I waited until nothing remained but the glowing embers. Where was my boy? Where was Luke?
I untied my apron and used it to wave away the smoke so I could see through the haze. I stumbled into the kitchen and saw no one. Were they really not there? Safe? I hardly believed it possible.
I took another hesitant step. My foot nudged a solid form. I waved away the smoke and looked at the floor by my feet.
Huddled there were two charred bodies. Luke’s lay on top of Anastasia’s. He had tried to shield her with his own body. It had been no use. The smoke and the flames…I turned my face.
Luke was gone. And so was my grandbaby. My next chance at life. My family. I was all alone. Again. What would I do without him? I crumpled to the floor beside my son.
Voices sounded at the doorway as men with hatchets and water poured into the kitchen. “Does any fire remain that you know of, ma’am?”
I shrugged. Did it matter? “I wish it had all burned down and taken me with it.”
“She’s in shock,” a male voice called to his partner. “Let’s get her out of here.” He tried to help me stand.
I bucked my body and fought against his grip. “No! Don’t take me from my—”
He pulled me to his chest and his big arms encircled my body. He spoke softly into my ear while restraining my movements. “Ma’am, it seems bad, but you will come out of this.”
I didn't see how.
“I’m going to let go of you. Do you think you can stand up alone?”
I nodded.
“My friend and I are going to lift your…?”
“Brother.” I couldn’t tell them Luke was my son.
“And his…?”
“His wife.” I took a deep smoky breath, then dissolved in racking coughs.
“You need to get out of this smoke. We will get them to the wagon out front, then take you all to town. Okay?” His kind eyes looked sad.
I nodded solemnly. What choice did I have? “Okay. The woman was pregnant.” My voice didn’t even sound like it belonged to me anymore.
“Not very far along it looks, but we will have a doctor look her over.” They loaded the two bodies on the wagon. I winced when Luke’s head banged against the floor.
I hopped into the bed and sat beside my son. I held his charred hand. One last time.
As the wagon pulled away from the castle, I looked up to the tower. Gretta stared out the window from my room. Shaking her head.
The ride to the hospital was a blur. I couldn’t make sense of a single coherent thought.
“Ma’am?” The doctor approached and placed a hand on my shoulder.
“I don't know what you were told, but I wanted to inform you that the woman brought in from the fire at your place was not with child.”
The world fell away beneath my feet. What did it mean?
“In fact, she likely never would have had children judging by the state of things in her body.”
Not pregnant? Never to be? It had all been a lie. She lied to me so she could take her place in my home and with my son. Made me sacrifice everything for the sake of the unborn grandchild that was never to be. The rage boiled inside of me.
I searched the space around me for a safe place and emptied the contents of my stomach. I couldn't believe it. My son, gone, for no reason. She wasn't even pregnant. She was a liar. Would my son have loved her if he’d known? Oh, how much he had sacrificed.
I rode home in silence. I climbed down from the wagon and didn't even turn to say goodbye to the driver. I knew it was rude, even in the state I was in, but what did he expect from me?
I stumbled into the castle. The smell of smoke cloyed at every fiber, every cell of my being—a lasting, lifetime reminder of all that was lost. Everything…gone. First Henry, now Luke, both gone before their time. Taken from me before I could have my life with them.
I put one foot in front of the other—I had no idea how. Just get to the tower so I can die there.
Gretta. She sat on the bottom step, waiting. Her face ashen.
What? First she started the fire that killed my son. Now she dared show her face in my presence. I turned my gaze from her. “I will not say your name. I will not look on your face. For the rest of my life you will stay away from me. Stay out of my room. In fact, you can move into the Cavanaughs' cabin. I don't want you here in this house.”
“You can't do that, Rapunzel.”
“Oh, yes, I can. I believe I just did.”
“No. I’m sorry to say, you can’t. Your father made sure of it.”
I stopped with my foot on the second stair and turned to face her. “What did you say?”
Gretta hung her head. Was that shame? Was she capable of shame? Gretta lifted her face and shook her head. “I did not do this.”