“He’ll develop a cooking app next.”
“That’s a great idea. We could be his professional tasting team.”
Blake laughed. “If word gets out about how good he is, you’ll have to stand behind half of Bozeman. Everyone will want to try the recipes.”
“I wonder if he would run some cooking classes at the clinic? A lot of people don’t know how to bake.”
“That’s a great idea.”
Elizabeth grinned. “I know what you’re going to say next.”
“You do?”
“You’re going to remind me to focus on the clinics’ core services first. When they’re working well, I can add other events and activities to the program.”
“You have been listening to me.”
“I could do better,” Elizabeth said. A soft purring came from the back seat. At least the kittens were relaxed. Her nerves felt as tight as a coiled spring.
“Can I ask you a personal question?”
Blake glanced across the cab. “Sure.”
She took a deep breath. While everyone was enjoying lunch, she’d thought about what Holly had said. Blake was always quick to help her, but somewhere along the line she’d forgotten that he must have things he wanted to do, too.
“I was wondering what you think your life will look like five years from now.”
Blake cleared his throat. “That’s a big question.”
“You don’t have to tell me every little detail.”
“Do you want the truth or the watered-down version?”
“The truth.”
“Are you sure? It will take at least half an hour to get home. You might not like what I have to say.”
Elizabeth sat straighter in her seat. “Is it that bad?”
“Only from where I’m sitting,” he muttered. “Okay. Here goes. Five years from now I want to be married, have two children, a dog, a sheep, and my whole business operating out of Bozeman. Was that broad enough?”
“Wow. That’s quite a list.”
“It gets worse.” Blake looked at her. “Up until last night, I thought you might be the person I married.”
Elizabeth’s heart pounded. “You did?”
“But now I know how you feel about me. You were right. I need to stop butting into your life.”
Her heart sank. “That’s very…mature.”
“It’s about time I grew up.”
Elizabeth didn’t know what to say. “Why did you think you might want to marry me?”
Blake glanced across the cab. “You make me happy.”
“You’ve been happy before.” She thought about the women who had paraded in and out of his life. She’d only met some of them, but from what she’d seen, he hadn’t looked miserable.
“I thought I was, but there was always something missing.”
Elizabeth didn’t want to know what Blake was talking about. In fact, she didn’t want to think about him getting married at all. Especially to her.
“Why do you want a sheep?” she asked.
“To eat my grass. It was either that or buy a riding lawn mower.”
“A sheep will be easier to find than a wife.” Elizabeth’s joke fell flat. Blake’s lips didn’t even twitch. “So…umm…you’re always helping me. Apart from the wife and children part, is there anything I can do to help you achieve your goals?”
“Jeez, Elizabeth. You sound like a career coach.”
“I’m trying to be supportive. You’re always doing things for me.”
“I don’t need your help.”
Elizabeth glared at Blake. “That’s what I say to you, but you don’t listen.”
“I am now,” he said.
“It’s only taken eighteen years.”
“What can I say? I’m a slow learner.”
Elizabeth frowned. “Not that slow. You’ve had more girlfriends than anyone else I know.”
“Have you ever wondered why?”
“Because you’re so super sexy everyone falls over their feet trying to march you down the aisle?”
Blake snorted. “Try again.”
“If it’s the money thing again, I get it. No one wants to marry a gold digger.” Elizabeth’s cell phone rang. She pulled it out of her bag and frowned at the screen. “It’s an unlisted number. Did we leave something at Daniel’s house?”
“I don’t think so.”
She answered the call. “Hello. Elizabeth speaking.”
“Hi, Elizabeth. It’s Detective Joseph McCormick from the Bozeman Police Department. Are you able to talk to me?”
Elizabeth’s grip tightened on the phone. “Has something happened to Anton?”
“No. He’s not going anywhere. Are you sitting down?”
“I’m in Blake’s truck. We’re driving into town from Emerald Lake.”
“You’ll want to stop by the clinic.” Joseph paused. “Someone lit a fire in your building and there’s a reasonable amount of damage.”
Elizabeth’s heart raced. “Do you know who did it?”
“We’ve got the security footage. It shows two people leaving the building about ten minutes before the fire department was called. We’re looking for them now.”
She took a deep breath. “We’ll be there as soon as we can.”
“I appreciate that. I’m sorry I wasn’t calling with better news.”
“You can’t do anything about it. Thanks, Joseph.” Elizabeth ended the call and bit her bottom lip.
Blake held her hand. “What’s happened?”
Tears stung her eyes. “Someone lit a fire in the clinic. There’s a lot of damage.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I don’t know why someone would do that. The clinic would have helped a lot of people.”
“It still can.”
Elizabeth wasn’t so sure. It had taken a lot of time and effort to get this far. “Paul and his team have worked so hard. They really wanted the main office and one of the accommodation blocks to be open for Christmas.”
“Don’t rule that out before we see the building. It might not take long to fix. Do the police know who lit the fire?”
“Two people were on the security video. They left the building just before the fire department was called.”
“At least that’s something.” Blake glanced at Elizabeth. “We’ll go straight into town. Do you want to call Daniel?”
She wiped her eyes. “I won’t call him until we’ve seen how much damage has been done. But I will call Sarah. She might be able to look after the kittens while we’re at the clinic.”
“Good idea. If she can’t meet us at the clinic, we’ll take them around to her place.”
Elizabeth took a deep, shuddering breath.
“It will be all right. As long as no one was injured, everything can be rebuilt.”
“I know. It’s just…” She tried to put into words how she felt. “It feels as though some cosmic force is telling me not to open the clinic.”
“Or giving you more reasons to make it work. Communities need people like you. You want to make a difference and you’re doing something to make it happen.”
“I’m not getting very far. It feels as though I keep taking one step forward and ten steps backward.”
“I know. But once we’ve seen the clinic, you might feel differently. It might not be as bad as you think.”
Elizabeth hoped so, because right now, she was ready to walk away and make soap for the rest of her life.
Elizabeth sat in Blake’s truck. Three fire trucks and four police cars blocked the entrance to the clinic. Even though she was warm, goose bumps prickled her skin.
The flashing lights, the movement of people, the onlookers with their cell phones out—it all reminded her of another night when Anton had tried to destroy their lives.
Blake turned to her. “Are you ready to see Detective McCormick?”
Elizabeth nodded. “What about the kittens? They might get cold.”
“Sarah’s walking toward us. We’ll give her
the kittens before we look at the clinic.”
Elizabeth focused on the people on the sidewalk. Sarah was heading their way, her bright red coat swinging around her legs.
“I didn’t see her.”
“It’s okay. That’s what you’ve got me for.”
Elizabeth felt as though she was wading through quicksand. Everything she saw was overshadowed by the utter devastation in front of her. Joseph said there was some damage. What she hadn’t expected to see was a yawning black hole in the front of the building.
“Come on,” Blake said softly. “Let’s say hello to Sarah.”
Elizabeth climbed out of the truck and tried to smile. But more tears filled her eyes.
Sarah hugged her. “I’m so sorry. Apart from looking after the kittens is there anything else you need?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
Blake stood beside Elizabeth with the crate and a small container of grits. “There’s enough food in the bag for their breakfast tomorrow. I’ll come and get them in the morning.”
“Don’t rush. I’m not going to work tomorrow. I can look after them for as long as you need me to.”
Blake handed Sarah the grits. “I’ll take the kittens to your truck.”
Sarah held out her hand. “I can do it. Take Elizabeth across to see the clinic. The kittens and I will be fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
With the kittens on their way to a warm house, Elizabeth stared at the clinic.
Blake’s hand wrapped around hers. “Let’s find Joseph. He should be here somewhere.”
All she could do was nod.
They carefully walked across the parking lot, stepping over the fire hoses and walking around the emergency vehicles.
When they reached the yellow barrier tape, Blake spoke to a police officer. Within minutes, Joseph was walking toward them.
“I’m sorry we’re not meeting under better circumstances.”
Elizabeth shook Joseph’s hand. “It’s not your fault. I wish this had never happened.”
Joseph said hello to Blake, then lifted the tape. “I can’t take you into the building, but we can get a little closer.”
“Do you know how the fire started?” Blake asked.
“It’s too soon to tell. But we do know the fire started in the front reception area. Have the construction crew been working in that part of the building?”
“They haven’t been in that area for at least four days. It was all finished apart from buying the desks and computers.
Joseph stopped in front of the entrance.
An intense pain stabbed Elizabeth’s heart. The charred remains of the beautiful reception counter was the only thing standing. The cupboards that Paul had found in an auction were destroyed, along with the new ceiling, the recycled floorboards, and the glass jars she’d filled with sweets for the builders.
“This is as close as we can get.” Joseph studied Elizabeth’s face. “How are you doing?”
Elizabeth took a deep breath. The sharp sting of smoke left a lump in her throat. “I’m okay.”
Blake wrapped his arm around her shoulders. She leaned into him, grateful for his support.
Joseph pointed to some firefighters. “The fire crews are still dampening down the hot spots. Most of the fire was contained to this area, but there’s a lot of smoke and water damage in the other rooms. The fire investigator will be here soon. She’ll probably be back tomorrow to do a more thorough inspection.”
Elizabeth looked farther down the building. Windows had been blown out and black soot coated everything.
“Do you have insurance?” Joseph asked.
Elizabeth nodded. “I’ll call the company when I get back to Blake’s house.”
“I’ll need their details and the name and phone number of the construction company you’re using.”
“Paul’s business card is in my wallet.” Elizabeth patted her jacket pockets. “It must be in the truck. I’ll go and—”
“Wait here,” Blake said. “I’ll get it.”
While Blake was away, Joseph asked her more questions about what was in the building and where the electricians and builders were working.
When Blake came back with her wallet, she handed Joseph the business card. “I’ll call Paul when I get home. Is there anything he needs to know?”
“The building isn’t secure. We’ll keep an officer here for the rest of the night. If he has any tools or other equipment he wants to remove, he’ll need to call me. I’ll contact the officer who’s here.”
“Okay. Do you know how many rooms are damaged?”
“Everything on this side of the building is fire, water, or smoke damaged. The second story is completely gone.”
Elizabeth swallowed. “When will I be able to go into the building?”
“Not until after the fire investigator has finished the investigation. Depending on the outcome, you might get the all clear in a few days. But if the building is too dangerous to enter, you’ll need to speak to the fire department. They’ll let you know what you need to do to make it safe.”
“Thank you.”
Blake rubbed her back. “Have you seen enough?”
Elizabeth nodded. “Do you have any more questions, Joseph?”
“Not at the moment. I’ll call you if anything comes up.”
“I’ll be at Blake’s house. Do you have his phone number?”
Joseph nodded. “I’ll talk to you after the fire investigator has finished their inspection.”
Elizabeth took one last look at her clinic before turning toward the road. It was heartbreaking seeing what had happened—even worse knowing there wouldn’t be any extra accommodation for families over Christmas.
Blake added another log to the fire. He’d been sitting in his living room for an hour, staring into the flames. When they’d arrived home, Elizabeth had called Paul and Daniel.
They were both shocked and asked questions she couldn’t answer. By tomorrow they might have more information about how the fire started, but he wasn’t holding his breath.
The phone rang and he quickly picked it up. Elizabeth was exhausted and had gone to bed to try and sleep.
“Blake Jefferson speaking.”
“It’s me,” Daniel said from the other end of the phone. “I’m worried about Elizabeth. Is she feeling better than when she called me?”
“A little. She’s gone to bed to try and sleep.”
“Facebook has gone crazy. Half of Bozeman must have gone to the clinic to take photos.”
Blake rubbed his forehead. “That’s the last thing Elizabeth needs.”
“Did she call the insurance company?”
“She did. Until they receive a copy of the fire investigation report, there isn’t a lot anyone can do.”
Daniel sighed. “It could take weeks to start the rebuild.”
“More like months. If Paul has other commitments after Christmas, Elizabeth might not get anything finished for a while.”
“That will upset her as much as the fire.”
Blake sat on the sofa. “I don’t know. She’s really upset.”
“Do you want me to stay with you for a few days? It might help if we’re both there to keep an eye on her.”
“I know you’re her brother, but I think you should give her some breathing room. Elizabeth will ask for our help if she needs it.”
“Wait a minute,” Daniel said. “I have to clean out my ears. I thought you just said not to interfere in Elizabeth’s life.”
“I did.”
“You really have changed.”
Blake frowned. “What do you mean?”
Daniel didn’t say anything.
“Are you still there?”
“Yeah. I’m getting my foot out of my mouth.”
“Do you want to tell me what you’re talking about?”
“Not really,” Daniel muttered.
Blake moved the pho
ne to his other ear. “Fine. I’m too tired to worry about it.”
“You’re making me feel guilty. If you really want to know, I’ll tell you.”
“I don’t need to know.”
“Are you sure? Because if it were me, I’d want to know.”
Blake frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“You have to promise not to tell Holly or Elizabeth what I said. My life won’t be worth living if they discover I repeated something that should have stayed confidential.”
“For Pete’s sake, just tell me.”
“Hang on a minute.”
Blake heard a muffled noise coming down the phone. “What are you doing?”
“Holly’s staying here. I’m hiding in the kitchen.”
“Do you know how desperate that sounds?”
“You would be doing the same thing if you knew what I’m about to tell you.”
Trying to figure out Daniel’s thinking process had baffled Blake for years. His friend was a brilliant software developer but sucked at thinking in straight lines. “I’m going to pretend that we’re having a normal conversation.”
“It is normal.” Daniel’s voice echoed down the phone.
“Where are you?”
“In the pantry. Where else would I be?”
Blake leaned his head against the back of the sofa. “I’m listening but make it quick. I don’t want to stay on the phone for too long. Joseph might want some more information from Elizabeth.”
“Okay,” Daniel said. “Here’s the condensed version. Elizabeth and Holly think you sabotaged the selection process for the Crazy Love app. They also think the only reason you did it was to stop Elizabeth from dating anyone else. And, if that wasn’t enough to rattle your cage, Elizabeth is finally admitting that you might have changed.”
“Changed?”
“Yeah, you know. Romeo has been replaced with someone who wants a real relationship.”
Blake’s eyebrows rose. “I was never a Romeo.”
“If you say so. But from where I stood, you weren’t happy unless you had a woman attached to your body. I’m not the most observant of people, but even I couldn’t believe some of the people you dated. So, what do you think?”
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