“There are noises coming from Becky’s office,” she whispered, hearing a louder thump. “I hadn’t had the chance to put the alarm on yet.”
“Hide, Mia.” His voice turned dangerous and cold. “I’m calling it in.”
He hung up and Mia stayed against the wall praying hard. Who the hell could be back there? What did they plan on stealing, Becky’s books? She never kept cash in the store. She made bank deposits all through the day and left minimal cash in the register. Why were they back there and not up here?
Please hurry, Abel. Mia put a hand on her stomach. Was that smoke she smelled? Oh God no. She couldn’t let some psycho burn down Becky’s business. She headed for the back room and opened the door to Becky’s office. A shadowed figure was heading out the window, but Mia let them go. Flames were taking over Becky’s desk. She ran back to the front to where the fire extinguisher was and grabbed it. She headed back to try to stop the flames. Where was Abel?
* * * *
Abel saw the smoke coming out of Becky’s office window on the side of the building. “Oh God no. Mia.”
He slammed the car into park and jumped out. Luckily the front door was still open. “Mia!” he yelled in a deep panic. “Mia!”
He heard a weak cough and hurried to Becky’s office where he saw her trying to put the flames out, but they were out of control. The room was engulfed with smoke and fire. “Are you crazy, woman? You should’ve run out the moment you saw the smoke.”
“I saw someone leave out the window. I thought I could stop it from spreading.” She coughed some more. Abel picked her up and ran out of the building with her and into the fresh air. His brother Lincoln pulled up and Abel put her in Lincoln’s truck. Abel’s heart was still thumping like a locomotive train.
&n
bsp; “I saw the smoke and called it in,” Lincoln told him with a shake of his head. “Who would do this?”
“Jane,” Abel muttered angrily. “I heard from the mayor today he fired her. She has been missing work and he heard her talking shit about Mia. I called her father to ask him to keep an eye on her. This was her way of retaliating. I feel it in my gut, Lincoln.”
“Damn.” Lincoln frowned as the firetrucks pulled up and took over. An ambulance arrived with them and Abel had them look Mia over. She was still coughing and trying hard to stifle it. They suggested she be seen at the hospital. Mia protested but he put her in the ambulance. He refrained from lecturing Mia right now but he was angry she had tried to stop the fire by herself. He wasn’t taking any chances with her health. Smoke inhalation was dangerous. He just found the perfect woman for him and he wasn’t taking any chances she was suffering in any way. Her or the baby. If something happened to one of them, he would kill Jane with his bare hands. She had gone too far this time. This was more serious than being a gossiping bitch.
Chapter Nineteen
“Wow, Aunt Becky, your plans are amazing,” Gwen said as she looked at the professional architect plans Becky had bought. The papers were drawn across Becky’s kitchen table. “A bookstore connected to your coffee shop is ingenious. Books and coffee just go together.”
“It is.” Louise Henderson, Gwen’s mother, smiled. She squeezed Becky’s hand. “From ashes to treasure. What a touching story.”
The main part of the building had been saved thanks to the quick action of the firefighters. It would still need to be deep cleaned and repainted. Becky’s office had been a total loss. Mia was just grateful something good came out of it with an extended business for Becky.
Mia was excited to have all of the Hendersons’ here in Brook Hollow for her wedding to Abel. They were as close as family as she had. Abel, Lincoln, Bill, and Mitch had gone to have a few beers at Kramer’s while Mia hung out with Gwen.
“Abel’s mom Delores is going to run the bookstore and invest in to the business, too. She says it’s a perfect opportunity since all of her chicks have flown the coop,” Mia added happily.
Tomorrow evening was the wedding. The book club ladies had taken care of every detail and told Mia to just show up. Mia had moved all of her personal belongings to Abel’s house. Gwen and Mitch were staying in her old cottage.
“And Mia will be the bookkeeper. No more standing on her feet for hours,” Becky told them happily. Abel had been thrilled with the news. The fire scared him more than it had Mia. He had practically ordered the doctor to keep her overnight.
“I still want to mingle up there once in a while, but I’m excited for all the changes. It’s going to be good for us here.” Mia felt like it had all worked out for the better. Frank was still in rehab and his parents assured Mia through a letter they sent with Gwen that he would never bother her again. She felt sad for him but he was getting help. Jane had broken down and confessed to setting the fire. She claimed she had no idea Mia was in there because the lights were off. Maybe it was true. Mia didn’t think Jane was a murderer. She just wanted Becky to blame Mia for the fire and kick Mia out of town. It was her last ditch effort to land Abel. Now she was in serious trouble, but Abel told Mia not to think about it. He removed himself from the case and let the state police handle it without him.
“I’m mad you are not coming home.” Gwen moped, but her eyes sparkled with joy for her best friend. “But I understand it’s better for the baby here in Brook Hollow. Abel is much nicer than I gave him credit for, so I give my stamp of approval.”
Louise laughed at her daughter’s words. “Honey, she has a baby coming soon. Too late for any stamps of approval.”
“I still expect you to come down here often, Gwen. My baby needs to know his or her's crazy aunt as well as I do. You and Mitch are always welcome here.” Mia couldn’t help but feel some sadness. She would miss New York and Gwen, but Abel promised they would take vacations whenever she got homesick.
Gwen wiped some tears from her eyes. “I plan on it. Name her after me, okay?”
“I have no idea if it’s a girl. My peanut refused to cooperate the day of the ultrasound, but he or she is healthy so I am very grateful for that.” Mia placed a hand on her rounded stomach. This summer she would be a mother. It still boggled her mind. Although it scared the crap out of her she had a big support system of friends.
Melanie and Lily helped her find the perfect dress for tomorrow’s ceremony. Mia felt like the official ceremony was for their families. In her heart she was bonded in every way to Abel. She came here to hide away from her miserable New York life and found real love. Abel was every dream, every fairytale she ever had as a young girl all rolled into one stubborn, sexy man.
“I see a very happy future for you, dear.” Louise patted her hand as if reading Mia’s thoughts. “You deserve it.”
“Thank you. If Gwen hadn’t insisted I come here none of this would have happened.” Mia looked at Gwen and blew her a kiss. “My own fairy godmother. Who knew?”