Love Will Keep Us - Book 5

...There's Fire!

While Lena was home and getting ready to head to the bakery and Stef was working her shift at the wharf, Corey had gotten so caught up in not only checking out his friend's skateboard but riding it. He had completely forgotten about the rolls and had no idea that he left the stove on with the dishrag on top of it that was now burning. The girls had no clue either for the front of the bakery was so crowded that they were busy running around taking orders as Julius had gotten stuck in a massive line at the store.

"We need more rolls, Franks!" Stefanie shouts as the younger girl is trying to sweep the floor since Corey is manning the oven.

"Ok! How many?!"

"I don't know! But what's that smell?" Stefanie wrinkles her nose as she starts to sniff something, turning to Callie. "Callie, do you smell that? It smells like something is burning."

"No...no wait...I think I do..." She says now handing a customer change.

"I'll go get the rolls!" Frankie yells as she soon opens the door to the kitchen and a wave of black smoke hits her now clouding the front of the bakery as well.

"Oh my god!!" Stefanie shouts as Callie is behind her and they pull Frankie back. "No, little sis! Everyone out! Everyone, please!" The girl yells as all the customers quickly leave and the smoke detector now goes off.

"Oh my god, Corey!! He's...hes back there!!" Frankie screams now feeling how hot the door is to the kitchen as Callie pulls her back.

"I'll go get him!"

"No!!" Frankie yells. "No, you can't! It's dangerous!" She yells as Stefanie pushes the door with her foot and they all cover their months as the thick black smoke makes it their vision barely visible.

"Frankie, call Mama! GO in the front now!" Callie screeches as she and Stefanie drop to the ground and start crawling.

"No! Corey!!! I need to find my brother!

"No! Go call Mama's Frankie! Please! I will find him!"Callie yells as she sees the fire taking over the entire stove and oven that has spread to the back walls. "Corey! Where are you? Please!!!!!"

It is so powerful and so strong as Stefanie can barely see and grabs the fire extinguisher as fast as she can and Frankie who has not listened has tears in her eyes.

"Corey William! Where are you? Please! Corey!!!!!" Frankie screams, tears streaming down her face.

"He's not here!" Callie shouts.

"Yes, he is! COREY!!!!!!" Frankie hollers again as something pops and crackles making Stefanie tackle Frankie to the ground as a roll goes flying by.

"Stefanie! Where is he? Where is my brother?" Frankie cries hysterically in the girls shoulder.

All three girls are so worried and stressed as there is no sign of Corey anywhere, and they take turns trying to toss water on the fire trying so hard to put the fire out only to hear the booming voices of firemen pull them from the building.

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LENA POV

As I make my way to the bakery I feel as if my eyes are playing tricks on me as I see a host of fire trucks outside. Wondering what in the hell is going on and what happened I get out of my car and see the kids and Julius outside wrapped in towels.

"Oh my god!! Oh my god, what happened?! What happened?!" I ask as my heart is racing and the kids all run to me, minus Corey who is nowhere to be seen.

"Mama!! The kitchen, it caught fire and we tried to put it out!" Callie cries as Frankie hugs me so hard as she is completely beside herself. I look over at Stefanie who has streaks of black down her cheeks, her usually nicely straightened hair a mess and streaks of soot down her shirt and pants.

"Oh my god! Are you all ok?! Are you?!" I hold out my arm to hug Stefanie as well, and all, three, girls are now crying.

"I don't know where he is! The firemen don't see him! I'm sorry, Lena!" Julius cries now as I look at him, tears in my eyes as he runs to me.

"Where were you? What the hell happened?" I wipe my eyes as he shrugs, clearly beside himself.

"Mama!!!!!!" I turn to see Corey running as fast as he can, only he has no soot. He has no black streaks down his face, and his hair and clothes aren't a mess. I can feel anger rising up within me, but I hold it back.

"WHERE WERE YOU? NO ONE KNEW WHERE YOU WERE!!!!!!!!" I shout now as the girls step back and watch our encounter.

"Mama, I...what happened? Why are there firetrucks here? Uncle Julius? Callie? Franks? Stefanie?" Corey's face is now red as he looks around at us, and I've had it. I really have as I realize he must have ditched work, and I grab him by his shirt and start shaking him.

"Answer me, boy! Where were you? I'm so sick and tired of the games! Sick of it! Do you think this is a joke? Do you see your sisters? Do you?"

"Mama! I was...I was outside, ummm, getting more flour from the stock building!" He looks at me, tears now in his eyes.

"Everyone looked for you!" Julius shouts now, butting in. "Everyone!!"

"I...I didn't hear...I was...we needed more flour!" Corey quickly explains.

"And you didn't hear the sirens? You didn't hear screaming? Are you that deaf?" I shout now, not believing him, but he is good. Boy is he good, and I want to beat his ass. I have never been so angry with my son ever, and now I wish with everything in me that Stef were here to beat his ass and it makes me regret everything I said to her.

"No! Mama! I...I pulled this big bag of flour down off of the high shelf, and...it fell and I was pinned underneath it, and I guess I was screaming for help myself, and I'm sorry. I really am! Please forgive me, Mama! Please, Callie, Franks and Stefanie! Uncle!" He looks between all of us, and I can only stare hard as the girls don't crack a single smile. Not one for they knew. We all knew he was full of shit.

"Ma'am, we need to take the girls in for observation," a paramedic walks over to us.

"I'm fine, sir," Frankie is quick to say, but he shakes his head.

"I'm afraid it's protocol. We'll need to get statements as well. Well, the police will need statements, but they'll wait until you're checked out.

"Ummm, I...I need to call my wife and try to get in touch with her ," I choke out as he motions for me to follow him. My head is now spinning out of control with the stress of it all, and I can only hope no one is seriously hurt.