recognized the self-reproach that settled over Carly the moment she learned the cause of the fire. He was all too familiar with the hefty weight of guilt. He’d carried it for the last two years, since the day he’d given work a higher priority than his dying mother. When he’d finally made it to her bedside, it was too late. He never got to say goodbye or tell her how much he loved her.
He shook off the shame as the fire trucks pulled away. He had to do everything he could to help Carly. He could never turn his back on her. Especially now.
Still standing in his grandmother’s front yard, he eyed his watch. School would be letting out soon. And if Megan came walking up here, unaware of what had happened, Carly would blame herself even more.
He wasn’t about to let that happen. “What do you say we go meet Megan?”
Carly’s deep breath sent a shudder through her. “I guess that would be best. Give me an opportunity to prepare her before she sees the house.”
As they walked in the direction of the school, the extent of Carly’s nervousness became clearer. The constant zip, zip, zip sound as she fiddled with the zipper on her jacket was enough to drive anyone crazy.
Still a block away from the school, he touched a hand to her elbow to stop her. “Anything you care to discuss?”
Her blue eyes were swimming with unshed tears as she peered up at him, her bottom lip quivering. “What am I going to say to her? I mean, what if she hates me?”
Seeing her pain made him long to pull her into his arms. “Hates you? Why would Megan hate you?”
“Because the fire was my fault.” She crossed her arms over her chest and held on tightly. “Because of me, my daughter won’t be able to sleep in her own bed tonight. Won’t be able—”
“Now hold on a minute.” Using their height difference to his advantage, he glared down at her. “It’s not like you meant to start that fire. Being absentminded one time does not make you a bad mom.” Softening his tone, he reached for her good hand. “Instead of focusing on the bad, play up the good. She’s nine years old. Kids that age love sleepovers, don’t they? Tell her she gets to have an extended sleepover at my grandmother’s.”
Lifting only her eyes, she sent him a skeptical look. “That’s the only good thing you could come up with?”
It did sound kind of lame. “Well, I haven’t seen the extent of the damage yet, but it sounds like you might be getting a new kitchen, too.”
“Like Megan’s going to be impressed with that.” She started walking again, shoving her hands into her pockets. “I’m just going to have to trust God to give me the words.”
When they met Megan at the school, she was her typical exuberant self. Obviously no one had mentioned anything to her about the fire. In a town as small as Ouray, that was unusual. Good, but unusual nonetheless.
The kid walked between them, her purple backpack bouncing with each step. “Did you make cookies today?”
He glanced at Carly to find her looking at him, her expression teetering somewhere between nervous and petrified. Did she really believe her daughter would hate her?
Hoping to reassure her, he offered a slight smile and nodded, as if to say, You can do this.
She nodded back. “No, sweetie. There was a little problem at home today.” Stopping, she looked into her daughter’s eyes. “A big problem, actually. There was a fire. In the kitchen.”
Confusion marred Megan’s freckled face.
“The fire chief said we’re going to have to stay somewhere else for a while.”
Megan looked up at her mother through sad eyes. “Where?”
“At Livie’s.”
The girl turned to Andrew then. “But where will you stay?”
“At the ranch.”
Her eyes went wide. “You have a ranch?”
“No. It’s my dad’s.”
“Oh.” Her gaze drifted away, then quickly shot back to him. “Can I see it sometime?”
He couldn’t help laughing. Whoever said kids were resilient was right. “Sure.”
Several minutes later, with gray clouds moving in from the west, hinting at snow, the three of them stood at the back of his grandmother’s drive, staring at Granger House. The charred back door stood slightly ajar, windows in both the kitchen and family room were gone, and soot marked the window frames where the flames and smoke had attempted to reach the second floor.
Carly rested her hands upon Megan’s small shoulders. The girl’s blue eyes were wide, swimming with a mixture of disbelief and fear, her bottom lip showing the slightest hint of a tremor.
Poor kid. The fire hadn’t just robbed her of her home. It had robbed her of her security, as well. He had to find a way to make her feel safe again. To protect both her and her mother from any more pain. And standing here staring at the ruins of their beloved home wasn’t going to do that.
He rubbed his hands together. “It’s getting chilly out.” He stepped between the two females and Granger House. “I’ll tell you what. Why don’t you two go on inside my grandmother’s house and make yourselves at home while I survey things at your place?”
Both sent him an incredulous look.
“The fire chief said it was fine. I’ll just see what kind of damage we’re talking about.”
“I want to go with you.” Carly looked at him very matter-of-factly. “I’m going to have to see it eventually. Might as well get it over with so I know what I’m up against.”
“Okay.” He still didn’t think it was a good idea, but... “What about Megan?”
“I want to go, too.”
Carly smoothed a hand over her daughter’s strawberry blond hair. “Are you sure, sweetie?”
The girl nodded, not looking at all sure of anything.
“All right, then.” Still skeptical, he went to his truck to retrieve some flashlights from the toolbox in the bed. With the electricity out, it was likely to be pretty dark in there. “We’ll go through the front door. Perhaps you’ll each want to gather up a few things.”
“Such as?” Carly watched him as he pulled out the flashlights.
“Whatever you can think of. Clothes. Toiletries.” Assuming they hadn’t been consumed in the fire. “Things you use day to day.” He closed the lid on the large metal box. “Okay, let’s go before it gets dark.”
The trio climbed the wooden steps onto the front porch.
As soon as Andrew pushed the antique door open, they were met with the strong odor of smoke.
“Eww...” Megan held her nose. “It stinks.”
Carly
