Page 9 of Backdraft
"Just thinking about the cat and what to do with him," I told her while folding up the towels and jacket that had been his little nest.
"What do you mean? You should keep him. He's homeless now." Alarm ringed her voice, and I met her gaze. She was an utter softie when it came to animals.
"I know, but how can I keep a cat? Who'll take care of him when I'm away?"
She nodded and looked glum. "Good point."
On the upside, I forced myself to relax, knowing the cat was safe at the kitty spa and I had twenty-four hours to decide what to do before I contacted Wags & Whiskers.
Shannon had packed her things and was loading up her vehicle. I was doing the same, only the face of the furry little munchkin kept popping up in my mind’s eye. He had given me some seriously sad eyes when I first rescued him.
My job here was done, at least for now, unless something else cropped up. After giving Shannon a hug goodbye, I went over to Rage and the rest of his crew. They were also packing up.
"You guys were great." I shook their hands. "Thank you. It's been a very long day…night...whatever. I'm pretty sure everyone is ready to get back to the firehouse." I paused, passing my gaze over their faces. "This was a tough one. The captain and I will arrange for someone to come to the firehouse to speak to you if needed. Kids are always tough. Don't hesitate to take the help offered. There's no shame in it."
I looked at the crew in front of me. Some stared at the ground and others watched me. I nodded at them, hoping the words would encourage them to seek whatever emotional support they needed.
"How's your cat?" one of the fire crew asked.
"Well, that's a helluva thing. The cat's gone. Someone took it and left a note on my windshield." I held up the piece of paper and waved it. Apparently, I can find this cat at Wags & Whiskers. Any of you know where that is?"
For the first time since I came on scene, they laughed. The mood lightened, and I wondered what was so funny."
"Ah, Mel's place. She's a pet groomer and lives on the other side of town. Your cat will be in safe hands with her."
"Well, he's hardly my cat," I corrected.
"Didn't look like that to me." A female firefighter smiled at me. "I guess you took ownership when you put it in your truck.”
"Okay, okay. Maybe he is kind of my cat. But I've been given a timeline on retrieving him."
"I didn't see anyone going to your truck, and shouldn’t it have been locked?" Rage raised his eyebrows.
It should've been locked. "Yes, I usually do. I shall endeavor to do better."
"Good," he said and gave me a small smile before commanding the attention of his crew. "We're going to wrap it up here and be on our way." He turned to me. "Do you have somewhere to stay tonight?"
"Yes, I'll be staying at a hotel for a while until I can find a place." I wasn't going to mention that this position and location was a trial run. The hotel was my safety net. If I didn't feel like this was the place for me, I would have less ties to cut in order to move on.
"Some of us are heading to Kali’s for breakfast. This is our last twenty-four, and we're off for four. Feel free to join us if you like."
"Thanks, I appreciate the invitation." While part of me wanted to jump in with both feet and spend some time with the crew here, I was too wiped to even think about it.
We said our goodbyes, and I shuffled over and climbed into the driver's seat of my truck. Pressing my head on the seat back, I drew in a deep breath. I couldn't remember the last time I peed, and just like that, I needed to find a restroom in a hurry. I wheeled the vehicle out and made it made to my hotel room before I burst.
Relief.
I craved a shower and turned on the water to its hottest setting. Eager to get the soiled clothes off, I stripped leaving everything in a pile on the floor.
Steam filled the bathroom, and I stepped under the steaming water. The smell of the fire came off me in rivers and scented the clouds of steam. I wrinkled my nose in distaste. The stench of a fire scene always turned my stomach.
I soaped myself and washed my hair to get every trace of the smell off. My hair was so thick that I usually had to thin it out in order to manage it. It needed a trim as well, so it was a job to clean.
It took three shampoos, a rinse with vinegar and then conditioner to get the smell out. Finally, all I could smell was green apples. I stood under the rain shower watching the suds and bubbles, no longer gray with soot and grime, swirl down the drain.
My back ached. My knees were tender. My shoulders complained. Hours of being on my hands and knees beside Shannon had taken its toll.
I placed my hands on the tiled wall and leaned forward. The hot water slid over my shoulders and down my back, and it was glorious. I could stay like this forever. My mind darkened, and Taylor's face etched against the inside of my eyelids. I wondered what he was doing and allowed a memory in.
