Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 86364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
I parked as close as I could to the apartment complex. It was a compound of two dozen buildings ringed by a series of parking lots for the residents. Trees surrounded the grounds, but that summer greenery did nothing to hide the black smoke billowing into the sky, blotting out the sun. Dozens of people crowded the sidewalk, watching from a safe distance as at least one building burned. Judging by the amount of smoke pouring out, I was inclined to believe the fire had spread to at least one other building, if not more.
As I started toward the entrance to the complex, I pulled my phone out to call Parker but stopped as soon as I spotted him at the edge of the crowd under an oak tree. Joy was in his arms as he rocked her. Her little carrier seat was on the ground next to Parker, along with her travel bag. The baby looked fine as far as I could tell, but Parker was frighteningly pale as his wide eyes remained locked on the smoke.
I needed to get him out of here immediately.
“Parker!” I shouted as soon as I was within a few feet of him.
His head jerked around, and it appeared to take him an extra moment to recognize me, but when he did, a wounded sound broke from his throat that crushed my heart. He took a step in my direction and a heartbeat later, I was wrapping him up in my arms, supporting him as his legs gave out.
“It’s gone. Everything is gone. All my work. All Joy’s clothes. Her bed. All the things Molly picked out for her. All gone,” he cried into my chest, his tears soaking into my shirt.
I tightened my arm on his waist while settling the other closer to Joy to make sure she was still secure. The baby made disgruntled sounds as if Parker’s tears were scaring her.
What was I supposed to say? It would be all right? Trite bullshit. Parker didn’t need useless platitudes that were fucking lies. It wasn’t going to be all right. Sure, they could buy new things for Joy, but they wouldn’t be the things her now-dead mother had bought for her. Parker could make new art, but it would never replace the art that he’d lost.
There was nothing I could say, so I wordlessly supported him as he cried on my chest, hating that he was going through this pain. It was only as Joy’s crying grew in volume that Parker pulled himself together.
He roughly rubbed red eyes. I released him so I could pull a linen handkerchief out of my pocket and offer it to him.
A teary, sniffling laugh escaped him as he took it and mopped up his face. “Do you have an endless supply of these?”
“No, but I’m glad I have one ready for you.”
Parker gave a jerky nod and turned his attention to Joy as he stuffed the soiled handkerchief into the pocket of his cargo shorts.
“We should leave. It’s warm and it can’t be good for her to be breathing in this air,” I said.
Parker frowned and turned his attention to the fire. “But…won’t I need to talk to someone? For insurance or…something…”
I picked up Joy’s chair and shouldered the bag with the elephant. “No. They are going to be fighting this fire for hours to come. Nothing is going to be figured out today, except for those who need housing aid after being displaced. Come home with me so you can both rest. You can make the necessary phone calls tomorrow.”
As I started walking to my car, Parker didn’t follow. He remained locked in place, his expression twisted up.
“But…you don’t want us at your house. We can’t impose on you like that.”
That was a ridiculous statement. If I didn’t want Parker and Joy in my home, I would have offered to put them up in a hotel. No, this made the most sense. I wouldn’t be able to watch over Parker if he was in a hotel.
“Is this her car seat?” I inquired, holding up the chair by the handle.
Parker blinked at me as if he were struggling to understand my change of topic. “Um…part of it. It needs a base to lock into. That’s in my car.”
I walked to Parker and put the chair on the ground. “Where is your car?”
“Just down the block. We couldn’t get any closer.” He pointed at the opposite end of the street.
“Very well. Allow Joy to rest in her chair. She and I will wait here for you to go fetch the base so we can properly install it in my car.”
Parker hesitated, his arms tightening on the baby. I gripped his shoulder and squeezed tense muscles. “I promise to protect her with my life. Nothing will happen to her. I’m sending you because it would be faster than me going. I’m driving because your concentration is shot. It’s safer if I drive,” I added, hoping to head off any additional arguments.