Page 4 of Hargrave Flame Out
“I’m Diedre,” the nurse said. “Are you hungry?”
“Not really.”
“Let’s try some water,” Diedre urged. “How’s the throat? You were outside, but you inhaled plenty of smoke.”
She swallowed deliberately, testing the pain. “It’s okay.”
“Some good news.” The nurse smiled and held out a plastic device. “Lung exercise.” She explained the process and Celeste gave her best effort. “And how does that feel?”
“Burns a little.”
Diedre made a note, then looked up and smiled again. “You’ll get to take that home and use it frequently for a couple of days.”
“I can still smell the smoke.” She wrinkled her nose. “Taste it too.”
“Mm-hm. Taste is coming from your lungs. Better out than in. What you’re smelling is smoke in your hair,” Diedre said. “It’ll fade. You’ll feel better once you can get a shower at home.”
Home. For so long she’d thought of Hargrave Hideaway as her home, no matter that she co-owned it with her sisters andhosted strangers in the upstairs suites. Was she even allowed to go inside?
“Ready for some visitors?” The nurse asked, drawing her away from her concerns.
“Sure.” She imagined both her sisters were worried.
“Veronica has been here and waiting since we sent word. A few other friends have come and gone.”
Come and gone?“How long have I been out?”
She patted Celeste’s shoulder. “Only a couple of hours.”
“When can I go home?”
“Dr. Sanders will want to take one more look at you before he sends you on your way.” She adjusted Celeste’s bed and plumped the pillows behind her head and shoulders. “I’ll let him know you’re awake.”
“Thanks.”
Diedre left and a moment later, Veronica walked in, trailed by Reed. Celeste felt immediately self-conscious with him in the room. Silly, considering how he’d stepped into the gap her father had left behind. Veronica had likely called him to sit with her while she waited.
“Thanks for coming.” Celeste’s gaze dropped to the splint bracing her right wrist.
“You sound more alert,” Veronica observed. “How are you feeling?”
“Meh. Not a fan of smelling like I’ve been hanging out in hell.” Celeste’s attempt at humor fell flat. Reed and Veronica stared at her with blatant concern. “Gee, tough room.”
Veronica exhaled, puffing her bangs away from her face. “Tough day? Definitely. Getting a call that you were being transported here after trying to fight a fire by yourself wasn’t a high point.”
She couldn’t imagine being on the other end of that call. “You would’ve done the same thing.” Celeste lifted her splinted arm,wincing at the jolt of pain. “Probably with far more grace. Do they know what happened yet?” she asked. “How did it start?”
Veronica gaped, clearly exasperated, and Celeste turned to Reed. “What did they say? Did anyone tell you what happened?”
Reed glanced at Veronica and rocked back on his heels. “Chief Miller was grudgingly impressed with your attempt to keep the fire contained. That’s about all I’ve heard. He’ll have more questions when you’re feeling better.”
Celeste struggled against the lingering fog in her head. She wanted answers, a viable explanation. There was no reason she could think of for the outdoor kitchen to burst into flame. “I guess it’s a good thing we live on a small island.”
“You got that right,” Veronica agreed. “The response times are almost instant.”
It hadn’t felt instant, but why argue? “Aww, sis. Would you miss me if something happened?”
Veronica swore under her breath, glaring at Celeste, and suddenly itwaslike looking in a mirror. All three of the Hargrave sisters were blonde and blue-eyed, but everyone seemed to agree that Celeste was the serious one—always quicker with a frown than a smile. Natalie, the youngest, was way too trusting and carefree. And Veronica, just like her birth order, was caught in the middle—more easy-going than Celeste and more circumspect than Natalie.
