CHAPTER ELEVEN
* Kayla *
Waking up from a regular alarm was lousy, but the loud bell ringing me out of sleep was horrifying. It took me a minute of thrashing at my phone to realize that it was the fire alarm.
I’d thought that Gwen was being paranoid by alerting my neighbor about my predicament. But I was relieved to hear little Mrs. Henderson knocking on my door as I was getting my shoes on. Thank goodness I’d slept in leggings and a huge old t-shirt. I grabbed my sweater and purse, and let her lead me to the stairwell.
Mrs. Henderson’s top speed was about the same as mine, but at least she could see where we were going as she guided us down the concrete steps. Thank goodness we were only on the seventh floor.
Walking down flight after flight of stairs, I held the railing but also tested every step before trusting it. I had the sensation that I was slowly falling. Terror that I was going to have another dizzy spell filled my core. I didn’t want to think about trying to get through that without Liam with me.
Mrs. Henderson kept her arm linked with mine while we walked across the lawn. We went past a crowd of people, until we were standing under a tree at the corner of the property.
“Here you are, dear. You’re so pale, I don’t want you to suddenly get too much sun.”
“Thanks.”
I tried to breathe slowly and deeply, but it was hard not to panic being outside. I felt so exposed. Helpless.
The fire trucks were already out front, and Mrs. Henderson squeezed my arm. “Oh dear, I wish you could see the big one with the mustache. He’s a piece of gear himself.”
I howled with laughter at how saucy she was.
It was clear that it was a false alarm, but they had to check and reset the system before letting us back in. My neighbor told me all about the new fruit market that she and the other ladies had been going to lately. It was cheaper, and it was easier to reach things since their shelves were a bit lower than the other stores.
Then I felt my neighbor’s fingers dig into my forearm. “There’s a big rough looking guy coming our way. Should I yell for the super?”
I smiled hopefully. “It might be Liam.”
“Who’s that? He looks like some sort of thug.”
“Kayla?” I heard a familiar deep voice. “It’s me.”
“Hi,” I said, turning a bit to face him. “Liam, this is Mrs. Henderson. She lives a few doors down from me.”
“Hello,” he said softly, and it sounded like he was shaking her hand. “I’m Kayla’s nurse for the week.”
I felt her elbow subtly jab my ribs. “Well, now, I’ve never seen a nurse like you before.”
“I know. I’m filling in for my sister due to a strange turn of events.”
I heard rustling around the front of the building. “It looks like they’re letting people back in now,” he said. “Would you ladies like to wait a few minutes until the elevators aren’t packed?”
“Good idea,” I said.
“Actually, I’m going to go chat with Evelyn,” Mrs. Henderson said. “She owes me a game of cribbage.”
I felt her lean in to whisper, “Are you really okay if I leave you with this guy?”
I laughed. “I’m fine, thanks.”
“Okay then, dear. You be careful. And you,” I felt her turn, “Please take good care of her.”
“I swear I will, ma’am.”
Liam’s arm circled my shoulders, instantly making me feel completely safe. “I wish I’d been early today. I’m so sorry, Kayla. Were you scared when the alarm went off?’
“By the time I was getting my shoes on, she was at the door, so I really didn’t have time to thi