Surrendered Hearts (24 page)

She pulled the door open and dashed back into the heat and smoke. Holding her breath again, she ran across the living room, opened the door to the stairwell and fled up the stairs calling Bill’s name.

Her frantic search took less than thirty seconds. She stood in the hall, dazed and confused as the smoke drifted up through the heat vents and thickened the air. Her throat felt raw from coughing, and her eyes burned with tears. Oh God, Where is he? I have to find him.

Dizziness made her head spin. She reached for the wall and sank down at the top of the stairs.

* * * *

Bill hiked along the trail by the stream, a vague sense of urgency pushing him along. A distant siren echoed across the valley. He stopped and sniffed the air. The smoke he’d smelled earlier had disappeared, or the wind had shifted. It probably wasn’t anything serious. There hadn’t been a fire in Tipton for years.

But an uneasy feeling lifted the hairs on the back of his neck as the siren grew louder. He took the shortcut through his neighbor’s property, climbed the hill, and came out on Shelton road about fifty yards from his house.

Someone called his name, and he looked up. Harriet Walker stood on her porch, waving to him. He smiled and lifted his hand, but she continued to wave, motioning him closer. He jogged over to her front yard.

“Look at all that smoke.” Her hand trembled as she pointed past the trees surrounding his yard. “I’m afraid it’s your house.”

Adrenalin shot through Bill. He spun away and ran down the road. The side of his house came into view first, and he skidded to a stop, a rush of dread twisting through him.

Smoke billowed out the kitchen window, and scorching flames leaped up the outside wall. He ran around front. Wes’s car sat in the driveway parked at an odd angle with the driver’s door hanging open.

Terror flooded him. He spun in a circle, searching for Jenn, praying he’d see her standing in one of the neighbors’ yards. She wasn’t there. A second surge of panic hit him full force.

He yelled her name and rushed toward the front door. A warning flashed through his mind. Go around back. He jumped from the porch and ran around the other side of the house. No flames were visible there, but smoke hung in the trees like an eerie veil.

He dashed up the steps and ran across the deck to the sliding glass door. For a split second he hesitated, debating if he should wait for the firemen. One glance at the swirling smoke beyond the glass, and he made up his mind. If Jenn was in there, he had to get her out now.

Pulling up his shirttail to cover his mouth and nose, he opened the door. Scorching heat rushed out at him.

Oh, Father, help me. Dropping to his knees, he crawled into the house. Smoke singed his nose and throat. Sweat poured down his face and dripped into his eyes. The fire hissed and crackled as it engulfed the cabinets over the stove. He’d never get past the kitchen to check the downstairs bedroom or bathroom. He turned and crawled through the living room toward the door leading upstairs.

A faint cough sounded beyond the door. He jumped up and flung it open then squinted into the smoky stairwell.

“Bill!” Jenn stumbled down the stairs.

He grabbed her, a mixture of panic and relief shooting through him. “Come on.” He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her to his side. They crouched down and wove their way through the living room. Only a few steps from the sliding glass door, he looked back and spotted his laptop on the table. It held all his files for work, including the grant applications he’d spent weeks preparing. “Go outside. I’m gonna’ get my laptop.”

“No!” She grabbed his arm.

“I’ll be okay.” He pushed her toward the door and dashed back toward the flaming kitchen. With a swift jerk, he pulled the laptop’s power cord from the wall.

Jenn screamed.

He looked up. A burning hunk of the ceiling broke loose. Fireworks exploded in his head, and he crashed to the floor.

* * * *

Energy surged through Jenn like a shock of high voltage electricity. She ran to Bill and kicked the smoldering wood off his back. Sparks flew up and singed her legs. She dropped to her knees and brushed the burning embers off his scorched shirt with her bare hands.

“Bill!” She grabbed his shoulder, but he didn’t move. Panic welled in her throat. “Oh, God, please help me.”

Before she finished her prayer, a plan formed in her mind. She shoved the smoking wood out of the way with her foot then rolled him over. Reaching under his arms, she summoned strength she didn’t know she had and dragged him out the door and across the deck.

Kneeling beside him, she searched his soot-smeared face. “Bill?” She laid her trembling hand on his chest and leaned closer. His breath brushed her cheek, and relief poured through her.

She lifted her head and listened as the fire truck rolled to a stop out front and the firemen began shouting orders to each other.

“Thank you, Lord. Thank you.” Her eyes slid closed, and tears rolled down her cheeks. “Please help them get the fire under control. And Bill has to be okay, please. He loves You Lord. I know he does. If it wasn’t for him, I never would’ve—”

A hand gripped her arm, and her eyes flew open.

“You’re praying for me?” Bill whispered, his voice ragged with emotion.

She nodded and smiled through her tears then brushed the hair off his forehead. “Of course I am.”

A look of amazement and love filled his glistening eyes. He slowly sat up and reached for her, pulling her in for a tight hug. “Thank you, God,” he choked out. “Thank you so much.”

She clung to him, adding her silent prayer to his, her heart full and overflowing with love and gratefulness.

Jenn turned in the driveway as the sun dipped behind the roof of the house. She glanced across the front seat at Bill, and her heart warmed. Soot lined his tired face, but he looked wonderful to her.

He pointed down the long gravel drive. “Look, there’s Wes and Lauren.”

Wes lifted a large suitcase from the trunk of Tilley’s car, and Toby reached to help him. Tilley handed Lauren a shopping bag from the back seat. They all looked up as Jenn pulled in and parked next to them.

Lauren dropped her bag and hurried over to open Jenn’s door. Leaning down, she looked in. “Are you okay? Tilley told us about the fire.”

They had called Tilley from Bill’s cell phone while the firemen fought the blaze and then again from the emergency room at the hospital to give an update and ask her to pick up Wes and Lauren at the airport.

“We’re fine.” Jenn stepped out and gave Lauren a tight hug. “They thought Bill had a concussion, but he had a CAT-scan and the doctors say everything looks okay. We just need to keep an eye on him tonight.”

Wes abandoned his suitcase on the driveway and walked over to greet Bill as he climbed out of the car. “Hey, brother.” He slapped him on the back and pulled him in for a bear hug. “I’m sorry about your house.” He stepped back and looked him over. “Man, you look beat.”

“Yeah, we both are.” Bill glanced at Jenn, concern in his eyes.

“So how bad is the house?” Wes asked.

“The kitchen is destroyed, and there’s smoke and water damage in most of the other rooms. It’ll take a while to make all the repairs. But we’re okay. That’s what matters.” He sent Jenn a weary smile, and her heart melted.

“You’re staying here in the meantime,” Wes said, “and you can count on us to help with those repairs.”

“Thanks.”

Tilley fluttered around passing out hugs as they gathered up the suitcases and moved toward the house. Toby darted back and forth between Bill and Jenn, begging to know more about the fire.

Lauren laid her hand on his shoulder. “Toby, give them a chance to catch their breath. I’m sure they want to come in and get cleaned up before they tell us about it.”

Jenn sent Lauren a grateful smile.

Tilley and Lauren prepared a quick supper of chicken salad sandwiches, juicy sliced tomatoes, and cold watermelon while Bill and Jenn took quick showers and changed into clean clothes. They joined everyone in the kitchen and took turns recounting all that had happened. When the food was ready, they carried their plates outside and settled on the back patio.

Jenn ate a few bites of her sandwich and a little watermelon, then she set aside her plate and listened to Bill finish telling everyone about their trip to the emergency room and the drive back to see his damaged house.

“It’s a miracle neither of you were seriously hurt.” Tilley stood and passed the plate of oatmeal raisin cookies.

Bill accepted a cookie. “God was definitely watching out for us today.”

Lauren nodded. “You’re right about that.” She and Wes sat on the wicker love seat opposite Jenn and Bill, their hands clasped as they watched Toby toss a small red ball across the grass for Bryn, Tilley’s Border collie. Little Sophie scampered after Bryn, her tongue hanging out the side of her mouth.

The sky faded from bright magenta and burnt orange to soft pink and purple. Cicadas buzzed in the trees, and crickets serenaded them from the garden.

Jenn sighed and laid her head back on the pillow of her wicker chair. She glanced around at each face, and gratefulness welled up in her heart. This was her family, each one so special to her. What an amazing gift she’d been given.

Her gaze settled on Bill. He sat in the chair next to her wearing a clean blue t-shirt and brown cargo shorts he’d borrowed from Wes. When he washed up he’d missed a small soot smudge along his jaw. She felt temped to reach over and wipe it away, but she lifted her glass of iced tea and took a drink instead.

Bill leaned closer. His arm brushed hers as he reached for another cookie. He took a bite and winked at her.

She felt a blush steal into her cheeks as she returned his smile, sending him a private message she hoped he understood.

“Ahh, this is the life.” Wes put his feet up and slipped his arm around his new wife.

A happy, teasing light shone in Lauren’s eyes. “Well don’t get too comfortable. It’s almost time to go in and put Toby to bed.”

“Sounds good to me. I’m looking forward to it. I haven’t tucked him in for two weeks.” Wes shifted his gaze to Jenn. “But first, there’s something I need to ask my sister.”

“What?” Jenn sat up a little straighter.

“Tilley said you’ve been going to church with her the last three weeks.” He lifted his brows. “So what’s going on?”

Lauren groaned. “Wes, give the girl a break.”

Bill shot Jenn a worried glance.

“It’s okay.” Jenn focused on Wes again. “I know it must seem strange to you after everything I’ve said, but I’ve been reading the Bible Lauren gave me, and doing a lot of thinking.”

“Come to any conclusions?” Wes tried to sound casual, but she could see how important this was to him.

“Yes . . .” She looked around the group, each one watching her expectantly. “I decided life is too short to stay stuck and miserable. I may never understand everything that’s happened to me, but I’m learning God is in the business of healing and helping. That’s what I need, so I’m asking Him to do that for me.”

Wes’s eyes widened and he raised his fist in the air. “Yes!”

Bill watched her with a proud smile and shining eyes.

“Thank you, Jesus.” Lauren reached over and squeezed Jenn’s hand. “I’m happy for you, Jenn. I know God has some very special plans for you.”

“And speaking of plans . . .” Wes leaned forward. “What happened to the guy who showed up out of the blue telling everyone you were still engaged?”

“She sent that rat back to his hole,” Bill muttered, a triumphant gleam in his eyes.

Jenn smiled, remembering Bill’s indignant cry at the hospital when she’d told him Phillip had consulted a lawyer and hoped to win a huge settlement by suing the construction company for her injuries. Two nurses had pushed back the curtain and scurried in to find out what was wrong, followed by a doctor and a security guard.

“Phillip is probably on his way back to Portland by now,” Jenn said.

Wes chuckled, and Lauren nudged him with her shoulder.

“You’re not upset that he left?”

“No, I’m relieved actually. Our lives are going in different directions now. It never would’ve worked out.”

“It’s a good thing you realized that now,” Lauren added. “Marriage is wonderful, but you need to find someone who shares your goals and values and truly loves you.”

“That’s very good advice, dear.” Tilley stood and brushed the crumbs off her skirt. “Well, I think it’s time for me to go inside.” She began gathering up the dishes.

“I’ll help you,” Jenn offered.

Tilley waved her off. “I’m fine, dear. Why don’t you and Bill stay out here and enjoy the evening.” She lifted her silver brows and sent Lauren and Wes a meaningful look.

“That’s our cue.” Wes stood and held out his hand to Lauren.

She took it and rose to her feet. “Come on, Toby,” she called. “Time to go in.”

He tossed the ball for Sophie once more. “Aw, do we have to?”

Wes checked his watch. “We’ve got time for a story if you hustle.”

Toby plucked up the ball and ran toward them. Wes scooped him up and tickled his ribs. Toby giggled and squirmed, but when Wes put him down, he raised his arms and asked him to do it again. Wes lifted him onto his shoulders, and they walked toward the house.