by Gail Haris
I grab my cell out of my back pocket and quickly dial for help. Then I begin checking Lolly for signs of injuries. None. Did she slip? The floor is dry. What happened to her? I hear the sirens and lean to down to Lolly’s ear and whisper, “They’re coming. Hold on for me. I can’t lose you too. You’re all I have left.”
Lolly is still in her nightgown, so I grab her cardigan off the kitchen chair and gently lay it over her, covering her front. The EMTs knock on the door and I yell out, “Come in! We’re in here!”
The EMTs rush through and I step back, giving them room. “I’ll follow you guys to the hospital.”
“We’re going to take good care of her, Collins.”
Please don’t let me have been too late again.
Natalia
“Debra Collins?” I ask.
The elderly lady’s gray eyelashes flutter. “Oh goodness. I must be in trouble. I haven’t been called Debra in years. But that’s me. Call me Lolly.”
I smirk and narrow my eyes at her. “Lolly?”
“Like a lollipop, but I’m not as sweet.”
“Well, there are sour ones.”
Her blue eyes widen as she turns them on me. “I like you. What’s your name, child?”
“I’m Natalia, your nurse. When was the last time you’ve seen a doctor outside of this hospital?” Instead of answering me, she shrugs and avoids meeting my eyes. “I’m going to take that as it’s been a while. Six months?” No response. “A year?” She begins to idly whistle. “Really? Mrs. Collins…”
“Oh! Don’t Mrs. Collins me! Call me Lolly. And, yes, it’s been a while. I’m here now, let’s just focus on that.”
“Your blood pressure is low. I believe that could be why you fainted.”
“Oh. Is that all? Well, I’m sure you have a remedy for this, and I’ll be on my way. I left breakfast on the stove. My grandson is probably worried sick.”
“Is he the one in the waiting room? They told me there’s someone here for you. I’ll let him come in here with you, but you need to start getting regular check-ups.”
She narrows her eyes at me and makes a sour face. I can’t help the laugh that escapes me. I pat her hand, and say, “You take care of yourself, Lolly.”
I leave the room, planning to go find Lolly’s grandson, but another patient is being wheeled in through the ER doors. Doctor Johnson calls out for me, so I tell one of the nurses in passing to please go get the gentleman waiting to see Mrs. Debra “Lolly” Collins.
As I’m slamming my car door shut, I give a wave to my neighbor sitting on the balcony above my rental. My muscles are sore so that means a nice, long, hot bubble bath is in order. I hit play on my Bluetooth and then sink into the warm water with a sigh. I close my eyes and relax as music and steam fills the room. My own little slice of heaven.
My eyes begin to feel heavy and I allow myself to sink until the water is touching my chin. I hum along to the music, trying to stay awake. I sit up when I hear a noise from above me. It sounds like feet running. I haven’t had a chance to get to know my neighbors, maybe they have kids? I turn my music up to block them out and submerge myself back under the water. I allow my eyes to drift shut and fully give over to some much-needed relaxation. The lavender and vanilla fragrances mix with a hint of smoke…smoke? My eyes open and I hear the faint sounds of communication over the music. I reach my sudsy arm over and grab my phone to silence the music. The ceiling above me starts creaking, followed by screams and more feet pounding above me. Suddenly there’s a violent shake, and then a crash in the other room. I lean forward in the tub to look out my bathroom door. There’s a glowing light in the hallway and there’s definitely a stronger smell of smoke now. Qué carajo?
I jump out of the tub and wrap a towel around me as I rush out the door. Smoke and fire rain down in my apartment. What in the hell is happening? My apartment is on fire, but I can’t believe it. My living room ceiling has a huge hole in it now, and I can see the apartment upstairs is engulfed in an inferno. I rush back into the bathroom for my phone to call for help and to grab my housecoat so I’m not running nude outside. There’s another loud creak followed by a crash. I’m knocked backwards by a gush of heat. My wet feet slip against the tile and I fall backwards into the tub. Water splashes over me, along with darkness.
Carter
The fire is billowing out of the window on the second-floor apartment. The guys and I begin pulling out the hose. I hear the awful howl of the fire, followed by a crash. The couple from upstairs are already outside. They ran out as soon as the fire started.
“Why aren’t you spraying? Do you not see the fire?” the man demands.
“We need to make sure everybody is out, and the electricity is cut off,” I tell him.
“Is anybody left in the apartment?” Malone asks the man.
“No. It was just us.”
“Do you now if anyone lives in the apartment below you?”
“Yeah. A woman.”
“Is she still in there? Do you know if she’s home?” Malone asks with an urgency in his voice.
“I–I don’t know. We panicked.” Fucker didn’t even warn his neighbor?
He stops a moment and then nods. “Wait! Yes! I saw her come home, but I have no idea if she stayed. Probably did. She usually stays around when she gets home from work.”
Angry flames shoot out of the window. Someone is trapped in there. Suddenly, it’s my mother standing at the window as flames engulf her body. I blink and shake my head. Now Payton is standing there with her delicate hand pressed against the glass. The flames licking over her body. Will the next fire cause me to see this new woman’s ghost? No. Instead of waiting for a command, I take off. It’s against orders, and I’ve been on the team long enough to know better. Two in and two out—that’s the code. I’m being reckless and acting on impulse. But what more have I got to lose?
I’m in gear and running straight toward what looks like the gates of hell. I kick in the door and quickly look around. The fire is raging. This is the moment. The moment when the fear plus adrenaline kicks in. Do I go right? Do I go left? In these situations, every second matters. I don’t have the luxury of more time to get it right the second try. There are no second tries in this line of work. And each second is more time for her to die from inhaling smoke, being burned alive, or the building coming down on her…and on me.
“Fire department…call out if you can hear me!” I yell, but the only sound I can hear is the roar from the flames. It’s a small apartment, so I go where the fire is not consuming the room. My feet step in water. This could get dangerous if there’s any live wires that are exposed. “Fire department…call out!” I keep shouting. I follow the river that leads to an open bathroom door. A woman is lying in the bathtub with her face barely above the water. I reach in the water and take her in my arms. Another crash of burning wood, followed by a heat wave, washes through the apartment.
“Collins! Dammit!”
Malone comes storming in with his ax. He’s really been on my case lately about how reckless I’ve been. I’m probably triggering his worst memories since he lost a recent partner during a fire. I’m being an asshole to everyone on the team pulling these stunts and I know it. They just don’t understand…honestly, I’m not sure I can even explain it.
I hold the woman close to me and pull off my face mask. No telling how much smoke she’s already inhaled. I nod to Malone and focus on getting her out of here. When we reach the lawn, I notice her asshole neighbor’s eyes go wide. Shit. She’s nude.
I knew she was, of course, but that wasn’t my top priority. Now that’s she safe, I blush and hold her tight to me, trying to conceal her nakedness. I hurry to the truck and grab a blanket. Her eyes flutter open and I stare into the most gorgeous set of honey and brown swirls. They’re dark but with golden flakes. “Qué paso?”
She’s speaking Spanish. Oh, shit. What if she doesn’t know any English? The EMTs rush toward us and take her before I can say anything. I watch as she holds h
er head. She begins muttering in Spanish, from the sounds of it, they’re not polite or ladylike words. I recognize one of the EMTs, Luis is his name. He speaks back to her in Spanish. He laughs and she smiles. It’s a stunning smile.
“Is she okay?” I ask Luis.
“Yeah, she’s good.”
“Tell her we’re going to take care of her. That everything’s going to be alright.” I puff out my chest a little bit and smile at her.
She narrows her eyes and says something to Luis. He laughs, and nods. “Um, sure. I will.”
“She needs to get to the hospital.”
She shakes her head, and then it dawns on me. What if she’s here undocumented? “Tell her not to be afraid. Nothing bad will happen.” I lean toward him and ask, “Do you know if…she’s…legal?”
“Legal? For what?” Luis tilts his head and looks back and forth between me and the woman. “Dude…” He leans toward me. “If you’re concerned about her age, I’m pretty sure she is. But I don’t think you’ve got a shot with her, man.”
“No, like here legally. Is that why she’s scared to go to the hospital?”
Luis bursts out laughing. “I think she knows whether or not she needs to go to the hospital better than me.” He shakes his head while the beauty sitting before me gives me a death glare. Then, he chuckles, “Man, you’re so off— ”
The beautiful woman leans her foot out and kicks Luis’ shin, silencing him. The fierceness in her eyes is stirring something from within me. I swallow a lump that’s formed in my throat. I reach out and take her delicate hand, “Help. We’re here to help.”
She jerks her hand away and scoffs. She speaks to the EMT in Spanish again, and my heart skips a beat. Her voice. I don’t even know what she’s saying, but I could listen to her all day. Then she rolls her eyes at me, stands up, and walks away. What the fuck did I do? I just saved her life! Why is she looking at me like I’m something she stepped in? Oh, boy. Is she one of those women who can’t stand a little dirt on a man? Sorry I got covered in ash while walking through fire to save her.
Malone calls out to me and I go back to helping put out the fire. When we’ve finished, it’s the crack of the dawn. There’s no sign of the beautiful woman. I wonder where she ended up sleeping? Does she have anyone she can go to? The landlord arrives and I walk up to her, wanting to know more details about the woman whose life I saved.
“Ma’am,” I greet her.
“Hello,” she replies glassy-eyed. It’s never easy seeing a building you own go up in smoke. Especially one that is obviously your source of income.
“The tenant who lives on the lower level, what’s her name?”
“Natalia…um, it starts with a V? Va–Va–Vasq – I don’t know. Hold on.” She pulls out her phone and clicks a few buttons. “Vasquez. Natalia Vasquez. Why do you ask?”
“She left and I didn’t know if she had somewhere to go.”
“I doubt it. She’s new to town, and as far as I know she doesn’t have any friends or family here. She’s quiet. Keeps to herself. All I know is she pays her rent and her background check came back clear of any criminal activities. There’s never been any issues. Until today.” The woman starts to cry.
“Well, we know she didn’t start the fire. It started from the upstairs.”
“I know. I’m just…in shock.” The woman bursts into tears.
Natalia Vasquez. She’s alone in a new town, doesn’t speak English, and her place burned down. I have no idea how I’ll find her, but I will. I have to. Those beautiful brown eyes with the flakes of honey are going to haunt me until I do.
Natalia
Teagan was nice enough to let me stay with her last night and loan me a pair of scrubs. I’m a little more curvy than she is, so the uniform is hugging my hips more than I care for, but what am I going to do? At least I’m showered, dressed, and at work. One step at a time. My apartment is trashed, as in half my ceiling is gone and everything is flooded, so I’m planning to use my lunch break to search for rentals on my phone. Until then, I need to get through my morning shift and check on all my patients.
I knock on the door and open it. “Hell-lo,” I draw out as I try to process the scene before me.
There’s the sweet, lovely Lolly, but with her is that pendejo from last night who automatically assumed I was illegal and didn’t speak English. I raise my chin up and enter the room. I’m a professional, after all. Lolly deserves my attention and to get the best care, so I’m going to focus only on her.
Lolly is sitting on the bed and perks up when she sees me, “Natalia! I’m so lucky to get you again. How are you?”
Giving her a wide smile and keeping my eyes completely focused on only her, I walk to stand next to her on the opposite side of the pinche idiota firefighter who is looking ruggedly handsome in blue jeans and a fitted T-shirt. “I’m well, thank you. I’m glad to see you, but I’m concerned to see you here again. Are you still having issues with your blood pressure?”
“I fainted again. I think I overworked myself. I got up early this morning to feed the birds, and then I got to messin’ with my flower bed…”
“Lolly, I told you I’d handle the yard stuff. I was coming over.”
“I know, but I’m not an invalid, Carter!”
“I didn’t say you were.”
“You were implying it!”
“No…no, I was not. Stop putting words in my mouth and listen.”
“Don’t you take that tone with me! You think because you’re six four now that you can speak to your grandmother with that tone?”
Grandmother? This sweet woman? “I’m surprised such a sweet lady as yourself has this for a grandson.” As soon as the words are out, I cringe. Oh no, no. So not professional.
Lolly beams. “Oh, Natalia, you are my favorite around here. I don’t even like the hospital, but you more than make up for it.”
“Natalia…wait a minute.” Two large hands grab my shoulders and spin me around. What the hell? Carter leans down so we’re face to face. “It’s you! Natalia Vasquez.”
“Vasquez. And si señor. I help her, yes?” I give him a condescending smirk.
He drops his hands and stands up straighter. “You speak English.” He looks me up and down, I notice his eyes linger longer on my curves. “And you’re a nurse?”
“Registered Nurse, thank you very much.” I cock an eyebrow. I’m normally not hung up on titles. But he’s insulted me, and he needs to know what a fool he’s been. “Surprised?”
“To find you? Yes. That you’re a beautiful, educated woman in a career for helping others? No.”
I laugh. I actually burst out laughing. “You don’t even know me! Nice try at redeeming yourself from being an assuming, egotistical man last night.”
“I–I– ”
Lolly slides off the bed and comes to stand between us, “What is she talking about, Carter?”
I cross my arms and raise a brow at him again. He huffs. “Last night there was a fire at Natalia’s apartment.”
“My goodness, Natalia! Are you all right, sweetheart? How frightening.” Lolly turns back to her grandson, “But what did you do? You saved her, right?”
Firefighter Douche puffs out his strong chest, “Yes, I did.” He narrows his eyes at me. “I saved her.” He looks back at his grandmother. “Then I tried to check on her and she wouldn’t speak to me. She would only address the EMT in Spanish,” he cuts his eyes to mine, “so how was I supposed to know she knew any English? I was worried that you were in trouble or scared.”
I slowly nod my head and bite my bottom lip. “Yes, yes, I was. I was in trouble and also scared because my apartment was collapsing above my head and fire was raining down.”
I take a step toward him and he meets me with another step, “Then why didn’t you talk to me?”
“I was confused and pretty much out of it. I spoke Spanish first because that’s my comfort language. I’ve known English all my life, but that’s not the language of my family.”
“Why did you just assume?”
“Clearly, because I’m an idiot.”
“Clearly.”
“I shouldn’t assume that just because you’re Mexican…”
“¡Ah! No puedo creer a este hombre idiota! I can’t–I can’t believe—” I take a much-needed breath to calm down. “Here we go again,” I mumble under my breath. He’s starting to remind me of Randy.
“What? What did I say now?”
“I. Am. Puerto. Rican. Not all people who speak Spanish are Mexican.” I’m done with this. I put up with this kind of narrowminded thinking from Randy. Never again. I turn to Lolly. “Do you mind if we conduct this examine privately?”
Lolly looks at her grandson wearing a stern expression. “Step outside, Carter.”
“Lolly…”
I take his hand and speak exactly as he did last night. “Help. We’re here to help.”
Before he can reply, Lolly says in a tone that leaves no room for argument, “Carter Chace Collins.”
“Collins? You’re the moody firefighter who was in here about the little girl! The one who hung up on me.” Now my blood is really boiling. This guy… My face must convey exactly what I’m thinking. Collins bows his head as he shakes it. I hear him mumble a few choice words as he leaves the room.
“You need a place to stay?” Lolly asks me.
The look in Lolly’s eye, and judging by the tone of her voice, I can already tell she has a place in mind. I play along and ask, “I’m searching for a place, yes. Do you know of anywhere for rent?”
“I do.” She pauses and rubs her hands together. “I have a place.” I give her a smile and open my mouth to decline her offer when she holds up a hand to say, “You need a place to stay. I could use some company. We’d be helping each other. Just until you find somewhere.”
“Mrs. Lolly, are you trying to guilt me into moving in with you?”
“Guilt is such a harsh word. Persuade sounds so much more cordial, don’t you think?” I smile and she perks up. “Did I mention I’m a good cook?”