Give up now.
Fucking Calvin. It didn’t seem like him to leave me a note like this, but I also didn’t recognize the man who came barreling in here yesterday, so who was I to say what he was capable of anymore.
I ripped the paper off the doorframe and tossed it into a nearby pile of rotten wood. I was hereby declaring it the garbage pile.
I got to work taking measurements so I could start drafting some plans and figure out what kind of supplies I would need. Patrick and Garrett were meeting me at the bed and breakfast for lunch with plans to help me get started on demolition, but I was itching to get a head start on everything else.
“I can’t believe you’re doing this, Stella.” Patrick looked at me with an expression of pure gratitude on his face. He and I understood each other in a way no one else did because of what the Harts had done for us. They weren’t blood for either of us, but they became family, and that meant even more. To intentionallychoose someone—that you had no real obligation to—over and over again was a special kind of love.
“Well, I won’t be doing it without your help, so I appreciate you guys being here.” I smiled at both him and Garrett as we ate a quick lunch at Trixie’s before we got started on demolition that afternoon.
“Feel free to put us to work anytime.”
Garrett had better be willing to make good on that offer because there was a lot to be done. However, there was a part of me that was sure he was only offering because he knew how tumultuous things had still been between me and Calvin.
I hadn’t seen him at all in the couple days since our fight, more by default than by choice. I was still upset about the note he had left, but there was so much that would need to be done before the rail house could host weddings, and I was determined to make it happen by the summer. Which was only giving me a little over four months to get this done. I didn’t have any time to waste.
Suddenly, Garrett’s expression changed from his playful grin to a look of grave concern. “What the fuck?” he said as he shot up from his chair.
Patrick and I followed his line of sight out the window into the snowy field, to the plume of smoke that rose above the trees.
Oh no, no, no. Although the rail house was too far to see, it was in that direction.
Garrett went tearing out of the house without even grabbing a jacket, Patrick close behind. I yelled to Trixie to call for help and then rushed to follow the guys.
I refused to watch my future burst into flames.
Usually, I just walked over to the rail house, but Garrett must have determined there was no time to waste as he barrelled into his truck and we raced toward the smoke.
The drive might have taken seconds or hours, I wasn’t sure, but I prayed to every god that may be listening, and they allfailed me as my worst fears were confirmed. The rail house had been engulfed in flames.
Garrett barked orders to Patrick and me, tossing fire extinguishers at us that he pulled from his truck. I knew he was telling me what I had to do, but I couldn’t hear him, I couldn’t breathe.
It was so much more than just a rail house. It was the dream for this community that was now disappearing. It was the control I had when I was with Nick—my money being the only thing I was able to keep for myself—dissolving in the blink of an eye. It was every little bit of fight I had left in me being thrown back in my face, telling me my efforts were destined to always fail.
“Stella, focus.” Green eyes. Not the green eyes I had fallen in love with, but ones that cared about me and this life I was building just the same. I couldn’t let him down, and I also refused to let myself down. Not after I had come so far. The whiplash of emotions I was feeling in the moment was near debilitating, but I forced myself to take in a deep breath.
“Spray the base of the fire. The source. That will maintain it.”
I heard Garrett’s instructions and dove into action.
Understanding dawned on me now why Garrett didn’t worry about grabbing a jacket when he left. It was the dead of winter, but it was so hot while we tried to salvage my dreams. It seemed the tears that ran down my face just evaporated into steam before they could drip. It felt like a lost cause, the pain of blisters forming on my hands was undeniable. But when I looked at Garrett, he was even closer to the flames and he didn’t stop, and Patrick right beside him didn’t stop either. So, I didn’t stop. I couldn’t stop. I had to keep going. I refused to let another dream be beaten—or burned—out of me.
After what felt like a lifetime had passed, I heard sirens in the distance.
My vision blurred again, but this time it was from the powerful stream of water as the firefighters doused the flameswith their hoses. Garrett’s secure hands gently pried the empty extinguisher from my fingers. I hadn’t even realized I was still holding it like a vise.
The rail house was still standing, but there was no telling what type of damage had been done to it.
I sat on the back of Garrett’s truck as I watched everything pass by in a blur of uniforms and flashing lights. Paramedics came and wrapped my hands, checking on Garrett and Patrick as well.
I heard Patrick talk about them running a full investigation into what caused the fire. I heard another firefighter mention something about gas being the only way it would burn so fast. But all I processed was setback after setback.
“Stella!” I turned to the strained voices of my friends. Melody and Olivia were running my way, fury and concern fueling them both.
“We came as soon as Garrett called. What do you need?” Melody asked me.
Them. I just needed them. I also would have liked my lumberjack, but beggars couldn’t be choosers. I just needed my friends and to know I wasn’t alone.
