CHAPTER ONE-2
576 Words
“I’M THINKING HAVE EVERYONE over here,” Bella Thomas pondered out loud as she, Nathan and Charlie had lunch. “You think Jandy would mind? I know she normally hosts Thanksgiving.”
Nathan shrugged. “I honestly don’t think she’d mind. But there’s only one way to know, and that’s ask her.”
Bella scooped up her cell phone to call her sister-in-law, then shrieked as it rang in her hand.
“Hey sis,” she began. “Your timing is awesome. I was just about to call you.”
“Hey,” Jandy said, breathless and upset.
Bella immediately noticed her tone. “What’s wrong?”
“Our house is gone.”
“What? Hang on a second, let me put you on speaker,” Bella replied, and did just that. “Okay, what do you mean your house is gone?”
“I put a roast in the oven this morning, to cook all day like I usually do. Then I left to go run some errands. I was gone two hours, tops. When I got back, the house was on fire, guys,” she managed. “Thick black smoke everywhere. There are four fire trucks out here trying to put it out as we speak. But from the looks of things, our home is a total loss.”
“Was anyone hurt?” Bella asked.
“No, thank God,” Jandy said. “The kids are off doing their own thing and Tony’s at work.”
“How can we help?” Nathan asked.
“Oh, honey, I have no idea right now,” came the answer over the speaker.
“I do,” Bella piped up. “You can plan on coming here and staying as long as you need to. We have two bedrooms ready and waiting. You and Tony can take one, and the kids can take the other.”
“It will most likely just be me and Tony,” Jandy told them. “Lauren and Jordan have already said they’re going back to campus on Friday anyway, and they haven’t spent a single night at home so far – they’ve been hanging out with their friends.”
“Do you need us to come help with anything?”
“Not at the moment,” she said, and Nathan was glad to hear she sounded a bit more like her usual self. “Once I get the all-clear from the fire department, I’ll be able to go in and see if anything can be salvaged. But like I said, I’m pretty sure nothing is left.”
“Well, if you change your mind on that part, all you have to do is tell us,” Nathan told her. “Just know, it could be a day or two before they let you in there.”
His big sister sighed.
“I know,” she answered. “Tony and I will be at your house later, probably around seven. And thanks, guys.”
“No need to thank us, sis,” Bella said warmly. “This is family. This is what we do. See you tonight. And when you get here, we’ll have dinner, and start brainstorming a battle plan, all right?”
A loud sniffle, then, “You chose well, Nathan. I love you both to pieces. See you tonight.”
***
* * * *
JOE WALLACE SMOOTHED down his hair and straightened his tie in the mirror, then checked his watch. Six o’clock. Almost time to go pick up Trish for our date.
They’d been seeing each other for over eight months, both seemingly content to keep a slow and steady pace.
Until recently, that is.
He checked his appearance one last time, and before he left his house, he made sure that the delicate engagement ring he planned to propose with was safely tucked away in the breast pocket of his suit jacket.
Here goes nothing, he thought, and walked with purpose out to his car.
***
- Writer
