by Naomi Niles
“Thank you,” I said fervently.
And then in an act of pure impulse, I threw my arms around him and gave him the biggest hug that I’d ever given a stranger in my life.
Chapter Seven
Sam
The car had slid off the road and into a narrow ditch. It was in a precarious position, but at least there was no chance of it falling any further.
“There’s a child in the back seat,” Mitch told me. “No older than five or six.”
“I’ve got this,” I assured him, heading towards the back of the car.
The child in the backseat was sobbing uncontrollably. She had her hands over her face as though she were scared something was going to fall on top of her. I lowered my voice and spoke to her calmly while Sean helped the child’s mother in the front seat. I didn’t even glance in that direction. My only focus was the child in front of me.
“Hey, kiddo,” I said, trying to keep my tone light so that she wouldn’t freak out further. “I’m going to try and get you out, okay? But I’m going to need your help.”
At first I thought she hadn’t heard me, but then she dropped her hands from her face and nodded. She was a cute kid, with a long face and rounded rosy cheeks. Her eyes were a light green, and her hair was dark and dusky. The tears marring her innocent little face made me want to do my very best for her.
“What’s your name?” I asked.
“Renni,” she hiccupped.
“Renni,” I repeated. “I’m Sam. You ready to get out of that seat?”
She nodded once. I gave her a small smile. “I’m going to try and open this door, okay? There might be a big sound. Why don’t you close your ears and eyes?”
She did as she was told and then I wrenched the door apart. Her little body shook, and I knew the sound had frightened her anyway. Her mother gasped from the front seat, but I let Sean handle that situation.
I angled my body into the tilted car and reached for Renni. She was strapped in, but seemingly unhurt. I unbuckled her slowly and then put my arms around her.
“Okay, Renni,” I whispered to her. “We’re getting out now.”
With a small amount of effort, I pulled her tiny body free from the car, and then we were on flat ground, where I breathed a sigh of relief. Renni clung to me, but I noticed that her sobs had subsided a little.
“I want my mommy,” she said with her arms around my neck.
“My friend is helping your mommy out now,” I told her. “They’re going to check to make sure she’s alright. And, I’m going to check to make sure you’re alright.”
I carried her to the back of our truck and set her down on the back rig. I checked her vitals first and then examined her body.
“How old are you, Renni?” I asked, trying to distract her a little.
“Five,” she replied shortly. “Am I okay?”
She had the face of an angel, but I could tell from the awareness in her eyes that she was a mature child. “You’re perfect, Renni,” I told her. “You’re a strong girl.”
“Really?”
“See for yourself,” I said, pulling out the stethoscope from my medical box and handed it to Renni. She placed it gingerly in her ears and then placed the end on her heart. After a few moments, she actually smiled.
“I can hear my heartbeat,” she said. “It’s really, really loud.”
“I told you,” I smiled. “That’s because you’re strong. Just like I told you.”
Renni dropped her hands from the stethoscope, but she kept it fastened around her neck. Every so often, she looked around for some sign of her mother. I sat with her and tried to keep her distracted until the EMTs were done examining her mother.
“Why are you wearing that?” Renni asked after a moment.
I looked down at my bulky gear. “It’s what fire fighters wear,” I told her. “It protects us from dangerous places.”
“I thought fire fighters go only when there’s a fire?”
I smiled. “We go for any emergency,” I explained. “Car accidents, fires, cats in trees...”
“Really?” she asked, looking at me with wide eyes. “You rescue cats?”
“Of course,” I nodded seriously. “I can’t even count the number of cats I’ve rescued.”
She smiled. “I bet their owners are happy when you do.”
“Sure,” I nodded. “Very happy.”
“I would be happy,” she said thoughtfully.
Just at that moment, we heard someone call out Renni’s name and her face broke out into a huge smile. “Mommy,” she said, as her mother approached with happiness etched across her face.
I straightened up a little, noticing how very attractive Renni’s mother was. She had the same coloring as her daughter: dark dusky brown hair combined with those beautiful green eyes. She was slim, tall, and very young to have a five-year-old daughter.
She rushed towards Renni and grabbed her in a tight hug. When she finally pulled away, her eyes were fixed on her daughter, trying to make sure that she was completely fine.
“Are you alright?” she asked.
“I was scared,” Renni replied. “But Sam saved me.”
It was only then that she turned to me. I felt my breath catch a little as her eyes met mine.
She had the looks of a Victoria Secret model. Her hair fell uncaringly around her shoulders, framing the perfect oval of her face and lighting up those pale green eyes, which were in equal measures mysterious and seductive. I smiled instinctively, trying to think of something appropriate yet impressive to say. But before I could speak, she did.
“Thank you,” she said with a fervency that dripped of sincerity. Then to my complete surprise, she threw her hands around me and gave me a huge hug.
I froze in place for a few seconds before my hands came up around her, and I returned the unexpected hug. Her body felt surprisingly good against mine and when she broke the hug and stepped away, I dropped my hands reluctantly.
“It was nothing, ma’am,” I said, with my most charming smile. “All in a day’s work.”
“Is she alright?”
“Perfectly fine,” I assured her. “I did a full examination. She was just a little shaken up, but I managed to calm her down.”
“He let me hear my heartbeat,” Renni said, showing her mother the stethoscope I had given her. “And, it was really loud and strong, Mommy.”
“I’m glad, darling.” She smiled at Renni, before turning back to me. “Thank you so much for taking care of her.”
“It was my pleasure,” I said gallantly, dipping my head down a little.
“Your name is Sam?” she asked.
“Sam Burbank,” I said. “At your service.”
“I’m Mia,” she said with a smile. “Would you mind staying with Renni for a few more minutes? I need to make a call.”
“Of course,” I nodded.
As Mia walked to a corner to make her call, I sat beside Renni and glanced at her innocently. “I bet she’s calling your dad huh?”
“No,” Renni replied shortly, playing with the stethoscope.
“No?”
“Daddy’s not with us anymore,” she replied.
“Oh,” I nodded. “Well then, she’s probably calling her boyfriend.”
“Mommy doesn’t have a boyfriend,” she replied. “Mummy says she doesn’t have friends anymore except for Aunt Vanessa.”
I suppressed a smile, secretly thrilled that I didn’t have competition to worry about – not that that had ever stopped me before.
“I like your boots,” I told Renni. “Snazzy color.”
“Thank you,” she said, giving me an open mouthed smile that displayed her large front teeth. She looked like a little bunny rabbit in yellow boots. “These are my favorite boots.”
“I can see why,” I nodded. “I wish I had a pair of those.”
“Okay, honey,” Mia said as she approached. “Aunt Vanessa is on her way to pick us up,”
Mia sat down beside her daughter and tuc
ked her protectively under her arm. Renni leaned against her mother and sighed in contentment. There was such a nice symmetry to their relationship; you could sense it almost immediately. I knew I should have walked away and given them a few moments together, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.
“Your sister’s on her way?” I asked.
“She’s not actually my sister,” Mia replied. “She’s a really good friend. That’s just what Renni calls her.”
“Ah,” I nodded. “Do you have any sisters?”
Mia raised her eyebrows slightly, as though she weren’t quite sure why I was trying so hard to make small talk. “No sisters,” she replied. “I have an older brother, though. He lives in Texas with his wife and son.”
“Are you from Texas?”
“California originally,” Mia replied.
“Hey, my mother just moved to Fort Collins from California,” I said, saying the first thing that popped into my head. “And, my older brother just moved out there.”
“Oh,” she nodded, with a small smile playing on her face.
“I’ve been to California,” Renni piped up. “But I was a baby, so I don’t remember anything.”
Just at that moment a car, pulled up a few feet away and a young woman with white blonde hair and blue eyes got out. She looked positively panicky as she glanced at the scene around her. Mia rose and signalled to her.
“Vanessa,” she said. “We’re right here.”
“Oh my God!” Vanessa cried, rushing towards Mia. “Oh my God, are you guys okay?”
She crashed into Mia, who had to work hard to calm her down. “We’re both all right, Vanessa,” she said, in an even tone. “They examined us both and we’re in the clear. We were very lucky. The car’s the only thing that got a little beaten up.”
“Renni, girl,” Vanessa cried, as she approached Renni and gave her a hug. “You brave little thing. Come on, let’s get you two home.”
I helped Renni down from the rig, and she gave me a hug that barely came up to my waist. I patted the top of her head and gave her a special smile. “You take care now,” I said.
“Thanks for saving me, Sam,” she said.
“Any time,” I replied.
When I looked up, Mia was smiling at me. “Thank you – for everything.”
She was about to turn away, and I knew I couldn’t just let her walk away from me. “Ah… I’m going to need to ask you for your contact information,” I said, putting on my most professional tone.
“My contact information?” Mia asked, wrinkling her brows together.
“Yes,” I said confidently. “So that I can…follow up with you and just check in… Make sure you’re both doing fine.”
Mia and Vanessa exchanged an amused glance. “I was just in a car accident and you’re…hitting on me?”
“Of course not,” I said quickly. “That would be completely insensitive and inappropriate. I’m just…following standard procedure.”
“Standard procedure?” Mia repeated, and I knew she wasn’t buying a word of this.
“It’s true, ma’am,” Jackson said, coming up around the fire truck. He had obviously heard the last bit of our conversation and was swooping in as my wingman. “It’s completely legitimate. We do this for everyone who’s been in a wreck. Standard procedure.”
The smile she was trying to suppress broke from her face, and she shook her head at my transparent attempt to get her number. She seemed to consider for a moment and then shrugged and nodded. “Do you have a pen and a piece of paper?”
I handed her a scrap of paper from our supply case. She wrote down her number quickly and handed it back to me. “Goodnight, Sam,” she said. Then she reached for her daughter’s hand and followed Vanessa to the car. I watched smugly as they drove off into the night.
“Stop smiling like a moron,” Jackson said, giving me a light punch on my arm. “Let’s get going, Casanova.”
Chapter Eight
Mia
I kept glancing behind to make sure Renni was all right. The moment I thought my nerves had calmed down a bit, I felt that shiver crawl down my spine as I imagined how badly things could have gone. I kept wringing my hands together, trying to stop my thoughts from spiralling. I could feel Vanessa’s own nerves by my side, but I didn’t trust myself to speak just yet.
Vanessa walked us into the house after parking out front. The moment we were through the door, I bent down to hug Renni tightly. Then I drew back a little and stared at her face for a few moments.
“You have a wound, Mommy,” Renni said as she reached out her hand and touched the side of my face.
“It’s just a little bruise, darling,” I replied. “Nothing to worry about. It’ll be gone in a few days.”
“Did the men in the big suits look at you, too?”
“They did,” I nodded. “They said I was fit as a fiddle.”
“You must have a strong heart, too,” Renni said, with a huge smile plastered on her face. “Just like me.”
I returned her smile. “I must have,” I said. “Now why don’t you say goodnight to Aunt Vanessa? It’s past your bedtime.”
She gave Vanessa a big hug. “Thanks for coming to get us Aunt Vanessa,” she said sweetly.
“It was the least I could do, honey,” Vanessa said. “Goodnight.”
Renni disappeared into her room and I turned to Vanessa. The moment we were alone, her face scrunched up and she looked at me as though she were going to burst into tears.
“Oh, Mia,” she said. “I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.”
“Your fault?” I asked, in surprise. “How do you figure that?”
“You two were on the road tonight because of me,” she said, guilt flooding her tone. “I know you hate driving on nights like these. The only reason you went out at all tonight was because of me.”
“Oh, Vanessa,” I said, coming forward and hugging her. “Don’t be ridiculous. I wanted to come tonight. Renni would never have forgiven me if we’d missed your exhibit. This is not your fault.”
She looked forlorn. “I don’t know what I would have done if something had happened to you or Renni. I can’t imagine losing either of you.”
“You won’t,” I said. “We’re both fine, Vanessa. Trust me.”
She took a deep breath and then nodded. “Call me if you need anything, okay?”
“I will,” I said. “I did tonight, didn’t I?”
She smiled. “True.”
“I’m sorry to have pulled you from your special night.”
“Don’t be silly,” Vanessa said. “I would have been pissed if you hadn’t called me.”
“That’s what I thought.”
“You should go see to Renni,” Vanessa said, taking a deep breath. “I’ll call and check on you guys tomorrow.”
“Okay,” I nodded. “Drive safe, please… The roads can be treacherous these days.”
“I will,” she promised. She seemed to have calmed down considerably. She was at the threshold of my front door when she turned back around as though she had just remembered something.
“What was the name of that fireman?”
“Which one?” I asked innocently.
Vanessa smirked. “You know very well which one,” she said.
I smiled. “I believe his name was Sam.”
“He’s a looker,” she observed.
“Hmm…”
She smiled. “I hope he calls.”
“Goodnight, Vanessa,” I said.
The moment she had driven away, I locked the door and headed into Renni’s room. She was sitting on her bed with her favorite blue and green polka dotted pyjamas. Her clothes were in a pile in the corner and her yellow boots had been set back in their original place.
“Let’s have a quick bath before bed, shall we, Renni girl?”
Renni nodded and followed me into the bathroom. I filled the tub and popped her in. Then I settled on the floor beside her and lathered up the sponge.
“Were you scare
d today, Mommy?” Renni asked unexpectedly.
I brushed the soapy sponge across her little back. “Very scared,” I replied honestly. “But I was scared for you. I was really worried that you might be hurt.”
“Everyone was saying that we were lucky,” she said thoughtfully.
I nodded. “We were.”
“Does that mean that Daddy was…unlucky?”
I glanced at her little cherub face and forced back my tears. Renni didn’t need to see me cry. She had seen enough of that during Clint’s funeral. “I suppose you could say that,” I replied.
“Daddy died in a car accident,” she said softly.
“Yes, he did,” I said. “But that accident was much bigger than ours.”
“Do you think Daddy was scared?”
I swallowed hard and reminded myself to be strong. I always knew she would start asking questions at some point. The older she got, the better she would be able to articulate them. I had always promised myself that I wouldn’t avoid those questions. I would be as honest as I was capable of being.
“Yes, I think he might have been,” I replied.
“I wish…I could have made him not scared,” Renni said, in a confused sentence.
I smiled at her. “Me, too, darling. Me, too.”
She seemed to distract herself with the bubbles forming on her arms. I finished scrubbing her down and then when she was clean; I pulled her out of the tub and wiped her dry. She dressed by herself before I settled her into her little single bed.
“Mommy?”
“Yes, angel?”
“Will you stay with me till I fall asleep?”
“Of course,” I nodded as I slipped into the bed beside her.
There was barely any room for me, but I didn’t mind. The discomfort was worth it just to be near Renni. I played with her hair like Clint used to do when she was a baby. It had been a trick he had honed early on. Play with Renni’s hair for long enough, and she would go out like a light.
“You were so brave tonight, my little rabbit,” I whispered to Renni, as her eyelids grew heavier and heavier. “Never underestimate how strong you are.”
When her eyelids had fused shut and her breath was calming in steady peaceful sighs, I disentangled myself from her little body and slipped out of her room. I walked to my room and collapsed onto the bed without bothering to turn on the lights. I stared up at my dark ceiling, reliving the moment I had lost control of the wheel.
