“Is she breathing?” the operator asked.
“Yes,” I told her.
“Your address, sir.”
“Um, uh, 2314 Salem.”
I heard beeps and reverb.
“Dispatch, this is four-three-seven. I’ve got a reported explosion at or near 2314 Salem. One confirmed injured. Victim is breathing but bleeding,” I heard the operator tell the dispatcher.
“Your name, son?”
“Salinger.”
“A callback number.”
I rattled off my phone number to her. I could hear her typing.
“When did this happen?”
“Not five minutes ago. The house behind hers is up in flames.”
“Is it safe for you to remain at this location?”
“For now? Yes,” I answered, desperate to remain as calm as possible.
I heard more beeps and reverb.
“Dispatch, this is four-three-seven. Reported large fire at or near 2314 Salem,” I heard her relay. “Can you locate the source of her cuts?” she then asked me.
“They’re all over. Literally hundreds.” My hands found her face and held her. “Lily, wake up for me, baby,” I begged. “There’s blood and glass everywhere and the electricity is out. I can’t even really see how badly she’s injured.”
“Sir, try to get her clear of the glass,” she said.
“Yes, okay.”
I stood up, my chest panting air, and ran through the hall, straight for her bathroom, collecting six or seven towels from her cabinet, and ran back. I laid the phone on the ground, trying to prop it up so the flashlight could guide me, and put the operator on speaker.
I went to her broom closet and grabbed her broom, sweeping all the glass around her away. I threw down the broom and bent over her. I slid her onto her side. An involuntary groan slipped between her lips; I felt my eyes burn.
“I’m, uh, I’m trying to brush the glass off her skin,” I explained to the operator as bloody glass came tumbling to the tile, and I brushed it clear before laying her back down and doing the same for her chest, abdomen, neck, face, and legs.
“She’s—. Oh God, there’s so much blood,” I panicked.
“Just stop the bleeding,” she encouraged. “Press a towel or something similar against the wounds to stop it.”
I did as she asked, finding all the places Lily seemed to be bleeding from the worst and applying pressure. One area near her left leg seemed to be particularly bad, so I wrapped a hand towel around her thigh, took my belt off and wrapped it around her, like a tourniquet.
“Lily!” a man I recognized as one of her neighbors shouted through her house.
“She’s here!” I yelled back. “I’ve got her!”
“Is she okay?” he asked.
“Sh-she’s breathing.”
“Good!” he bellowed. “There’s two more houses affected. I’ll be back! Checking on them.”
I heard him run off and looked down at Lily.
“When are they gonna be here?” I asked, examining her closer.
“Estimated three minutes,” she said. “Is she still breathing?”
“Yes, still breathing.” I felt her pulse. “Her pulse is shallow. Really shallow. Please, God!” I shouted. I leaned over her. “Lily, can you hear me? Lily, wake up, baby.”
“Sir, keep applying pressure. When the paramedics get there, we’ll disconnect. They should be there soon.”
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. My hands kept pressing wherever I found fresh blood but I couldn’t keep up with it and I knew she was bleeding out.
“Lily!” I screamed at her. “Wake! Up!”
Her face never reacted, not once.
I sat up when I heard the sirens down the street. Not able to wait a second longer, I gingerly scooted my hands under her knees and back and lifted her up. She weighed practically nothing. I sprinted out the door, down the deck, just as the ambulance pulled up.
Two men hopped out and immediately began working around us; one took a gurney out from the back of the ambulance while the other approached me.
“What happened?” he asked, laying down a duffel bag.
A large fire truck and several police cruisers came barreling down the street.
“Other side!” the paramedic at the gurney yelled at the truck, swinging his arm around toward Trace’s house.
The truck sped off, along with one of the cruisers. The other stayed; one officer gathered all the neighbors who’d come out of their houses when the explosion set off, I can only assume, to keep them away from the scene, and the other ran from house to house to check for more injured.
“All clear!” he shouted and ran up to the ambulance. “Couple of minor cuts. They’re coming this way.”
I helped them lay Lily on the gurney then stepped aside for them to work.
“Sir, can you tell me what happened?” he asked once again.
I shook my head clear.
“I was sitting at the red light waiting to visit her, actually, when I heard this incredible explosion, so I just sped here. I have no idea what happened next door, but it must have blown out all her windows and knocked her out. I found her on the floor like this.”
They leaned over her, checking vitals, treating any obvious wounds. Within thirty seconds, they’d strapped her in and had loaded her in the ambulance.
“Can I ride with her?” I asked.
“Not that kind of vehicle, son.”
“Where are you taking her?” I asked.
One jumped in with her while the other closed and secured the doors.
“She’s got a bleed that will probably need a surgeon. We’ll medevac her to Smithfield Methodist.”
He ran to the front and drove off.
I hauled ass up the deck again and saw my phone, its flashlight still on. I picked it up and used it to find Lily’s phone. When I found it, I ran back out and jumped in my Jeep. My phone was almost dead, so I plugged it in and searched directions to Smithfield Methodist. I opened Lily’s phone and dialed Ansen, putting it on speaker, and backed out.
I noticed the firefighters were still fighting the fire at Trace’s house.
“What’s up, goof,” Ansen answered.
“Ansen, it’s Salinger.”
“Oh, hey, Salinger, what’s up?” he asked.
“Lily’s been hurt—” I began, but he interrupted me.
“What the hell! What happened?”
“What’s going on?” I heard Katie ask him in the background.
“Some kind of explosion at Trace’s. It blew out all her windows, tossed her to the ground. Sh-she’s been cut up. They’re flying her over to Smithfield Methodist right now.”
“I’ll meet you there,” he said.
I hung up and raced through the streets to the main intersection down the country road where her neighborhood sat. The light turned red right as I got there. My hands straining against the leather of my steering wheel, I turned to Lily’s phone.
Would she want me to call Hollie and Matt?
Without thinking, I picked up her phone and searched her contacts for Hollie’s name. It rang three times before she picked it up.
“Hello? Lily?” she asked as the light turned green.
“Miss Hollie, we don’t know one another, but I’m a friend of Lily’s. Unfortunately, the house behind hers caught fire and there was some sort of explosion, and Lily was wounded.”
I heard rustling and a snap, like she was turning on a light. “Is she all right?”
“I-I think so. I don’t know,” I told her truthfully. “They’ve medevacked her to Smithfield Methodist. I just thought I’d let you know, if you, well, if you wanted to inform her sisters.”
“I’ll wait to tell the girls until we have more information. I’ll be sending my husband down to meet you. Does she need anything?” Her voice broke. “Do you need anything?”
“Not at this time. Thank you.”
“I’ll be in touch through Lily’s phone then. Pleas
e let me know as soon as you have anything?”
“Yes, of course.”
I hung up the phone and stuck it in the back pocket of my jeans. With adrenaline pumping, I sped through the small bits of traffic caught up on the highway into Smithfield and landed at the hospital in record time. I parked, ran through the ER sliding doors, and landed at the nurse’s desk, severely out of breath.
“Lily Hahn,” I said, gulping in air. “Is she here?”
“Oh,” the woman said. I could tell she recognized Lily’s name immediately. “She’s in surgery. Are you a friend or relative?”
“Relative,” I lied.
She smiled kindly at me. “No worries, sweetheart, they’ve gotten her stable, and she’s had a transfusion. Surgery should be less than an hour. They’re just fixing a nicked artery and cleaning anything up that requires attention.”
“So, she’s fine?” I asked. I wanted to hear it again.
“Yes, sir. Just fine. I’ll come get you when she’s out.”
All the adrenaline that had been pumping through my veins surged in relief. Suddenly more tired than I’d ever felt, I plopped myself down and took out Lily’s phone. I texted Hollie what the nurse had said then called Ansen.
“Salinger,” Katie answered.
“Yeah, it’s me. She’s in surgery now—”
“She’s in surgery,” Katie relayed to, I assumed, Ansen.
“She’s stable and will be out in less than an hour,” I explained.
“Stable and will be out soon,” she told him.
My hands shook as the adrenaline left.
“What happened?” she asked me.
“I was going over to her house when I heard this incredible noise, like a bomb had gone off. I sped to her house and found her lying there.”
“Jesus,” she whispered then sighed. “I’m so glad she’s stable.”
I ran a hand down my face. “I’ve lost ten years off my life.”
“I’m sorry,” she said. “The thought of something happening to her makes me break out into a cold sweat.” She paused. “Lily is too easy to love, isn’t she?”
I thought about what she’d said.
“So easy to love it frightens me.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Lily
“Miss Hahn,” someone whispered. “Miss Hahn, it’s time to wake up. Can you hear me?” they asked.
I peeled my eyes open to see the face of someone who looked like a nurse.
“Hi, darlin’.” She smiled. “Know where you are?”
“No,” I scratched out.
“Well, there’s been an accident, although I’m not too clear on the details, but you were caught up in it, child. You had a little surgery and now you’re out and will be right as rain pretty soon here.”
“Okay,” I said, unsure what she was talking about.
“Do you have any family, baby? Anyone who would be here?”
My eyes began to water. “No, ma’am.”
“Oh, well, that’s okay, baby. I’ll be here. See this little button?” she asked, handing me a remote. “Just press that button if you need anything.”
“Okay.” I nodded, thoroughly confused as to how I’d gotten there.
We both turned toward the door when we heard some light rapping.
“Come in,” she said.
Katie pushed through, running to my side, bawling her eyes out. Ansen quickly followed, as did Matt.
“Matt?” I asked, confused.
“Salinger called us,” he explained, standing next to my bed.
“Salinger?”
Everyone looked toward the door, so I did the same.
There stood Salinger. He was beautiful; it made my heart ache to see him.
“Hey, Little,” his deep voice soothed, making two tears slip through.
“How did you know I was here?” I asked him.
“He’s the one who found you, knucklehead,” Ansen answered for him.
Katie grabbed my hand. “I guess Trace was trying to build a meth lab in his kitchen and it blew up.”
My mouth gaped wide. “What? D-did they make it out?”
Katie looked at Ansen, so I did the same.
“No, Lily, they didn’t.”
“Oh my gosh,” I quieted.
We were all silent a moment.
“What about the neighbors?” I asked them.
“Fine,” Salinger answered, making my heart race. “Everyone seemed to be in bed and not affected badly.”
I nodded at him, wishing I could just stare at him. “Good,” I whispered.
I turned toward Matt. “Do the girls know?” I asked.
“We didn’t want to wake them until we knew what the status was.”
I nodded again. “That’s great. Good. Let’s just keep this to ourselves then.”
“You don’t want them to visit?” he asked.
“No,” I insisted, “let’s not scare them. I’ll just see them on Sunday.”
Matt looked uncertain. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” I answered and smiled at him. “If there’s one thing I want for them, it’s that they never know fear again.”
He smiled at me. “They won’t,” he promised. “I’ll make sure of it.”
“I know,” I told him.
Matt sighed. “What a night!” Everyone laughed. “Does anyone want a drink or a cup of coffee?” he asked.
Everyone shook their heads. “Well, if I don’t have some caffeine soon, I’m going to drop. I’ll be right back.”
I smiled at him as he left. He had to slide past Salinger to leave, as he just stood there, afraid to come in, I thought.
Katie looked behind her, then at me. “Ansen, come with me. You know, now that he mentions it, I could use a Dr Pepper or something.”
“Okay,” Ansen told her, grabbing her hand as they left the room.
It was just Salinger and me at that point.
“You saved me.” I heard him audibly swallow. “Thank you.”
His body was tense, like he wasn’t sure what to do with himself.
“How do you feel?” he asked me.
“Just a little sore, to be honest. The pain meds have already worn off.”
He looked alarmed. “Should I get the nurse?” he asked, panicked.
I smiled at him. “No, come here, Salinger.”
Hesitantly he came into the room and pulled up a chair to the side of my bed then sat down, scooting as close as he could get.
“I got your texts,” he said.
I didn’t know how to respond to him so I only nodded.
“What happened?” I asked him.
He stared at the floor. “I need some advice,” he said, ignoring my question.
“Go on,” I encouraged.
“I—” He shook his head, fighting a smile. “I’m in love with this girl.” He looked at me. “You don’t know her,” he said, a crooked smile on his face. “She’s the best friend I’ve ever had; we get along like chocolate and peanut butter. She’s, well, she’s beautiful,” he explained, his face burning bright red and turning back to the floor briefly before meeting my gaze again. My heart started to race when he looked at me. “She dazzles me, actually.”
Then a thought sobered me.
“Are you talking about Lyric?” I asked him.
He looked shocked. “What are you on about?”
My face flamed hot. “I saw her.”
“Saw who?”
He looked perplexed.
“At the tournament, Salinger. She was in your room.”
He went from confused to amused within two seconds. “We traded rooms. There were these really obnoxious morons partying next door and I wanted to get some sleep, so we switched.”
I nodded. “I see and so this girl?” I encouraged.
“Yeah, so this girl, she’s talented. Never met anyone who could challenge me like she does.” He looked at me; his face turned sad for a moment. “She’s been through a lot, you know? And, you see, this is
where I’ve been struggling, because I told her I was someone who had integrity. I’d promised I would help her without her feeling vulnerable to me. I wanted her to know she could rely on me.”
I began crying. “I think she knows, Salinger.”
He studied me. “Does she, though?” he asked.
“I know she does.”
“I think I have to tell her how I feel then.”
“I think you should.”
He leaned back in his chair, looking more relaxed than I’d seen him in a very long time. He exhaled hard. “I’m going to,” he said, smiling at the ceiling.
“When?” I asked him.
He looked at me and bit his lip to keep from smiling. “I’ll let you know, Little.”
EPILOGUE
IT’D BEEN THREE MONTHS since the meth lab accident and I’d had the windows replaced, fixed the damaged fence, and repainted the back of the house. It had only taken me a couple short days to get everything back to par.
Trace had died that night. I would never condone what he’d done to me, but I wouldn’t have wished death on him either. He’d made national headlines due to the nature of his death and the sensationalism of the story. His house had literally burnt to a crisp. Not even the grass remained in an even circle around what used to be that home. There’d been two other victims, but they weren’t local and so none of us recognized them when they were finally identified.
I’d put my house up for sale for a mere hundred grand and it’d sold in two days. Ironically, to one of my nearby neighbors.
I’d been visiting the girls regularly and they were thriving, and when I was in town to see them once a week, I’d also stop by a counselor’s office to work out the issues I had about Mama’s death. I’d been searching for places to rent around my sisters so I could be near them, but had yet to find any.
Salinger left Bottle County as well as the market, as did I. I’d joined a couple online classes and was sort of bumming around random cities, exploring them, trying to find a good fit.
Salinger came with me.
Right in that moment, that very second, I was taking my Scout up to Banner Elk, North Carolina, to a cabin called Big Bear Lodge because it was an hour away from this year’s National Open, a million-dollar cash prize, and I was joining twelve other master chess players, including one Mr. Salinger Park.