CHAPTER 51
A BLAZE
Two days later, Matthew smelled smoke. It was past midnight. He lay in bed and looked around his bedroom, his sense of smell strong, but he couldn’t see any smoke anywhere. Maybe they’d left something on in the kitchen or was it coming from outside?
He peered through his window but no smoke or fire spread anywhere. He walked to Mariana’s room and watched her sleep, stroking her across her fringe. He smiled, then scurried to Camilla’s room, but she was sleeping peacefully too. Without waking her up, he sneaked outside into the living room and was hit by a rich scent of smoke, but it seemed to be coming from the laundry, situated on the side of the living area. He touched the doorknob and flinched from the heat. “No!” he said, hearing the crackling, roaring sound of fir
