Page 72 of From the Embers

Two weeks later

I glance across the island bench at my sister as she sets the table for Thanksgiving and my combined housewarming. She’s looking breezy and happy in a flowing long sleeve dress with gorgeous daisies all over it and white cowboy boots.

“You’re doing a mighty fine job there, sis.”

She turns and smiles, just as her new golden retriever—who’s also her emotional support dog— Rupert, comes sticking his nose in the kitchen. She’s only had Rupert a short time and he’s simply divine and goes everywhere with her.

Over the years, Carrie had recurring nightmares about the house fire, being trapped, and suffered with bad burns to the left side of her body, so much so she found it hard to relax. She found it hard to do a lot of things. But with his support she’s gotten more and more confident these last few years and found her mojo again. When Rupert isn’t working, he’s also a big goofball, too.

“Thank you.” She smiles. “I’m really looking forward to meeting Hope.”

Denver went to see her as soon as he’d recovered. It was important to not scare her even more than she was after her accident. Not wanting to inflict any more trauma on the poor girl after what she’s been through was our top priority. It’s been hard, but she’s doing as well as can be expected.

We spoke to Elaine from Child Protective Services—someone Denver knows—straight away after Denver was released from hospital about putting in an application to foster her. Naturally there was a process and no guarantee of what will happen long-term, but she has been temporarily placed in our care these past two weeks. After the crash, CPS stepped straight in to conduct the necessary arrangements to get her into emergency placement. Only one of us can be the licensed foster parent for now, until we are living together, but we have the arrangement pretty much mapped out. Denver’s suggestion of him looking after Hope during the day if I’m with clients, and me being home in the afternoon and nights has been working for us. We will aim for the same two days off whenever we can.

Federal law requires CPS to check for relatives, but so far no one has come forward. As we all suspected it seems her mom, grandma, brother, and sister were the only family she had. My heart breaks for her, but we will do everything in our power to help in any way we can.

The past two weeks has been both difficult for everyone but hugely rewarding. She’s such a sweet, brave little girl and we want her to make it through.

We didn’t want to overwhelm her right away with having a lot of people over for Thanksgiving, so we asked her before we made any arrangements. We were both happy to have just us three if that’s what she wanted. But it’s turning out that Hope, in spite of what’s happened to her, thrives around people who care about her. She wanted to have a proper Thanksgiving with Duckie, her Hello Kitty that Denver first brought to the hospital, and her beloved Mr. Pickles—a big, oversized teddy bear that CPS retrieved from her house with her things.

“You’re going to love her,” I say to Carrie. “She’s a real sweetie.”

“The poor kid, I mean, she’s so young.”

“I know, life can be cruel and strange sometimes.”

“Thank goodness there’s people like you and Denver in the world,” she sighs as she arranges the flowers in the middle of the table. “You two could rule the world, you know.”

I laugh as I walk over with the rolls and place them on the table. “I don’t know about that, but he’s a good man.”

“And he’ll always be your hot rescuer.”

I smile. It’s bittersweet to think about the circumstances which are forever etched into my soul, and I know it is for her, too. “He was twelve!”

Carrie gives me a knowing smile, bending to give Rupert a scratch on the head. “He did a great job with what he had—he could have gotten himself killed. I know he tried to get back into the house for me and our parents, but he couldn’t.”

“Yes. He told me his dad had to hold him back. Then he saw you guys make it out.”

Carrie blows out a breath. “He’ll forever be our hero no matter what happens.”

“He will,” I agree. “And you will be too, Care.”

She blinks up at me. “Me?”

“Yep. You’re the strongest woman I know, sis. You took the brunt of it, but look how you’ve come out the other end. The kids at school love you. Everyone does.”

“They love Rupert,” she interjects, but her eyes are watery and her features softer than ever.

“They love you too, we all do. You have more friends than I know what to do with. And you’re a babe.”

She laughs and covers her face with her hands. “I think Nicholas might love me as well,” she blurts.

My eyes bulge instantly. “Nicholas? From the opposing school?”

The giggle she lets out takes me back to when we were kids because I used to hear it all the time. He’s the physical education teacher she’s brought up in more than one conversation.

“Yeah.”