Page 36 of Burned By Fire
“You’re her daughter and you love her. She’ll come around.” I rub her back.
After a few minutes, we exit the bay. “Do you mind if I check on her one last time before we leave?”
“Of course not.” We walk hand in hand toward the police officer outside one of the private rooms.
“Hello, Officer Carmichael. Will you see if she’ll let me visit before I go home?”
“Sure thing, Ms. Burton.” He disappears into the room, and we wait patiently.
“Why did the doctor congratulate you?” I ask suddenly.
“Oh, erm. He was glad I saved my mom. I felt light-headed when I came out of the fire and I blacked out for a short time. They just wanted to examine me as a precaution.” Her words are rushed.
“You what? Are they sure you’re okay?” I try not to panic.
“Yes, so you can stop fussing.” She dismisses my worries with her hand. It doesn’t work.
I smile, but she doesn’t return it. There’s something she’s not telling me, and my stomach fills with dread. If anything happened to her, I don’t know what I’d do.
Officer Carmichael returns. “I’m sorry, Ember. She doesn’t want any visitors, but if she changes her mind, I’ll call you.”
Ember’s bottom lip quivers. “Thank you.” She writes down her number, then we leave. My car’s still parked outside the main entrance, and a security guy is talking to people in the area.
“We’d better go quickly before that guard sees us,” I say.
“You could’ve used the parking lot. It is signposted,” she says as we get into the vehicle.
“I was in a hurry and needed to see you.”
“I didn’t mean to worry you.”
He touches my leg. “I’m glad you’re not injured.”
I smile. “We all got out of the fire safely. That’s what counts.”
The security guard starts to follow us as we leave, but we’re too fast. Once we’re on the open road, I ask, “Where shall we go?”
“Do you mind taking me home? I’m tired and need some time to think.”
Her rejection is like a bullet through my heart. I want to be there for her. Things are rough with her mom, but I don’t want to push and risk her shutting me out. “Let me hold you tonight. We don’t have to talk.”
I feel her gaze on me. “I’m sorry I stood you up in the restaurant. I was looking forward to our date, and maybe we can re-schedule, but please, let me have tonight.” She sounds so sad, and it breaks me to think I can’t help.
“Okay,” I finally say.
Once we reach her building, I walk her inside and leave her at her door. Once I kiss her goodnight and make sure she’s inside safely, I drag my feet as I walk back to my car. I climb inside, only then noticing she’s left her bag. I pick it up and the contents falls out. It’s the discharge papers, and inside them is a black and white scan photo of a baby. I look through the paper for clarity. On the blood work are some circled numbers, and in pen, at the bottom of the page, it reads, approximately six weeks pregnant. My mouth falls open, and I think back to the time we were in the elevator. Excitement and uncertainty wash over me. I look back at the black and white photo. Ember’s pregnant, and I’m going to be a father. That’s why she wants time to think. I want to race up there and tell her how happy I am, but instead, I knock lightly and hand her the bag when she answers. I kiss her cheek and say goodbye. She needs space, and I need to make sure I don’t mess this up, for all our sakes.