Chapter 24
Natalie
I came down the streets and saw the red lights and the emergency vehicles ahead. There were clouds of smoke in the air. I felt my breath quicken as I drove faster towards the house. I couldn’t get into the driveway, though. It was blocked by huge fire trucks. I found a parking spot and went inside.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, you can’t go in,” an officer blocked my way.
“I live here!” I said, hearing the hysterical note in my voice. “What happened?”
“There was a fire, but we’ve managed to contain it,” the man said, stepping away.
“What about the family living here, are they all right?”
“I’m not too sure,” he said, “Maybe ask someone at the house.”
I ran down the driveway, slowing when I got a full view of the house. It was blackened by smoke, and I could see there had been significant damage. The air was full of soot, and I started coughing. There was the burnt-out wreck of a car to my left. I stared at it in horror.
It was Sam’s car.
I felt my legs go weak. Nobody could have survived being in a fire like that.
Tears filled my eyes. I looked around for someone who would know what was going on. I spotted a man in a blanket sitting on a patch of lawn in front of the house. I walked closer, and as I reached him, I realized it was Sam.
“Oh, my God! Sam!” I threw myself down next to him, hugging him tightly.
“Thank God you’re alive, where’s Ethan?”
He turned to me. His face was smeared with soot and blood, there was a big plaster on his forehead. His eyes seemed dazed.
“Natalie? What are you doing here?”
“Where’s Ethan?”
“With Skye.”
I was overwhelmed with relief.
“What happened?”
Sam shook his head, too weary to respond.
“Are you all right?”
He nodded and then smiled weakly at me. “What are you doing here?” he asked again. In front of us, firemen were walking in and out of the house, checking that the place was safe.
“I got a phone call earlier today,” I said. “It was from Dana. I couldn’t hear what she was saying, the line was bad, and she sounded, I don’t know, weird. Like she was sobbing or something. I heard her say your name a lot, though. She was upset, maybe distraught is a better word.”
I told him how I’d tried calling him and there was no answer. I became worried and the feeling wouldn’t go away. I called Dana too, but the line rang, and no one picked up. I needed to know Sam was safe.
“I’m glad you came,” he said, and I kissed him, overwhelmed by joy to find him unhurt.
After a moment, he said, “I was on my way to come and see you,” his voice cracked. He coughed.
“Then… this…” he waved at the house.
I looked at it, or what remained of it. I didn’t want to think about the damage inside.
“I’m so sorry, Sam,” I said. “It was such a lovely house.”