Page 75 of Nanny for the Firefighter

“You need to call or text me when you can. I need to know that you’re okay.”

I nod even though she can’t see it. “I will. I will not let this fire hurt you or Mia. Okay? You can trust me.”

“Mason…” There are clear tears behind her words now, and I can just picture the look on Bridget’s face. “Be careful.”

It’s an order as much as it is a plea, and my chest cracks open just that little bit further.

I know the expression Bridget is wearing right now.

I know it because I saw it on my mother’s face that day.

The day Dad went out and never came back home.

“I will. I need to go. I’ll talk to you soon.”

“You better.”

With that, I hang up and fire up my truck. I pull over the belt as I throw the truck into reverse. Whipping the car around, I zoom off toward the forest’s edge, eyeing the billowing smoke that clouds up the horizon as I drive.

The only thing I can feel at that moment is the pounding of my heart, furious and demanding inside my chest.

You won’t leave her. You’re going to fight this and get home to her. History is not going to repeat itself. It just…can’t.

TWENTY-TWO

Bridget

The door to my mother’s house slams behind me as I get Mia and myself inside. My mother darts in from the kitchen, holding out her arms to take Mia.

The poor girl is so confused, and I’ve been doing my best to just tell her that we’re going for a visit.

I haven’t mentioned the fire, and I won’t. I mean, hell, she’s not quite three. Mia doesn’t understand.

When my mom has Mia in the kitchen watching her little tablet and happily oblivious, I go back to the front of the house and pull open the drapes.

Even from here, I can see the massive cloud of black smoke looming over the town. The fire started just like that. Wildfires are like that. I remember Mason saying how dry and hot it would be today. With all that kindling, it wouldn’t take much to start a fire.

And I had no idea it was happening until Mason called.

And…he’s out there fighting it.

My heartbeat is too quick and erratic. Fighting a fire is a dangerous job in any circumstance, and this is one of the worst.

A blazing wildfire on a dry day? Yeah, it’s going to take all the resources the town has to get it out, and the risk of harm to the firefighters is so much higher.

I need to take my mind off of this. I don’t know how I’m supposed to do that, but I can’t freak out Mia.

Hell, I can’t stand here freaking out for myself either. I’m liable to give myself a panic attack.

“Hey, honey. Here.”

I turn around to see my mother offering a cup of tea. It’s the classic move when either of us is stressed.

“Thanks.”

I offer her a halfhearted smile, accepting the cup and taking a sip.

“Now, I know there’s no stopping you from being worried. But how about we put on a movie so that we can try to distract ourselves from the fire? Okay?”

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