He glanced at Megan now. “They have people who can take care of that and make everything smell like new.”
“Really?”
Killing the light, he gave her his full attention. “Have I ever steered you wrong?”
That earned him a smile.
They moved collectively into the dining room, where all the antique furniture appeared to be intact. But as they neared the door to the kitchen—
“Can I check my bedroom?” Megan’s room sat off one end of the dining room, while Carly’s was on the opposite end.
Carly glanced his way. “Would you mind going with her while I grab some things from my room?”
The fact that she trusted him with her daughter meant a lot. “Not at all.”
Megan turned on her own flashlight and slowly moved into her room.
Andrew followed, relieved to see that, like the parlor and dining room, the mostly purple bedroom remained intact, though perhaps a little damp from all the water the firemen had used.
“Go ahead and take some clothes. I know they’re probably wet or smell like smoke, but we can toss them in the wash.”
While she opened drawers and pulled out items, all of which seemed to be purple or pink, with one random blue piece, he tugged the case from her pillow to hold the clothes.
“Oh, no.”
He stopped what he was doing. “What is it?”
Head hung low, the girl frowned. “My cards. I left them in the family room.”
If cards were her greatest loss, he’d count himself blessed. Still, they were important to her. “No worries. I’ll pick you up a new deck tomorrow.”
Her gaze shot to his. “Really?”
“Cross my heart—” he fingered an X across his chest “—and hope to die.”
She threw her arms around his waist. “You’re the best, Andrew.”
The gesture stunned him. Or maybe it was the intense emotions her hug evoked in him. He’d never had much interaction with kids. But this one was definitely special.
A few minutes later, when he and Megan returned to the dining room with a pillowcase full of clothes and shoes, he dared what he hoped was a stealthy peek into the kitchen. And while it was too dark to see everything, what little he did glimpse didn’t look good. Or even salvageable.
“Ah, good. You got some clothes.” He jumped at the sound of Carly’s voice. Turning, he saw her standing beside the table, holding a large tote bag.
“We did, so it looks like we’re ready to go.” He did not want to allow Carly in the kitchen. At least, not now. Maybe tomorrow, after the shock had a chance to wear off.
“Not yet.” Carly set her bag atop the dining room table. “I’d like to see the kitchen.”
“Let’s do that tomorrow. It’s getting dark outside anyway, so you won’t be able to see much.”
Leaving her bag behind, she took several determined steps toward him and stopped. “I want to see it. Now.”
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