Page 14 of Loving Trent (Love in the Bootheel #5)
“But an angel saved you,” she says, nodding to herself more than to us. She looks at Sonny and Roger with the sweetest smile I’ve ever seen. “Just like Grandpa Sonny and Grandpa Roger saved me and Mommy from the fire.”
A shiver races down my spine at the mention of the fire that almost took my sweet niece and loving sister away from me.
To save herself and Dylan, Sammy set an abandoned warehouse on fire.
She didn’t know that it would go up as fast as it did.
They barely made it out alive. I notice that I’m not the only one affected by the memory.
Zak’s jaw ticks, and his arms tighten around Dylan.
“Yeah, Sweetie. I was sent an angel, and he saved me.”
Dylan pushes off Zak’s lap, walks over, and pats my cheek. “We need to find him. I have to thank him for saving my favorite uncle. Plus, you smiled when you thought of him. Maybe he’s the one. You know the one for you. Like Daddy is for Mommy. Not like Steven.”
Her innocent outlook on the world brings a smile to my face.
More people need to see the world through Dylan’s eyes.
I hold out my arm, and Dylan finally lets me hold her.
Sammy moves to stand, with the help of Mom, because she is about ready to give birth.
Dylan snuggles closer, and I soak up her love. “Who knows what the future holds, Dyl.”
Mom and the girls decide we need a family lunch since we’re all here.
Since there is no food to be found in the kitchen, I hand over my card to Mom, who promises to pick up a new phone for me while they are out.
Adam and Levi jump straight into asking what I’m going to do about the apartments.
When I tell them I’m hoping that I will be able to rebuild if the building itself is safe, they start talking amongst themselves about the possibilities.
After the death of their grandpa, the man who raised them and turned out to be my grandpa, they took over Hill Construction and have made a considerable name for it in the Bootheel.
I leave them at the table and search for the one person who can help me track down this angel, as everyone has been calling him. I find Sonny and Roger outside smoking.
“You know you should have called your mother,” Sonny says as I close the door, without taking his gaze off the Mississippi River.
“I know I screwed up again. Everyone has so much going on that I didn’t want to add any unnecessary drama.
” That’s who I’ve become since becoming an adult.
Someone who will jump to the front of the line to be there for my family, but hide away my own problems, afraid I’ll make a mess for those I love.
“Son—”
I hold up my hand to stop him from saying what I already know. “I know almost dying in a fire isn’t unnecessary drama. Mom S,” Sandra, as Sammy and I call her, “already told me.”
Sonny puts his cigarette out in the bucket the owners have provided and pulls me in for a one-armed hug.
“I’m so glad you’re okay. When Sammy called and told me what happened.
.. I’ve only felt that terror once before, and I never want to feel it again.
I don’t want to face the possibility of losing one of my kids.
I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to any of y’all.
” He’s not just talking about me and Sammy.
That’s the thing about the adults who make up the Hill family.
It doesn’t matter if biologically we are nieces, nephews, sons, daughters, grandsons, or granddaughters, or even if there is no blood between us in the case of the in-laws.
They all see us as their kids and will protect us as such.
It’s also not just words spoken out of love.
The Hill family has seen its share of danger and drama, where not one single person has backed down when the time came for action. Point in case, what happened hours ago.
Sammy had gotten a call from one of her old friends who now works as a firefighter.
Her friend wanted to check on me, but of course, Sammy had no idea what she was talking about.
When Sammy couldn’t reach me, she rallied the troops.
They agreed not to call Mom until they figured out what was happening.
But Mom called Sammy to fill her in after she spotted my car.
What Mom didn’t know was that a convoy of Hill family members was already eating up the highway on their way into town.
“So, about this angel, as it seems we are calling him. What do you know about him?” Sonny asks, trying to hide the fact that he is wiping a couple of tears away.
“Honestly…” I take a deep breath before continuing, “I’m not sure he is even real.
The last thing I remember is banging on the window, pleading with someone to save me.
Then I locked eyes with a man, but then everything went black.
All I can see are his brown eyes. I’m planning on calling the fire station and the police.
The hospital was of no help last night, but I’m going to try again today.
Someone has to know who he is, and if I’m losing my mind. Do you think you can help me?”
“Of course I can. I’ll start making some calls, Son.” Sonny places his hand on my shoulder, giving it a slight squeeze.
“Thank you, Dad.” It’s the first time I’ve called him Dad, but I have been playing around with the idea for some time now. He clears his throat, nods, and leaves me alone with Roger.
“He hates showing any emotion besides anger,” Roger says, patting me on the back. Roger follows Dad into the house, leaving me alone with my thoughts, and that stupid feeling of plush, soft lips pressed against mine while heat tries to consume me.