Page 65 of The Family Man

At the end the chief officer told Daire that the fire may have started because of a gas leak. Thankfully no one was inside.

I was the last person to leave, I turned off everything. Twenty-five years working toward this dream, and it’s all going up in smoke.

I hear footsteps running toward me. I feel arms tighten around me. “Hey. You okay?”

I look down at Sage, her face is full of concern and love. Love? “I am fine. My insurance has this covered.” But I wasn’t fine, I’m irritated, tired, I’m pissed off. But I was far from fine.

She stays with me at the scene, waiting in the background. Daire took the kids home, but Sage waited.

I sigh and shake the chief fire officer’s hand. He tells me all the details about the fire. My shoulders feel heavy as I walk back over to Sage. “I am so out of it.”

She stands on her tiptoes, holds my face and kisses me. “Let’s go home.”

I pull away slowly. “I have to go to the police station and file a report, I think.”

“I can come with you.”

“Nah, I wanna deal with this on my own. I don’t need you right now.” Shit, I’m hurting her. Was that necessary? I don’t even know anymore.

She moves back slowly; I can see she is calculating a response. “Okay, I will leave you to it.”

I watch her turn and head back to her car.

“Text me when you get home,” I shout.

“Of course.” She jumps in her car and drives off. I drag my hand down my face knowing that I’m causing my relationship to go left.

I need to focus and deal with this then everything else will fall into place.

SAGE

Ihave heard nothing from Zac for four days. All I hear is his car leaving in the day or coming back home late at night. He doesn’t come up my steps, he isn’t answering my texts or calls.

He finally sent a message today, “I will call you when I get home. We need to talk.”

I hate those words “We need to talk.” It signifies the end.

I prep my mind for what’s coming. Heartbreak.

It’s Friday, today would have been his opening. I looked through my window all day, now it’s 11:53 p.m., and his car pulls up to his driveway. At least he is home safe.

“Stop being a scaredy-cat and go across there and talk to him,” Anise says behind me.

“He is not outside.” Just then I see the red amber from his cigar.

“You’re right. I need to be brave.” I tighten my robe and make my way out of my home.

My heart is pounding as I cross over onto his property. I walk up the stairs slowly, he puts out his cigar and digs his hand in his pocket. He is standing in the shadows of his porch.

“Hey.” I walk up to him and give him a hug. The difference is he doesn’t return it.

I step away and hug myself.

“I have been meaning to call you but the fire and the kids.” As he shifts, I see the light from the living room on half of his body.

“Where are the kids?” I hear no TV in the background.

“At my parent’s house.”

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