Ignite

by Emma Renshaw

  “It seems someone helped my men and women throw glitter-filled water balloons at the police officers before their department picture.”

  Sylvie scoffed. “Serves them right. They dyed your shirts pink and put snakes in the bathroom.” She shuddered. “I’m glad I didn’t stop by for a visit that day. How did y’all get them out?”

  “Called animal control. They caught and released them,” I said and glanced at Zoe. Her skin was flushed, and she nabbed a flute of champagne off a passing waiter’s tray and took a long sip. “It wasn’t Zoe.”

  “It was. It was me. I’m so sorry. Oh, God. Are you going to turn me in? Am I going to get arrested?”

  Chief stared at her for a long moment with a stern gaze before he gave a full belly laugh and patted her shoulder. She shook under the weight of his large hand. “No. I only wanted to say ‘good job.’ If you ever meet the police chief, though, this conversation never happened.”

  He winked and walked away with his arm still around Sylvie. I turned to Zoe and chuckled at the shocked expression on her face. Her skin was still red from her blush. “Come on, let’s go find our table.”

  By the time we made it to the table, only two seats, next to Foster, were unoccupied. “You look beautiful, Zo.”

  “Thanks, Foster.”

  She sat between Foster and me and took a sip of the water at her place setting. The food at these functions wasn’t great, but it was alright. Dinner wouldn’t be served for another hour or so, after all the speeches and the ceremony. Zoe turned in her chair to watch the stage and leaned back against my chest. I had one arm propped along the back of her chair and the other looped around her waist, and my head was on her shoulder.

  Her scent surrounded me, and I pressed my nose against her skin. She laughed softly and placed her hand on my arm while leaning further into my chest.

  “There’s awards?” Zoe asked quietly.

  “Yeah. The chiefs from around the Austin area and surrounding towns nominate people for different awards.”

  I was surprised when Chief Talbot stepped onto the stage. The chiefs from each house delivered awards to their own firefighters and EMTs. Our house wasn’t recognized every year. Those honors usually went to the largest houses in the center of Austin.

  Chief adjusted the microphone to his considerable height and locked his arms behind his back. His gaze swept over the room until it fell on our table. “It is my honor to present an award for leadership, determination, and grit to one of my firefighters. This man came to my house as a teenager, fresh from high school. He was scrubbing the tires with a toothbrush on his first day trying to prove himself to others in the house. In the last hour of his first shift, he received his first call. A fire that took the lives of many seniors at the local high school. He had his first save that night.”

  Zoe clutched my arm tightly, her nails digging into my skin, and sat up straighter. I felt her gaze on me, but I was staring at the podium and my chief. “Since that first fire, he’s put every ounce of himself into this job. And as we all know, it’s not an easy one. It’s often thankless and we miss our loved ones. But this man never stops. He takes newcomers under his wing and is always willing to risk anything to save his brothers and sisters. A little over a month ago, he carried two men out of a burning building, one being one of his firefighting brothers. This man showcases the epitome of what it means to be a firefighter while he is at the station and even while he’s not. It’s long past time to honor him, and I’m grateful to have him under my command. Ridge Sanders, get your ass up here.”

  I finally turned to look at Zoe. Tears shimmered in her eyes. I was stunned. Zoe kissed my cheek and whispered. “Go.”

  I stood and strode toward the podium, meeting my chief on stage. I shook his hand and took the heavy award in the shape of a fireman’s boot. I’d never expected anything like this. My eyes found Zoe in the crowd. She was grinning from ear to ear, and her eyes still shimmered with tears. She had never asked me to sacrifice anything in my career. It was the only goal I’d ever had, and somehow I’d done it. I’d earned it for myself, and worked until I could get everything else in my life.

  I wanted to earn Zoe too. I wanted to earn the trust that could make her stay.

  “Say something,” the chief mumbled.

  I nodded and cleared my throat. A picture was snapped as we shook hands, and I stood in front of the microphone. “I’m not really sure what to say,” I began. “I’ll be honest. I didn’t expect this, so I’m at a little bit of a loss here.”

  I chuckled and cleared my throat again, finding Zoe’s eyes in the audience. “I didn’t have a lot growing up, but I did have to call for help from firefighters once. They showed up, and that was the first time in my life that someone had helped me. That’s all I’ve ever wanted, to offer that to someone else, and all I ever hope to do for Hawk Valley. Thanks.”

  I stepped away from the microphone and shook Chief Talbot’s hand before jumping off and striding toward Zoe. She stood as I got closer and wrapped her arms around me in a hug. “I’m so proud of you,” she whispered. I didn’t hear the applause in the room; all I heard was Zoe’s words.

  In just those few words she erased my history of never being enough. I knew I had the woman I wanted for the rest of my life in my arms, and all I had to do was find a way to keep her.

  28

  Zoe

  A heavy weight had been sitting in my chest all day, counting down the minutes to sunset. I was on the verge of breaking. If the wind blew too hard, I would crumble to the ground and I wouldn’t be able to stop the onslaught of sobs that were threatening to rip me apart.

  Georgia had been gone for a few months now, but today I would be spreading her ashes. It felt final. It was the last piece of the puzzle, the one piece that had been missing for months. I had broken down two days ago and called my parents to ask them to come. They hadn’t answered and had never called back. I wouldn’t be calling them again. And, one way or another, I needed to decide what to do with the money they had given me. I didn’t want that connection to them anymore.

  The only real parent I had was gone.

  And I had found the perfect resting place for her. Ridge had suggested it one night as I was wrapped in his arms, and as soon as he said it, I knew it was the perfect place. The highest point in Hawk Valley. Below we could see the entire town, including Main Street bustling along on a Saturday evening, and the lake nestled behind the town shone like diamonds underneath the setting sun.

  A trail led up this hill, and a small seating area sat at the edge of the bluff. Pine and oak trees were full and mature and older than the town. Older than Texas. A steady breeze blew through the trees. I sat on the bench with the urn and Georgia’s letter in my lap, Ridge on one side of me and Makenna on the other. I had on the white dress with peaches on it and my peach charm necklace.

  “Are you ready?” Makenna asked softly, rubbing her hand up and down my arm. I watched the sun sink another inch in the sky. Now was the right time. While the huge Texas sky was a painting of pinks, oranges, and yellows over a small town and a blue body of water. This was the snapshot she would’ve wanted to rest her soul with.

  “Yes, it’s time.”

  “Wait.” Ridge stood up. He tugged something out of his pocket and crouched down in front of me. “I got this for you.”

  He held out a small wooden box with a lock on it and placed it in my lap before cupping my cheek. I glanced down at the box. A peach was branded into the wood with her name on a golden plaque below it. Tears stung my eyes. I’d held them back all day, but I couldn’t any longer. “I’m so glad you had your aunt in your life, clover. I know she wanted her ashes spread here, but I think you should keep a little bit and spread them at Georgia’s House. Then you’ll always have a little piece of her on your dream property while you’re fulfilling your dream and offering the goodness to others that you gave her.”

  Makenna sniffled next to me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “That’s a go
od idea. What do you think, Zo?”

  I nodded. I held out the urn and the box to Ridge. I was afraid to dump any ashes into the box. My hands were shaking, and I would have spilled them. Ridge deposited a little of her ashes into the box, locked it, placed the lid back on the urn, and handed it to me. “I’ll hold the box.”

  I nodded. I watched the sun again. In a matter of minutes, it would be completely gone from the sky, and I wanted to do it while it still hung in the air, while there was still light around. Georgia had only ever given me light in my life. She had been my guidepost and the lighthouse that always called me home. I didn’t know how to move on without her. I didn’t know how to take this final step.

  I took a shuddering breath and ripped open the letter. It’d been burning a hole in my suitcase for months. And I still wasn’t ready to read the last words she’d ever write me. I had to do this for her though.

  A tear dripped from my chin onto the page, smearing Georgia’s neat script. I brushed the tears off my face and held up the letter to read.

  My sweetest Peach,

  I never had children of my own or found a man I loved enough to have them with. Some might say that’s a tragedy. Some may pity me because I didn’t have those, but they would be wrong to do that. I had so much more. I had you. My daughter that I didn’t give birth to, a young girl I chose to raise on my own. You were the best companion for my life I ever could’ve imagined. Every moment spent with you is one I will treasure even after I leave this Earth and continue onto whatever is waiting for me in the afterlife.

  I’m not sure if there’s a Heaven, I’m choosing to believe there is, but I hope to see you again, Peach. After you’ve lived a long, full life filled with more love and happiness than you know what to do with. I know your heart and your pain. I promise you, Zoe, you deserve more than you will ever realize.

  I’m sorry my life is going to be cut short. Some days I’m so angry about that fact, but then you walk in from work and continue to work by taking care of me. You smile and laugh and live and love. And the anger fades because I could live for another hundred years, but you’ve given me more in my lifetime than I ever could’ve asked for.

  I hope your mother is next to you reading her letter, but even when I expressed my final wishes, I knew she might not be. If she isn’t, let her go, Zoe. Let them go. Live your life without them. They don’t deserve to be in your life if they don’t see how wonderful you are. I could never hate my sister because she gave me the greatest gift when they dropped you on my doorstep, but I do hate the way they hurt you. Let them go, Zoe. Find your own family and build a family better than the one you came from.

  I wish I wouldn’t have let you stay away from Hawk Valley for so long, but I hated to do anything that would bring you pain. You are not responsible for the fire, Zoe. Find a way to move on. I won’t lie. Part of the reason I wanted to be spread in Hawk Valley was so you would go home again. Find Makenna. Find Ridge. Find all your old friends. Soak in the joy of the town, there are not many places like it. Find your home again, Zoe.

  I wish so many things in life for you. I want you to chase your dreams with a fearless abandon. I want you to find a man that will love you till your dying breath with fierce passion. I want you have children of your own and love them as I love you. I know you hate the money your parents gave to you, but life will be easier if you accept it. Use it for a dream. For a home. For a rainy day. They should’ve given you so much more, and money can never replace their love, but it is yours. I want you to have a beautiful life.

  My Zoe. My sweetest Peach. I’ll miss you even after I’m gone. Thank you for staying by my side even if I was a burden. I love you. You’re stronger than you will ever realize. Spread my ashes and go live the beautiful life I’ve imagined for you. I love you, Peach. I’ll always be with you.

  Love always,

  Georgia

  I folded the letter, stuck it back in the envelope, and brought it to my chest while looking out over the town again. Georgia had given me more than I could ever thank her for. My tears were on a constant stream, but after reading her words, a little bit of peace had settled into my soul. Ridge’s forehead was pressed against my temple, and his hand was rubbing my neck as I read the letter. Makenna’s hand stayed on my thigh.

  “It’s time,” I whispered and stood with the urn. Ridge removed the lid, and I took a deep breath. “Thank you for being here with me.”

  “I wouldn’t be anywhere else,” Ridge said, brushing away a tear from my cheek.

  “I’ll always be here for you. I loved Georgia and I’ll miss her with you.”

  “Thank you, Georgia. Thank you for being my mom,” I whispered as my voice broke and my shoulders shook with a sob. “I love you.”

  The wind picked up in speed as I started to pour the ashes over the side of the bluff, and they floated with the wind over the town of Hawk Valley. “Until we meet again,” I whispered.

  29

  Ridge

  “This place is a dump,” Foster said and tossed a rotten board out the broken window. He slapped his hands together to get some of the grime from the wood off his work gloves and grimaced. It was a dump. The old house smelled. Something had definitely died in here and I knew, under the pile of wood or inside the crumbling walls, we’d find it. Everything was torn apart and needed work, but the bones of the house were there.

  Zoe was right. If fixed up, it would be a beautiful structure. But it was going to take a lot of work and a lot of money to get this right and make it accessible for wheelchairs. Zoe was still set on leaving, and I was set on finding a way to make her stay.

  I wasn’t lying when I said she could have this place. I’d give it to her outright, but if she insisted on buying it, I’d do that, too.

  For a dollar.

  “Have you talked to Avery?”

  I grinned. It wasn’t as weird as I’d thought it would be to have my little sister back in my life. We were still figuring things out, but we talked at least once a week and wanted to have breakfast together soon. She was slowly coming out of her shell and trusting me more.

  “Yeah, she’s going to visit her parents in Oklahoma, but when she gets back, she wants to come visit here. I’m not really sure what to do with her.”

  Foster laughed. “She’s twenty-five, right? Take her to The Watering Hole or anywhere else you’d normally go. Take her to the station and let her meet everyone. What’s she doing in Cedar Springs anyway?”

  I shrugged. “Haven’t gotten that out of her yet, and I’m not sure I want to take my little sister drinking.”

  “Little sister,” Foster muttered. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you were looking for her.”

  I grunted as I lifted a heavy beam off the ground, revealing a gaping hole in the floor beneath it. “Another hole in the floor over here. Watch your step.”

  “Christ,” Foster muttered.

  “I told you about Avery when there was something to tell.”

  Foster shook his head and kept working. He placed a thin board against a wall, and the drywall disintegrated under the light weight. “Why the hell do you even want to attempt this? Second thoughts about your house? We’re going to be finished over there pretty soon, and now you want to scrap that one and work on this dump?”

  I shook my head and grabbed the shovel to scoop up a mound of something that I didn’t even want to attempt to identify and tossed it out the open window into the waiting dumpster. “Zoe loves this place. She wants to open her own assisted living facility that feels like a home instead of a hospital. When she spotted this place, she realized that’s what she wanted to do.”

  “You want her to stay.”

  I glanced at Foster. He had an eyebrow arched and a smirk on his face. I hadn’t admitted out loud that I was in love with Zoe. I knew it would freak her out and send her running as fast as possible. She hadn’t set a date for when she was leaving, but I knew it was coming fast. She’d stuck to her promise and gone to the firefighter banq
uet with me and spread her aunt’s ashes. There was nothing left for her to do. Every time I came home from a shift, I worried that I’d find her with her bags packed, waiting by the door to stay goodbye, or even worse—gone without a word.

  She’d guarded her heart from me, keeping me at a comfortable distance, only allowing me in for a few moments, while she had stolen mine straight from my chest. It was hers now. I was hers and always would be. I needed the same from her in return.

  Bringing her dream to life, or at least starting to, was hopefully a step in that direction.

  “Yeah, I want her to stay.”

  “We’ve got a lot of work to do on this house,” Foster said and bent to keep picking up the pieces of the house, but at a faster pace than before. Zoe’s friends wanted her to stay too.

  “I’ve got a lot of work to do on the girl too,” I muttered and Foster laughed.

  30

  Zoe

  “I’m glad you’re still here, Zoe,” Gunner said. “I wasn’t sure you’d still be in town when I had a couple days off again. When are you heading back to Colorado?”

  I tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. Ridge’s hand, resting just above my ass, tightened when Gunner asked his question. “I’m not sure.” I kept putting off picking a date to leave. Every time I thought about saying goodbye to Ridge, my heart spasmed and I promised myself that I would set the date the next day. But the next day kept passing too.

  Ridge wasn’t pressuring me to leave. In fact, I think he was trying to get me to stay. Every time he was off, he was dragging me all around the county to show me how beautiful it was and how much there was to do, even in a small town. He didn’t need to convince me of the beauty in this area.

  Ridge changed the subject. “That was a great catch last night, Gunner.”