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Cheryl and I followed behind the gurney that carried a wrapped up Aunt P into her hospital room. Aunt P rushed back into the burning Thornhill mansion to save a portrait of us all and got terribly burned. We've been at the hospital for hours.
"Cheryl? Beverly?" The voices of Betty and Kevin caught us before we entered Aunt P's room.
"Cheryl, what's going on? Is that your Mom? What happened?" Betty spouted questions.
"Oh, haven't you heard? There was a terrible fire at Thornhill last night. I might have perished if it wasn't for Mommy's heroics." Cheryl already given me the lie we were to tell people when they asked what happened last night.
"Oh, my God. What is this the apocalypse?" Kevin says shocked.
"After my ordeal at Sweetwater River, I was asleep when the fire started. They think it was a breeze knocking over a lit candle catching the curtains. Mommy got home from the Jubilee and rushed headlong into the blaze, risking her life to save mine." I'm amazed at how easily the lies slip off her tongue. "Unfortunately she suffered third-degree burns and acute smoke inhalation. What are you two doing here?"
"Yeah, what's going on?" I ask.
"Archie's Dad got shot at Pop's this morning." Betty says with a sigh.
"What?!" I can't believe this. Someone shot Fred Andrews. "Do they know who did it?"
"No, from what Archie said it sounds like a robbery gone bad." Betty answers. "A bunch of us called to tell you actually."
"Sorry, my phone is dead. Where is Archie? Is he okay?" I can't imagine he is handling this well.
"He went home to shower. I don't think so, I think he's just coping right now." Betty says.
"Do you mind if I wait with you guys until he gets back?"
"No, that's fine. He really needs his friends right now." Betty says and we walk back to the waiting room.
I notice the Bulldogs all huddled in a circle and I spot Reggie in the midst. I tell Kevin and Betty I'll be back in a bit.
"Reggie." I say and he walks out and wraps his arms around me.
"Hey, I tried calling you but you didn't pick up."
"Sorry, my phone died." I feel him kiss the top of my head.
"Why do you smell like smoke?" He asks.
"Thornhill kinda went up in flames last night. I've actually been here for a while, Aunt P got burned pretty bad." I explain.
"Oh my God, what happened?" That damned question.
"Um they think a candle fell and caught the curtains on fire." I lied to him.
