Matt phoned for an ambulance as soon as we got back to the camp with the kids. The ambulance arrived within minutes.
Mom and I watched from the bonfire as the attendants took care of both Amber and Doug. Doug would certainly face charges once he recovered. I almost felt sorry for him. I knew he would feel terrible about what he’d done once he was sober.
Matt and Helen joined us by the fire, and Helen gave me a hug. “I don’t know how to thank you,” she said. “You saved my daughter’s life. You have a gift, a real gift.”
“Stronger than mine, I think,” Mom told me. “You don’t give up.” She put a hand on my shoulder. “You realize the responsibility you carry now. You’ll always be on call to help people.”
“Like an emergency worker,” I said.
“Yes, like Matt here.” She turned to Matt. “Now do you believe my daughter?” she asked him.
“Mom,” I said, warning her to keep quiet.
“Your mom is right,” Matt told me. “I should have listened to you, Claire. We could have found Amber much earlier.” He scratched his cheek, looking sheepish. “In fact, I’m thinking of calling on you in the future.”
I was surprised. “You mean you want to use my visions to track people down?”
“You found Amber when we couldn’t,” he said.
Mom tapped her own chest. “Maybe you’ll also listen to this crackpot next time she calls,” she said.
Matt grinned. “Maybe,” he said.
Doug was still unconscious, but Amber roused a little as Helen got into the ambulance with her. “Mom?” she said.
“I’m here, honey,” said Helen. “Everything’s all right now.”
The attendants closed the doors of the ambulance and got in. I shivered as I watched the ambulance drive down the road. The snow had let up a little, but the evening was still cold.
“You must be freezing,” Matt told me.
I tugged down the hem of my tiny skirt, ashamed of all the skin I showed. “You must think I’m ridiculous,” I told him.
Matt took off his search-and-rescue jacket and draped it over my shoulders. “No, not at all,” he said. “You really do look great tonight.” He cleared his throat. “You’re an amazing woman,” he said. “Trevor is lucky to have you.”
I grunted. Trevor hasn’t had me yet, I thought. He probably never would now.
Matt gauged the expression on my face. “Things not so good between you and Trevor?” he asked. He sounded kind of hopeful, as if he liked that idea.
“I don’t think Trevor is going to want to see me after tonight,” I said.
Mom leaned in to Matt to explain. “This is the third time in two weeks Claire stood him up,” she said.
“Huh,” said Matt. He seemed to think that over. “You never got your dinner, did you?” he asked me.
“No, and I’m starving.”
Mom looked from me to Matt and back again. Then she patted my shoulder. “I’ll just leave you two alone,” she said. She waved goodnight as she went to her car. Matt rolled back and forth on his heels until she was gone. He seemed a little nervous, I thought.
“I sure could use a burger about now. I bet you could too. I think I owe you that much. Interested?”
My heart raced, and I felt a thrill run through me. Matt had just asked me out on a date! Finally, I thought. I grinned up at him. “I thought you’d never ask,” I said.