“Mitch went back for Seth,” Marg continued. “By that time Josh had arrived. Together, they got him out.”
Lowering her hand, Lauren exhaled a ragged breath. Perhaps it wasn’t as bad as she’d feared. “Trenton is okay?”
Marg nodded. “He was very lucky.”
“And Seth?” Lauren asked. “Is he okay, too?”
The older woman hesitated. “They think so.”
“What do you mean, they think so?” Lauren’s voice started to rise, but she immediately pulled it back down.
“The ambulance is taking him to the medical center in Big Timber.” Marg’s eyes filled with tears. “They’re concerned about how much smoke he inhaled.”
Lauren didn’t realize her own tears were falling until she felt the wetness against her cheeks. “I need to go to him.”
Marg grabbed Lauren’s arm before she reached the door. “Anna called. She’s in the ambulance with her brother. Mitch is following behind in the truck. She wants you to take care of Ivy. She’ll call as soon as she knows anything.”
Though she knew Marg hadn’t meant to be unkind, Lauren felt as if she’d been put in her place. There was no reason for her to rush to Seth’s side. He had his family with him. She was just his daughter’s nanny.
Ivy.
“Does Ivy know about her dad?”
Marg shook her head.
“I think Anna hoped you’d tell her.” There was a pleading look in the woman’s eyes. “What with you being into counseling and all.”
Lauren closed her eyes for a second. To be an effective therapist you needed to be detached. Right now she didn’t feel very detached. In fact, she felt way too connected. But who else was there? And it had to be done with great sensitivity.
“I’ll do it.” Lauren drew a steadying breath. “What about Brandon? Should I take him with me, too?”
“Not necessary,” Marg said. “Alex Darst is on his way to pick up the boy.”
Only then did Lauren remember that Miranda and Alex were dating. “I wonder where they’re going to sleep tonight? Certainly not at Alex’s place. His apartment is teeny-tiny.”
It was ridiculous to be standing here discussing housing options. But anything was better than thinking about Seth in that ambulance.
“I’ll give Miranda some options.” The sympathetic look in Marg’s eyes said she understood Lauren’s need to focus on something besides Seth. “Are you taking Ivy to your house?”
“For now,” Lauren said then stopped. “I don’t have a way to get there. Seth was going to pick us up after he finished...”
Lauren blinked rapidly. She would not cry.
“Henry is bringing over Seth’s truck,” Marg said. “He can drive you and Ivy if you’d like.”
“I’ll be fine....”
“At least let him help you get her into the truck.” Marg’s hand squeezed Lauren’s shoulder in gentle comfort.
“Miss Lauren, I’m getting hungry,” Ivy called out. “When are we going to go home?”
“In a little bit.” Lauren was thankful her voice gave nothing away. “First we’re going to stop by my house.” Ivy chattered nonstop on the short drive. Lauren let her talk, murmuring an encouraging word every now and then.
Ivy pressed her face against the passenger’s-side window when they pulled into the drive. “I can’t wait to tell Daddy about everything I did today.”
Lauren slowed the truck to a stop and shut off the ignition. In the course of her studies and in her counseling sessions, she’d had to discuss many difficult topics, but none more difficult than this. Ivy had already lost one parent. How would she cope if anything happened to her dad?
Think positive.
Lauren took a deep steadying breath and turned in the seat to face the child. “Your daddy did something really brave this afternoon.”
Ivy’s sweet little face brightened. “He did?”
“Yes, he did.” Lauren forced a smile. “There was a fire at Brandon’s house. Your dad and your uncle Mitch went in and helped Brandon’s brother, Trenton, get out of the house safely.”
“Daddy does that a lot,” Ivy said. “He likes to help people.”
“I know he does.” Lauren dug her fingernails into her palms.
“When he comes home for dinner, I’m going to give him a big hug,” Ivy said, a smile lifting her lips. “He likes my hugs.”
Lauren took a breath. Then another. “The thing is, I’m not sure your daddy will be home for dinner.”
Ivy’s blond brows pulled together. “Why not?”
“Well, you know how when fire burns, there’s a lot of smoke?”
Ivy slowly nodded.
“Your daddy breathed in some of that smoke. Before he comes home, he has to get his lungs checked out at the hospital.”
Though Lauren tried to keep all emotion from her voice, she must not have been successful because the child’s big blue eyes filled with tears.
“I’m sure he’ll be fine,” Lauren hastened to add. “Aunt Anna and Uncle Mitch are with him and they’re going to call and let us know when he’ll be coming home.”
“I want my daddy.” Tears slipped down the child’s face. “I want to talk to my daddy.”
Lauren leaned forward and unbuckled Ivy from her safety belt. She wrapped the child in her arms, holding her as close as the casts would allow. Still, Ivy continued to cry, deep shuddering sobs that racked her body. It seemed she would never stop, but finally, sniffles and ragged breaths replaced the sobs.
Lauren grabbed a tissue from her purse and handed it to the girl. “I’m going to call Aunt Anna and see if you can talk to your daddy. Okay?”
“’Kay.” Ivy hiccupped and swiped at her nose.
Before Lauren could dial Anna’s cell, the phone rang.
“Lauren?” The voice was hoarse and rough as sandpaper, but she recognized it immediately.
“Seth.” Joy sluiced through Lauren’s veins. She tightened her fingers around the phone. “Thank God.”
“Is Ivy with you?”
“She is, and she wants to talk to you.” Knowing Ivy was listening, Lauren kept her tone upbeat. “Are you okay?”
A fit of coughing was the only answer for a long moment. “Sorry ’bout that. Yeah, I’m going to be fine. Look, would it be possible for you to begin watching Ivy right away? I know you weren’t planning to start
