Page 15 of Rescued Dreams

That wasn’t something she wanted to think about right now, when this was allhisfault. Her ex didn’t need to take up any space in her mind.

When the kettle boiled, she poured hot water over the tea bag.

The speaker up in the corner of the ceiling chimed. “Truck 14. Ambulance 21. Residential fire, persons trapped.”

Everyone except rescue squad dropped what they were doing and headed to the engine bay. She dragged on her turnout pants, slid her feet into her boots, and shrugged on her jacket. Grabbed her helmet.

Amelia reached for the front passenger-side door.

Ridge grabbed the handle and opened it.

She realized what she’d done. “Habit. Sorry.”

He was the one who looked sorry.

Amelia got in the back, beside Izan. Della fired up the engine, and Ridge pulled up the address on their dashboard computer.

Izan tapped her arm.

When she looked over, he mouthed,Are you okay?

She gave him a look like,What do you think?

“This too shall pass?”

“Let’s just fight fire, yeah?” But she wasn’t the lieutenant anymore. Somehow, she would deal with that fact.

Amelia rolled her shoulders. This would be fine. She just had to remember she wasn’t in charge. The change in duty would give her a little perspective. Remind her what it was like to be the underling. Not to mention give Ridge the chance for some command experience before he…

He was looking for a lieutenant position somewhere else.

Now he had hers, here. Everyone probably thought it was better this way, that he was the lieutenant on Truck. After all, no one here wanted to lose Ridge. Things could change, and people sometimes left, but this was Ridge.

Della pulled the truck into a residential area, behind the middle school on Wiltern Drive. Amelia’s stomach clenched. She used to live in this area.

In fact, she used to live on this street.

“What’s the address for the fire?” She leaned forward and patted Ridge’s shoulder.

“Number fourteen, Wiltern.”

Amelia sucked in a breath.

“What is it?” Izan leaned forward, looking out the front window.

Sure enough, number fourteen was on fire. A woman out front waved her arms, and Della pulled over to the curb.

“What is it, Patterson?” Ridge asked.

“I used to live in that house.” She pushed the door open and jumped out, going to the frantic woman. “Is this your house?”

Ridge appeared by her side, shooting her a look.

Amelia took a step back.

“It just exploded.” The woman gasped. “My daughter is in her bedroom. You have to save her!”

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