Page 45 of Sweet Summertide

“We don’t know for sure, but it is standard procedure to examine all causes.”

“When can I go in?” she said.

“Later today. Where can we reach you?”

“Right here. I’m not leaving this spot until I know more.”

The firefighter understood and walked back to the scene.

“Arson? Is he serious?” she said knowing Teddy knew nothing more than she did yet. “Who would have a motivation to burn down a creamery? It doesn’t make sense to me. Do you think it was one of the other shop owners? Do you think it was …” she paused and looked at Teddy’s eyes, searching for a trace of guilt.

“Woah! Woah! Holly. Why are you looking at me like that? Whatever you’re thinking you’d better stop going down that road right now.” His words were a warning, but it may have been too late. “You can’t possibly think that I …”

She backed away from him. The damage was done. She had considered him guilty for only a fraction of a second. “Only because I can’t be totally sure I wouldn’t have burned your place down if I believed it would have helped me in some way. If I’m capable of doing something so heinous, then why couldn’t you have?”

“Holly. You’re digging yourself into a hole that I’m not sure you can get out of here.” Another warning.

“I’m sorry,” she knew admitting that she had experienced that singular thought was enough to destroy the trust they had built. “I know you didn’t do this. You were with me the whole time.”

“Then why did you even think it? Why do you expect the worst in everyone around you?”

That was the fifty-thousand-dollar question, and she had no capacity to come up with an answer when her eyes were glued to the sopping exterior of the Cups & Cones Creamery.

“Let me know when you have a better answer for me. In the meantime, I have work to do.”

CHAPTER 23

Holly wasn’tsure how long she had sat on the curb watching the firefighters work, but no stretch of time could help her go back and take back the thought that Teddy had anything to do with the fire. All the while she sat there, she had been too cowardly to look over her shoulder and see him. She knew he was there, just like he had said he would be. She wasn’t alone, but he hadn’t said anything to her all morning. He was likely waiting for her to give a better explanation for having accused him of arson.

Workers came and went into the chocolaterie behind her, one even brought her a bottle of water, no doubt at Teddy’s direction. He wasn’t speaking to her, but he was still caring for her. His actions spoke louder than words ever could, but her words alone had cut. It seemed she could do nothing to get out of her own way.

As she waited for the all-clear to inspect the damage, the sounds coming from Teddy’s kitchen kept her company; metal pans clinking on a stainless counter, cardboard boxes ripping open and bubble wrap popping. The rich scent of his chocolates seeped out through his open door and out to the sidewalk where she remained. The mouth-watering aroma was hardly enough toovertake the bitter smell of charred wood coming from her shop on the other side of the street.

The fire chief came out of her front door with a sort of pipe in his hands, and locked eyes with her. She stood and crossed the road blocked off by a fire truck parked perpendicular to the sidewalks His lifted brows and relaxed jaw gave her hope that she could get inside.

“We’re all done in there, but before you go in, there’s some good and bad news.” He handed her the narrow, pipe-like object. “The good news, it wasn’t arson. This thing here is what caused the fire, old knob-and-tube wiring in the upper section of the wall.”

“And the bad news?”

“You probably would have never known otherwise, but there was an extensive network of carpenter ants that had turned the wood to pulp in the same area. In my opinion, the shavings dried out and came into contact with this old wiring. It was a matter of time at that point. It’s just a good thing no one was here at the time.”

“So, it really was an accident?”

He nodded. “I’m glad to say so. Before you go in, you’ll need to take a few precautions. My inspection team says the structure is stable except for the Eastern corner of the upper floor, but I would recommend having this designated a hard hat area until an engineer gives the all-clear. As for the downstairs area, the damage is minimal, just wet. And here,” he pulled out a white and yellow face mask from a pocket on his coat sleeve, “Wear this today. The wind will clear out the smoke in a few hours.”

“Thanks, chief.” Holly watched the crews load up in their trucks and toot their horn as they left. She was left in the middle of the street to take in the extent of her loss.

Dozens of people had gathered outside the cordoned-off area and were whispering and pointing at her shop. In addition to thesmoky show, a bullseye might as well have been painted in red all over her skin. There was no hiding from this. She shrugged her shoulders and waved at the people as she headed in to her shop.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Millie pushing through the dispersing crowd and running in Holly’s direction. Looking down the street, Holly saw Alfonso close behind. Millie threw her arms around Holly and hugged her in tight. Too tight. “Ouch. Watch my back.”

Millie stepped back. “Oh my god. What happened?”

Holly shook her head. “Would you believe me if I told you that it’s a long story?”

Millie smiled. “I would. Your stories are usually long. Are you okay? We came through as soon as they let us.”

Alfonso finally caught up to them and bent over with his palms bracing on his knees. “Alfonso no run fast.”

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