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I climb out of my SUV and unlock the front door to my shop. Looking across the street at the fire station, I notice that all the bays where they park the engines and rescue units are empty. Must really be a busy shift for Hudson. Too bad. I was hoping to pop over and say hello to everyone. Maybe before I leave.
The power to my shop was turned off by the electric company because of the damage to the place, so I brought my trusty flashlight with me. Since they boarded all the windows up, there’s zero light coming in and it’s hot as hell in here.
Making my way through the debris, I drag my folded-up boxes into my office, or at least where my office used to be, and start folding them open and filling them up with paperwork. That’s all that’s left here, since we took away all my other belongings that night.
As I get each box filled, I carry them one-at-a-time back through the debris, holding my flashlight in one hand and the box in the other, and then out to my SUV. I had to move my SUV right outside my front door because the boxes are pretty heavy and it’s getting dark outside. I’ve been here for hours, and it didn’t seem safe to be walking through the parking lot alone carrying heavy boxes. Granted, I’m across the street from the fire station and the police station is right next door to that, but the fire station has been empty all day, and I haven’t seen a cop car drive by in a while.
I’m almost done packing the last of the boxes and looking forward to getting home and taking a shower. This Florida summer weather is getting ridiculous. Or am I just too spoiled with the air conditioner? Who knows?
“Hello?” I hear Jose’s voice coming from the front of my shop. “Chica? Are you in here?”
Shit. I didn’t lock the door. I thought I was the only one here since the parking lot has been empty since I got here. I grab my flashlight as a weapon and make my way out of my office and towards the front. “Yeah, Jose. I’m here.”
Jose is standing by the front door holding his own flashlight. “Why you here, Chica?”
Why does he care? “Just packing up the rest of my stuff. Almost done. Is there something you need?” I’m trying to get him out of here.
“You got money, Chica?” Jose asks as he takes a few steps towards me. “I see you have been getting donations. Everybody loves the bagel lady, huh, Chica?”
My blood runs cold at his question and I’m kicking myself for being here alone. How on earth am I ever going to have my business next to his if he makes me feel threatened? Now’s not the time, Kate. Think. You need to get out of here if he comes at you.
“How much have you collected, Chica?” Jose stops about halfway towards me as one of his friends opens the door behind him and says something to him in Spanish.
Great. There’s more than one. This was so stupid, Kate. So stupid.
Jose turns and answers his friend, also in Spanish, so I don’t know what they’re saying to each other, and then he turns back to me. “See you around, Chica.”
I watch, still with a death grip on my flashlight, as Jose and his friend leave my shop. I hear two car doors close and an engine start. Following the sound, I open my shop’s front door and watch Jose, sitting on the passenger side of the little car, drive out of the parking lot and down the street.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I close the door and lock it this time. “That was so stupid, Kate. You know better than this.” I scold myself for being by myself in my darkened shop.
Since I’m almost done, I hurry back to my office and finish packing the last of the boxes. Each time I put one in my SUV, I unlock the door, check the parking lot to make sure I’m alone, put the box in the back of my SUV quickly, and run back into the shop, relocking the door behind me.
It’s been a half hour since Jose left and I’m down to my last box. Looking around at my shop as I drag it through the debris on the ground, I can’t help but get emotional about what’s happened in the last few weeks.
Everything will be different here going forward. The look and feel of my shop will be different. It won’t be the same quaint little bagel shop my grandma used to stop by and get her morning coffee and pastry. I guess I’m sentimental about that, and the tears flow down my face. I put the box and flashlight down so I can wipe the tears from my eyes, and then everything goes dark.
CHAPTER 30
HUDSON
This has been the shift from hell. We’ve had nonstop calls, back-to-back, since we got on shift at eight o’clock this morning. Everything from medical calls, car accidents, fireworks injuries, and even a small plane crash. Thankfully, the teenage student pilot was able to make a belly landing, and no one was hurt, although I’m not sure his parents will let him fly another plane for as long as he lives.
Nothing major has happened, but we’ve been humping all day in this heat and humidity. Typical July in Florida.
We’re finally on our way back to the station to eat when the dispatcher comes over the radio. “Engine 11, Rescue 11. Copy a call.”
“Tell her no. We’ve missed breakfast, lunch, and now dinner.” Chance yells from the back of the fire truck.
I ignore him, although I understand his frustration. We’re all starving. The protein bars from the hospital emergency room only go so far. “Engine 11, Rescue 11. Go ahead.” I say into the microphone.
“Two alarm structure fire. Engine 31, Rescue 31 are already on scene. 23 Hibiscus Run, Hibiscus RV Park. Repeat, 23 Hibiscus Run, Hibiscus RV Park.” The dispatcher says, and my heart stops.
It’s Kate’s address.
I’m frozen thinking about what she’s going through right now and I’m not there to protect her. I’m mad that she wanted to go home instead of staying at my place today. The dispatcher said Rescue 31 is already there and now they’re calling for another unit. That means more than one person is hurt.
Kate.
