Declan and Felicia stood side-by-side watching the burning embers being doused. The ambulance transporting Nana and Ms. Horton, who’d offered to accompany Felicia’s grandmother to the hospital, rolled off the driveway and onto the main road. He knew Felicia wanted to go, but Nana was only getting checked out as a precaution, and the sheriff had asked Felicia to stay.
Now that the flames were under control, the sheriff approached with a determined expression. “Felicia, I received information that this fire was started by someone and that it was intentional.”
Declan nodded. “Your information is correct, Sheriff.”
The man pressed his lips together and removed his cuffs. “I’m sorry to hear that. Please turn around for me.”
“Wait, what?” Felicia shot in front of him as if a protective shield.
“No. I didn’t do this. I’d never harm Felicia or her grandmother,” Declan protested. “Jason did.”
“According to Jason, he witnessed you start the fire to cover evidence of stealing money from Ms. Hughes.”
“It wasn’t him. It was Jason and Lacey. Arrest her.” Felicia pointed to the young woman, her cousin and once dear friend.
“No. Don’t.” Declan sighed. “She didn’t start the fire, either. It was Jason alone. He’s been influencing Lacey with mental games, drugs, and lies. She’s confused and disoriented, and she needs help, not jail.”
Lacey stood with a blank stare, as if unable to process anything.
Felicia rounded on her. “Tell the truth. For once, stop being selfish, stop being manipulated, and stop lying. You’re about to send an innocent man to jail.”
“Jason said Declan was harming you. That he needs to be taken away if I wanted to help you,” Lacey mumbled as if in a trance.
Declan took Felicia’s hand and kissed her knuckles. “Don’t be mad at her. She needs your love now more than anything. The woman I know would never hate someone. She would only offer help. I learned that from you, that not everyone is going to condemn me, and everyone needs a helping hand at times.”
The sheriff cleared his throat. “You need to come with me.”
Declan’s hands shook. He wanted to run far away, but one glance at Felicia, and he knew he could never run from his feelings for her. “It’s okay. I’ll go. I believe this will work out.”
Felicia clung to him. “No, I won’t let you take the fall for this.” She faced the sheriff. “I told you that I have proof that Lacey was stealing from me and trying to frame Declan.”
“Bring that evidence with you, and we can all go to the station,” the sheriff said a little less forcefully.
Declan eyed the half-burned-out home. “She can’t. The proof was destroyed in the fire.”
“That’s unfortunate.” The sheriff removed his hat, wiped his brow, and placed it back on his head. He eyed Declan but without narrowed eyes and with a soft stance. “Ms. Lacey Peters. I urge you to work out something with Felicia Hughes in regards to repayment if you were indeed the one to borrow money from her. As for the fire, if all of your statements name this Jason fella as the arsonist, then none of you need to report to the station except to sign official statements. However…” His voice switched to a commanding tone. “If you continue to state that Declan was the one who committed these crimes and later you’re discovered to be giving false testimony, you will be facing extensive jail time yourself.”
Declan wasn’t sure if that was technically correct, but he liked the way the sheriff’s words caused Lacey to snap out of whatever daze she was in.
“I…I might have borrowed a few dollars. But I had nothing to do with the fire.” She choked and sobbed for a moment, eyeing the home. “I’d never do that to you or Nana.” Her pleading gaze focused on Felicia. “I’m so sorry.” She broke down, her head in her hands, crying and wailing.
“Do you wish to press charges, Ms. Hughes?”
“Yes, I do.”
Lacey stopped her tears and stood straight, frozen.
Declan laced his fingers between Felicia’s. “I know you. You’ll never be able to live with yourself if you send Lacey to jail. She’s the most lost stray you’ve ever found. And she needs our help.”
Felicia smiled. “And that’s why I love you, Declan Mills. You understand and support me like no other person. Of course, you’ll have to help me explain this to the girls.” She looked at the sheriff. “I want to press charges against Jason.”
Lacey fell into Felicia’s arms. “Please forgive me. I don’t know why I did what I did. I was so lost and alone and confused. I promise to make this right. I don’t know how, but I will. I’ll rebuild your house brick by brick if I have to.”
Felicia stroked her hair. “Shh. Don’t worry about that now. We’ll figure this out together. You, me, Nana, and Declan.”
Lacey nodded, but she didn’t look up.
The sheriff tipped his hat. “I’ll need you to come down to the station later to sign the statement. In the meantime, let the town know what you need.”
“You can give Lacey a ride to her mother’s house. She doesn’t just need to apologize to me. Her mother needs to see her daughter to see she’s okay,” Felicia said in a firm tone.
Declan was proud of her strength yet compassion for Lacey.
Lacey shot back and shook her head. “No. She hates me. I can’t.”
“She’s your mother and she loves you. Besides, you can’t stay here. I’ll be staying in a small camper near Creekside for a while until we can rebuild.”
“No,” Declan said.
Felicia turned to face him, her eyes wide and frown firmly planted on her face. “But…”
“We’ll be staying right here. I’m turning the job down. We need to rebuild.”
“You don’t have to—”
Declan tugged Felicia into his arms. “I want to. I never wanted to leave this place to work anyway. You were right. I belong here. I belong here with you.” He kissed her with all the love, passion, and desire he could show her. Life had changed from hopeless, lost, unforgiving, and judged to exciting and full of possibilities. He wanted her to know that he did and always would cherish her.