Chapter 18

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The car ride was tense, as Blake tried not to speed home, they had left the restaurant right after the call and other than mumbling at red lights or cursing  at slow cars Blake had said nothing. As they neared what she assumed his street her heart began to race. Fire trucks, paramedics and police cars had made a blockade about halfway in. Parking the car in the middle of the road Blake wasted no time exiting .

People huddled together in the sidewalk, some in sleepwear and others half dressed and some even had a head full of suds. Turning her attention away from the crowds back to her date she realized that he was now talking to the officer who stood behind the yellow tape. By the time she reached them, Blake had turned away from her and was headed to an empty bench on the opposite side of the street.

Blake didn't know what he was feeling according to the officer his home had been right in the middle of the fire, meaning that there was very little hope any of this things would be salvageable. Frustrated he buried his face in his hands. He didn't live in an extravagant mansion, his modest little house consisted of 3 bedrooms one of which was converted into his home office, 2 bathrooms a living room and a shared kitchen and dining area.

"Hey, what happened?" Emily asked as she sat next to him and rubbed his arm in an attempt to comfort him. Blake didn't answer instead he pulled pulled her onto him and buried his face into her chest as he held her. His house could be replaced his belonging could be also be replaced but the memories were going up in flames. His mother's trinkets and the photos they had together were in that house along with the letters.  Emily didn't realize he was crying until she felt his shoulders shaking. Knowing that he needed someone to be there for him she pulled him closer and patted his back while whispering words of encouragement.

They sat on the bench all night, waiting watching as friends and family members arrived to pick up those who had called for help. From what the Chief of police had said earlier in the night there had been no casualties, a few people were taken to the hospital for minor bumps and scratches and were expected to be released in a matter of hours. The cause of the fire was still unknown but at the moment nothing was off the table.

"Coffe?" Emily looked up and was greeted with an older woman holding a cup of coffee. "There's a table over there someone donated coffee and bagels for everyone." She informed as she handed Emily the cup along with a handful of creamer cups.

"Here drink this." Emily instructed holding the cup up to his lips without any argument Blake took the drink from her only to make a face once the first sip went down.

"It has no sugar. What is that crazy woman thinking?" He complained using a hand to wipe his lips and handing it back to a laughing Emily. The tension in the air was broken as he complained about the lack of sugar.

"I'm sorry about your home, Blake I'm going to go get you some sugar and maybe a bagel, you can go ask if it's safe to go in yet the fire's been out for a while now."

It wasn't until after noon that they were allowed to enter the property. And just as Blake had feared his home was one of the ones affected but unlike a few, his was still partially standing. A surge of hope ran through him, there was a possibility, a very small almost non existent possibility that maybe something survived the raging fire.

His once polished oak door laid in its own ash as only part of it burned. He didn't want to go inside knowing that the destruction would only get worse. Emily followed close behind careful not to touch anything, her heart had broken the previous night as Blake cried out his frustration onto her.
She had texted Claire and Daliah assuring them that everything was fine and while she managed to ignore all their questions she knew they would have to face their friends at one point. She followed Blake through what she assumed was once a living room that now housed a melted television set and into a small room on the side.

The office was covered in soot and the once wooden desk was now charred, yet the room looked to be in better shape than the front of the house. Blake ran to his desk picking up papers and throwing things off his desk. He looked like he was looking for something frantically pulling open drawers and continuing his search. She assumed he was looking for an important business contract or even the acquisition papers from Jacob.

Looking around a green color on the floor caught her eye in between all the damage, she looked over at Blake who was still focused on his task and went to retrieve it only to discover it was a familiar looking envelope.

"No! They can't be gone. They're somewhere around here. They have to be." Blake exclaimed in frustration making Emily curious as to what he was looking for.

"Blake, what are you looking for? Maybe I can help." She offered taking a step towards him, Blake's eyes however zeroed in on the paper she was holding, a glint of hope appeared as he pointed to it.

Dear Mr Redwood,

I am writing to you because I have an assignment and because I now have an excuse to send this without being judged by others. My name is EJ and I'm a big fan of yours, even if you just started this company of yours. Rumor has it that you have been working there since high school. If it is true the I want to congratulate you. You are my hero? Idol? I'm not sure what the word I'm looking for is, but you get the idea.
Anyways I'm supposed to tell you how much I appreciate what you have done for the economy and so on. But you being new and stuff I'm just going to say how I believe you can and will do great things.

I have faith in you!
EJ

P.S even if you don't make millions I will still be your biggest fan.

•~~~~~•~~~~~•~~~~~•~~~~~•

And because it's Halloween here is a very special Kenny and Blake Halloween special.

meeksadorable CGMsRight surprise!!!

“Uncle Blake, you need to drive faster!” The boy exclaimed from the back seat. The later they arrived at the costume store the less options they would have.

“I'm driving as fast as I can, it's not my fault you got out of school late.” Blake accused as his five year old passenger attempted to kick his seat, but failed due to his short legs.

He had agreed to pick up Kenny after school and take him costume shopping before taking him door to door. However he had not counted on his nephew to be extremely impatient and a full twenty minutes late.

“ Are we there yet?” A voice called out from the backseat. Looking into the rear view mirror he sent his fake son a glare. “How about now? Are we there yet Uncle Blake?” The store came into view as Blake's patience was beginning to thin.

“OK we’re here. No running off, and stay where I can see you. I don't want to crazy women chasing for losing you.” Blake stated as he helped the boy undo his seatbelt.Kenny nodded in agreement and reached out for his uncle's hand.

“I don't like any of these.” Kenny pouted as they walked the isles.

“Listen, kid we've been here for…” Blake looked down at his watch and calculated the time before looking at the boy again, “one hour and approximately seven minutes. If you don't pick something I'm going to dress you up in a sheet and call you a ghost.”  The boy’s eyes light up as he heard his uncle's idea.

“Uncle Blake can we do that please?!” He asked excitedly, jumping up and down in the middle of a wig aisle.

“Seriously? You drag me all the way across the city to the costume warehouse and then you want to cut up my sheets?”

The boy nodded, his bright baby blue eyes twinkling with hidden mischief.

“Fine let's go.”

“uhh..Dad?” Blake froze, debating whether or not he wanted to hear what would follow.

“Yes, Kenny, my son?”

“ Can we stop at a friend's house? My moms said we could go trick or treating together but they sent me with you. Can we please?”

“Fine. Get in the car.” Blake grumbled as they left the store

-------

“ Hello Mr Vega, can Aubey go trick or treating with me?” Kenny asked his friend’s father. Mr Vega simply called out to Aubey and made conversation with Blake while the kids chatted away.

“By Dad! I love you!” Aubey called as Blake buckled the kids up in the back seat of his sedan.

“What are we going to be, I don't have money for a costume.” Aubey asked as they passed some early candy seekers.

“Don't worry I got us some cool costumes.” Kenny replied excitedly, what his Uncle didn't know was that he had packed costumes in his backpack already. The trip to the store was just to get him to the side of town where Aubey lived.

“Really?”

“Yep, look” He answered as he unzipped his backpack and handed her a crown. “You are going to be a princes, and I'm going to be your knight in shiny armour.”

From the front seat Blake held back a chuckle.

Ta-Dah!!! ❤❤

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