by Kathryn Shay
Everyone had found their soulmate but Holly. No, that wasn’t true. She’d found him. And lost him.
“Do you like living in the complex?” she asked.
“A lot. It’s close to work.” He cocked his head. “You probably already know it has an indoor pool and outdoor tennis courts.”
“Yeah.” She smiled as best she could. “You don’t have to make small talk with me. I’m better. You can leave if you want.”
“Nah, I’ll stick around until we get some news. Most people don’t know that firefighters want to find out how victims of a fire fared. Somebody from the house would stop by the hospital anyway.”
“That’s nice.”
He cocked. “What do you do?”
“I’m a fourth grade teacher.”
“Ah.”
“I—”
“Lieutenant Santori?”
Joe stood up at the address. “Chief Talbot.”
The tall, blondish man gave her a sympathetic look. “I’m Chase Talbot, Rockford’s fire chief.”
“Holly Michaels. I’m the Jordans’ granddaughter.”
For some reason, his brows rose. “Pleased to meet you. Any news on them?”
“None, yet.” She wrung her hands together because they started to shake again. “I’m worried.”
“I can check at the desk.”
“I already did.”
His expression turned...tender. “I know these people pretty well. Let me give it a try.”
When he left, she turned to Joe. “Does the fire department always send the chief to the hospital?”
“Not often. Maybe he knows your grandparents.”
“Maybe. Firefighters came to check their house monthly.” She suspected her mother was responsible for that.
A few minutes later, a doctor in a white coat walked toward them with the chief at his side. Holly felt tears well in her eyes.
* * *
Oh, hell. The woman was going to cry. That combination of innocence—for Christ’s sake, she didn’t know what commando meant—and her appearance told him she was unworldly. Joe had done okay with the clothes, with making her comfortable, but he’d never dealt much with blubbering women. Still, the number one cause of death in fires was smoke inhalation due to carbon monoxide. The situation could get a lot worse than worry. So he slid his arm around her and pulled her close. She went easily. “Shh. Wait till we hear.”
The men reached them and the doctor focused his attention on Holly. “You must be the Jordans’ granddaughter. I’m Mark Perkins. Your grandparents are suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. They must have inhaled smoke for a long time. I’m surprised they didn’t awaken when the alarm went off.”
The chief scowled. “It had to have triggered. We check it monthly.” Joe’s house was responsible for the area in which the Jordans lived.
“In any case, they’re both still in and out of consciousness.”
Time to be strong. Holly straightened and looked the doctor straight in the eye. “It’s been an hour since we got here. Being unconscious that long can’t be good.”
“We do know some things now,” Dr. Perkins explained. “First, of course, arriving unconscious is serious. They’re both coughing, breathing heavily, and your grandfather’s skin is reddish which means he’s in more serious condition than your grandmother.”
“Oh, dear.”
“They’re stable now. We’re giving them oxygen through a mask, but we’ve ordered blood tests which will determine if they need more treatment.”
“A hyperbaric chamber?” the chief asked.
“Yes.” He faced Holly. “Basically, a hyperbaric chamber is a compression tube that provides high amounts of oxygen. It resembles a tanning booth in a salon.”
“I see.”
“As I said,” Perkins continued “I’m betting they’ll need treatments, but I can’t be sure until I see the test results.”
“Are there risks to that, Dr. Perkins?” she asked.
“Yes. Nearsightedness caused by temporary eye lens changes. Middle ear injuries, including leaking fluid and eardrum rupture, due to increased air pressure. Also, a lung could collapse caused by air pressure changes. And sometimes seizures as a result of too much oxygen in the central nervous system.”
The tears welled again. This time Joe didn’t fault her. Her grandparents were in critical condition.
“You’re the next of kin listed on their forms so you have to okay further treatment since they can’t.”
She swallowed hard, then surprised Joe by stepping away. “What’s your recommendation?”
“That we get them in the chambers as soon as the blood tests come back, which should be here any minute.”
“Then that’s my decision.”
“Great. I’ll send out the nurse with the forms.”
“Thank you.”
“See you for golf, Chief.” The doctor left.
Holly dropped down in a chair. “Thanks for your help, Chief. And yours, Lieutenant Santori. I appreciate you staying here till we got a diagnosis.”
The chief jammed his hands in his pockets. “I, um, spoke with your mother. She’s flying back from California.” He checked his watch. “She won’t be here for a while.”
No response.
“Is there anybody else you can call?” the chief asked.
“I texted...”
“Holly, honey.” A man strode toward them.
“Daddy!”
The guy reached her and took her in his arms.
“I guess we can leave now,” Joe said.
“Yeah,” the chief put in. “She’s in good hands.”
Chapter 2
* * *
Vanessa Jordan hurried toward the hospital, her heart beating at a clip. She flew through the doors, and strode to the information desk. Phones rang and the staff talked among themselves but someone came right over to her. “I’m Ella and Edward Jordan’s daughter. I understand they were brought here early this morning.”
“Let me check.”
While the woman focused on the computer, Vanessa quelled the urge to tap her fingernails on the counter.
“Madam Mayor?”
She turned at the sound of a familiar voice and found Chase Talbot behind her. “Chief, what are you doing here?”
“I came over after I spoke with you.” She’d called him when she landed to get an update. And also refused an invitation to pick her up at the airport.
“They’re in room 318, Ms. Jordan,” the nurse began. “You go down...”
“No worries, Mary. I’m familiar with the layout of the place. I’ll take her up.”
“Thanks, Chief.”
They headed down the hall to the elevator. She had a long stride which many people couldn’t match. And she went fast, but the chief kept pace. “You didn’t need to come back here so late. I appreciate all you did for me, but I can take it from here.”
“Of course you can.” The elevator pinged open. He allowed her inside. “Goodbye—what are you doing?” she asked as he stepped into the cab.
“I’m coming up with you.”
“Why?”
He shrugged. “You might need somebody.”
“I assure you I won’t.” She’d constructed her life so as not to depend on anybody.
“Humor me.”
She was too jittery to protest. “Whatever.”
She was a tall woman, but he had height on her, and his shoulders stretched the cotton of his white shirt. Before she could, he reached out and pressed three. He always did that when they were together. He opened doors for her, pressed elevator buttons, stood when she entered the room. Okay, he was a gentleman. She got it.
She turned her attention to her parents. “You’re sure they’re all right?”
“They both received a hyperbaric dive this afternoon.”
“What’s a dive?”
“A treatment.” He explained the process to her. “They may need more than one, depending on the newest blood o
xygenation test results.”
The doors opened to the third floor. They followed the arrow directing them to room 318. As they bypassed a waiting area, she stopped short. Her daughter and ex-husband were sitting on the couches, across from each other. They didn’t see her at first.
Paul was holding Holly’s hand, speaking to her softly. She hadn’t seen her child in weeks, and drank in Holly’s appearance longingly. Her blond hair flowed down her back in heavy waves. She remembered when those waves were curls and Vanessa brushed them every night. Her gut churned at the memory.
“Madam Mayor?” Chase’s voice was low, but Paul and her daughter, only ten feet away, noticed them.
Their reaction made her heartbeat go into overdrive.
* * *
What the hell? Chase watched the warm, tender scene between father and daughter turn into an Arctic tundra when they saw Vanessa. With a disgusted expression on his face, Michaels bolted to his feet. Holly stood, too, more slowly, and though her expression wasn’t hostile, it didn’t warm up either. The guy put his arm around his daughter. She leaned into him, as if she was unable to withstand another onslaught.
Michaels said, “Vanessa.” Frigidity dripped from the one word.
It seemed to take a bit before the mayor gathered herself. She lifted her chin. “Hello, Holly. Paul.”
Holly didn’t respond. No your parents are okay. Glad you could get back. What do you need, Mom?
When Chase’s son had died last year, his sister Melinda moved into the house and stayed for two weeks. Beck Sloan, his friend from Hidden Cove and fellow veteran, had taken leave after Mel went home and kept him company for days. Firefighter spouses sent food every day for a month and the officers and line guys rallied around him. Many checked in on and off the entire last nine months.
It wasn’t in his nature to let this woman be disconnected completely from her family at such a crucial time without stepping in. So he addressed Holly as if she was a new recruit who should have known better. “Your mother just flew back from California, Holly.”
The girl straightened. “Come sit, Mom. We’ll fill you in on what’s happened.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
Amidst the tension in the air, Vanessa walked across the room. Paul and Holly took one couch together. Now Chase noticed that the guy had short gray hair, had an okay build and wore an expensive suit. He would have been attractive if his face wasn’t contorted with dislike.
Vanessa dropped down across from them. Holly looked up at Chase, her blue eyes bruised. “Could you join us, Chief?”
If Vanessa Jordan hadn’t sent him a relieved look, he would have excused himself and left them to navigate their way through their obvious dysfunction. But the silent plea for support was so out of character for the mayor, he said, “Sure,” and took the seat next to her on the couch opposite theirs.
“Fill us in on what you know.” Paul again. Mr. Ice Man.
Vanessa turned to Chase who, though she should be the one doing it, told the Michaels the information he’d given to Vanessa. Obviously, her family hadn’t communicated with her all day and up to now, at nine p.m.
When Chase finished, Vanessa said, “Is there anything more?”
“Grandma and Grandpa regained consciousness after the first session in the hyperbaric chamber. But they both had headaches all day, and Grandpa vomited several times, Grandma only once. They took another round of blood tests, but the results won’t be in until later. They’ve got to stay overnight in any case.”
Vanessa’s shoulders relaxed some. “That’s better news, I guess.” She took in a breath. “I’d like to see them.”
“They’re asleep now.” Paul’s tone was hard. Alienating. As if he had rights here and she didn’t. Chase couldn’t understand how that could be.
“We were about to leave, Mom,” Holly explained. “We sat down to plan tomorrow. Grandma and Grandpa will be coming home with me, of course, whenever that is.”
Vanessa waited a heartbeat. “What if I’d like them to stay with me?”
“You’d want them?” the daughter said incredulously.
Paul’s jaw dropped. “They would never agree to that. They hardly ever see you.”
“That’s not true, Paul. And yes, Holly, I’d want them to stay with me. Our relationship is improving, especially mine and Mom’s. Regardless, Paul, I’m their daughter. My opinion counts.”
“No, theirs does.” Paul again. “And Holly’s. She’s listed as next of kin.”
Wow, that was a slap in the face to Vanessa.
Holly didn’t respond. And from the expression on her face, the mayor already knew what designation her parents had made. Why she couldn’t get information over the phone made sense now.
Paul straightened. “I know them well enough to be sure there’s no way your parents want to live with you, Vanessa. None of us want you in our lives.”
“Dad, that’s not exactly—”
“Shush, Holly.”
Vanessa’s spine stiffened. Chase was glad to see it. “Lord in heaven, Paul. It’s been five years.”
“So what?”
Vanessa turned to her daughter. “Holly? What do you think?”
“I don’t know. I guess they should decide where they want to go.”
“There’s a lot to consider.” Vanessa turned to the chief. “What’s the condition of the house?”
“I’m afraid it’s uninhabitable, at least temporarily. We’ll have to determine if it can be rebuilt or if it’ll be condemned. Right now, the property’s taped off, and the fire investigator will go in again tomorrow to search for the cause of the blaze.”
“But they might be able to rebuild?” This from Holly.
“We don’t know that yet.” In his professional experience, that probably wouldn’t happen, but he was far from an expert.
“They can rebuild only if they have insurance.” Paul’s tone was curt.
Vanessa huffed. Chase could tell she was running out of patience. “Of course they do. I pay it every month, so I know.”
“Because you supplement their social security doesn’t mean they want you around.”
“This is crazy.” Vanessa stood and tossed back a wave of streaked-brown hair that often fell into her eyes. The gesture meant trouble, Chase had come to learn. “I’m sick of all this. You both should know two things: I’m not taking your bullying, Paul, any longer. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m no longer wearing the scarlet A you pinned on me.”
She stepped closer to her daughter. Didn’t touch her, though. “And honey, I’m not giving up on you, either.” Picking up her purse from the chair, she strapped it over her shoulder and faced them. “But I won’t go in. I will be back in the morning and I will see them!” She turned and strode out of the room.
Though he didn’t have a dog in this fight, Chase took a bead on father and daughter. “I don’t care what happened five years ago. You two were cruel to a suffering woman.”
“It’s none of your business,” Michaels spat out.
“Well, I don’t reckon I care much about that either.”
* * *
I won’t cry. I’ll be strong. But the half-hour battering Vanessa had just taken had cracked the emotional armor she put on whenever she was near her daughter, or especially Paul. Thankfully, the elevator came right away; she took it to the first floor and hurried outside to her car. She opened the door. Then, the whole scene got to her and she leaned against the roof, clutching the cold metal. She was bombarded by memories of when Holly loved her...
Her little girl in blond curls at a year old, tottering over and wrapping her arms around Vanessa’s waist. “Mama.” She’d been Holly’s world then.
At five, when she came home from kindergarten with drawings of her and her mother.
At eleven, getting her period and the intimate talk they’d had. At twelve, asking about boys. Her first crush. Her first date. Holly had counted on her.
And then Vanessa had made a huge mistake,
and nothing was the same again.
“Vanessa.”
Chase.
Stay strong.
“Are you all right?”
She stood up to the power of her memories, though she couldn’t stop the trembling of her body. “Yes, why?”
“Well, for one thing, the door’s open and you’re staring inside.”
“Oh.”
He invaded her personal space and touched her for the first time outside of a handshake. His grasp on her arm was firm, comforting. “And what I witnessed in there would bring me to my knees.”
“They’re probably right. My parents probably wouldn’t want to see me. At least my father wouldn’t.”
“I’m sorry.”
She sighed heavily.
“Want to get a cup of coffee?”
“No, I need to get home.”
“I think you need to talk.”
She half-smiled. “Aren’t men supposed to be the reticent ones in an emotional time?”
“Most men, I guess. But my mama and my sister taught me different.”
“Thanks. But no. I’m exhausted.”
“Then good night, Vanessa.”
He got a few feet away and she turned and called out, “Chase?”
When he pivoted, she could see his brows arch in the light from the parking lot.
“Maybe one cup.”
After she calmed down, she drove to the diner wondering why the chief was being so nice to her. She certainly hadn’t been nice to him in the last two years.
* * *
Twelve Months ago
“As part of new business, I’d like to initiate procedures to take better care of our elderly.”
Rumbles again around the room. These people wouldn’t want more responsibility. “Andy Isaacs, our Special Projects Director, will answer any questions.” Her fiscal overseer nodded.
“There’s also some old business we need to revisit that relates to next year’s budget.”
The police chief shot the fire chief a beleaguered look. God, she hated when they participated in that silent criticism. Well, she had a surprise for Chase Talbot.
