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Vanessa Jordan hurried toward the hospital, her heart beating at a clip. She flew through the doors, and strode to the information desk. Phones rang and the staff talked among themselves but someone came right over to her. “I’m Ella and Edward Jordan’s daughter. I understand they were brought here early this morning.”

“Let me check.”

While the woman focused on the computer, Vanessa quelled the urge to tap her fingernails on the counter.

“Madam Mayor?”

She turned at the sound of a familiar voice and found Chase Talbot behind her. “Chief, what are you doing here?”

“I came over after I spoke with you.” She’d called him when she landed to get an update. And also refused an invitation to pick her up at the airport.

“They’re in room 318, Ms. Jordan,” the nurse began. “You go down...”

“No worries, Mary. I’m familiar with the layout of the place. I’ll take her up.”

“Thanks, Chief.”

They headed down the hall to the elevator. She had a long stride which many people couldn’t match. And she went fast, but the chief kept pace. “You didn’t need to come back here so late. I appreciate all you did for me, but I can take it from here.”

“Of course you can.” The elevator pinged open. He allowed her inside. “Goodbye—what are you doing?” she asked as he stepped into the cab.

“I’m coming up with you.”

“Why?”

He shrugged. “You might need somebody.”

“I assure you I won’t.” She’d constructed her life so as not to depend on anybody.

“Humor me.”

She was too jittery to protest. “Whatever.”

She was a tall woman, but he had height on her, and his shoulders stretched the cotton of his white shirt. Before she could, he reached out and pressed three. He always did that when they were together. He opened doors for her, pressed elevator buttons, stood when she entered the room. Okay, he was a gentleman. She got it.

She turned her attention to her parents. “You’re sure they’re all right?”

“They both received a hyperbaric dive this afternoon.”

“What’s a dive?”

“A treatment.” He explained the process to her. “They may need more than one, depending on the newest blood oxygenation test results.”

The doors opened to the third floor. They followed the arrow directing them to room 318. As they bypassed a waiting area, she stopped short. Her daughter and ex-husband were sitting on the couches, across from each other. They didn’t see her at first.

Paul was holding Holly’s hand, speaking to her softly. She hadn’t seen her child in weeks, and drank in Holly’s appearance longingly. Her blond hair flowed down her back in heavy waves. She remembered when those waves were curls and Vanessa brushed them every night. Her gut churned at the memory.

“Madam Mayor?” Chase’s voice was low, but Paul and her daughter, only ten feet away, noticed them.

Their reaction made her heartbeat go into overdrive.

What the hell? Chase watched the warm, tender scene between father and daughter turn into an Arctic tundra when they saw Vanessa. With a disgusted expression on his face, Michaels bolted to his feet. Holly stood, too, more slowly, and though her expression wasn’t hostile, it didn’t warm up either. The guy put his arm around his daughter. She leaned into him, as if she was unable to withstand another onslaught.

Michaels said, “Vanessa.” Frigidity dripped from the one word.

It seemed to take a bit before the mayor gathered herself. She lifted her chin. “Hello, Holly. Paul.”

Holly didn’t respond. No your parents are okay. Glad you could get back. What do you need, Mom?

When Chase’s son had died last year, his sister Melinda moved into the house and stayed for two weeks. Beck Sloan, his friend from Hidden Cove and fellow veteran, had taken leave after Mel went home and kept him company for days. Firefighter spouses sent food every day for a month and the officers and line guys rallied around him. Many checked in on and off the entire last nine months.

It wasn’t in his nature to let this woman be disconnected completely from her family at such a crucial time without stepping in. So he addressed Holly as if she was a new recruit who should have known better. “Your mother just flew back from California, Holly.”

The girl straightened. “Come sit, Mom. We’ll fill you in on what’s happened.”

“I’d appreciate that.”

Amidst the tension in the air, Vanessa walked across the room. Paul and Holly took one couch together. Now Chase noticed that the guy had short gray hair, had an okay build and wore an expensive suit. He would have been attractive if his face wasn’t contorted with dislike.

Vanessa dropped down across from them. Holly looked up at Chase, her blue eyes bruised. “Could you join us, Chief?”

If Vanessa Jordan hadn’t sent him a relieved look, he would have excused himself and left them to navigate their way through their obvious dysfunction. But the silent plea for support was so out of character for the mayor, he said, “Sure,” and took the seat next to her on the couch opposite theirs.

“Fill us in on what you know.” Paul again. Mr. Ice Man.

Vanessa turned to Chase who, though she should be the one doing it, told the Michaels the information he’d given to Vanessa. Obviously, her family hadn’t communicated with her all day and up to now, at nine p.m.

When Chase finished, Vanessa said, “Is there anything more?”

“Grandma and Grandpa regained consciousness after the first session in the hyperbaric chamber. But they both had headaches all day, and Grandpa vomited several times, Grandma only once. They took another round of blood tests, but the results won’t be in until later. They’ve got to stay overnight in any case.”

Vanessa’s shoulders relaxed some. “That’s better news, I guess.” She took in a breath. “I’d like to see them.”

“They’re asleep now.” Paul’s tone was hard. Alienating. As if he had rights here and she didn’t. Chase couldn’t understand how that could be.

“We were about to leave, Mom,” Holly explained. “We sat down to plan tomorrow. Grandma and Grandpa will be coming home with me, of course, whenever that is.”

Vanessa waited a heartbeat. “What if I’d like them to stay with me?”

“You’d want them?” the daughter said incredulously.

Paul’s jaw dropped. “They would never agree to that. They hardly ever see you.”

“That’s not true, Paul. And yes, Holly, I’d want them to stay with me. Our relationship is improving, especially mine and Mom’s. Regardless, Paul, I’m their daughter. My opinion counts.”

“No, theirs does.” Paul again. “And Holly’s. She’s listed as next of kin.”

Wow, that was a slap in the face to Vanessa.

Holly didn’t respond. And from the expression on her face, the mayor already knew what designation her parents had made. Why she couldn’t get information over the phone made sense now.

Paul straightened. “I know them well enough to be sure there’s no way your parents want to live with you, Vanessa. None of us want you in our lives.”

“Dad, that’s not exactly—”

“Shush, Holly.”

Vanessa’s spine stiffened. Chase was glad to see it. “Lord in heaven, Paul. It’s been five years.”

“So what?”

Vanessa turned to her daughter. “Holly? What do you think?”

“I don’t know. I guess they should decide where they want to go.”

“There’s a lot to consider.” Vanessa turned to the chief. “What’s the condition of the house?”

“I’m afraid it’s uninhabitable, at least temporarily. We’ll have to determine if it can be rebuilt or if it’ll be condemned. Right now, the property’s taped off, and the fire investigator will go in again tomorrow to search for the cause of the blaze.”

“But they might be able to rebuild?” This from Holly.

“We don’t know that yet.” In his professional experience, that probably wouldn’t happen, but he was far from an expert.

“They can rebuild only if they have insurance.” Paul’s tone was curt.

Vanessa huffed. Chase could tell she was running out of patience. “Of course they do. I pay it every month, so I know.”

“Because you supplement their social security doesn’t mean they want you around.”

“This is crazy.” Vanessa stood and tossed back a wave of streaked-brown hair that often fell into her eyes. The gesture meant trouble, Chase had come to learn. “I’m sick of all this. You both should know two things: I’m not taking your bullying, Paul, any longer. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m no longer wearing the scarlet A you pinned on me.”

She stepped closer to her daughter. Didn’t touch her, though. “And honey, I’m not giving up on you, either.” Picking up her purse from the chair, she strapped it over her shoulder and faced them. “But I won’t go in. I will be back in the morning and I will see them!” She turned and strode out of the room.

Though he didn’t have a dog in this fight, Chase took a bead on father and daughter. “I don’t care what happened five years ago. You two were cruel to a suffering woman.”

“It’s none of your business,” Michaels spat out.

“Well, I don’t reckon I care much about that either.”

I won’t cry. I’ll be strong. But the half-hour battering Vanessa had just taken had cracked the emotional armor she put on whenever she was near her daughter, or especially Paul. Thankfully, the elevator came right away; she took it to the first floor and hurried outside to her car. She opened the door. Then, the whole scene got to her and she leaned against the roof, clutching the cold metal. She was bombarded by memories of when Holly loved her...

Her little girl in blond curls at a year old, tottering over and wrapping her arms around Vanessa’s waist. “Mama.” She’d been Holly’s world then.

At five, when she came home from kindergarten with drawings of her and her mother.

At eleven, getting her period and the intimate talk they’d had. At twelve, asking about boys. Her first crush. Her first date. Holly had counted on her.

And then Vanessa had made a huge mistake, and nothing was the same again.

“Vanessa.”

Chase.

Stay strong.

“Are you all right?”

She stood up to the power of her memories, though she couldn’t stop the trembling of her body. “Yes, why?”

“Well, for one thing, the door’s open and you’re staring inside.”

“Oh.”

He invaded her personal space and touched her for the first time outside of a handshake. His grasp on her arm was firm, comforting. “And what I witnessed in there would bring me to my knees.”

“They’re probably right. My parents probably wouldn’t want to see me. At least my father wouldn’t.”

“I’m sorry.”

She sighed heavily.

“Want to get a cup of coffee?”

“No, I need to get home.”

“I think you need to talk.”

She half-smiled. “Aren’t men supposed to be the reticent ones in an emotional time?”

“Most men, I guess. But my mama and my sister taught me different.”

“Thanks. But no. I’m exhausted.”

“Then good night, Vanessa.”

He got a few feet away and she turned and called out, “Chase?”

When he pivoted, she could see his brows arch in the light from the parking lot.

“Maybe one cup.”

After she calmed down, she drove to the diner wondering why the chief was being so nice to her. She certainly hadn’t been nice to him in the last two years.

Twelve Months ago

“As part of new business, I’d like to initiate procedures to take better care of our elderly.”

Rumbles again around the room. These people wouldn’t want more responsibility. “Andy Isaacs, our Special Projects Director, will answer any questions.” Her fiscal overseer nodded.

“There’s also some old business we need to revisit that relates to next year’s budget.”

The police chief shot the fire chief a beleaguered look. God, she hated when they participated in that silent criticism. Well, she had a surprise for Chase Talbot.

“I’m rescinding the brownouts for the fire department.”

“Seriously?” the chief blurted out. “Why?”

“Because in the last months, since the brownouts started, I’ve had a statistical analysis done on fire-related injuries. In three cases here in Rockford, people were hurt because they were unable to be reached in time. They were in the section of a brownout.” She faced him squarely. “Go ahead and say I told you so, Chief.”

He didn’t gloat. Instead, he raised blond brows. “I’m glad you changed your mind. And the injuries weren’t life-threatening.”

“Still, I’ve been proven wrong.”

More murmurs around the room. They didn’t know she had it in her. But she’d learned a lot in the last six months.

“Thank you, Madam Mayor.”

“Don’t thank me so fast, chief. All the other budget cuts remain. And the next item agenda includes your department. And the police force, Chief Corrigan.”

No one seemed surprised, since she’d emphasized aid for the elderly in her campaign.

“I’d appreciate your feedback, but ask you to wait until Andy’s finished presenting my facts.”

He clicked on a Power Point presentation, and the first item came up. “First off, we’re expanding our free cell phone program.”

“The one we have is working fine,” Corrigan put in, ignoring her earlier comment about interruption.

“We know, Chief. But we want to initiate a wider-based program, where the older person can use the phone for more than 911 calls.”

“Why?”

“I’ll take that one, Andy.” Vanessa faced Corrigan. “Because some older people in our community don’t have regular contact with others.”

“You’re a budget hawk. It’ll cost money to offer that service.”

“We already contacted the providers. Sprinkle and Verivison are on board to provide 250 minutes to all seniors for any kind of usage.”

She’d had to badger them for the service when Andy struck out. In only one year in office, she’d become a thorn in the sides of a lot of people.

“Second,” the budget guy said, “the fire and police departments will provide a check-in service for seniors through home visits and regular phone calls. And before you object—which I wish you’d hold till the end—we’ll start with computer-generated calls.”

“How will they do any good?” Corrigan interrupted the guy anyway. “If they don’t answer their phones?”

“Three consecutive non-answers result in personalized calls, or visits.”

Dane’s face reddened. Chase sighed heavily.

Vanessa intervened again. “This shouldn’t be too bad, guys, because it’s split up among every fire house and police precinct.

“Next, is training people who come in contact with elderly on a regular basis to identify danger signs and providing information on getting help. Upon noticing an elder who needs assistance, volunteer employees will make a phone call to the senior information and assistance office who, in turn, contact the elderly person. The appropriate health or social service organization is contacted and care is delivered. Supermarket clerks, bank tellers, pharmacists, customer service representatives, waitresses/waiters, paper deliverers and more.”

“You gotta be kidding me.” Dane was pissed now, she could tell.

So she answered again. “I assure you, we’re not.”

“How the hell will you implement this one?”

“Both departments will hold awareness sessions for those in your neighborhoods to train people to do these things.”

Back to Andy. “Last, we’d like to follow the example of the Birmingham Fire and Police Department that offer assistance by performing small household chores or errands during their breaks or after their shift ends. This relationship between seniors and firefighters and police officers may lead to seniors using those departments to connect them with other programs that prevent isolation and provide safety."

Absolute quiet.

“And while you’re in these homes, you can address some safety concerns. Firefighters can talk about kitchen safety, not to wear loose clothing, to stay in the kitchen when the stove is on. Both can address that space heaters must have a three-foot perimeter clearance around any device.”

Again, Vanessa spoke. “Firefighters can also help plan escape routes when a fire breaks out. 911 calls should be made once outside of the building. Police can instruct how to react when there’s a home invasion, and that includes escape routes if time allows for the victims. If not, where to go in the house and then call 911.”

More dead silence.

Then Dane Corrigan stood up and walked out of the room.

She looked at Chase. His brows rose, but he didn’t join Dane. She wondered why.

Present Day

Chase reached the diner before she did and found them a booth in a quiet section. He slid onto the bench, wondering which person would show up: the vulnerable woman from the hospital or the prickly mayor who he argued with all the time.

He also wondered about the scene he witnessed; she was estranged from her family over something that happened five years ago. And she mentioned not wearing a scarlet A. He didn’t know what on God’s green earth that meant, but he’d be sure to find out.

“Hi.”

Distracted, he hadn’t seen her arrive at his table. He slid out of the booth and stood. “Hi.” He sat back down only when she took a seat on the other side of the booth.

“You always do that. Stand, when a woman comes in the room.”

“My mama taught me well.”

The waitress arrived and they both ordered coffee. Vanessa wore a light cotton coat the color of wild oats and slid it off her shoulders. “I don’t know much about you. Where did you grow up?”

“South Carolina. NASCAR country.”

“Hmm, I should have guessed. You have a slight Southern accent that comes out when you get mad. Or are really nice. And you still use colloquial phrases.”

“So I’ve been told.”

Her face showed interest. “Did you drive stock cars?”

“Not competitively. But all down-home boys had to earn their stripes behind the wheel.” He grinned. “It was the manly thing to do.”

Relaxing back into the booth, she said, “Ah. Well, you don’t seem to have any problem in that area.”

Startled by her comment, it took him a minute to come up with a response. “Is that a compliment? Coming from you?”

A small smile curved up the corners of her mouth. “It’s a compliment. But I will admit, they’re a sparse occurrence between us.”

“That’s an understatement. If I recall correctly, you accused me of being a hard-headed s-o-b, stubborn as a mule and not knowing my head from a hole in the ground.”

“All in private, Chief.” Another smile. Broader this time. “But you do bring out the worst in me. I think your words were pushy broad, uptight and stubborn as all get-out.”

He sipped his coffee. “We probably should behave better.”

“As I said, it’s all been in private. But you’re right. Let’s try from here on out.”

“Okay.” He held out his hand. “Truce.”

She actually laughed before she shook. “Truce. For now.”

“I knew this was too good to be true.” He watched her over the rim of his mug. “Vanessa, you don’t have to share anything you don’t want to, but would you like to talk about what’s going on between you and your family?”

The vulnerable woman was back. “I blew up our lives five years ago. They’ve been angry since then.”

“Five years is a long time to carry a grudge.”

“It was a pretty big explosion. The shrapnel was far-reaching.”

“You said you wouldn’t stand in the line of fire anymore.”

“Yeah. I’m sick of Paul’s animosity. And Holly’s distancing.”

“I’m sorry.”

“What about you?” Her eyes narrowed on him. They were as green as the grass in spring. “I suppose you had the perfect family life.”

“Hardly. I only had one child, like you.”

She actually reached across the table and squeezed his hand briefly. “That was a thoughtless remark. I’m sorry you lost him.”

“Me, too. Thanks again for coming to the memorial here.”

“You have a lot of friends who wanted to support you.”

He would never have called her a friend. “And for the fruit basket.”

“Not very original. But I guessed you’d have people over. And I heard you got custody of your grandchildren.”

“I did.”

“Two of them?”

“Both girls. The little one is seven. The older one is fourteen going on thirty-six.”

“I heard at the memorial that your wife passed away years ago.”

“Celine died when Scott was ten. Cancer.” He cleared his throat. “My boy and I had a lot of years alone.”

“Losing a child is the worst thing that can happen to a parent.”

Chase cursed fate once again. “He was coming to live in Rockford, but he had to finish his smoke jumper tour out there.”

“Oh, that’s worse for both you and the girls. Isn’t their mother in the picture?”

He felt the anger and resentment rise inside him. “No, she left them all when Colette, the youngest, was two.”

“That’s awful.”

“We didn’t even see her when Scott died. Not that I’d let her have the kids.” He had to lighten this conversation. “Listen to us, sharing our woes like old people.”

“Today I feel like a hundred.”

“Nah.” His eyes narrowed on her. “Are you even forty?”

A chuckle this time. “That and more. You?”

“Passed the big 5-0, I’m afraid.” He touched his skin above his mouth. “I shaved my moustache because Kassie—my other granddaughter—said I look old with it.”

“How are they taking all this?”

“I’m afraid I have a long row to hoe there.”

She got a faraway expression on her face. “I remember when Holly was Kassie’s age. Girls are troubled, insecure and moody then.”

“Just when I think we’ve made progress, something else pops out.”

She sipped her coffee. Her skin was relatively unlined, and her cheekbones high. Damned if he knew why he noticed her hair, her eyes, her mouth.

“Do I have something on my face?”

“No. You seem tired.”

“I am.”

“Do you want to talk about the fire while we’re together?”

“I don’t think I can handle all that right now.”

Must be the mayor had disappeared for the night.

“All right. But know I get a monthly a report with signatures of the firefighters who check the alarms.”

“Maybe tomorrow, I’ll deal with that.”

There wasn’t anything to deal with and, ordinarily, her comment would have irked him. Not now, though, because she was exhausted, and remembering their earlier assaults on each other, he’d been glad to return to talk of how to handle teenagers.

But he had some re-evaluating to do. This was a side of Vanessa Jordan he’d never seen before.

He liked her a lot better this way.

Before Holly and her father could leave the hospital, the nurse came out and told them that her grandmother had woken up. Instead of leaving, the two of them hurried to her grandparents’ room. Grandpa was dozing, but Grandma was sitting up. The faint smell of smoke still hung in the air. Holly crossed to Grandma’s bed and kissed her cheek. It was cold. “I’m so glad you’re awake and alert. How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine, child. But you shouldn’t have waited at the hospital this late.”

“I’m taking care of her, Ella.” Dad circled her and kissed Grandma’s cheek too.

After a bit of conversation, a fit of coughing rumbled out of her chest. “Oh, dear. Don’t worry about this. It’s normal.”

“Aren’t you on oxygen, like Grandpa?”

“I have it over there.” She pointed to the nose mask on the nightstand.

“You should have it on.” This from her dad.

“I will when I go back to sleep. Now tell me what you learned about us being discharged. We don’t know much because of how sick we were.”

Holly tried for a light tone, but seeing her grandma so frail shook her. “What I know is the doctors want to wait until they repeat the blood tests. You have to stay here until your lungs clear in case you need another hyperbaric session.”

Next to her, Holly’s grandpa turned over. He was wearing the oxygen nose contraption, and his face was red. The doctor explained the discoloration was the result of chemicals in the combustion causing direct injury to his skin.

Her grandmother’s eyes tracked their gaze. “Edward’s not doing as well as me. He’ll probably have to stay even if I don’t.”

“That’d be the best for him, Ella.”

Her grandma’s eyes teared up. “Do you know the condition of the house, dear?”

“The fire chief said it’s unlivable right now. We don’t know the long-term prospects. But when you’re released, I want you to come home with me.”

“I think my house would be a better place to recuperate.” This from her dad.

Holly wasn’t surprised at his comment. Her father liked to be in charge, decide things for her life and her grandparents. Which was one of the reasons she hadn’t moved into her own place until she rented an apartment for a year and then bought her condo.

Grandma frowned. “That’s kind of you, Paul, but I’d prefer to spend time with Holly.”

As if they always hadn’t. Holly had stepped into her mother’s shoes when she finished college. She’d been the daughter to them that her mother hadn’t. But to be fair, her grandpa pretty much ostracized her mother. Grandma was more open to her.

As if she read Holly’s thoughts, Grandma asked, “Did you notify Vanessa of the fire?”

Holly hadn’t, which, now that she’d seen her mother, she was feeling guilty about. But she said, “My mother knows. She was out of town, but flew back in and was here tonight.”

Her grandmother’s hand fluttered to her chest. Holly noticed how papery, how translucent it was. “D-didn’t she want to see us?”

Holly’s father answered. “We thought it best she didn’t.”

“I, um, I wouldn’t have minded.”

Like he often did, her father changed the subject. “You don’t have to decide about her tonight.”

Her dad shouldn’t have said that. Apparently, Grandma had already decided she wanted to see her daughter.

When a nurse came in with sleeping pills, Holly and her father said goodbye. As they walked to the elevators, her dad took her hand. “I don’t want them to see your mother.”

“Grandma wants to, Dad.”

“She’s feeling vulnerable. It’s our job to make her secure, which is why I think you and the two of them should move into my house for a while.”

Holly couldn’t possibly live in that house again. Too many memories. Good and bad. If Dad knew about the former, he’d get mad.

“Honey, nothing has to be ironed out tonight. You’ve been here since six a.m. We’re both tired. I’ll take you home and we can meet back here tomorrow.”

“I have my car. That sweet firefighter drove me here in it from their house.”

“No worries. I’ll take care of you.”

Maybe she would have objected, but she was hit by a sudden bout of fatigue. And she’d been traumatized by the events of the day. Now wasn’t the time to stand up to him. Her friend Lizzie would say she was copping out, like always—and she’d be right. Ever since her mother betrayed them all, Holly always took the easy way out with her father.

Which was beginning to be a problem.

Two days later, eight a.m., in front of room 318 at Memorial Hospital, Vanessa took in a deep breath and smoothed down the skirt of her beige suit. She’d been to visit her parents yesterday and it had been strained. Still, she stayed and talked to her mother when her father fell asleep.

Now, she walked into the room determined to improve their relationship. She’d almost lost them. Her mother sat in a chair, and her father on his bed. They were all packed and ready to go. Her father looked up. His face was still red from the carbon monoxide burns, but the doctors said he could go home.

“Hi, Mom. Dad.”

“Hello, child.” Standing, her mother approached her. Took her hands. At one time, there were hugs in this family. “Thank you for picking us up. Holly had to go back to work after taking two days off.”

She bit her tongue so she wouldn’t tell them that this was her responsibility in any case.

Her father stood, too, and lifted his suitcase off the floor. “We’re ready.”

Not even a hello.

Despite his coldness, Vanessa dived right in. “I wish you two would come and stay with me. I have more room than Holly.”

“We don’t need much room.” This from her dad, of course.

“I’ve been thinking,” her mom put in. “If the house turns out to be inhabitable, maybe we could come and stay with you for a while.”

Her father harrumphed.

“That would make me very happy, Mom.”

Now her father shook his head.

Two nurses walked in through the door. The older one spoke. “You have to go in wheelchairs, Mr. and Mrs. Jordan.” To Vanessa, she said, “Pull your car around the loop. We’ll wait for you at the entrance.”

“I’ll take their bag.” Holly must have bought them some stuff.

“I’ll carry it on my lap.” Again, Dad, who wasn’t giving an inch.

Vanessa left the room feeling battered, but memories of the unkind words between Vanessa and her father five years ago wouldn’t let go...

How could you do this to Paul? To us? To your daughter?

I’m sorry, Dad. But you don’t understand the whole of what happened.

I understand we’re losing Linc, Marion and Doug. But I’ll tell you one thing, young lady, we will never lose Holly. But you might!

Edward Jordan had been right about Holly, and Vanessa’s heart was still broken over it.