Touch of Fire Read Online Free PDF Page A

chair across from the bed and imagined him sitting in it, holding vigil with his infant daughter in his arms. Watching. Waiting. Waiting for his wife to die. Nicole detected a faint odor of smoke in the air and realized that she had yet to call Ann to tell her not to worry. If the fires were still burning, Nicole knew it was likely the story would be on the news. Just then she heard a car pull into the driveway. Seconds later she recognized the voices of Brenda, Angela, and Sam as they approached the house.
    Nicole carefully lifted Garrett’s arm from around her waist and slid from the bed. Almost immediately it seemed that he felt her loss. He rolled onto his back and then resumed his prior position on his side, his arm searching for her. Nicole tugged the pillow that she had been sleeping on downward. He grasped it in his sleep, hugging it to his chest. The tender moment was interrupted by the sound of the front door opening.
    “I’m home!” Sam called out.
    Nicole quickly left the bedroom, pulling the door shut. “Shh, sweetie. Daddy is still sleeping.”
    Sam’s eyes became huge with surprise. “What’s wrong?”
    “Nothing’s wrong.”
    “But Daddy doesn’t sleep!” She spun around to face Brenda and Angela. “Never! My daddy never sleeps!”
    Brenda crouched down. “It might seem that way, honey, but I’m sure your Daddy—”
    “No.” Sam shook her head vehemently.
    “He’s fine. I promise.” Nicole offered her hand. “Want to peek?”
    Sam trustingly took hold, allowing Nicole to lead her down the hall to Garrett’s room.
    Nicole lifted her finger to her lips, then cracked open the door.
    “Daddy’s sleeping,” Sam whispered.
    Nicole nodded, pulling the door to once again. “Told you. Hey, I hear that you are quite an artist. Think I could persuade you to draw me a picture about something that you saw today?”
    “If I do, will you braid my hair later?” Sam asked.
    “Hmm, you drive a hard bargain. I guess I can manage that.”
    “Do you know how to make the French kind that Gillian’s mommy does?”
    “Yup! Do we have a deal?”
    “One drawing coming up,” Sam promised before running off to her room. “No peeking until I’m done.”
    “Clothes?” Brenda held up a couple shopping bags. “We stopped and picked you up a few things.”
    “I so owe you,” Nicole said. “Do you think Garrett would mind if I used his phone? I need to call my sister and the bank. I should probably call my insurance company about the car, and then there’s my father’s house.”
    “Just take things one step at a time,” Angela said. “Flint told us about your father. It sounds like it’s been a tough year for you.”
    “Angela’s a grief counselor,” Brenda offered.
    Nicole turned to her. “Really? I’m a therapist too. I work in the public school system.”
    “School social work, now there’s a challenge,” Angela lamented.
    “Are you off for the summer?” Brenda asked.
    Nicole started to rummage through one of the bags of clothing. “One of the advantages.”
    “Your father’s attorney should be able to help sort out the issue with the house,” Brenda suggested. “I’m assuming it’s yours now?”
    “I’m not really sure. I don’t even know if he had an attorney. We weren’t very close. His business partner might know.”
    “I could look into it for you, if you’d like,” Brenda offered. “Unless you really trust his business partner, he might not be the most objective person to advise you.”
    “Brenda’s an attorney,” Angela explained
    “You’d be willing to help me?”
    Brenda nodded. “Absolutely. Tomorrow’s Sunday, I can come over in the afternoon and get some information from you.”
    “I’m not sure I’ll still be here tomorrow.”
    “According to the radio, sections of the highway are closed. The fire’s spreading really fast. There’s talk about stopping all but essential travel,” Brenda said
    “The air quality isn’t good, not even here.