Page 21 of The Firefighter's Angel
But in us.
The moment feels so perfect…until my phone rings.
I stiffen, and Daniel frowns, watching as I slide off the counter to grab it from the kitchen island where I left it.
Mom.
Of course.
I hesitate, thumb hovering over the screen. Then I exhale and swipe to answer. “Hello?”
“Cindy!” My mom’s voice comes through loud and breathless. “Oh my God, where are you? Why haven’t you answered any of my messages?”
“I texted you last night,” I say softly, glancing over at Daniel, who’s gone still, watching me closely. “Told you I was safe.”
“You can’t just disappear, sweetheart,” she says, her voice rising. “You left with no explanation. Do you know how worried we’ve all been? Lenny’s been calling every ranger outpost and hospital from here to Idaho!”
I wince, guilt tugging at my chest. “I’m okay, Mom. I just…I needed space. After what happened—”
Her voice softens a little, but only just. “You were upset. I get that. But running off wasn’t the answer.”
“I wasn’t just upset,” I say, my voice tightening. “Lyle, he—”
“Cindy,” she interrupts quickly, as if she can’t bear to hear the rest. “Lenny and I talked to him. Lyle says it was a misunderstanding. He swears he’d never do anything to hurt you. We’re trying to come up with a solution here, but you can’t just vanish like this.”
My heart pounds.
A misunderstanding? Really?
“He cornered me,” I say, trying to stay calm. “I know what I felt. What I saw in his eyes. It wasn’t a misunderstanding, Mom.”
She sighs, and I can hear the weariness in it. “Honey, you’ve been through a lot lately. Your dad, the move, the pressure. Maybe…maybe you’re just overreacting. We’ll make sure Lyle stays out of your space, okay? He won’t come near you. But I need to know you’re safe. Can you come back to the Airbnb? Just for today?”
I swallow down the tightness in my throat. Everything in me wants to scream no. I don’t want to go back. Not to that house. Not to the weight of pretending everything’s fine when it’s not.
“I’m safe,” I whisper. “I’m with someone who’s been taking care of me. Someone I trust.”
There’s a pause.
“Cindy,” she says, her voice quieter now. “Just let us see you. That’s all I’m asking. Please.”
There’s a hitch to her voice, and I close my eyes, my stomach knotting with guilt.
“Okay,” I finally say. “I’ll come back. But only if Lyle isn’t there.”
“Of course,” she promises quickly. “He won’t be. You have my word.”
We hang up, and I set the phone down slowly, staring at it like it’s a bomb waiting to go off.
Daniel’s still watching me, jaw clenched. “You’re really going back?” he asks quietly.
I nod. “Just to talk. Just to…see.”
He runs a hand through his hair, pushing back from the table. “I don’t like it. Not after everything. It doesn’t sit right.”
“It’s my mom,” I say gently, stepping toward him. “She’s worried. I just need to see them, Daniel. I won’t be alone with Lyle.”
His eyes burn into mine, fierce and protective and deeply, deeply conflicted.
