Page 49 of Hiss and Make Up
“They’re not here,” Sierra stammered, taking a step back as the woman grabbed both of her shoulders. “They’re safe.”
Sierra bit the inside of her mouth to keep from flaming on the woman. She didn’t know who this woman was, but fire or not, Sierra didn’t know how long she could be the calm one in this situation.
“Mrs. Guidry, the kids and Denise are fine.” Marc put a hand on his hysterical neighbor’s shoulder. “They were downtown, and I just spoke to her. Everyone is okay.”
Mrs. Guidry. She’d recognized that perky little nose and pouty mouth, although a couple extra decades had masked the connection.
Marc took the woman’s hands from Sierra’s arms and held her attention with his own calming gaze. She relaxed a little and exhaled, mumbling, “Thank you, Jesus.”
“The firefighters are doing all they can, and everyone is safe. I need you and everyone else to go home so we can focus on Denise’s house without having to keep track of all of you, worrying if you’re in danger. Can you do that for me?” Marc’s voice was calm and steady. “I could really use your help. Can you gather everyone and send them all home?”
The woman straightened her back and tightened her robe belt. She looked around the yard and leaned to glance behind the house. Did she think they were lying to her? Did she think they were hiding the kids in the shed while a fire raged a few yards away? The woman frowned when she noticed Sierra watching her. Then, she flashed a familiar smile at Marc.
“Don’t you worry about a thing.”
Accepting the challenge, the woman marched back to the road and waved her arms at the small group of people gathered there. Then she herded them down the street like a flock of wild turkeys.
“Chloe’s mom,” Marc said. “Apparently, we needed a little excitement around here.”
“Because this day was pretty dull before she came along. What is with that woman?”
“She’s a trip, but harmless.”
Sierra rubbed her sore shoulders. “How’s Denise?”
“As expected. Shaken, but I convinced her to stay away and go to a friend’s house for the night.”
“Good. She can assess the damage in the morning. No sense watching her house burn all night.”
Marc turned to the flames, and Sierra realized that was exactly what he’d be doing. The firefighters were finally getting a handle on the blaze, at least preventing it from spreading further through the house. Still, it was his sister’s house. The house she and her husband had built. The house where they were raising their children. The house where Marc had spent lots of time over the last few years.
“I’m so sorry.”
He raised a hand to stop her from apologizing. “You should go.”
“I promise, I won’t get in the way.” She had no intention of interfering, but the last thing she wanted to do was leave him alone.
He shook his head. “I know you wouldn’t, but there’s nothing you can do here either. You need to go home and get some sleep.”
“I don’t have to work tomorrow. I’m fine.”
He stared at the flames. “It doesn’t matter. I need you to go.”
Her stomach dropped as the words hit her.
There it was. She’d expected this.
The kiss. The shop. The whole day. It had been a mistake. It just took a fire for him to realize it.
When she didn’t answer, he turned to her and his expression softened. He took her hand and squeezed it. “No, not like that. I need to know that you’re safe.” He pointed at the house with his other hand. “Right now it looks like the safest place is away from here. Away from me.”
A few minutes earlier, when she’d had nothing to do but pace on the lawn and wait for Marc in that burning building, she'd come to the same conclusion. Not about her safety, but that the fire couldn’t be an accident. There were too many outrageous coincidences over the past two days. She wouldn't mutter the word “arson” while his sister’s house melted in front of him, but he seemed to have the same suspicion.
“And who’s going to keepyousafe?” She slipped a hand around his arm and pressed close to him. “I swear, you won’t have to worry about me. I can take care of myself.” She squeezed his arm. “And I can help you. Even if that means standing here with you all night and doing nothing else.”
He brushed her hair from her face again and tucked it behind one ear. “I know. And I appreciate that you would do that.” He kissed her forehead. Then, he looked her in the eyes and said, “Go home. Please?”
Sierra nodded. She didn’t want to argue with him. That wouldn’t help. And from the look in his eyes, she didn’t think she could change his mind on this one.
