Fire Works in the Hamptons : A Willow Tate Novel (9781101547649) by Celia Jerome Page A

cranky and tired of being in the car and he was gone for hours, it seemed. So what if my watch said ten minutes? What if he’d fallen and was unconscious after all? I wrapped the baby in a hairy dog blanket from the trunk. I drew the line at giving her a dog biscuit to teethe on, but I thought about it—and picked my way down the path with her in my arms. The cottage was a sad heap of charred timbers at odd angles, facing what must have been a beautiful view of the bay on a clear day. People loved coming here once, I thought, with the beach in their backyard and no neighbors in sight. Of course if there’d been neighbors, someone might have noticed the fire before it got out of control.
    Piet circled the house. He’d stoop, put something in a plastic bag, then circle again, farther and farther away from the ruins. At last he pointed back up the path. I handed him Elladaire, who’d gotten heavier by the minute, then hurried to the car ahead of him to start the engine and warm us up. When he got in, he told me he’d found some dead beetles. Once we got back to my house, we’d look through the books to see if they were a recorded species or not. The arson squad would never think anything suspicious about bugs in the undergrowth, I conceded, and Big Eddie would ignore their smell as a natural part of the countryside.
    Sight unseen, I was sure they were my fireflies. And guilty, like everyone assumed. Damn. I didn’t want to think of the lovely creatures as malicious criminals.
    Piet picked up on my upset. “A couple are squashed.”
    â€œSure, with all the firemen dragging in their equipment, then the investigators going over the area.”
    â€œI don’t think that’s it. If your bugs set the fire on purpose, they wouldn’t have killed their buddies. Two were missing wings. I think they were tortured to make a blaze.”
    â€œWho could do such a thing? They’re gorgeous and shine with all the colors of the rainbow, and they’re smart enough to fly in patterns. You’ll see tonight, if they come.”
    â€œHow can I see? I’ll shut the fires off.”
    â€œThey’re magic. Maybe yours won’t work.”
    â€œYou better hope my magic is stronger than theirs or I can’t help.”
    Â 
    Janie looked exhausted when she came to fetch Elladaire that afternoon. This was the first time I’d ever seen the hair stylist with her own hair in a rats’ nest. She was haggard, but relieved.
    â€œI was worried I’d get here to find the place surrounded by fire trucks and police, I’m glad you had no trouble, but now I’m afraid to face another night with her, I’m so tired. I stay awake the whole time in case she wakes up and starts crying.”
    â€œWhy don’t you leave her here tonight?” I heard a stranger saying. Cripes, the stranger was me. “She isn’t crying fire anymore, but I don’t know what will happen if she’s away from Piet.”
    She never heard my two-syllable pronunciation. “Pete, you are a godsend.”
    â€œNo, only a one-trick pony. I don’t know if I can cure her. Maybe with another day or so the bug juice or whatever will pass through her system. She’s a sweetheart. I’ll be happy to look after her tonight so you can get a good sleep. Your niece is going to need you well rested when she gets home.”
    â€œYou can’t imagine how grateful I am.” Janie threw her arms around him. “I’ll fix up that beard for you whenever you’re ready. You’ll be as handsome as a fairytale prince or an English lord when I get done.”
    I caught the reference to my former fiancé, Lord Grantham. And the slight to my new partner. “Piet is handsome right now.”
    Piet smiled. Janie said, “Oh, by the way, Willy, you need to fix those roots.”
    Â 
    I had a lot to think about, besides what to wear to my grandmother’s for