Page 54 of Forever To Me

I spot Jack first. He’s standing near the truck, sweat and soot smeared across his face, talking fast with the firefighter crew. Our fire department’s small—mostly volunteers, mostly men and women who’ve got regular jobs during the day but show up when the sirens wail, no questions asked.

And tonight, they’re all here. Because when one of us goes down, we all show up.

I see Poppystanding near the fire truck, her blond hair pulled back tight, streaks of black on her arms where she must’ve wiped sweat and ash away. She’s talking with another firefighter, her expression tight, eyes scanning the crowd.

And then there’s Ollie, all business, all firefighter mode,directing the last of the containment. His crew moves fast, securing the area, knocking down lingering flameswhilesteam rises up in thick, angry clouds where water meets fire.

I step out of my truck, my boots hitting the ground hard, my chest tight with something I don’t have a name for yet.

Because standing here, watching my town—the people I know—band together in the face of disaster and destruction…

It does something to me.

Because this is Bridger Falls.

This is home.

And no matter how much I tell myself I don’t get attached or try to keep my distance, it pulls me in.

I take a step forward, scanning the scene, my heart hammering as I spot one person in particular in the crowd.

Violet.

And when I see her—standing near Maggie, her arms crossed, eyes locked on the blaze with something unreadable written all over her face?—

Everything else falls away.Something tightens in my chest.

Mack rushes to Maggie first, wrapping her arms around her.

Maggie looks up, and when she sees me, her shoulders sag just a little with relief.

Forgetting my boundaries, I can’t help it when I step up to Violet and pull her into my chest, my arms wrapping around her protectively, utterly relieved that both of them are okay and safe. Violet leans into me, pulling me close, needing the hug.

“Hey,” I murmur. “You both alright?”

Maggie nods, but her voice is hoarse. “Everything’s gone.”

"I'm so sorry, Aunt Maggie," Violet whispers as she reaches for her hand.

Maggie squeezes her hand. “They’re just things, sugar. I'm so glad everyone is safe.”

I watch Violet swallow hard, her throat working like she’s trying to keep something down. But I know better.

This isn’t just stuff to either of them. It’s not just things lost in the fire.

I see it—the grief, the fear, the weight of it all—sitting heavy in their eyes. The kind of weight that doesn’t just come from watching a place burn—it comes from knowing what could’ve happened. From what almost did. And I can't let my brain go there. I can't.

I exhale sharply, rubbing the back of my neck. I can’t stand it.

“Come on,” I say, my voice firm, leaving no room for argument. “You’re coming with us.”

She blinks. “What?”

I gesture toward Maggie and Mack. “You’re both staying with us. End of discussion.”

Violet hesitates, chewing her lip, her gaze flicking to Maggie, then back to me. She’s torn.

“I can go stay with my parents in Indiana,” she says, but there’s a quiet edge to it. A reluctance. “But… I don’t want to leave you.”

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