Free Wedding Bell Blues by Ellie Ferguson

luck.
    Somehow I'd become that "poor SOB," and I didn't know how or
why.
    Suddenly, my parents were there, one on either side of me.
When had
they arrived? I wasn't sure. One moment Colton was standing next to me,
his arm protectively around my shoulders and, for once, I didn't have
some smart-ass comment to sling at him. Then Mama and Daddy were there,
Mama holding me close, as if afraid something else would happen if she
let me go.
    "Colton called us," she said softly. I heard the hint of
censure in
her voice and realized I should have called. But what could they have
done?
    "Your sister and Brett wanted to come, but we thought it best
they stay at Brett's," Daddy added.
    "Yeah." My voice sounded rough, which wasn't surprising
considering
the smoke filling the air. "I should have called. I'm sorry. I can't
seem to focus on anything."
    "It's okay. Colton let us know." Mama gave me another hug and
I
looked down at her in surprise. She's not usually as demonstrative as
she'd been today. Maybe she'd been as shaken by the last twenty four
hours as had I. "There's nothing you can do here, Jessie. Come home
with us."
    "I can't." Tears burned in my eyes and I blinked hard. Smoke
hung
thick in the air, aggravating the asthma that hadn't bothered me in so
long. But it was the ache in my heart, the guilt at knowing I'd even
thought that I'd rather this be happening to one of my neighbors
instead of to me that bothered me the most.
    I cleared my throat, hoping I didn't sound as shaken as I
felt.
"Mama, I have to stay, at least until I find out what happened."
    "But -"
    "She's right, Faith. We'd want to do the same," Daddy said
simply
and, reluctantly to be sure, Mama nodded in understanding. "We'll stay
with you, if you don't mind, Jessie."
    Mind? How could I mind? I needed them just now, needed them
like I
hadn't in a very long time. So, not trusting myself to speak, I simply
nodded and turned to bury my face against Dad's chest. His arms went
about me, holding me gently even as Mama moved closer, her arms trying
to go around both of us.
    I'm not sure how long we stood there, unable to tear our eyes
from
the fire. Flames continued to dance in the windows and licked through
holes burned in the roof. Sparks flew, carried by the wind to other
nearby homes. Homeowners and firefighters alike fought to wet down
roofs to keep the fire from spreading. Small explosions of sound came
from inside the house as first what I assumed was the gas can for my
lawnmower exploded and then something else, I'm not sure what.
Occasional shouted orders from firefighters carried over the sound of
the crowd, penetrating the fog that held me.
    Finally, after what seemed an eternity, the last of the
flames
died, put out by the water cascading down from several fire hoses.
Smoke still rose high into the sky over the house, but the flames were
gone. Still, I knew from reading about other fires that the possibility
of the flames starting back up existed and wondered if a crew of
firefighters would remain, at least for a little while. As if reading
my mind, the fire captain began issuing orders for which units were to
return to their station and which was to remain behind. Then he turned,
his eyes scanning the crowd before looking closer, looking at my
parents and me - and Colton who quickly peeled off and moved in the
captain's direction.
    "It's over now, Jessie. Let's go home," Daddy said, trying to
lead me away even as he spoke.
    "No." It wasn't much of a protest. I was too numb to work up
much
of a response. But I wasn't going to leave. Not until I'd spoken with
the firemen and found out what happened.
    "Jessie, your father's right. We need to get out of the
firefighters' way so they can begin their investigation." Mom moved so
she stood before me, her expression worried as she looked up at me. "I
can hear you wheezing. Your asthma's acting up, and I bet you don't
have an inhaler with you."
    I shook my head. No, I didn't have an inhaler with me.