“Don’t be afraid. I’m fine,” Charlotte said as she patted Ellie’s back. “Let go of me for a bit. It seems like daddy is hurt.”
“Daddy!” The children remembered and ran over to him. “Are you all right, daddy?”
“Daddy, your arm is hurt!” Jamie exclaimed when he saw the severe burns on Zachary’s arms. He was pale with fright.
“Daddy, you need a doctor,” Robbie said as he put out the embers on Zachary’s clothes. “Your clothes are all scorched.”
“Daddy, does it hurt?” Ellie cried and covered her eyes.
Zachary paid no heed to the children. He stared at Charlotte the entire time with a mixture of rage, frustration but also love.
Charlotte scrambled over to him. “You fool!” she yelled as she pulled on his arm. “Why did you throw yourself into the fire like that?”
Before she finished her sentence, Zachary pulled into his embrace.
He was so forceful that he crashed Charlotte’s head against his chest.
“Charlotte, remember this,” Zachary yelled through gritted teeth. “No matter what happens, you’re not allowed to come out on your own and place yourself in danger. Do you hear me?”
“Yes, I do.” Charlotte nodded and swallowed.
“You are not alone. You have me,” Zachary continued, “I will be here to help you even if the heavens came crashing down on you. Why won’t you ever remember that and cause me to worry every time? What would I do if something happens to you? What about the children?”
“I’m sorry, I was wrong.” Charlotte sobbed into his chest, her arms around his waist. “I should not have made you worry and caused you to get hurt.”
“You scared me to death, did you know that?”
Zachary bit her on the shoulder fiercely.
“Ouch, that hurts!” Charlotte screamed in pain but she knew she deserved the punishment. He bit down so hard it almost bled.
“Good. Painful punishments make good lessons,” Zachary said as he pinched her cheek. “Remember this. If this happens again, I won’t be this lenient.”
“There won’t be any next time,” Charlotte said as she gazed at his injuries. “Let’s go to the hospital. You need a doctor.”
Zachary bent down, placed the boys on his shoulders, and lifted Ellie in his arm. Holding Charlotte’s hand, they turned to depart.
“Daddy, you don’t have to carry us if you’re hurt. Put us down, we can walk on our own.”
“Yes, Daddy. There is heat emitting from your shirt. My butt is burnt from sitting on your shoulder.”
“Are there embers still on Daddy’s shirt? Will it burn me?”
“You three are so inconsiderate. I’m carrying you despite being hurt and all you care about is burning yourself.”
“No, we’re worried that you might be too tired.”
“Yes, we love you with all our hearts.”
“Yes, whatever you say.”
The family walked through the smoke together slowly. They made a strange but lovely silhouette against the brightness of the burning wreckage.
Fifi flew over to them from the car. “Daddy, Mommy, Daddy, Mommy,” she squawked as she circled over their heads.
“Fifi is here!”
“Fifi’s wings look like they are a little burnt.”
“Where did Fifi go earlier?”
“When something goes wrong, she is the first one to run and hide.”
“What an ungrateful bird!”
