This all reminds me of the day Mark died.
Everything happens around me.
I hold my daughter close as the firefighters get to work. I’m only grateful that the house was nearly empty and we all got out.
A small crowd gathers on the footpath to watch. Two police cars pull up, and officers start getting out.
“Patrick?”
A young woman’s voice comes from the crowd, and we all turn toward it.
“Emily?” He gives my hand a squeeze. “What are you doing here?”
She pales. “I didn’t … I didn’t know you were in the house. I just wanted to scare her away.”
My throat tightens.
“Are you saying you lit the fire?” he asks.
She glances at me. “You’re not supposed to be withher.”
Patrick pulls me close and waves to one of the police officers. They’ve been taking statements given someone was seen running from the place, but I think we just found her.
The female officer approaches, and Patrick recounts the conversation.
She turns toward Emily and guides her away from us.
We watch from a distance.
I swallow hard as they arrest her. She goes limp when they put her in the back of the police car and dips her head as they drive away.
“Are you okay?” Patrick asks.
“She was at your office the day I came to get the key to your apartment.”
He presses a kiss to my temple. “I’m so sorry I put you at risk.”
“It’s not your fault. How were you to know she’d do something like that?”
Patrick sighs. “I knew she had attachment issues. A colleague took over her case. Apparently, none of us realised how serious it was.”
“Is there anyone you want us to call?” another of the police officers asks us.
“We should call Lauren. Maybe we can stay there tonight.”
I nod and give them Lauren’s number.
I feel bad that I’m not calling her—she’ll freak out at the idea of losing me and Sophie. But it can’t be helped.
“If you want to come with me, I’ll drive you to her place,” the officer says. “She’s waiting.”
I look back at Patrick.
“I’ll stay here for a bit. Hopefully I can get in and get some of our things and secure the place for the night.”
“Are you sure you don’t want us here?”
He shakes his head and brushes a lock of hair behind my ear. “No, I want you and our daughter to be safe and get some sleep. Lauren will be worried about you.”
