Into the Fire (First Responders 3)

Instead, what she got was her mother sitting at the kitchen table.

As soon as Ally walked in the door, she knew something was up. It was in the air, a sort of tension that meant a special cha

t was coming. A chat that she wasn’t exactly up for.

“Mom.”

“Ally. Have you come from the hospital?”

“Yeah.” She moved to go past the kitchen and towards the back hall, but her mother stopped her.

“And how’s Chris?”

Ally swallowed past a lump in her throat. She really didn’t want to do this now. “He’s good. Probably be out tomorrow.”

“You broke up with him, didn’t you?”

Cripes, did the woman have radar or something? Ally turned back and faced her mother, praying for the strength to get through one more difficult conversation today. “We were never really together, so we couldn’t really break up.”

“Oh, bullshit.”

Ally’s mouth dropped open.

Judy raised her eyebrows. “Allison Gallant, you are a smart girl, so it makes no sense that you would be so stupid as to let that man get away twice.”

“Since when am I smart?”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake. You’ve always been smart. Smarter than you gave yourself credit for. Why on earth do you think we used to get so frustrated with you? You seemed so bent on wasting your potential.”

“Becca had all the potential.”

“You’re not Becca. You had it all on your own. Both our girls were smart and capable.” Her lip quivered a little. Speaking about Becca was never easy. “I know you talked to your dad this morning. I know it’s harder to talk to me. I get emotional.” She gave a little laugh. “Losing Becca was a nightmare. Then there were the teenage years with you, and the worry that went along with it. Just when I thought things were turning around, you broke off your engagement with Chris and, well, menopause has kicked my butt. I’ve struggled, Ally. I’m not the rock that your father is. But it doesn’t mean I loved you any less or that I didn’t notice things. When the shelter burned, I was scared out of my wits for you. And then Chris was back on the scene and I thought the fire was a blessing in disguise. Things started coming together for you.”

“But that night in the driveway…you sounded almost angry at catching us.”

“Worried. Because as much as I wanted things to work out for you, I could see this coming.”

“Well, you don’t have to worry now.”

Her mother turned in her chair. “Ally, you’re a big girl and you can make your own decisions. But you changed when Becca died too, and last night must have been difficult for you. I just want you to remember one thing. Even though the worst thing in my life was to lose her, I wouldn’t trade those years with her for anything.”

“Oh, Mom.” Ally stepped forward and knelt by her mother’s knees. “Me either. I just miss her. Wonder what she’d be like right now. It feels so wrong being alone when it should have been the two of us. She should have grown up to get married. I would have been her bridesmaid. She would have made me an auntie.”

“I know.” They both sniffled in the quiet of the kitchen. “But trust me, Ally. It makes a big difference having someone you love help you through the rough spots.”

“You and Dad?”

“Maybe we didn’t always show it, but he has always been there for me. Our marriage wouldn’t have lasted through it all if we hadn’t really loved each other. I’d hate to see you throw that away.”

“I’m so scared,” she admitted. “I love him. How could I bear ever losing him?”

Judy had no answer. She just put her arms around Ally and squeezed.

Chapter Seven

When one of his department buddies dropped him off at home, Chris was surprised to see Ally’s car in the driveway. Moose was tied outside and leaped up at his arrival, tail wagging.

“Hey, boy,” he said, moving carefully. His arm was in a sling but it was still tender and he had to be careful not to bump it. His gaze fell on a blue lump over by his shop. Upon examination, he found his fence supplies had been delivered—bags of concrete, six-by-six posts and a massive pile of lumber. It was covered with a couple of tarps. Who had thought to do that? He appreciated it, but he frowned. He couldn’t build a fence with one arm. And by the time he could, the ground would likely be frozen. It’d have to wait until spring.