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A little girl's piercing scream pierces the night sky. A fireman appears in the doorway of Hope House, holding a tiny body and running as fast as he can. "That's it! The fire has taken the house! Everybody out!"
Oh my god.My mouth goes dry. I swing my gaze around, trying to fix on where I can be of the most help.
There is an ambulance pulled up on the curb just to my right. One of the paramedics is helping an adult Hope House volunteer limp toward the ambulance. A little girl struggles in the other paramedic's arms as he carries her away from the burning house. Dark hair swings wildly around her soot-stained face.
Solana.
I break into a run, heart pounding. "Solana!"
She sees me. Arms outstretched, she shrieks, "Talia!"
The paramedic rushes to strap an oxygen mask over her face but she bats it away, coughing and gasping.
I grab her from him, swinging her around to avoid my pregnant stomach, and clutch her close. She's shaking, a blistered red burn on both her arms, but she'salive. Thank God, she's alive.
"Ma'am, could I check her out?" the paramedic asks.
Solana screams so loud that the paramedic backs away and puts his hands up. I wrap my arm around her, pushing her face against my shoulder with gentle force.
"Shh, I've got you honey, it's okay. No one is going to touch you." I rock her gently, smoothing her hair. She clings to me, face buried in my neck, sobs wracking her small body.
I glance up at the EMT and make an apologetic face. "Sorry."
"Make sure she goes to the hospital. She needs to be checked out thoroughly. She could haveinhalation damage." He drops his voice to a stage whisper for the last two words.
"I will. I promise." I bounce Solana around, mimicking a mother soothing a fussy baby. It seems to work on Solana because her sobs grow quiet.
Dare appears out of the inky black night, putting his soot-covered hands on my shoulders. "Is that Solana?"
I grip one of his hands briefly. "It is. She seems fine, but I need to get her to the ER. Have you seen the other kids?"
Dare nods, looking behind him. "Most of the kids are already on their way to the hospital. They are okay, maybe some smoke inhalation--"
As if on cue, Solana starts coughing terribly. The cough wracks her little body and hurts my soul.
"Aunt Minnie?" I ask. "And what about the adult volunteers?"
"Everyone made it out alive. Your aunt went with the first ambulance full of kids."
My throat tightens. Tears burn in my eyes.
"So everyone will be okay?"
Dare squeezes my shoulder. "Yes. They were lucky. I heard that the whole house went up really quickly."
"It did," Solana whimpers.
I put my hand on her head, gently stroking her hair. Then I cover her ears and whisper.
"She's traumatized."
"You should go, then. There are plenty of ambulances waiting."
I nod but hesitate. "What about you?"
"I'm going to stay and help out here. I won't be in any danger. After you guys get all checked out at the emergency room, I'll meet you there."
I nod again, grateful for his reassurance and the comfort he's offering. "A kiss for good luck?"
