and looked at me like I’d lost my mind. This time, I tapped his cheek.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Trying to distract you. I see it’s working.”
He rolled onto his back. “Maggie—”
I rolled onto him, my face serious. “I read the letter.” He looked at me briefly before turning his gaze away in shame. “It broke my heart.” When he sighed in anguish, I leaned down and kissed his cheek. “And gave me hope all in one rush.”
His eyes found mine, uncertain. “He wrote me one, too.”
“I know. I’m glad he did.” His hands started idly massaging my lower back. “I want us to start over.” He stilled. “When I knew you were in that house”—I shook my head—“I thought, ‘No, I’d just found him.’ And thinking I could have lost you tore me inside.”
For the first time since he’d left yesterday, he smiled. “Are you saying you have feelings for me, Boots?”
I laughed. “Yes.”
“That’s good, because I do, too. Since you were nothing but pigtails and knobby knees.” I gasped at his recollection of me, and he tickled my sides and spun me over, kissing me soundly until I was lost in him. “Let’s go.”
“Where?” I asked in a daze.
“There’s a little girl with pigtails and knobby knees who needs her Ms. Warner.”
My eyes snapped open. “Amy!”
Chapter 20
Luke
While Maggie visited with Amy after seeing Marie, I stayed. She wasn’t doing well this morning. The doctor said they expected her to have a full recovery, but she’d be laid up for a while.
“Amy really is okay?” she asked, her voice raspy from the smoke.
I gave her a reassuring smile. “She’s back to talking nonstop, so I’d say she’s doing better than okay.”
“Thank you.”
My smile faded. “I’m sorry I couldn’t save him.”
“You did all you could. He wouldn’t have been able to live with himself if anything had happened to Amy.” She started to cry. “They said it was a gas leak.”
I placed my hand over hers. “Unfortunately, these happen often. It’s not anyone’s fault.”
“I know, but I…”
I stood. “Don’t go there. Trust me, it does more harm than good.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
“Can I get you anything?”
“No, I’m fine, honey.”
“Okay. You should rest. Get better for that little girl in the next room over.”
The doctor came in to check on her and I offered to leave.
“Stay a minute,” she said as I walked to the door.
***
Amy was in mid story when I entered the room. She didn’t know about her grandfather yet, and I wanted to wait until her grandmother was better before telling her. That minute had taken several, and an understanding took place.
I came up behind Maggie, and gently massaged her shoulders.
“Hi, Luke!” Amy said, smiling like all was right in her world. Just as it should be.
“Hi, Amy. How are you feeling?”
“Good. Thanks for getting me out of the fire. I was scared.”
I smiled. “I’ll tell you a secret, but you can’t tell anyone else.”
“Ms. Warner either?”
“Ms. Warner, too.” Maggie laughed, put her hands over her ears, and I continued. “I was afraid as well.”
Amy’s eyes widened. “You were?”
“Yep. But I focused on getting you out. That’s what got me through.” I winked at Maggie and she brought her hands down.
“So, what you’re saying is…I’m the hero.”
Maggie and I laughed. “Yes, you sure are.” When Amy started telling another tale, I whispered into Maggie’s ear. “How would you feel about adopting this little chatterbox?”
She spun around. “What?”
I took her hands in mine. “I talked with Marie. She approached me about Amy. She knows, especially now with…” I didn’t want to say with Amy just inches away. “Anyway, she can’t do it. She knows how much you care for her.”
Maggie started to cry. “Really?”
I nodded. “I already said yes, so I’m hoping—”
“Yes!” she shouted before jumping into my arms. I held her tight, not wanting to let go. There was another question I wanted to ask, but I’d wait until the adoption was final. I wanted everything to be perfect.
And on that day, we could both begin again…thanks to Josh.