Page 7 of Where There's Smoke
Plus, I wasn't going to be able to pay for a hotel room. We had just lost so much equipment in the fire that needed replacing as soon as possible, so every penny counted. I’d been in worse situations. I could figure this out.
You absolutely have not been in worse situations, Melody.
The voice in my head wasn’t helping. My priority was finding a home for the animals, even if it was temporary.
Lowering the mask on my face, I looked up at the firefighter who’d given it to me and refused to leave my side. “We need to find somewhere for the animals to go. Can you please help with calling a shelter? My phone is dead.”
Hopefully it just had a drained battery and wasn’t entirely dead.
I glanced at the burning remnants of my entire life, more of me cracking under the reality of what had happened.
“Oh, sure. You just keep that mask on for me. I don’t like the sound of your breathing.”
I wanted to argue, but there was something about this guy that was disarming. I kind of hated it right now, considering my whole life had blown up, and I had every right to be “armed,” but I couldn’t muster it when he smiled at me like that and exuded concern.
The firefighter walked away, pulling a cell phone from his pocket. I watched without saying anything, stroking my thumb over the puppy's head to soothe both our nerves. After a few minutes of tense silence, where all I did was pet the dog and breathe, the guy came back over with that damn smile of his.
“Hey, I’ve got some good news,” the curly-haired firefighter said. I tried to smell him, curious, but all I could distinguish was the scent of dirty smoke.
“You do?” I asked weakly.
“The fire department has connections with a few local shelters because rescuing animals from fires is kind of a staplefor us. Well, you would know because Rune has brought animals to you several times?—”
“Blaze rescues a dog every two to three months.” I laughed lightly, but there was no humor in it, too much exhaustion and grief flooding my veins.
“You know Blaze?” he asked with a grin. I nodded, trying to smile back at him. “That’s my cousin! I’m Fitz.”
I cocked my head to the side, really taking him in for the first time since this mess began. He did bear a resemblance to the firefighter from Station Sixteen. They had the same strong nose, the same boyish features. In fact, they could very easily pass as brothers. The model good looks were clearly quite strong in their family’s genes.
“I can see the resemblance.” I beamed, glad that someone like Blaze was in charge of helping out. I mean, sure, I didn’t know if he wasjustlike his cousin, but if Fitz was even half as nice, the animals were in good hands.
And me, too, I guessed.
“Well, we contacted some shelters, and we found a place that can take these guys for a few weeks until you’re back on your feet.”
That was something, at least. The firefighter’s kindness had taken a job off my plate, which I was extremely thankful for.
“How bad is the damage?” I asked, that good feeling sinking.
“You want me to be honest?”
That was never a good sign, but I nodded. It was best to rip off the Band-Aid.
“The fire’s affected the foundation. So…I don't think you're getting back in the building. It's probably going to be condemned, or it’ll take a lot of work to fix up what’s left.”
A groan escaped my lips, and I sagged into myself, dropping my face into my hands as the puppy squirmed slightly.
“Ugh. Do you know how long it took me to find this place? I…crap. Any other facility that would let me house animals wants to charge me an arm and a leg! I can’t just come up with a building like magic.”
“You had insurance on the place, right?” Fitz gave me this crooked smile that was equal parts pity and sympathy. I’d had enough of both, though.
“Yeah. I…I’ll figure it out. I’m…” I looked around, spotting my car in the parking lot to the side of the building. I owned the rescue, and the small plot of land it sat on, but the insurance policy was miniscule, and I could already tell the damage was going to be expensive. “I’m going to my friend’s house, if that’s okay. I need to get away from all this.”
Fitz frowned, concern pulling his eyebrows together. “Umm, I’d really like you to go to the EMTs so that we can be sure you’re all right.”
I stood, forcing myself to remain stable, even as my vision went a little hazy. “I’m fine, and if there are any issues, I’ll go to the hospital. Okay?”
He didn’t want to say yes. I could see it all over Fitz’s face, but he couldn’t tell me no, either. It wasn’t like I was gravely injured or under arrest, so I was free to leave.
