Love's Embrace - Part 1

 Good morning!

Last month during KDWC I wrote a few short stories, my NEO ate a few of them, but this one wasn't eaten, and I thought I'd share it with you all this month since it is my birthday month. So, if anyone even looks at this anymore, enjoy!

 

 Love's Embrace

Part 1

     Sirens cut through the hot afternoon air. Lindsey looked up from her book to the nearby window. She couldn’t see the main street just two blocks away, but somehow she could never stop herself from looking anyway.
    The screaming sirens came closer and grew louder. They covered the sound of the air conditioner, the fans, and the kids playing in the other room.
    Lindsey leaned closer to the window, and her eyes grew wide. A firetruck, two police cars, and then another firetruck rolled down her street. What was going on? Where were they going? Gasping, she let her book fall unheeded to the floor and reached for her crutches as the emergency vehicles stopped in front of the house.
    The sudden silence was almost deafening as she carefully stood up and crutched her way to the door. Yes. They were coming to the house! What was going on? She could still hear the kids in the other room, and no one was screaming like they were hurt or in danger.
    Balancing carefully, she opened the door as a police officer stepped up to it with several firemen right behind him.
    “Did you call 9-1-1?” he asked.
    Wordlessly, Lindsey shook her head. “What happened?”
    “Someone called. It sounded like a child, and they were saying something about a fire. Are your parents home?”
    Lindsey felt her heart begin to pound. “But . . . but I had the phone.”
    “May we come in? We want to make sure no one is hurt and there really isn’t a fire.” At her nod, the police officer and several firemen came through the door.
    “The kids are back there.” She tried to point and almost lost her balance.
    “Whoa, careful there,” one of the firemen caught her shoulders and steadied her. “You okay?”
    She nodded, but her heart was pounding in her throat and making it hard to breathe. This was all a bad dream, right? The kids hadn’t called 9-1-1. She had the phone. Unless– She must have gasped, because the fireman and a second police officer turned to her at once.
    “What is it?” The officer looked at her keenly.
    “I think you should sit down.” And the fireman motioned to the chairs out on the porch. “It would be better if you were outside in case there is a fire.”
    Lindsey felt herself being helped to the porch and sank into the chair, her injured leg stretched out. It seemed harder to breathe out in the muggy air, and she struggled to get air into her lungs.
    A new voice broke in. “Lindsey? What is going on?”
    The officer looked up. “Quivira! What are you–”
    “I live two houses down and across the street.” The newcomer came over and placed a gentle hand on Lindsey’s shoulder. “I had my scanner off and just noticed the sirens. What’s going on?”
    “Someone called 9-1-1. Mentioned a fire and then hung up. Dispatch said they heard lots of commotion and kids voices.”
    “But I had the phone,” Lindsey gasped. “Unless–”
    “Unless what?” Mrs. Quivira, an off duty police officer, asked gently.
    “Unless they went into Uncle Isaiah’s office and got that phone. But we aren’t allowed in there without permission unless it is an emergency.” Panic was settling in, and Lindsey gripped the arms of the chair, her body beginning to shake.
    “Lindsey, I need you to take a breath for me.”
    Lindsey tried to do as the fireman said, but she couldn’t seem to. Her brain didn’t want to function, and she could only gasp at the air her lungs so desperately needed.
    “Come on, Lindsey. Take a breath like you are smelling the roses. That’s it. Now blow out the candle. Yes, just like that. Smell the roses and blow out the candle.” The fireman’s voice was calm and steady. “Smell the roses. Blow out the candle. That’s the way. Now again. Smell the roses. Blow out the candle.”
    Somehow, Lindsey managed to do as he said, and with each breath it became a little easier. Her heart ceased to pound quite so hard, and her brain began to function. Finally, she sagged back in the chair, her eyes closing for a moment.
    Heavy steps made her eyes fly open, and she sucked in a quick breath.
    “Steady,” Mrs. Quivira murmured, gently squeezing her shoulder. “It’s okay.”
    “False alarm,” one of the firemen reported. “Seems like the kids got ahold of another phone and while pretending there was a fire, accidentally called 9-1-1 and then hung up. I think they got scared. Sgt. Mulligan is giving them a lecture, but fire isn’t needed.” He paused and glanced toward the fireman who was still crouched before Lindsey’s chair.
    The man only said, “Let me make sure medical isn’t.”
    Feeling like everything was in slow motion, Lindsay watched Mrs. Quivira move a few feet away and stand talking in low tones to the officer. Strong but gentle fingers took hold of her wrist, and she slowly moved her eyes to the fireman crouched before her.
    “Feeling a little better?” he asked.
    Drawing a deep breath that only quivered a little, Lindsey nodded.
    “Are there any adults home?”
    Wordlessly, she shook her head and noticed that her headache had gotten worse. It was all her fault. If she had been in the room with the kids, perhaps she could have prevented it all from happening. What were Uncle Isaiah and Aunt Joy going to say? Her chin quivered, and her breathing felt tight.
    “Hey, everything is going to be all right.” The fireman’s voice was calm. “Don’t start to panic again. Smell the roses and then blow out the candle.”
    Lindsey did.
    “That’s better. No one was hurt. It wasn’t your fault. Okay?”

Have you ever had firetrucks or police show up at your house?

Did you ever accidentally call 9-1-1?

How have you been doing?