Chapter Fifteen

Eun scowled at the bright-red and yellow balloons tied to the mailbox in front of a low brick house three doors down from her father’s house. She rolled her eyes at the minivan parked in front of the hydrant across the street from her father’s house. Summoning her best parking skills, she wedged her car into a tight parallel space on the narrow residential street. After she shut the engine off, Eun shoved the door open. Cars lined both sides of the street as far as she could see.

Eun considered leaving a rude note on the windshield of the pickup truck blocking the driveway to her father’s house. After a minute of searching in her handbag for paper, she gave up on the idea and stalked down the driveway. The scrape of her shoes on the concrete added to her annoyance.

The day had been a slow-moving train wreck. Lunch with Morgan had been a spectacular disaster. Morgan’s sudden distance was disconcerting and confusing and their awkward goodbye left Eun more certain than ever she was destined to be alone for the rest of her life.

Returning to Chicago was the right thing to do. She had to get her life back together, she didn’t have the time or energy for a relationship. Not now. Maybe not ever. And it was fine. It was easier to work without distractions anyway. Even if the distraction was a woman whose smile lit Eun up from the inside. Morgan was a beautiful soul, and Eun already regretted not leaving it better with her.

She chewed her lip and wished she were on the highway back to Chicago with her memories of Sikesville tightly stuffed and sealed into the recesses of her memory. Eun huffed out a breath and chastised herself again for forgetting the packet from her father’s executor on the kitchen counter. She cursed quietly as she walked and dug through her purse for the house keys as she navigated the sidewalk to her father’s house.

Her cavernous purse refused to release the keys. Eun paused and bent over her bag. She swore as she shook the bag, desperate to pick up the papers and make her escape from Sikesville. The acrid smell of smoke stung her nose as her fingers closed over the ring of keys. Triumphant, Eun straightened before she glanced up at the house.

Wisps of smoke seeped from under the eaves of the house and drifted across the sky. She clutched the keys so hard they dug into her palm. Her hands trembled as she pulled her phone from her bag. It slipped from her sweaty hands and hit the driveway.

“Fuck. No, no, no.” Eun dropped to her knees, ignoring the pain of the rough concrete. She snatched the phone up. The screen was cracked. Please let it work. Please.

White smoke billowed from the house slowly before it morphed and then became a torrent of dark gray. Eun pressed the home button and the screen lit up. She dialed 9-1-1. The operator picked up on the first ring.

“Nine-one-one, what is your emergency?”

“I’m at nine twenty-three Baker Street and it’s on fire.”

“Get out of the house. Do not go back in. Go to a safe spot away from the house. Wait across the street for assistance.”

“Got it.” Eun glanced down the crowded suburban street before she crossed to the other side. She hugged her purse close to her body. The smoke gathered under the eaves of the roof. Eun clenched and unclenched her hands as she waited. The smoke became black and thick.

The sound of distant sirens approaching sent her already racing heart rate into overdrive. A fire truck navigated the car-lined street. Eun lifted her hand to flag them down. The ladder truck pulled up in between the rows of parked cars. A smaller car with a siren on top arrived from the other direction.

A firefighter approached Eun. “Are you the one who called?”

“Yes. I’m Eunice Park.” Eun gestured at the house. “It was smoking when I arrived.”

“Anyone inside?”

“No.” Eun wrapped her arms around herself tightly.

The firefighter turned and spoke into her radio. Firefighters in turnout gear swarmed from the truck and surrounded the house. A dull roar filled Eun’s ears. She bent at the waist and breathed into her hands.

The firefighter beside her continued to give orders. Eun tuned out the rest of the conversation. Her knees buckled, and she leaned against the hood of her car as another fire truck arrived and firefighters swarmed the scene. They pulled hoses from the fire trucks and tugged them into place. A crash sounded as the windows were broken out of the minivan parked in front of the hydrant and a hose dragged through it. Neighbors began to gather in their yards.

A sensation of detachment settled over her as she watched the firefighters battle the blaze as it spread across the roof. The world narrowed to the scene before her. A gaping maw opened in the roof. Flames and smoke shot skyward. Eun gasped when the roof collapsed and sent up a shower of sparks. Her stomach churned. Eun swallowed the bile in her throat.

“Eunice! Are you all right? Were you inside?” The overly concerned voice of Ginny Burns’s husband, Adam, startled Eun.

“I’m fine.” Eun lifted her chin and lied. Her chest was tight. Her heart stuttered as the firefighters hosed down what was left of her family home.

Adam’s brow was covered in a fine sweat. The sheen on his brow made Eun grimace. He clasped her arm. “You could have been killed. My cousin died when her house went up. She was trapped when it flashed over.” He wiped a hand over his forehead before he pressed his hand to his chest. “The lord is merciful.”

Eun pulled her arm free and squinted at him. “What are you doing here?”

He rubbed his fingers over his lips “What? Oh. Ginny forgot…her Bible on the desk in the office. I came to pick it up for her.”

The hairs on Eun’s neck raised at his hesitation. Too many years of taking depositions for her to let the bald-faced lie go. “Now? Seems an odd time.”

He flushed. “She wanted it for Bible study tomorrow. Got to run now. I take it she won’t need to come to work?”

“No. I’ll call her when I figure out what to do.” Eun cocked her head to the side. The lead firefighter walked toward them.

“Gotta run.” Adam inclined his head and hurried down the street away from the fire.

Eun’s gut twisted. Adam’s discomfort and sudden departure pricked at Eun’s mind. Where the hell was he parked? He didn’t just arrive. And why didn’t I see him before?

“Miss Park, I’m Captain Michaels with the Sikesville Fire Department. I need to get some information from you.”

“Yes, of course.”

“Are you feeling okay? We could sit in my car if you want to rest a bit.”

“I’d rather get this over with.” Eun fiddled with her purse strap.

“I understand. I’m sorry. Fires are frightening and can be devastating to the family. Do you have somewhere to stay?”

“I was on my way back to Chicago, and yes, I have a place to stay for tonight.”

“You told the officer in charge the structure was on fire when you arrived?

“Yes.” Eun gestured the driveway. “I stopped to find the keys. I smelled something acrid, and there was smoke pouring out from under the eaves.”

“Was there one spot that seemed to be smoking more?”

Eun frowned and pointed to the corner of the building housing her father’s office. “It was heaviest at that corner. It spread out from there.”

Captain Michaels noted Eun’s answer on her clipboard. “What color was the smoke?”

“It was white and then turned a dark-gray, I think.” Eun rubbed her forehead and struggled to focus as she answered the rest of the fire captain’s questions. Her mind strayed back to Adam’s sudden appearance and their odd interaction.

“That’s all I need for now.” Captain Michaels tucked her clipboard under her arm. She passed Eun her card. “If you have any questions or remember anything we haven’t talked about, please call me.”

“Thank you.” Eun took the card and slid it into her bag.

“You sure you’re settled as far as housing? Is there anyone you can call to stay with you?”

“I’m sure. And I’ll be fine. Thank you for your concern.” Eun set her teeth on her trembling lip. “I’m fine.” Eun looked away from the expression of doubt on Captain Michaels’ face.

*

Eun collapsed onto the fluffy white cover on the hotel bed. At least she’d been able to find a room. She kicked off her heels and slid up on the bed, tucking her hands behind her head. Inventory. That’s what she needed to do. Make a column of what she had and what she didn’t have. It was an exercise she had perfected in her years as a lead attorney.

A cold wave of resentment swept over her again. What was she going to do? Money was not an issue. But time on her hands was. What did people do who didn’t work seventy-hour weeks? She rolled to her side. The red numbers on the bedside clock glared at her. She could call Morgan. But why? Their lunch had left a bad taste in Eun’s mouth. Morgan had already written her off; that much was clear. She was done. An ache bloomed in Eun’s chest. Why was it so easy for people to walk away from her? And why hadn’t she walked away first?

She picked up her phone and dialed the only person she could.

Roslyn answered on the first ring. “Hey, when are you coming home?”

“Hello, and I don’t know. I was going to be there late tonight but there was a fire at my dad’s house. And Heather fired me.”

“What?” Roslyn screeched into the phone. “Wait, a fire? Are you all right? How bad was it? And how can she do that? Don’t you have a contract?”

“I’m okay. I wasn’t home when the fire started.” Eun inhaled through her nose and then huffed out a breath. “And Heather’s not renewing my contract. She’s going to pay me out.”

“Geez, honey, I’m sorry. Are you going to be okay, money wise?

“Yeah. That’s not an issue. At least for right now.”

“Do you need me to come?”

“Can you? I feel like I’m losing my mind.”

“I’ll be there tomorrow. And why wouldn’t you? Lost your dad, lost your job, and a fire. Why wouldn’t you be a mess?”

“Getting fired was bad enough, but it was awful watching my dad’s house burn.” Eun swallowed around the dry ache in her throat. “Even if I hadn’t lived there for years. It was still my home.”

“I’m so sorry, baby. I’ll be there tomorrow by noon.”

“Thanks, Roz.”

“Hug yourself tight. See you for lunch.

“Hug Jeff and Julie for me.” Eun thumbed the call off and placed the phone on her nightstand.

Forcing herself out of bed, she made her way to the bathroom and spun the tap to fill the tub. She rummaged through the offered assortment of hotel toiletries. After selecting a lemon-scented bath oil, she dumped it into the tub. Eun piled a stack of towels on the counter before she stripped and stepped into the water. The tub was standard hotel issue, and she had to bend her knees to fit into it. She let the water get as high as she dared before she shut it off.

The porcelain was cold on her skin when she leaned against the back of the tub. She closed her eyes. Visons of the fire flooded her thoughts and she opened her eyes. She hugged her knees to her chest. A thousand what-ifs swirled in her mind as she imagined what would have happened if she had not noticed the smoke and opened the door. A shiver slid through her. I’m alive. And here. And that’s all that matters, isn’t it? But here for what? No family to speak of. No one in my life except for Roz who cares for me. Hell, even Mom couldn’t be bothered to stick around.

Using both hands, she splashed water over her face. Morgan had acted like she cared, until she didn’t. Why? Because Eun chose to go back to her life? Mentally, Eun reviewed their talk at the dog park. And then it hit her. She had said coming to Sikesville was a mistake. And Morgan was part of Sikesville. A big part. She had gone out of her way to help Eun, over and over again, without asking for anything. And Eun had said it was a mistake.

Eun stood and water slopped over the side of the tub. She wrapped a towel around her and padded into the room, not caring she dripped on the floor. She tapped her cracked phone screen and pressed Morgan’s number. She nibbled her thumb as it rang. And rang. And rang. When the voicemail answered Eun hung up, not even knowing where to begin to explain. If she called now Morgan would see it as Eun, once again, only reaching out when she needed something from Morgan.

In the bathroom she dropped the towel to the floor before she stepped back into the tub. The soft lemon scent and warm water failed to wash away the stubborn ache in her heart. She lay back and smoothed her fingers over her body. Her nipples peaked in the cool air, and she sunk lower in the tub and the warmth.

Desperate for distraction, she cupped her breasts and rolled her nipples. The zing of sensation sent a bit of pleasure to her clit. With both hands she rolled her nipples, savoring the sensations, imagining Morgan’s hands were where hers were. The confines of the tub frustrated her, and she unplugged it, dried herself briskly, and dug through her toiletry bag for the small vibrator she always carried on her trips.

In the room, she pulled back the covers and slid between the sheets, the crisp fabric cool against her warm skin. She turned the vibrator on, the low hum muffled by the covers, and closed her eyes. Visions of Morgan and her body over Eun’s merged with sense memories of the way she reverently touched Eun, like she was precious and worthy and desirable. More than a quick fuck. Eun had seen in her eyes how much more she wanted. She touched the tip of the vibrator to her clit, a light touch, just enough to make her want more.

With the other hand she rolled her nipple, and then she pressed the vibrator hard against her clit. The slow vibe built a deep heat in her body, she edged herself, holding out until she couldn’t. She curled up her shoulders, lifting from the bed as she came. She held the vibrator in place and caught the wave again, her orgasm slower and deeper this time. She turned it off and lay back. Her body throbbed with her orgasm. She curled on her side and pushed away the sensation of having lost something she had no right to want as tears slid down her face and wet the pillow as the ache of being alone wrapped itself around her heart.