I then shook my head, my message clear: this was not the time. “Later. Let’s go find Harper and then get the hell out of here.”
The only coherent thought I had was that my girl was safe and I needed to take her home.
HARPER
It seemed to take forever for the emergency services man to check me over. I wasn’t sure where Phoenix was.
I was sitting on a gurney in the ambulance, with what was left of the fire eating away at my old house. The water hoses were firing into the air, and it was almost out.
I noticed members of the public, standing on the perimeter of my old estate, all staring in horror. Some were even filming the fire.
I kept sipping from the bottle of water I had been given, waiting for that moment when I could go and find Nix.
“The police will want to ask you some questions, sweetheart.”
I didn’t reply, and then Nix and Hudson appeared by the door of the ambulance. Our eyes locked, but he didn’t look angry. He just looked relieved, and I felt so thankful for that.
“Is she good to go?” he asked the paramedic without breaking eye contact.
“I don’t see why not. Just keep drinking that water, young lady, OK?”
Thanking the paramedic, I left the ambulance.
Tears were streaming down my cheeks as I buried my face into Nix’s shoulder. “Can we go home now?” I felt Hudson behind my back, almost like between them, they were protecting me.
“Did the guy say you were OK?” he asked, stroking my hair.
“Yes.”
“Then let’s go home, baby girl.”
And that one word vibrated pleasantly through my entire body.
Home.
*****
When we attempted to leave the estate, we were stopped by the police. After giving them our details, they finally let us go.
I felt so tired and numb. What the hell just happened? I almost died, and Phoenix saved me!
We rode home in Hudson’s truck. I sat in the back, and the boys were up front. Phoenix kept turning around to check I was OK, and Hud kept his eyes on me in the rearview mirror.
Hudson explained that he had spoken to everyone so they knew everything was OK, but warned me that there would be questions.
When we arrived at the house, Ma raced down the driveway, opening my door and pulling me into her arms, and I allowed the tears to fall again.
“What on earth? My sweet girl. I’ve been worried sick. Are you hurt?”
I shook my head. “No, it’s just dirt.”
“She’s fine, Ma. I’ll explain later. We need a shower, and Harper needs to rest.”
Hudson then intervened and took Ma inside. “I’ll tell her what happened. You look after Harper.”
Micah, Reed, and Molly also raced over.
“OK, guys, give us some space.”
