“Sorry, Mom,” Joseph said, pausing in his calculations. “You want me to go see him? He might listen to me.”
“You’re probably right, but the question is whether he would remember your conversation. He needs to see a specialist. The last time he wandered off it upset him, along with everyone else, and he agreed to see the doctor, but by the time the appointment rolled around, he refused and then said he was going to buy another car so he could drive himself around. I’m afraid he’s a danger to himself, but it’s not my call.”
She had to fight back pangs of guilt. In her head, she knew it was the right choice to allow his family to make those decisions since she had enough on her hands taking care of her mother, but her heart was another matter. Antonio always made a point of reminding her that both of her grandparents had been cared for at home until passing away. He’d even gone so far as to tell her if she was still married she could take better responsibility for her parents, as if it was her obligation to somehow bring them both together under one roof and make them get along.
“Do you think Uncle Antonio feels as though he’s betraying him if he puts him into a community where he’ll get more supervision?”
“Yes, it’s not the way they have always done things in our family. But Aunt Rita shouldn’t have to babysit him full time. Personally, I’m not sure an assisted living community would give him the level of supervision he needs.”
“I’ll go see him this evening.”
“That would make him happy but don’t feel bad if he won’t listen to you either. You can’t save everyone, especially when they’re in denial about needing to be saved.”
A chime sounded from within the office, and then Joseph chuckled. “Hey, Mom, come here. You gotta see this.”
They spent the next few minutes watching a video Tamara had uploaded, and Cassie tried to set aside worry about her father. Joseph showed her some numbers based on his earlier calculations. “I ran into Jack Warner, and he said he’d love to talk to you about being your general contractor for the project.”
“Oh, you ran into him, huh? Mi hijo, are you sure you should invest your inheritance in this place? Shouldn’t you save it for a down payment on a house or land?”
Joseph laughed. “Mom, do I look like a rancher to you? I’m fine where I’m at for now, and you are a good investment.”
Tears seemed to suddenly spring from her eyes. “My sweet boy! What did I ever do to deserve you?”
Hugging her, he said, “You’re a good mother. I’m just returning the favor.” He frowned and said, “Did someone leave the gas on?”
Frowning, Cassie sniffed and then froze. “Everything is turned off, or should be. Maybe the pilot light went out.” Wishful thinking, considering how strong the odor had gotten. That didn’t smell like natural gas.
Joseph grabbed the fire extinguisher and placed her at his back. She went up on tiptoe as he craned his neck out of the doorway, and over his shoulder, she saw the source of the odor through the kitchen pass-thru window. Somehow a fire had started in the storage room on the other side of the kitchen—and the back door stood wide open.
She was startled by a rushing whoom!, followed by a blast of heat as something in the storeroom exploded, igniting the liquid trail leading into the kitchen.
No one knew they were inside except for Samson and Ivan, who were both at work in Morehead.
* * * *
Samson looked up from his desk as one of his coworkers came rushing up. “Your girlfriend owns a coffee shop in Divine, right?”
“Yes,” he said, getting up from his chair as he took in the worry on his friend’s face. “Mike, what is it?”
“DFD just called for engine back up. The whole building is engulfed in flames.”
His blood ran cold. “She and her son were there! Did they get them out?”
“They haven’t said.” He waved Samson away from his desk and grabbed the phone headset. “I’ll take over here. You go. Our guys are en route already.”
He grabbed his keys as he took out his phone, and it started ringing in his hand. “Yeah!” he hollered into it as he ran out the door.
“It’s me, Ivan! You’re not going to fucking believe what I just heard on the scanner!”
“I just found out. We got a call for engine backup.” He heard the engine and siren horn in the distance. “I’m headed that way right now. You?”
“Already on my way! I just pulled out of the parking lot.”
“Ivan, if she’s hurt…if…” Pain lanced through his gut as he imagined her helpless and suffocating. And her son. Damn it!