Page 23 of Melting for the Firefighter
“Cora, what is this I saw online? Your shop burned down?”
“Last night.”
“Why did no one call me?”
Hope rises before I can stop it.Stupid, loyal hope.
“I was at the hospital.”
“Are you getting an insurance check?”
The hope dies so quickly it should not have time to hurt.
It does.
“I don’t know yet.”
“Because if they pay for all your stuff, maybe you could help me a little more. The landlord added a late fee.”
Lance goes completely still beside me.
Zain takes Jordan by the shoulder and steers him toward the engine.
Privacy, Whispering Pines style. Everyone leaves while remaining close enough to interfere if necessary.
“I sent you eight hundred dollars yesterday.”
“And I told you rent went up.”
“My home burned down.”
The words leave me in a whisper.
“I know, honey. That’s awful. You always land on your feet, though. Your grandmother made sure of that.”
I close my eyes.
Grandma made sure I knew how to survive.
Mom decided that meant I should survive everything she handed me too.
Lance takes the phone from my hand.
“She’ll call you later.”
He ends the call.
Anger flashes through me because it is easier than admitting how badly I wanted him to do it.
“You cannot hang up on my mother.”
“She heard you say your home burned down and asked for money.”
“She has problems.”
“She keeps making them yours.”
“You don’t know her.”
