Page 75 of Wrapped Up in Christmas Hope
“We’ve been listening to your grandfather’s scanner. We turned it off when we heard your car in the driveway so we could tell you rather than risk you hearing something over the radio.”
Morgan’s chest constricted and it took everything within her to ask, “Hear what?”
Because she knew there was more news. More bad news.
“Two firefighters were trapped in the building when a roof collapsed, along with a woman they were trying to get out.”
No. Just no.
Tears slid down her cheeks and she swatted them away. “Andrew?”
“No. Andrew and Cole aren’t the two trapped firefighters,” Sophie assured her.
Morgan was instantly filled with guilt that she hadn’t thought to ask about Cole. But, oh God, she’d thought Andrew...
“But they are on the Rapid Intervention Team, along with Ben.”
Morgan’s stomach clenched, knowing she wasn’t going to like what her cousin was about to tell her next.
“They went back to extricate them.”
Of course, Andrew had gone back in. If there were people inside, he’d rather die trying to save them than to watch the building burn around them while doing nothing.
“Not long after they went back in, another large section of the roof caved,” Isabelle picked back up when Sophie’s voice broke off. “Even if more fire crews arrive, they can’t get to them. Not now. So, we wait to see if they find their own way out.”
Oh God.
Andrew. Cole. Ben.
Andrew!
Oh God. No. Please, no. Nausea hit Morgan and she thought she might throw up. Throwing up might make her feel better.
She might never feel better again.
She slumped over, putting her head between her knees, partially to hide the heavy flow of tears cutting across her cheeks.
Grammy moved next to her and wrapped her arms around Morgan. “There, there, sweet girl. They’re going to be okay.”
Morgan didn’t bother lying or pretending that Andrew wasn’t why she was upset. They all knew anyway. They’d known long before she’d admitted as much to herself. She hadn’t wanted to care for Andrew. But she did.
“You don’t know that, Grammy.” She covered her face with her hands. “Sometimes things aren’t okay. Sometimes the people you love die and they leave this huge hole in your heart that seems ever expanding.”
“And sometimes they live to fight the good fight another day,” her grandmother said.
Please let that be the case. Please. Please. Please.
“They know what they’re doing, Morgan,” Sophie said, coming to sit on the other side of her. Her cousin placed her hand on Morgan’s shoulder. “This is what they’ve trained for. I’m nervous, too, but we have to trust in them, in their skills, and in God to watch over them. I pray He does.”
At that moment, Sophie’s phone began playing, “Here comes Santa Claus,” which was Cole’s special ring tone.
Morgan sat up, her gaze meeting her cousin’s, then Sophie scrambled to answer the call. “Hello? Cole? Everyone’s out safe? Jules, Bob, and the lady who was still inside, too? Thank God.”
Andrew was out. Relief washed over Morgan, as did exhaustion and she fought breaking down into sobs.
“I love you, too, Cole. I’m so glad everyone is going to be okay,” Sophie continued.
Morgan’s body began to tremble. She loved her family, but she needed a moment alone to process how utterly wound up she was over the thought of something happening to Andrew. Ever.
