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My house. My home. My sanctuary. It’s all gone. “Who?”
Hudson shakes his head, “I don’t know. When they sent my station to your house to help with the fire, I was told I couldn’t be involved, and they sent me to the hospital with Gladys.”
“Gladys!?! Is she okay?” I can feel the tears collecting in the corner of my eyes and hear the monitor beep faster as my heart races.
“Gladys is fine. She got some smoke inhalation, but she was reading the ER staff the riot act last I saw her. She’s a tough old kook.”
I place my hand over my chest. “Good. What about everyone else? Wilbur?”
“Everyone’s fine. Even Wilbur. I saw him myself. Betty was holding him as he honked at all the commotion.”
I nod as the reality is setting in as I can see it already has on Hudson’s face. Whatever happened at my shop wasn’t an accident, either.
My entire life went up in smoke yesterday, literally.
My whole life just… gone.
CHAPTER 34
HUDSON
Kate’s face pales as she realizes that whatever happened yesterday, between her house and her shop, was no accident. I’m watching her EKG and see that her heart rate increases knowing that she’s lost just about everything. But she hasn’t lost me. I’ll take care of her and make this right for her.
“Kate. We’ll figure this all out together. I promise.”
I expected a bit of a fight, but she looked at me with tears in her eyes and only nodded. My heart breaking, I pull her into my arms as I sit on the side of her bed.
“Shh, baby. I’ve got you. We’ll get through this together. I promise.”
We sit like this for a while; me holding her. It’s much quieter up here on the seventh floor than it was in the emergency room, and I’m thankful for that.
“No hanky panky in the hospital. Doctor’s orders.” Reid comes into the room without knocking.
Kate sits back, and I stand and shake my childhood friend’s hand. “Thanks, man.”
“No problem.”
It’s all that needs to be said between the two of us. He understands what he did for Kate and me last night.
“So, how’s my patient doing?” Reid sits in the lounge chair I was in earlier. “Tell me how you’re breathing.”
“Good. Better than last night.” Kate answers him as I stand off to the side to let him do his thing.
Reid pulls out a stethoscope and starts listening to Kate’s lungs from her chest and then her back. “Sounds much better than it did last night. I’m going to send in respiratory later today and they’ll work with you to make sure we’re going in the right direction. Do you need anything?”
Kate shakes her head. “No, but thank you for all you’ve done for me today and yesterday.”
Reid checks the bandage on Kate’s shoulder. “You’re welcome, Kate. Just glad we got to you before anything worse happened.” He closes up the bandage. “This looks good, too. You’re a fast healer. We may be able to cut you loose tomorrow.”
“No rush. I’ve got nowhere to go,” Kate says.
“Yes. You. Do.” I growl from the corner of the room.
She nods and gives me a small smile. “I know. Too soon for jokes.”
“Hey, jokes mean you’re feeling better and that’s what a doctor wants to hear. Now, I expect you to be resting today, okay?” Reid asks Kate.
“Okay.” Kate answers just as a burst of excitement runs through the door and starts screaming.
