Carrie Franklin was glued to her monitor as she called the Burnt Cove Fire Department, giving them the location of a fire. Esther’s stomach jumped as she hurried over. “What’s going on?”
“Big fire over at the old mill. That building’s been a fire waiting to happen for years and today is finally the day. They should have torn that thing down years ago.” Her co-worker paused her explanation to handle another call, continuing when she was finished. “Police and Fire have already been dispatched.”
Esther’s tension went up several notches, but she took a deep breath to calm herself. This was just a normal call. The fire department would respond and they would get the blaze under control in no time. At least the mill was empty.
She took several deep breaths to relax herself, but it didn’t help. Stowing her purse and heavy cardigan, she listened to the radio as Carrie received more information and sent more instructions over the lines. On edge, Esther strode to the break room, filled the kettle and set it to boil.
She didn’t even know for certain that Ryan was working today. Goose bumps raced over her body and she shuddered. Closing her eyes, she wrapped her arms around herself, rubbing her hands over her shoulders and upper arms, but it didn’t help. She still felt a cold dread building deep inside her.
In her heart, Esther knew he was working, knew he was facing the deadly blaze while she stood here waiting for the kettle to boil so she could make tea. As if on cue, the water started to bubble.
The mill was constructed totally of wood and had been abandoned for years. Kids routinely broke out what few panes of glass were left in the windows and sprayed graffiti on the walls. The place was filled with junk and there were still a few piles of sawdust at the back as well. Add all those things to the fact that they’d had a dry summer, and the thing would go up like a tinderbox.
The town fathers had been trying to get the former mill owners to demolish the place and clean up the site for a while now, and there had even been talk of having town workers tear it down and sending the bill to the owners. Looks like they wouldn’t have to bother now. The place would be totaled.
Opening her eyes, she quickly tossed a tea bag into her mug and filled it with boiling water. She picked it up and hurried back into the other room.
She settled into her chair in front of the second console and tried to get her thoughts wrapped around her work. Since Carrie was already handling the fire, it would be up to her to deal with any other calls that came in.
She gazed blindly at the screen in front of her, but all she could see was Ryan. His golden-brown eyes stared back at her, their expression filled with love and longing. His strong, blunt features changed slightly, as if another face was imposed upon it. James. She knew that they were very similar, but there were slight differences.
For one thing, Ryan was quite a few years older than James had been when he died. Ryan was taller and stronger, too, due to years of physical training and a much better diet. Yet the similarities were unmistakable. Both men were honorable and kind and strong of character. And both of them loved her.
Oh, God, she thought. This is it. Just like before, he’ll die and there will be nothing I can do to stop it.
She forced herself to breathe slowly, trying to dispel the panic welling within her. In and out. In and out. Her heart was pounding so hard her chest hurt, but gradually it slowed back down to something resembling normal.
They might be the reincarnation of James and Esther, but they weren’t them. Her mother was right. Their lives were different, their experiences were different and they were different. Only the past was set in stone. The future was whatever they chose to make of it.
All her fears about having a relationship with Ryan suddenly seemed ridiculous. No matter what she said or did, it didn’t change how she felt.
A wave of relief crashed over her, washing away all her doubts. The barrier around her heart was smashed to bits and love rushed in to fill the space. Yes, she still had fears, but in the light of everything else they seemed inconsequential when compared to what was at stake.
And if Ryan Jamieson died in this fire, her heart would break. But unlike her ancestor, she wouldn’t have the years of memories with her love to comfort her.
That’s what she conveniently blocked out each time she read and reread Esther’s journal. She’d ignored all the wonderful memories the other woman had written down, ignored the obvious love and joy the couple had shared together and focused only on the pain.
In that moment, she knew if God and Ryan would give her another chance, she’d grab it with both hands and hold on tight. Yes, she was still scared out of her mind he might be injured at work, and she certainly knew it would play havoc with her nerves in the years to come, but she would deal with her fears. She was strong enough to handle the uncertainty and the dangers. It was still a small price to pay for the chance to share a love so deep it had crossed time and distance to find her.
Unable to keep her mind on her own work, Esther pulled her chair up next to Carrie’s, paying rapt attention to all the incoming and outgoing calls, checking her logs. She needed to know what was going on. But most of all she prayed.
Another call came in, asking for more engines to be dispatched. Carrie sent out the call, and within minutes more sirens could be heard in the distance. Esther’s nails bit into her palm as she clenched her hands tight in her lap. All her attention was focused on the radio chatter.
Ten minutes passed and the extra firefighters and equipment were on the scene fighting the blaze. She was thankful that the building had been abandoned and they didn’t need to worry about rescue, only the fire. Esther glanced at her watch, noting she still had five minutes until her shift officially started. Her tea, left untouched, had gone cold once again, so she decided to go and make herself another cup.
She scooted her chair back, grabbed her mug and headed to the break room. She felt calmer, more certain about the outcome. It would take them some time, but they would get the fire under control. They wouldn’t take any unnecessary chances. The building was old and was surely going to burn to the ground. The fire crews would be more concerned with containing the blaze and then extinguishing it, knowing it would burn itself out eventually.
For the first time in days, Esther’s stomach settled down, the queasiness subsiding. She couldn’t wait to finish her shift and go in search of Ryan. They definitely needed to talk.
Carrie was dispatching an ambulance when she returned from the break room with her cup of tea in hand. “What happened?”
“Someone reported they’d seen kids playing inside. Firefighters got them all out okay, but one of the rescuers was injured.”
Esther’s skin went clammy and she just managed to put her cup down before it slipped from her nerveless fingers. This was what she feared, what she had nightmares about. Even though deep in her gut she already knew, she had to ask. “Who?” she croaked.
“The new guy. Ryan Jamieson. He got caught by a falling beam just as he handed out the last of the kids.”
A picture flashed before her, a memory—a wooden timber breaking away and falling on James, crushing him to the ground, burning his flesh. The room spun and Esther grabbed the desk to keep from falling. This couldn’t be happening.
“Are you okay?” She heard Carrie’s concern, but her voice sounded very far away. Next thing she knew she’d been pushed into a chair and her head was between her legs as her friend ordered her to breathe.
She had to get a grip on herself. She had to go to Ryan. Sitting back, she stared into her friend’s worried face. “Can you cover my shift or stay until they can get a replacement in? I have to go.”
“Sure. You don’t look too well. Maybe you should just lie down in the break room until I can get one of the patrol officers to take you home.”
Esther was already on her feet and grabbing her purse. “I’ve got to go to the hospital.”
Carrie’s eyes widened. Everyone knew her rule about not dating firefighters. It was almost legendary how she politely refused them all. “You and Ryan?”
Esther nodded, no longer willing to deny her feelings for him. “Me and Ryan.”
“You go on, but drive carefully. You won’t do either of you any good if you get killed in a car wreck on the way to the hospital.” Another call came in and Carrie waved her away as she went back to work.
Grateful to her friend, Esther hurried out to the parking lot and slid into the driver’s seat of her car. It took her two tries to get the key into the ignition. Her hands shook as she put the vehicle in gear. Gripping the wheel tight, she took a deep breath. This was different from before, she assured herself. Ryan wasn’t alone, but surrounded by professional firefighters who knew how to get him out quickly. He’d also been wearing heavy, protective gear when he was hit.
This wasn’t like what happened with James. Ryan was already receiving skilled medical attention, she reminded herself over and over as she drove. When she wasn’t trying to convince herself of that, she prayed. She was still praying as she pulled into the hospital parking lot and found an empty slot for her car. Jumping out of her vehicle, she raced toward the small emergency room.
The ambulance was still parked by the entrance. The back door was wide open, but the vehicle was empty. Breathless, she rushed through the automatic sliding doors and over to the desk. “Ryan Jamieson. Firefighter. He was just brought in.”
The nurse on the desk nodded, her face serious. “The doctor is with him now if you’ll just take a seat.”
“I have to see him,” she insisted. Until she saw him with her own two eyes, she couldn’t relax. Her car keys cut into her palm, leaving pale, pink lines in the tender skin. She didn’t even remember removing them from the ignition.
“Are you family?” the nurse inquired.
“His fiancée.” It wasn’t really a lie, not if she had anything to say about it.
“I’ll check with the doctor.” The nurse rose from her seat and disappeared behind the swinging doors.
Esther paced back and forth in front of the doors as she waited. She glanced at the empty chairs but couldn’t bring herself to sit. She was too on edge. In a few hours, the room would be filled with firefighters checking on Ryan, but for now it was empty. Everyone else was still at the fire scene.
What was taking so long? Her mind conjured all kinds of scenarios and none of them were good. She shoved them all aside, refusing to give in to the despair that threatened. Whatever happened, she loved Ryan. She clung to that fact as she continued to pace.
She glanced over at the closed doors again, her feet involuntarily taking her closer to them. She’d just taken another step toward them when they swung open and the nurse stepped out. Esther’s heart jumped.
“The doctor will be out as soon as he’s finished with Mr. Jamieson.” The other woman peered at her with concern. “Why don’t you have a seat while you wait?” the nurse suggested.
Esther nodded, unable to speak, and headed toward the chairs. She sat for two seconds and then popped back up and began to pace again. There was no one else in the waiting room as she took eight steps in one direction, turned and took eight back.
She lost count of how many times she turned, but her head began to spin. Dizzy, she was forced to sit. Lowering herself into one of the hard plastic chairs, she stared at the floor, noting that one of the ugly brown tiles was chipped.
Ryan had to be okay. He had to be. Nothing else was acceptable. Surely fate wouldn’t thrust them together again only to pull them apart. But it had happened before and was a distinct possibility again.
Esther rested her forearms on her knees, clasped her hands together and waited. Her head jerked up when she heard the doors swing open. An older, distinguished-looking doctor stood in the entrance, peering around. She could feel all the blood leaving her head in a rush as she stood, but she locked her knees and remained steady.
“How’s Ryan?” Her voice was little more than a raspy whisper.
The doctor held the door for her, ushering her inside. “You’re his fiancée?”
“Yes.” She lied again. “Esther Roberts.” Her legs were shaky, but they held as she followed him.
“I’m Doctor White.” He led her down a short hallway, stopping her outside a closed curtain. “He has some minor burns, some bumps and bruises. He’ll be stiff and sore for a while, but it’s nothing time and rest won’t cure.”
Esther almost collapsed in relief and had to resist the urge to throw herself in the doctor’s arms and bawl like a baby. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
His bushy eyebrows raised as understanding filled his face. “No one told you his condition?”
She shook her head. “Until this moment, I had no idea.”
He smiled kindly at her. “Go on in and see him, but don’t stay too long. We have to get him cleaned up and settled in a room. We’ll keep him overnight for observation, but you can take him home tomorrow if he has a good night.” He pushed the curtain open.
She squeezed the doctor’s arm in gratitude as she passed him. He smiled at her as he pulled the curtain shut behind him.
Even injured, Ryan appeared large and vital against the stark white of the sheets. His face and neck were blackened with soot and she could see a pristine bandage wrapped around his left wrist and palm.
Although she’d made no sound, he turned his head toward her. “I hear I have a fiancée?” His voice was slightly hoarse from the smoke.
She hesitated. Maybe she’d been just a tad too forward. “I couldn’t think of any other way they’d let me see you.”
He nodded, closing his eyes and swallowing. Esther hurried forward, wanting to be closer to him. “Can I get you anything?”
He motioned to the glass with ice chips. Esther perched on the edge of the bed and fed him several. His tongue snaked out to lick her fingers. Gasping, she dropped a piece of ice on his bare chest, making him jerk.
He couldn’t have done that on purpose, could he? Even as she asked the question the sheet below his waist began to twitch. Her gaze flew to his and he met it, unsmiling.