“She’s going to take over the restaurant. She told me so, guess you were right then.”
And this is the reason you’re looking flushed with cheeks the color of ripe beets when I thought it was the weather? “That’s good then. Sounds like you’re going to still be able to go out for dinner after all. Let’s hope she cooks as well as Penny does.”
“Yeah. I guess.”
“Okay, have a great day, Cory. I’ll see you tonight.”
“See ya, Dad.” Cory ran up the path and slammed the front door behind him as Jake reversed out of the driveway. He glanced in his mirror toward the pink cottage but couldn’t see anyone. Whatever this woman’s claim to fame was, she seemed to have made an impression on his son. Hopefully she could cook as well as Penny. Last thing Jake needed was someone else ribbing him about his limited repertoire, so it was probably a good thing she’d arrived when she had. It wasn’t as though they starved exactly. His father could cook but wholesome food wasn’t his forte. He preferred frozen pizza and pies. Not the kind of food Jake wanted his son growing up eating every day.
Jake’s day consisted of paperwork and more paperwork and since he was the fire chief, it was his job, he found himself stuck in his office most of the morning. He glanced at the clock when his stomach rumbled and thought it was time to find something to eat. The fire station bells drowned out the groans of hunger.
He grabbed his turnout gear and helmet from the peg by the truck and jumped in as his driver, Ben, gunned the engine. “The Lake Hotel. Kitchen fire. That place will go up like tinder, Chief. So old and dry, all that timber.”
“Crap!” Jake’d been thinking about the hotel off and on all morning. Funny this should be happening now, just when he thought his only night out had been saved by the newcomer to town.
Jake flicked the switch and the lights and siren started, clearing their way for the short drive to the hotel.
First impression as they drove up was relief. No flames, no smoke that he could see. With any luck it would be contained to one area with minimal damage. He jumped from the truck as soon as it stopped, eyes scanning the back of the hotel for plumes of smoke. Luckily there were none here either.
He grabbed his axe and instructed his junior to pull out the hoses. “Ben, find the gas, turn it off. Then grab your extinguisher, follow me. Aron, get the hoses out, wait for my signal but be prepared. This old place is so flammable. It won’t take much for it to get out of control.”
Jake ran toward the hotel, the acrid smell of smoke already heavy in the back foyer. Mari ran out of the bar, calling to him. “Kitchen, Jake. My sister Bella’s in there.”
“Is there anyone else in the hotel? Noah?”
“No. He’s at school and the bar staff haven’t arrived yet. Just my sister. Get her out, please.”
“Get out and stay out until I tell you any different.” He pushed her away from the door and pulled down his mask, heading for the kitchen. Smoke billowed out as he pushed through the door, the sound of choked coughing guiding him toward the new chef. Jake found her, fire extinguisher in hand, sagged against the prep counter.
He grabbed her despite her weak protests and threw her over his shoulder. Ben hurried in behind him, sent a stream of foam over the stove, knocking back the last licks of flame.
“Bella!” Mari grabbed at her as Jake set her down away from the hotel on the grass by the edge of the car park.
He rolled Bella over on her side, checked to make sure she was breathing. “Are you okay?”
She coughed then inhaled gulps of fresh air before looking up at him. Soot smeared her pale face; her eyes were huge and streamed tears down her cheeks leaving trails to her chin.
Mari grabbed her sister’s hand and Jake stood to get her oxygen from the truck when she gasped out a few words. “I’m fine.” She coughed again, a rasping sound that ended with a gulp of suppressed tears.
Jake hurried to the truck and back and knelt down with an oxygen mask in his hand. He slipped it over her face, made sure it fitted properly before turning on the tank. “It’s okay to be upset. I see it all the time, people crying in relief when they’ve survived a fire. You’ve inhaled plenty of smoke.” He held her wrist, checked her pulse while he decided whether or not to take her to the clinic for David to check over. Ben came out, gave him the thumbs-up, and returned his fire extinguisher to the truck before he ambled over.
She pushed her hair back from her face and spoke through the mask. “I’m not upset. I’m really annoyed.” She wiped the tears from her face, coughed again, pushing the mask from her mouth.
Jake shared a worried glance with Mari when she coughed again.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to take it out on you. I cannot believe anyone could treat a kitchen like that. That stove was disgusting. Not a wonder it caught on fire.” She leaned over the grass, a coughing fit taking over again.
Ben crouched down beside Jake. “Grease fire, Chief. I think the stove is past saving. Sorry, Mari. Everything else looks fine though. Might take a bit of elbow grease to clean the smoke away but once the chief checks the kitchen out, I think he’ll agree with me.”
“I don’t care about the stove. I only care that my sister is okay.” She leaned in and tucked a strand of hair around Bella’s ear, cradled her cheek as she gasped for air. “You sure you’re alright, honey? I can take you to the clinic and get you checked out. You sound terrible.”
Bella smiled, took her sisters
