Something Old - Dianne L. Christner [40]
Frantically, Katy looked around. She needed padding to open the door handle. For the first time, she realized none of them had bothered to fetch their coats or gloves. Hysterically searching her body for something to put over the door’s handle, she cried, “But Lil’s in there.”
Inez clamped her arm on her shoulder again. “I hear the fire truck.”
Before she could resist, Megan cried, “Look, Katy! Lil’s safe!”
Katy whipped her gaze around, and saw Lil and Mrs. Landis standing by the opposite exit with David and Ivan.
Katy ran to them with relief, her voice laced with fear-induced anger. “Where were you?”
“I don’t know. The men found us. We couldn’t get the fire out. It blocked the door. When we left the kitchen, it was so hazy we couldn’t see.”
“Are you all right?”
Lil nodded. “I think so.”
A red fire truck screamed into the parking lot. Three men in dark-blue uniforms barreled down and rushed to the building.
Mrs. Landis turned away to speak to Inez. Shivering, Lil rubbed her arms, and the three girls huddled together, watching.
One fireman swung an ax thru the kitchen window. A second stuck a hose through it while the third man ran to them and questioned Ivan.
“What happened in there?” Katy asked.
“Did you hear that crash earlier?” Lil asked.
Katy nodded.
“We dropped a punch bowl. There was a huge mess. Anyway, we all chipped in to clean it up. I think somebody forgot what they were doing. The fire started from the area where there was a slow-cooker and a big coffeepot.”
“But how would those start a fire?”
“I don’t know.”
“I hope it wasn’t my fault,” Mrs. Landis moaned, stepping into their circle. “Somebody could have been killed.”
“It’s nobody’s fault. It was an accident,” Megan assured her, but the older woman looked stricken.
David returned from speaking with some firemen. He looked glum, disheveled, and sooty.
“Everybody out?” Katy asked.
“As far as we know. The firemen are checking now.” They both glanced over where one of the professionals was wetting down the meetinghouse. “You think the meetinghouse will catch on fire?”
“I don’t know. The fellowship hall’s ruined.”
“But you found Lil.” Katy’s emotions suddenly overwhelmed her. “What if you hadn’t been here?”
“I just came to help Ivan pack up the gifts. We came early to sneak some cake. When we got here, we saw women rushing out of the building. Then we saw the fire. While Ivan looked for Elizabeth, I called the fire department.” He glanced toward the parking lot. “How is she?”
“I don’t know. Anita Weaver took her to the car like Ivan requested.”
A crashing noise commanded their attention. They stared at the fire in riveted horror. Part of the roof had caved in, and a new flurry of flames and smoke drove them farther away from the building.
As they stood dazed, more help arrived. A barricade was soon erected. At some point, David removed his coat and placed it across Katy’s shoulders. She heard him say, “They want those cars moved. If you give me your keys, I’ll move yours.”
She dug into her purse and handed him the keys. “Thanks.”
“Dumplin'?” Katy nearly broke down at her dad’s touch. She turned into his sturdy embrace, clinging to him for a long while.
When she drew away, she asked, “How did you find out?”
“Lil called her dad. Will started the prayer chain.” He motioned behind him. “I parked down the street. I had to make sure you were all right. Your mom’s real worried.”
“I think everybody’s okay.”
“According to Will, Rose is pretty upset. She’s worried she may have been the one who started the fire. She remembers setting a roll of paper towels next to the coffeepot.”
“Poor thing. But it was just an accident,” Katy replied.
“She feels responsible as head of the hostess committee.”
“A punch bowl broke,” Katy protested, as though that would explain everything to her dad.
He pointed, “That your car?”
Katy nodded. “David’s moving it for me. He and Ivan came to load up Elizabeth’s gifts. They were the first men on the scene.”
“I’m going to go ask the firemen if there’s anything