Page 49 of Embers of Love

“Are you real?” she asked.

Josephine looked at her with so much love. Then she leaned in. The feeling of their lips touching was electric. Warmth flooded into her body.

“I’m here,” Josephine said when she pulled away. “I’ll take care of you.”

Josephine climbed into the back of the ambulance with her. Ember had never seen her so serious before as she snapped out orders and instructions. Ember marveled at her beauty. She’d been rescued by an angel.

The doctor performed a quick check on her body. Noting the damage.

“Bruised ribs—maybe broken. Arm is broken. Shoulder might be dislocated. How are you still moving?” she asked incredulously.

Ember tried for a smile, but the oxygen mask hid most of her face. She simply resolved to stare at Josephine’s face, memorizing every single one of her features. Ember pulled the mask off.

Josephine scowled. “You need to keep that on, you nearly drowned.”

“Kiss me,” Ember said.

Josephine blinked in surprise. “Your oxygen mask?—”

“Kiss me anyway,” Ember forced out. Talking hurt but she craved to feel Josephine’s lips again.

The doctor looked conflicted for a moment, but she eventually gave in. Their lips met. Ember felt like she was amongst the stars. She would have preferred it to last much longer, but the doctor pulled away, revealing Becky standing next to her.

Ember gasped in shock. How long had she been standing there? She’d most likely seen them kissing.

Her eyes searched her mother’s face but there was no disapproval to be found. She knelt beside her, running her hand gently through Ember’s hair.

“My baby,” she cooed. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

Ember hadn’t seen her mother in a long time. The tears of relief that rolled down her mother’s cheeks tugged at her. She reached her good hand over and placed it on her mother’s cheek.

“I love you, Mom,” Ember said.

“I love you too, sweetheart. I’m sorry for letting you down. I’m sorry I tried to keep you away from the person you love. I’m…so sorry, for everything.”

“You’re perfect, Mom,” Ember said, trying for a smile but a jolt of pain shot through her body, turning her smile into a grimace.

“We need to get you back on oxygen,” Josephine stepped in authoritatively. Becky rose to her feet. She nodded gratefully at Josephine and Ember watched her leave the ambulance. She turned back to Josephine, feeling happy, in spite of everything that had happened.

“I’m glad you came back for me,” Ember said.

Josephine looked slightly guilty, but it was replaced with a content smile.

“I’m glad I came back too. I’m never leaving you again.”

That put a smile on Ember’s face. Not even the excruciating pain she was feeling could wipe the joy off her features.

“Can you not be bad ass for a moment?” Kiera joked.

All of her colleagues were gathered around her hospital bed. They’d come to pay her a visit, as well as the other victims of the fire. No life was lost, surprisingly. Old man Farcy was recovering well. The flames had spared his armoire, but his house had been lost in the wildfire.

“I’m glad you’re all okay,” Ember said with a smile. “Sorry I made you guys worried.”

Zara shrugged. Elle’s eyes were shining.

“It was a miracle. We were very lucky the helicopter crew spotted the truck. They watched as that falling tree pushed you guys into the river, from there it was a race to head downriver where we could safely extract the both of you. Thankfully, you kept him alive until then.”

All that had probably taken just a few minutes, but at the time it felt like hours. She didn’t even notice there was a helicopter hovering above them the entire time.

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