Page 58 of Any Luck at All

She wasn’t about to leave him to fight this alone.

She nudged a large crystal someone had dropped on the floor over to the door to prop it open, then ran to the back door, nudging a kitchen chair into the opening before she headed back to River. As she ran back into the smoke-filled room, she could hear River coughing, but the haze kept her from seeing him.

“River!” she shouted. “Come on! The fire department’s on the way!” The faint sound of sirens punctuated her statement.

“It’s almost out!” he shouted, stomping flames on the floor.

The punch bowl caught the corner of Georgie’s eye, so she scooped it into her arms, surprised at how heavy it was, then rushed over to River. The sloshing punch soaked her shirt, but she managed to toss most of its contents toward the flames.

River shifted to the side as she dumped the liquid, but the weight of the bowl threw off her aim and most of it ended up on him, drenching his chest and legs. What liquid did hit the flames made the fire flare even higher.

Well, crap.She forgot there was alcohol in the punch.

The sirens got louder. Help was on the way, but Georgie had just made River a human torch.

“River! I’m sorry! Leave it!”

But then she was hit with a spray of cold water from behind. She turned to see Dottie standing behind her holding a garden hose and wearing the fierce expression of a warrior headed into battle.

The flames sputtered out, and River rushed over and wrapped his arms around both of them, sweeping them toward the front door despite Dottie’s protests that she still needed to talk to Beau.

A fire truck pulled up as they went outside, and the firefighters rushed in to assess the damage. The first responders called an ambulance to check River for smoke inhalation. They arrived quickly, and they told him his oxygen levels were good, thank God. Their official advice was that he should go to the hospital to be fully examined, but he’d assured them he felt fine. Thankfully, he had gym clothes in the car, so he’d been able to at least switch out his T-shirt for a clean one.

Georgie felt grimy and her clothes stank of smoke, but the house hadn’t been officially cleared yet, and she didn’t want to swap her shirt in front of everyone.

While River talked to a firefighter, Dottie stood in the front yard, staring up at the house in dismay. Several people had gathered around the house, although they hung back at a slight distance. A small group of them surrounded Josie, who was talking with a lot of hand gestures. Sighing, Georgie went over to check on Dottie. “Are you okay? Are you sure we shouldn’t have the ambulance crew check you over too?”

“I’m fine,” the older woman said, more subdued than Georgie had ever heard her. “But now I’ll never get to talk to Beau.”

Shame washed through Georgie. While she had seen the séance as a joke and an inconvenience, she realized this whole thing had been orchestrated by a woman who had lost the love of her life. If she’d had a marriage license or wedding ring, she would have been seen as Beau’s widow, and as such, granted more respect and sympathy. But from what she’d gathered, Dottie and Beau had been together for decades. She might not have the legal status of widow, but Dottie’s pain ran just as deep as if they’d been married.

“That’s not true,” Georgie said softly as she slipped her hand into the older woman’s. “You can talk to Beau any time you like.”

“But he won’t talk back.” Her voice quavered with tears.

Georgie turned to face her. “Oh, Dottie. From what I can see, Beau’s voice is everywhere. It’s in the brewery. In his house. It’s in River. And it’s in you. He’s here. You just have to search a little bit for him.”

The older woman nodded, a tear escaping and running down her cheek.

Georgie grabbed her other hand and turned the woman to face her. “You lost someone very dear to you. Perhaps you should take some time off to grieve.”

Her face fell. “You’re firing me.”

Georgie squeezed her hands. “No!I most definitely am not. Ineedyou.” And to Georgie’s surprise she meant it, and not because the will had stated she couldn’t be fired. “Just like I need River. I can’t do this without either of you.”

“But I just nearly burned down your house,” Dottie said, her gaze darting to the house.

“Nearly. Which means you didn’t. The house isn’t important, Dottie. What matters is that everyone is safe. Thatyou’resafe. I’m sure Grandpa Beau would have hated it if you’d gotten hurt trying to talk to him. You have River. And now you have me. We’ll get through this. I promise.”

“Oh, Georgie.” Dottie threw her arms around Georgie and held tight. “I wasn’t so sure at first, but everything’s unfolding the way it was supposed to. Beau knew what he was doing when he picked you.”

Georgie’s body stiffened. Had Dottie known that River was supposed to get the brewery? Before she could ask any questions, the older woman dropped her hold and walked away.

Chapter Twenty-Two

For a moment there, holding Georgie’s hand in the séance circle, River had felt pretty good about what the future might hold for them—and he’d gotten the impression she felt pretty good about it too, complications aside. And then his aunt had set her house on fire.

How did you even apologize to someone for that? He would insist on paying for the repairs (even if it wiped him out), but that didn’t seem like enough. And nothing could atone for that disaster of a crystal-selection ceremony.

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