Page 7 of Into the Fire
The kitchen was small, but functional. Aged whitewashed wood cabinets, thick wooden butcher-block-style countertops, and a basic and well-used coffee maker shoved into the corner. A row of cast-iron skillets hung from the wall above the stove, blackened and seasoned from years of use. Emery leaned against the counter, taking in the space. It was simple, but it felt real. Lived in.
Opening the freezer, Levi grabbed a couple of frozen burger patties, dropping them into a preheated skillet with a sharp sizzle. Then reached for a box of princess-shaped macaroni and dumped it into a pot of water that hadn’t quite started to boil.
“It’s nothing fancy,” Levi said, almostdefensively. “But according to June, it makes a big difference if the noodles are princess-shaped. Apparently, they taste better.”
He crossed his arms and stared at the pot like it had personally offended him for not boiling faster.
“Honestly, this smells great. It’s perfect.”
He glanced at her, suspicious of the compliment, but said nothing. June climbed into a chair at the table and was sitting cross-legged, happily drawing something on the back of a grocery receipt with a pink crayon.
“Are you a real babysitter?” June asked, looking up at Emery.
Levi sighed. “June—”
“It’s fine,” Emery said gently, turning toward her. “Nope, not a real babysitter. Just someone good at helping.”
June grinned. “I like helpers. My daddy does everything.”
Levi opened his mouth, then shut it, rubbing theback of his neck.
“I’ve always done it on my own,” he muttered. “Didn’t have much of a choice. And… It's just hard to trust someone else to look after her.
Levi flipped the finished burgers onto plates, poured the princess macaroni into a strainer, and silently dished out food without any fanfare.
He set plates on the table with a third for himself and handed out forks. No napkins, no extra sides, just a shared box of mac-and-cheese, a quick burger, and a trace of tension still hanging in the air.
They ate in silence for a moment; the only sound was the soft clinking of their forks.
Levi didn’t say anything right away. He took a bite, chewed, and swallowed.
“Listen,” he said finally, still not meeting her eyes, “I don’t hand my kid off to just anyone. I’m not great at… trusting, or letting people in, or asking for help.”
“I get it. You’re not a burden, Levi. And I don’t expect trust overnight. I’m just here to help where I can.” Emery responded, her voice soft but sure.
Levi looked at her—his eyes, dancing over her face. Hisexpression softened for the briefest moment before he turned his attention back to his food and scarfed the rest of the food from his plate like a starving man who hadn't eaten all day.
Levi glanced at the clock and stood. “I’ve got to run out for a minute; got a calf in the barn I’ve been keeping an eye on. It shouldn’t be long. You good here?”
Emery gave a small salute. “We’re good.”
By the time Levi came back in, brushing hay off his sleeves, he paused at the doorway to the kitchen. The scene that met him stopped him in his tracks.
June was spinning in little barefoot circles, singing an off-key version of a song he didn’t recognize. Emery was standing at the sink, rinsing the last of the dishes, phone propped up nearby, playing music. She was laughing at something June had said, her shoulders relaxed, her hair now messier than it was earlier, a few loose waves falling from her bun.
Levi stood there for a long second, arms crossing out of habit, the tension in his chest shifting into something unfamiliar, something warmer. Maybe thiswasn’t going to be a disaster after all.
Emery had said goodnight to June, and Levi had taken her upstairs to tuck her into bed, the porch creaking softly as Emery came down the steps. Levi stood at the edge, with one hand resting on the rail, watching her cross the gravel drive to her car. The porch light caught the loose pieces of her dark hair, reflecting a warm auburn hue.
She didn’t look back as she slid into the driver’s seat, just gave a short wave through the window and backed out slowly, tires crunching as she disappeared down the long drive toward the road.
Stepping back into the house, Levi exhaled through his nose and closed the door behind him.
The house immediately felt too quiet. The kind of quiet that quickly reminded him that he had been doing it alone for too long.
He moved through the kitchen on autopilot, pushing the stack of unsorted mail on the counter into a slightly neater pile that he still had no plans of going through. The dishes were done. June was in bed. And for once, he wouldn't have to stay up later tofinish everything himself.
He didn’t know how to feel about that.
