Chapter 1 - The Fire Between Them
Sophie’s fists were pounding against the glass when Ryan came through the front door.
Smoke rolled across the ceiling of the Belle Meade mansion in thick black waves.
The main staircase had disappeared behind flames.
Across the hallway, Claire was coughing into her sleeve, desperately trying to reach the sunroom.
On the other side of its glass doors stood six-year-old Sophie in pale pink pajamas.
Linda was behind her, bent over and struggling to stay upright.
“Mommy! I can’t breathe!”
Ryan stopped for half a second.
Then instinct took over.
He covered his mouth with his sleeve and followed the clearer side passage along the dining room.
Claire pointed through the smoke.
“Get Sophie! Mom’s still in there!”
Ryan reached the sunroom doors, yanked them open, and lifted Sophie against his chest.
She wrapped both arms around his neck.
He carried her directly back to Claire.
Claire pulled their daughter into her arms.
For one second, Ryan thought they had made it.
Then Sophie pointed behind him.
“Daddy… Grandma!”
Linda was still inside.
She was moving slowly now, one hand against the wall.
Ryan turned toward her.
A violent crack came from above.
The burning ceiling beam crashed into the hallway between them.
Claire screamed.
Flames climbed across the fallen wood.
Ryan shielded his face.
“Mom!”
Linda’s silhouette disappeared behind smoke.
Sophie began sobbing against Claire.
Ryan could no longer see his mother.
Then another long creak came from the ceiling.
Claire grabbed his arm.
“Ryan, don’t.”
He looked at the wall of fire separating him from Linda.
Every part of him wanted to cross it.
Then the first sirens reached the driveway.
Ryan pulled Claire and Sophie toward the front entrance as firefighters rushed past them.
Outside, Sophie shook violently beneath a blanket while Claire held her.
Ryan stood barefoot on the lawn, staring at the burning windows.
Minutes later, firefighters brought Linda out through the rear terrace.
She was conscious.
Barely.
Ryan ran toward the stretcher.
Linda caught his wrist.
Her eyes opened.
“Ryan…”
“I’m here.”
Her fingers tightened unexpectedly.
“Don’t let them tear open the west wall.”
Ryan stared at her.
“What?”
Linda’s eyes closed.
May you like
The paramedics moved her toward the ambulance.
Behind Ryan, flames were still pouring from the part of the house she had just warned him not to inspect.
