Free Forget-Me-Nots in September by Clare Revell Page A

back.
    ~*~
    Bev loaded the rolls of paper and tins of paint into the car. He hoped Jude would like the ones he’d picked. Blue for the bathroom, green for the kitchen, yellow, pink, and lilac for the bedrooms and cream for the lounge; along with a very pale coffee for the hall, landing and stairs. He’d even picked up suggestions for flooring and would insist she at least chose that. It’d most likely need changing ten years down the line anyway.
    He drove towards the bakery, debating whether or not to order the pizza when he parked, so it’d be delivered shortly after they arrived back at the house. That was probably the best idea. He knew what Jude liked as they’d had pizza before so if he got two individual ones, they could have half of each one.
    He turned into the corner to find a glow coming from the end of the street. Fear gnawed his stomach and he put his foot down.
    Flames shot from the front of the bakery. Bev screeched to a halt, jumping from the car almost before the engine had finished shutting down. A small crowd stood outside.
    “Has anyone called 999?” he yelled.
    “On the way.”
    “What about Jude? I left her in there.” He moved towards the door.
    Someone grabbed him. “Let the fire brigade—”
    He shook free. “No time.” He kicked the door in, a blast of heat hitting him in the face. Raising an arm over his eyes, he plunged into the flames. “Jude!”

8
    Jude tried to get up, only to find she was pinned across the legs by something heavy. Heat and smoke surrounded her, making breathing hard. She tried to suck in a deep breath, but only coughed, breathing in smoke and something that tasted horrible. Was she going to die? She tried to move again as something hot approached her feet. She didn’t want to burn…
    “Jude!” Bev’s voice echoed over the roaring of the flames.
    “Here!” she screamed. “Office…help me!”
    The door burst open, fire leaping higher as fresh oxygen poured into the room. Searing heat stabbed at her feet.
    A figure stood outlined against the flames. “Jude!”
    “Here…can’t move. There’s something on my legs.”
    Bev moved over to her and tugged at the desk.
    Pain and fear convulsed through her and she screamed. Then, she was in Bev’s arms, flames around them and something falling to her left. There was no way out. They would die.
    “Hold me tightly,” Bev said as he began to run.
    Then suddenly a jet of water covered them and two firefighters in full kit appeared at their side. They guided them through the flames and out into the fresh air.
    Chaos reigned around them, firefighters tackling the fire, police officers, and ambulance staff, along with a large crowd and TV cameras.
    The firefighter guided Bev to an ambulance and he laid Jude on the gurney.
    “Let me through.” A familiar voice resonated over the chaos. “DI Jenson.”
    “Milly…” Jude coughed as the paramedic fixed a mask over her face. Clean air flooded her lungs.
    Bev got up and went to the door of the ambulance. “She’s OK, they want to get her to hospital as fast as they can. I got her out.”
    “OK, I’ll follow as soon as I can. I’ll need a statement from both of you.”
    Jude struggled to sit up. “I need to…”
    The paramedic pushed her back down. “Lie still. I’ll give you something for the pain now.”
    “Where’s Bev?”
    “Right here.” He sat opposite her. “I’m coming with you.”
    “Thank you…” She went to grab his hand, but he hissed in pain and pulled away. She closed her eyes as the pain medication kicked in. She could still hear and smell and taste the smoke and flames.
    ~*~
    Bev sat on the gurney in the ED, bandages on his hands to keep the burns clean. Although it was no worse than a bad sunburn, he would still have to report it and might not be able to go back when he was supposed to. He swung his legs, waiting impatiently for news of Jude and for the doctor to come back to release him.
    Gran bustled in. “Bev, are you all