Chapter 80

She looked under the sink and the dishwashing liquid was there, along with dishwasher pods. "Well, it looks like Liam thought of everything."
"He usually does." Taren opened kitchen drawers until he found a dish towel and held it up. "Case in point."
Kiki laughed as she ran the water.
"But his staff helps him think of everything, too." Taren leaned against the counter, his arms flexing without trying, his years of hard work and playing football had paid off.
Kiki washed a bowl, rinsed it, and then handed it to him. "You know, it feels good to be out of the hospital and doing normal things." If you could call having Taren make lunch and do dishes with you normal.
He nodded, but his lips turned into a frown. "I'm so sorry, Kiki."
"Don't be." She smiled as she rinsed another dish and handed it to him. "I'm just glad you and the fire department came along when you did." She would have died if he hadn't come.
He nodded. "All in the line of duty."
Her heart sank. Duty. He did it for duty. "You're not here out of--"
"What?" Taren dried another dish and slid it into the cabinet.
"You're not still here- out of a sense of duty, are you?" She hated herself for asking, but she had to know.
"Hey." He slid his arms around her waist as he looked into her eyes. Instinctively, she wrapped her soapy hands around his neck. "This is not because of duty. I just like spending time with you and it's been a long time since I've seen you-." His voice trailed off, so she decided to let him off the hook.
"Okay." She smiled. "Just checking." Unable to resist, she scooped a bit of bubbles off the top and blew across them in his direction, lightening the mood.
"Hey!" he said, and then threw some bubbles at her. Soon, they both were covered in bubbles, looking like two snowmen. Then he pulled her to his chest and looked into her eyes. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to be."
"Neither would I- well- you know what I mean." she teased.
He pulled her in for a hug and whispered into her hair. "I'm just glad it was you."
Kiki pulled away, breaking the spell of the moment. "So, you were glad it was my house that caught on fire?"
"I- well- no- but-."
"I was only joking." Kiki laughed as she wiped the bubbles from her clothes and handed him another dish towel. "So, is the investigation complete?"
"No, not yet." Taren wiped the bubbles off with the towel he was holding and threw it into the laundry basket on top of the dryer. "But I'll let you know as soon as I hear."
"Please do," she replied, turning her attention back to the dishes. "But I'm afraid it's because I didn't replace the fire screen when I made the fire after I came home from the Children's Home."
Taren shook his head as he pulled out another dish towel and wiped another dish. "No, from what I saw, I think there must have been a short in the Christmas lights on the tree."
Her eyebrows pull together in concern. "How do you know that?" She rinsed another dish and handed it to him.
He let out a deep breath as a faraway look came into his eyes. "Well, the concentration of the fire was on the Christmas tree. It was blazing and the fire was spreading from there. If it had been from the fireplace or if an ember came from the fire and landed on the carpet, the fire would have been concentrated more on the carpet and would have spread out from there." He cringed.
"What?" She turned her attention to washing a cup.
"Well, if it would have come from the carpet, it would have reached you sooner." He let out a long, deep breath. "Which means that we may not have gotten there in time. The Christmas tree catching fire instead bought you a little more time."
Kiki nodded as the reality of what could have happened sank in. "Thank you."
"You don't have to thank me again." He looked at the dish he had wiped for the hundredth time.
"Hey-." She placed a finger under his chin, forcing him to look into her eyes. "I'm okay now. You did everything you could, and you saved me. We can't worry about what could have happened."
He looked into her eyes and nodded.
"Now, why don't you go home and I'll see you tonight."
Taren nodded as he folded the dish towel and hung it over the oven door handle. "I'll be back at five."
"No need." Kiki let out the dishwater, rinsed out the dishrag, and laid it on the edge of the sink. "I can drive myself."
He raised an eyebrow, causing her heart to pound. "Yes, but I do it so much better." He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Get some rest and I'll be here at five." Then he looked into her eyes. "Are you sure you feel up to it?"
"Yes, of course." She shrugged. "But I can always go home if I get tired."
"Either that, or you could lie down in the spare room."
Kiki smiled. "Oh, I couldn't do that! Your mom--"
"Wouldn't mind at all," he corrected.
"Well, we'll see how it goes."
"Well-." Taren pulled her in for a hug and released her. "I'll see you later."
"I'll walk you out." She followed him to the door and leaned onto the door facing, watching as he walked out.
He paused for a moment as if he were going to step back and kiss her, but then scratched his head and lifted his hand. "I'll be back."
"I'll be here."
After he left, she closed the door and then checked the money from her parents that she had shoved into purse and was astonished at what she found. She made a mental note to go by the bank while she was out.
She hurried into the bathroom, unsure of what she would find. But knowing Mr. White, she was sure that either he or his staff had provided more than she needed. And when she walked in, she was right. On the counter was designer shampoo--probably from their onsite beauty salon--as well as a blow dryer, a set of hot rollers, a curling iron, and a flat iron. There was also a small bottle of expensive perfume with a note that said MERRY CHRISTMAS. She would make a special point to thank Liam again when she saw him.
Kiki quickly showered, blew her hair dry, and walked into the bedroom. In the closet was a few changes of clothes. It appeared that Mr. White and his staff had thought of everything.