“I believe that. But from that look on your face, I’d say you’re not completely opposed to the idea either.”
“I wouldn’t say opposed exactly. More like relieved.”
“You’re good for him.”
“You don’t know me.”
“Don’t need to. You make him happy. That’s all I need to know.”
Standing there with Maddy, I looked at her and realized I’d judged her way too harshly. When Zach had said his sister was an actress, I was expecting some vapid, attention-seeking diva, but Maddy seemed surprisingly grounded. Almost normal. Well until we heard Zach call out “Mom?”
“Wait! What the hell? My Mom’s in there?” Maddy screeched looking at me.
“We don’t know. She could be,” I answered honestly.
“Why?”
As quickly as I could, I explained how I’d come to know and depend on her mom and how much Linda meant to me. Like she was a second mother. As I spoke, Maddy transformed from the easy-going woman I’d been chatting with, to one wringing her hands and on edge.
“So, my mom could be inside and she could be hurt?”
“I’m sure she’s fine. Besides, Zach’s working on it. I’m sure he’ll get her out and we’ll see for ourselves.”
“Hope so,” she replied, her answer barely a whisper.
Maddy had gone pale. Like pass-out pale. Seeing Jake heading in my direction, I called out for him to bring some water. With Ava in my arms, I couldn’t catch Maddy if she went down and I didn’t like my chances of getting her to look after herself right now.
“Lily,” Jake said, stepping in front of me and blocking my view of what was happening, which in all honesty, didn’t appear to be much. Everything was going in slow motion, and while I understood it, it was frustrating as hell.
“Just give it to me straight,” I told him.
“It’s not good. There’s a lot of damage…”
“Obviously, Jake. There’s a car hanging out of my front window.”
“Ah, yeah. Are you okay?”
“You came over here to ask if I was okay?” I confirmed.
“Yeah.”
“Were you sent over here, Jake?” Maddy interrupted.
“Maybe.”
“By my bossy big brother?”
“I’m not answering that,” Jake deflected.
“Then that’s a yes.”
“Madeline…”
“I told you not to call me that,” she growled, poking him in the ribs and making him flinch.
Wow! Maddy mightn’t have been in town long but it was obvious to anyone near these two that their chemistry was off the charts.
“Jake, can you go tell Zach I’m fine. We’re fine. Just get Linda and Sage out of there and then we can all go have a much-needed drink.”
“Sounds good,” Jake agreed as he scampered back towards the rig where there was a group of firefighters pointing and arguing.
“He’s a good guy. Bit of a flirt, but I’d say you already knew that,” I said off the cuff, aiming my comment directly at Maddy.
She mightn’t have wanted to hear it, but from the way her cheeks turned pink, I’d say I hit the nail on the head. “We’re just friends,” she confirmed.
“For now.”
Action amongst the rubble caught my attention. Zach was moving towards the front door, an axe over his shoulder.
“Oh shit.”
The words were out before I had the chance to stop them. I didn’t know what he was about to do, but an axe was never a good sign. Holding my breath, I watched as he lifted it up over his head before bringing it down with a crash.
The thinning crowd behind me gasped.
Three more swings, the muscles in his arms bulging, and he was forcing his way inside. I didn’t give a shit about the damage. I knew he wasn’t taking an axe to the front display without good reason. Besides, at this point, did it even matter if there was a bit more mess to clean up?
I took a step forward.
“Would you like me to hold Ava for you, Lily?”
Spinning around, I saw Emery standing there. She looked so out of place it was almost comical. There was dust and broken bricks and glass everywhere, and she was standing there in her suit and glasses.
“I…I…”
Fuck me! I was so screwed. Part of me wanted to hand Ava over and sort this out, while the other part of me didn’t want to look like I was abandoning her. I’d promised her Ava was my priority and that wasn’t a promise I’d made lightly. It was one hundred percent true.
“Please. You need to go and find out what’s going on.”
She was right. Reluctantly, I placed Ava in her waiting arms, running my hand down the soft skin on Ava’s arm as I stepped back. “I’ll just be a minute,” I said, not sure who I was telling.
I was terrified.
My feet were frozen on the spot.
What if I’d just handed over Ava to Emery and she didn’t give her back. What if this was the end? My heart was thumping so hard in my chest it hurt.
“Lily!” Zach’s voice called out across the debris.
“Go. I’ve got her. And we’ll be right here when you get back. Won’t we, Ava?” Emery confirmed.
I wanted to believe her. I really did. My heart wouldn’t let me. I was so scared. Emery must’ve read the fear written all over my face. “Lily, go. You’re a great mom. And Ava’s going to be lucky to have you. But part of being a mom is doing what’s right. It might be the hard thing to do, but it’s the right thing to do. You’re leaving Ava with someone. She’s not alone. And I can see that it’s the absolute last thing you want to do.”
“It is,” I confirmed.
“Lily.” She reached out and touched my arm, and for the first time I realized that while on the surface Emery may come across cold and hard, beyond that she was soft, caring and sweet. “I know you’re waiting for me to tell you you’re going to be a mom, but what you can’t see, is you’re already a mom. A wonderful mom. And that’s the recommendation I’m going to be making.”
“You are?”
Seriously, right now you could knock me down with a feather.
“Lily!” Zach called again. Looking over my shoulder, I saw him beckoning me.
“I am. Now go and see what that gorgeous man wants.”
With one final look at Ava, I carefully made my way over to where Zach was standing in the doorway, the abandoned axe leaning up against the wall, or what was left of it.
“Are they in there?”
“They are.”
“Are they okay?”
“Yes, Lily. We’re fine. Can you tell that son of mine to stop following the rule book so damn closely and get us out of here?” Linda called out, and I let go of the breath I’d been holding. Hearing her complaining about Zach was music to my ears.
“I can try, Linda. But you know how he is.” I winked at Zach, and he slapped my ass in front of everyone. He didn’t care and, after the initial shock wore off, I realized I didn’t either.
“Well then, Lily, flash him your boobs or something. Just get me the hell out of here!”
Ah, there was my girl Sage.
Zach turned to me, his eyes alive with mischief. “Well?” he murmured, leaning down. I felt the warmth of his breath against my neck, and I realized how much I’d missed him. And it was all because I was a dumbass who refused to ask questions. That wasn’t going to happen again. Here and now, I made a pact with myself to not let things fester. Front up and ask the question. The worst that could’ve happened was Zach confirmed what I was seeing and broke my heart, which happened anyway because I refused to pull up my big-girl pants and ask him about it.
“Maybe later,” I suggested. “But how about we get your mom and Sage out first?”
“Do we have to?”
“Yeah. We do.”
“Grr. Fine. You okay if I make a mess?” Zach asked.
“You mean, now you’re asking. After you let yourself in with an axe?”
Zach reached up a
nd rubbed the back of his neck, his arm muscles bulging and frying my brain. “Do what you need to. Get them out and then we can go home.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Now it was my turn. I reached out and slapped his ass, repaying the favor.
“Guess we know who wears the pants in this relationship,” I heard behind me, turning to see Jake headed my way.
“Piss off, Samuels,” Zach groaned before bending down and kissing my cheek softly.
“Get them out. And, Zach…”
“Yeah?”
“Hurry.”
“On it.”
37
ZACH
“Well, it’s good to know where your balls are,” Samuels started as he stepped up beside me. Quirking an eyebrow at him, I had no idea what the hell he was on about, but then again, I rarely did. “Safely tucked away in Lily’s purse.”
Ah, so that’s where he was headed with this one. Guess he thought he was funny. Little shit.
“At least I have some.”
“Your sister didn’t seem to mind having mine in her—”
“Samuels! If you even finish that sentence, we’ll need to call for another ambulance to come and cart you away after I’ve put my boot so far up your pretty-boy ass your teeth rattle.”
“Someone’s touchy.”
“Boys! A little less bitching and a little help would be nice.”
“Sorry, Mom,” I replied.
Samuels and I got to work, slowly but steadily removing the crap in the way so we could get through the front door to where Sage and Mom were. From what I could figure, they were both fine. Sage had a cut on her leg which Mom said wasn’t too bad but other than that, no real damage. A bit of a scare and some spilt coffee, but in the scheme of things, everything was okay.
It felt like it took forever, but eventually we’d cleared a path wide enough we could get inside.
Before I stepped through the gap, I couldn’t help but look over to where Maddy and Lily were standing. The women in my life were going to send me gray before my time, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Now I just needed to get Mom sorted and we could all go home. Together.
Lily nodded and I stepped inside. Looking around, I saw the place was totaled. It was going to break Lily’s heart when she saw this. Right now, she was putting on a brave face, worried more about Sage and Mom than anything, but once she knew everyone was safe and sound, her heart was going to break. There were flowers and buckets scattered everywhere. The table where she spent hours bundling together her arrangements was upended and one of the legs bent so badly, I knew it couldn’t be saved.
Moving past the counter, which was covered in mess, I saw Mom and Sage standing in the doorway of the stock room, arms folded.
“Took you long enough,” Sage smarted.
I could see why Lily loved that girl. Sage had spirit and fire. Way too much for me, but I admired the hell out of her for it.
Mom moved towards me first and hugged me like she was going to lose me. I wasn’t the one who’d been trapped inside a florist shop when a car decided to come through the window. But instead of making fun of her, I just hugged her back, just as tightly.
“Well, I know how you like to make a dramatic entrance,” I replied.
“That I do, Zach. That I do.”
“Well, how about we get you ladies out of here?” Samuels offered.
“I like that idea,” Mom confirmed, loosening her grip only slightly. I had a feeling she wasn’t going to let go anytime soon.
“You got your mom?” Samuels asked.
“Think you can handle Sage?”
“If I can handle your—”
I couldn’t help it. He’d been bugging me for days. I slapped Samuels up the side of the head, messing up pretty boy’s hair.
“No one can handle all this awesomeness,” Sage commented, moving towards Jake.
Bending my knees, I lifted Mom into my arms and carried her back out the way we came, Samuels and Sage hot on my heels. As we stepped outside into the sunlight, a round of applause broke out. We headed straight for the awaiting ambulances. Even though they kept telling us they were fine, and to me they looked it, there was no way either of them were going anywhere without at least being checked. I’d tie Sage to the bed if I had to, although I was slightly concerned she might like that.
As I set Mom down on the stretcher, she went to stand, but I kept my hand on her shoulder, holding her in place. “Humor me, Mom, please?”
She looked less than impressed with the idea but thankfully, she stopped fighting me.
Taking a step back, I waved Lily and Maddy over. I knew they were just as worried as I was.
“Oh, Mom?”
“Yes?”
“There’s someone here who wants to say g’day.”
“G’day? I haven’t heard that word in a long time.”
“Well, this Aussie girl travelled a long way just to say it to you,” I told her before stepping back and making room for Maddy to take my place.
“Madeline?” Mom spluttered, sitting up, much to the annoyance of the paramedic who was trying to wrap the blood pressure cuff around her arm.
“Mom. I’m so sorry,” Maddy apologized quickly before bursting into tears.
I felt Lily’s presence beside me before I saw her. Her thin arm snaked around my waist, and I immediately dropped mine over her shoulder. She didn’t seem to even notice that I was covered in sweat and dirt, messing up her pretty dress.
“Where’s Ava?”
“She’s with Emery.”
“And Emery is?”
“Come meet her. She’s from Child Services. The meeting was this morning.”
“Oh shit. I’m so sorry, Lily.”
I knew how much she’d been fretting about this, and even though I wasn’t going to tell her, I’d been freaking myself.
“What are you sorry for?”
“Everything. Not being there. Not helping you get organized. And now this,” I gestured at the shitstorm behind us.
“Zach, there’s absolutely nothing to be sorry for.”
“There’s not?”
“Not at all. Emery’s going to recommend that Ava stay.”
“She is?”
Lily nodded, and without thinking I picked her up and spun her in a circle. When I stood her back down on her feet, she laced her fingers with mine before leading me over to where Ava was babbling in a very severe, very serious-looking woman’s arms.
As soon as Ava spotted me, she stretched out her chubby arm making a grabbing fist with her hand. I let go of Lily and reached for her, not missing the way Emery’s eyes widened. I didn’t give a shit what she thought of me. As long as Ava was on my side, I was good.
“Hey there, pretty girl. Did you miss me?” I cooed softly, all my attention directed at Ava.
Lily must’ve been feeling left out, because she nudged my arm before reaching for Ava’s hand, letting her wrap her fist around Lily’s finger. Tucking Lily under my arm, we stood there completely unaware of the world around us, safe and happy in our little bubble.
“Damn you guys make a cute family,” Sage called out.
“They really do, don’t they?” Emery asked, stealing my attention from my girls.
“I’m sorry. I’m Zach Higgins,” I introduced myself.
“I guessed as much. I’m Emery Jones. I’m with Child Services.”
“Well, it’s nice to meet you. Although, I can promise you, this wasn’t planned.”
“I’m sure it wasn’t. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a report to file. It seems like everything here is just as it should be. Ava’s happy and cared for and loved.”
“She really is,” I confirmed, kissing her head. Even I hadn’t been aware how much I could fall in love with the little girl, but it was undeniable. Ava owned me. She’d completely stolen my heart and I’d fallen.
“Anyone who looks at the pair of you could see that. And that’s what I’ll be putting in my report. Keep doing what you�
��re doing. You two are going to make great parents. Ava’s a very, very lucky little girl.”
“No. We’re the lucky ones,” Lily confirmed, her arm that was banded around my waist tightening as we watched Emery walk away.
Once we’d had a moment to ourselves, I had to ask. “Hey, Lil?”
“Yeah?”
“How are you doing with all this?” I pointed at the store front.
“I have no idea. For now, everyone’s okay and that’s what matters. I guess I’ll deal with the rest tomorrow. I’m insured so I guess it will just take some sorting out. But Phoebe… I can’t believe it.”
“She was definitely drunk. Or very close to it. I could smell the booze on her when we helped her out of the car.”
“Well, at least she’s not too badly injured.”
“Damn girl! You’re too nice for your own good. If it was me, I’d want to beat her ass!” Maddy big noted.
“Maddy, you wouldn’t know how to beat anyone’s ass,” Mom confirmed, her arm wrapped around Maddy tightly.
“Are you sure you should be up and walking around?” I asked worriedly, sounding more like the parent than her son.
“Zach, I’m fine. The lovely paramedic over there, Josh, he gave me the all clear. I’m perfectly fine. Just a bit of shock. Nothing a good cup of coffee won’t fix.”
Looking over Mom’s head, I caught Josh’s eye. He was a good guy. We’d met a few times at various call outs, and I knew he was thorough. When he gave me the thumbs up, I decided I’d take Mom’s word for it.
“Well, let’s go get you a coffee then.”
“Zach?”
“Yeah, Maddy?”
“Give me the keys. I’ll drive Mom home and make sure she gets her coffee and a slice of that cake I found. Why don’t you take Lily and Ava home?”
While I liked her thinking, handing the keys to my precious truck to Maddy wasn’t so easy. “Do you even know how to drive?”
“Of course.”
“You know in America they drive on the other side of the road?”
“Pft! I’ll be fine. It can’t be that hard.”
“Children!” Mom raised her voice, causing Maddy and I to both smile widely. “I’ll drive.”
“Then I want you all at my place for dinner. No arguing,” Lily instructed. Damn! Seeing the bossy side of Lily come out did things to me it probably shouldn’t. Especially not in front of my mother.
Fallen: An Everyday Heroes World Novel (The Everyday Heroes World) Page 22
