Page 55 of Forever To Me

And maybe it’s the smoke in the air, maybe it’s the way the firelight still flickers in her eyes, but the truth hits me like a hammer to the chest.

I don’t want her to go anywhere else. Sure as hell not Indiana.

I find Ollie and clap him on the back, relieved he’s okay, too. This was a nasty fire. “What the hell happened?”

He shrugs, wiping sweat from his brow. “Not sure. We’ll know more tomorrow. Just glad we got everyone out safe.”

Maggie and Violet finish getting checked out by the paramedic, finally clear to go. I see them scan the crowd for me.

“Thanks, man. I’m going to get Maggie and Violet home.”

He nods and returns to cleaning up his equipment.

The truck is quiet on the way home.

Maggie and Mack talk softly in the back seat, but Violet stares out the window, her fingers curled around the blanket still draped over her shoulders.

I don’t say anything.

Not until we pull into my driveway, the house looming against the backdrop of trees and night.

I cut the engine. “We’re home,” I murmur.

Violet lets out a soft, shaky breath.

Then, finally, she nods. As if she’s trying to convince herself of something.

Inside, Maggie and Mack head upstairs to settle in. Mack brings down clean pajamas for Violet and hands them to her, looking sad for her.

But Violet lingers in the living room, arms wrapped around herself like she’s trying to hold something together.

My room and bathroom are on the main floor of the house, a guest room with a bathroom on the other side of the house. Upstairs is Mack’s room and three other bedrooms, one that Maggie uses when she stays. Maggie has a lot of her things up there already, thankfully, and has extra clothes here.

Violet has nothing now. All her things were in that motel. And I know it’s not just things. She had that guitar, her notebook I've seen her writing songs in. Everything she has is gone.

“Hey, come on,” I murmur as I lead her to the guest room. I check for bathroom towels and ensure she has everything she might need.

She still looks a little shell-shocked, so I hug her. “It’s okay.”

She leans into me, holding me. “That place was Maggie’s home and her livelihood. She lived there for over thirty years,” she whispers.

I know she lost a lot, too. But her concern for Maggie is selfless, and I can tell she cares as much as I do. I hate seeing the loss Maggie is facing.

“I know. I'm just relieved that you’re all safe.” I rub her back.

She steps back and nods. “Yeah, you’re right.”

“Get some sleep, Red. It’s gonna be okay.”

I linger in the doorway after she disappears into the guest room, my fingers curling around the frame, my pulse still too damn uneven.

That hug—Jesus.

I can still feel the way she leaned into me, her body pressed against mine, her fingers gripping the back of my shirt like she needed something to hold on to. Like she needed me to hold on to.

And I didn’t hesitate. Not for a second.

When Maggie needs me, I show up. Her niece is like family, too. I try to tell myself this, anyway.

---