Page 35 of Burned By Fire
16
SOL
Soft music and candlelight make Antonio’s perfect for tonight. The local florist sold me a single red rose and a box of handmade chocolates. I sit at the small table with a glass of water, waiting for Ember to arrive. My watch reads twenty minutes after our meeting time. She might’ve had a late call-out at the firehouse. She hasn’t texted to say there’s a problem. I bite my lip as worry starts to set in. I doubt she’d stand me up. She’s not that kind of person, so something must be keeping her.
The glass of water goes down easily, and I fill it back up. Another half an hour passes without a word. I hit dial on her number and listen to the ring tone.
“Can I get you anything?” the waitress says as she passes me. She gives a sad frown, and I’m guessing she thinks I’ve been stood up.
“I’ll wait a few more minutes. She’ll probably be here soon.” I smile, but it’s fake.
When she leaves to serve another table, I try Ember’s number again before checking the local social media page. Nothing major is showing up on the news feed. Once she’s an hour late, I vacate the table, leaving a tip for the waitress. I step outside with the phone to my ear. Come on. Please pick up.
A message from an unknown number pops up on my screen. Ember told me to send you a text message. There’s no need to panic, but she’s at Armstrong Hospital.
How am I supposed to react? If anything has happened to her, I don’t know what I’ll do. I clench my fist tight, then punch it straight into a wall. It hurts like hell, but at least it gives me something else to focus on. Quickly, I hurry to my car and drive over the speed limit to the hospital. Right outside the main entrance, I abandon my car, listening to a nurse protest.
“Sir, you can’t leave your vehicle here.” I don’t respond. Once I’ve seen Ember, I’ll be able to think rationally, but all I can think about is getting to her.
The woman at the reception desk is on the phone, and I lean over and cut the line off. “I need to find Ms. Burton, now.”
She stares at me with annoyance before typing on her keyboard. “I’m going to need a few more details.”
I give her Ember’s full name, address, and date of birth.
“Are you a relative?”
“I’m her fiancé,” I say before I can stop myself.
“She’s in the second room on the left, bay six.”
“Thanks.” The receptionist picks up the phone, and I hurry down the corridor.
Once I reach the bay, I pull back the curtain. Ember is sitting in the chair, looking her normal, beautiful self, and I immediately feel better. “I’m so glad you’re okay. What happened?” I ask.
I only notice the doctor a few seconds after and blink, taking him in.
“Is this the lucky man?” the doc asks.
Ember’s eyes widen, and she coughs. “Yes. Thanks, Doctor Morgan.”
He hands her some papers. “I’ve signed the discharge papers, and we’ll see you in five to six weeks. Congratulations.” He moves onto the next bay.
I hurry toward Ember and put my hand on her head to make sure she doesn’t have a temperature. She holds the papers and shoves them into her bag. “What happened? Did you get injured?” I ask. My eyes check every inch of her skin for signs of a burn.
“I’m fine. My mom’s house caught on fire.” She speaks slowly, like she’s in shock.
“Is she okay?”
“Yeah. I mean, the house has gone, but she’ll live.” She frowns.
I kiss her forehead. The doctor said he wants to see Ember again. If there isn’t a problem, why would she need another check-up?
She finally looks at me, sucking on her bottom lip. “Robert had her locked in the closet. I didn’t know. I could’ve helped her, but I hadn’t called in a month.” Tears begin to stream down her face.
“Hey. It’s not your fault. You’re a good person.” I wrap my arms around her, wishing I could take away her sadness.
“The police are with her now, but she won’t speak to me.” She hugs me tightly, and I try to comfort her.