Chapter 39
Evie
The monitors hummed, one beeping steadily as Jasper’s chest rose and fell rhythmically. He looked wrong in the hospital bed, too pale against the sheets, too frail with an oxygen cannula taped under his nose and the IV snaking into the back of his hand.
His eyelashes were clumped with soot, his skin streaked black.
I lingered in the doorway in my borrowed hospital scrubs, my hair still smelling like smoke, my heart filled with so much love for this man. But also rage. White-hot rage.
The swollen door had actually helped keep some of the smoke and soot out of my tiny nursing room, so I’d only suffered minor smoke inhalation. Jasper seemed to have taken on more.
Josh sat near his brother’s bed, while Jess, who’d shown up shortly after we arrived, rocked Vincent in my hospital room.
“How’s he doing?” I asked Josh as he stood and shuffled my way.
“Dangerously high carbon monoxide levels and mild burns in his airway.” He shook his head.
“I’m so sorry,” I murmured. “He kept giving me the mask.”
I’d replayed the moment over and over. The door bursting open. His voice cutting through the fire, the hiss of air when he pressed that mask over my face. He could have died in there.
For me. To save me.
He stirred, coughing gently, snagging our attention. Josh frowned in concern and rushed to his bed.
I followed, and the two of us helped him sit up, adjusting the hospital bed. Then I held a cup of water to his lips.
He looked at me, his eyes bloodshot. “You’re okay.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement.
I blinked back tears. “I should smack you.”
Josh flinched, but Jasper only laughed.
My chest pinched as I scanned him. “You took off your mask.”
He shrugged, slowly taking another sip of water.
“And you went into a fire against the order of your commander.”
He only blinked at me, unapologetic. “I’ll talk to the chief,” he said, voice like sandpaper. “She’s used to me being a pain in her ass.” Turning, he frowned at his brother. “Vincent?”
“He’s with Jess. We’ve been here with him the whole time. Should I get him?”
Jasper nodded, coughing again.
“You scared the shit out of me,” I said as tears slipped down my cheeks.
Face crumpling, he grasped my hand. “Sorry.”
“And you shared your air with me.” A sob escaped me. “You could’ve—” I shook my head, unable to finish the sentence. “Vincent needs his parents.”
“I’d do it again,” he rasped, bringing my knuckles to his lips.
The words landed heavily, like a weight settling on my shoulders.
I ducked, my throat tightening, and focused on breathing, trying to collect myself. The monitor ticked between us, slow and steady, and the world narrowed to just this room while we silently processed what we’d been through.
Before long, Jasper’s hospital room was crowded.
Josh returned with Vincent and Jess, and before long, Jenn showed up.
Frankie too. She quickly took on the role of bouncer, keeping all the well-meaning townspeople from entering.
Jess fussed, Jenn interrogated the hospital staff, and Josh paced, texting furiously.
The love in the room was palpable. It filled every inch of space. This was what family did. They cared and supported. They showed up.
I snuggled Vincent closer, my heart aching in a good way. This was what I wanted for him. Not emotional abuse and fracture. These people stuck together, for better or for worse.
It was ridiculous now, how terrified I’d been to become part of this.
After a shower, several tests, and lots of fussing from the lovely nurses, I was given permission to find the waiting room.
Before I even entered, I could smell the sugar cookies over the scent of disinfectant and hear the chatter of several familiar voices.
The Maplewood brigade had arrived. In this town, no matter what the emergency, baked goods were delivered within the hour.
After many hugs and kind smiles, I sat in a large chair, cupping a mug of tea. Vincent and Jasper arrived shortly after, my little guy tugging on his dad’s hospital gown and giving everyone his signature gummy smile.
I sipped my tea, my throat aching, so grateful to be here surrounded by all this love and support.
The room was full. Too full, really. Josh was perched on the windowsill, boots leaving dusty prints on the tile floor.
Jess and Jenn were feeding people while Frankie fussed over Brooks, and Ruby and Paul stood with their arms around each other, looking sleep-deprived but happy.
Olive and Bitsy were here too, grilling Gabe about the investigation and the upcoming fall events calendar while Aunt Suzie and Uncle Ed snapped photos of Jasper and Vincent. Even the nurses popped in, snagging scones and cooing at the babies.
Jasper looked handsome in his hospital clothes.
How could he not? He looked good in anything.
His hair was damp and sticking up in every direction, his voice rough and his eyes bright.
Every few minutes, one of our friends would offer him a cookie.
He’d put up a hand and half-heartedly protest, only to take one anyway.
Paul and Ruby shuffled closer. “The whole town is buzzing. The fire’s out,” Paul said. “But the investigators and insurance folks have descended.” He scrolled through his phone, no doubt checking the Maplewood group chats. “And a meal train has already been set up for you three.”
Jasper laughed and patted his stomach. “Evie, we may need to put a second fridge in the garage.”
I stuck my tongue out at him, though I let the sound of that we rattle around in my brain for a bit. We had a lot to figure out, but for now, I was content to enjoy this moment. We were safe and the people I cared about were here. I couldn’t ask for more.
“I should beat your ass.” Frankie lunged at me and wrapped me in a hug that was half threat, half rescue. “When I heard the reports on the scanner, I almost drove my truck into a ditch.”
Jasper blinked at her. “You have access to emergency comms channels?”
Without releasing me, she shot him a dirty look. “If I do, you gonna narc on me to Nolan No Balls?”
Jasper opened his mouth, then shut it. “No.”
“I was so worried about you.” Frankie’s voice softened, but her fingers dug into my elbow like she was wound up tight with worry.
“I’m fine. We’re fine,” I soothed her, deeply touched by her uncharacteristically emotional behavior.
She took a step back, and as she wiped a tear from her cheek with the back of her hand, she blinked, like she was surprised by her own show of emotion.
With a single sniff, she straightened up.
“You better stay that way. And if Chief No Balls bothers you or causes you more harm”—her features went hard again, her hands balled into fists—“I will make sure terrible things happen to his patrol car.”
With that, she stomped away, though she pulled up short when Marigold Shaw entered holding a basket of muffins taller than she was.
“This is ridiculous.” I scoffed. “It’s a potluck with IV bags.”
Ruby darted over and plucked a muffin from the basket, then another. She held one out for me and sighed. “It’s how we process trauma here,” she said. “Carbs and gossip.”
“And caffeine,” Paul added, bouncing happily with Brooks in his arms.
Jasper sidled up next to me and laced his fingers with mine. The comforting gesture was probably second nature to him, but it made my chest ache all the same. Chaos swirled around us, equal parts laughter and chatter about the fire and what could have happened.
I breathed deeply, letting myself enjoy being cared for like this, relishing the solid weight of Jasper’s hand in mine, the quiet pulse of support that beat between us.
I never knew this existed. This kind of kindness. The community. The people who showed up.
When I moved to Maplewood, I’d been looking for something new. A way to break free of the patterns I’d been stuck in for far too long.
I hadn’t expected to be adopted by this strange place. Never mind have a baby, buy a house and become a card-carrying Vermonter.
Jasper shifted closer. “You okay?”
My throat tightened. “Yeah. Despite everything, I’m okay.”
He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, the rough pads of his fingers making my skin light up with affection for him. “Good.”
In the corner of the room, Frankie sighed loudly. “If you guys start making heart eyes at each other, I’m calling the nurses to separate you.”
“Hush,” Ruby said. “They’ve earned a moment.” She shoved a muffin into her mouth, then turned our way. “You may resume your PDA.”
Jasper and I looked at one another and then at the assembled crowd and burst into laughter. Within seconds, though, we were both coughing.
“This town,” Jasper wheezed.
A warm feeling spread through me, and it wasn’t just the burning of my charred lungs. It was belonging. I belonged not only in my quirky little circle of friends, but also in this town.
And maybe, finally, with Jasper.