Page 29 of His Greatest Treasure

“Your mom was telling me about your flower shop the other day,” Ava says, changing the subject. I smile appreciatively at her. The last thing I want is for everyone to think I’m even slightly interested in Oliver. “We’d love to come by and help get it ready. I imagine it’s been quite a feat.”

“I’d appreciate that. It’s a really nice space, but it needs some TLC. I’m hoping to open up in a couple of months. Definitely before winter.”

“I wouldn’t let Ava anywhere near your flowers. She’s got the blackest thumb of all black thumbs. They’ll die if she so much as breathes on them,” Gracie says.

Ava gives her a shove. “Ouch, Gray.”

I cut a piece of chicken with the edge of my fork. “My mom’s the same way. I was the one taking care of the plants back home. Dad, too, sometimes.”

“Maybe you can teach me how to keep them alive. Just me. Not Gracie,” Ava says.

Gracie meets my eyes and winks. “It’ll be our secret.”

“For real, I’d really appreciate your help. Nova starts schooltomorrow, and then I’ll be at the shop pretty much all the time,” I tell them, hoping I don’t sound desperate.

The two women just nod and smile, happy with my offer. We continue eating in comfortable silence, and only once I’ve managed to slip every piece of egg from my salad onto Nova’s plate do I risk a look at the smaller table. Oliver’s no longer there, and for some ridiculous reason, I wish that he were.

11

OLIVER

Adjusting my headset,I keep my focus on the house up ahead and the flames swallowing its left side. The fire engine plows through the street with Adams behind the wheel. Sirens blare, and the neighbourhood residents watch as we pass, their fear potent.

It’s early morning, and while this is the start of our day, it’s also the start of everyone else’s.

The moment we pull up in front of the scene, I’m the first off the truck. My turnouts are a welcome weight as I find station 8 already on scene and slap my helmet on.

I’m assessing the scene in an instant, noticing a family huddled off to the side, their frames bundled beneath blankets and oxygen masks on their faces. A set of EMTs speak to them in low voices, attempting to soothe the couple but not succeeding.

“Don’t leave him in there!”

“I couldn’t find him!”

My stomach swoops, knowing we have to execute a search and rescue. The smoke billowing from the second-storey windows isn’t comforting.

Lieutenant Holloway from station 8 rushes toward me andgives a rundown of the fire and their current plan of action before I reach up to my shoulder and turn my radio on.

“Engine 3, we have a two-storey residential structure with heavy smoke and flames tearing through the left side of the building. All occupants are reportedly out, but there’s a pet still inside. Prepare for a primary search and attack.”

The family cries out at my order, but I put them to the back of my mind for now. “Hart and Jacobs, you’re on fire attack with me. Adams and Lerman, start on the first floor and find that damn dog. Patel, I want a water supply now!”

They don’t hesitate. My team moves on fast-forward, and after fitting my mask on and waiting for a quick confirmation from Patel regarding the water supply, I’m leading the charge into the house, the hose line in my hands.

“As soon as I create a break in the flames, fan out and bring that dog to its family. They’re five minutes away from tearing inside and attempting to find it on their own,” I shout into the radio, the flames loud and hot in front of me.

They flare out before I open the hose line and start knocking them down. Search and rescue take off down the hall, their shouts impossible to hear this close to the flames.

Bit by bit, we force the flames back toward the ignition point. I’m not surprised to find our path leading to the kitchen. I drop my head and grab my radio with one hand. “Adams, what’s your status?”

My radio crackles on my shoulder.

“Advancing to the second floor. Visibility is poor, but the fire hasn’t spread from the first floor yet.”

“Proceed with caution.”

Hart falls behind me, the second hose line pulsing in her hands as we tag team the flames. Engine 8 continues spraying the fire from the outside, but the heat doesn’t die down. Sweat trickles down my forehead and off my nose, and I sniffle in my mask.

Afterwhat feels like hours later, Adams’ voice comes from the radio.

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