The scent of warm apples, cinnamon, and sugar tormented him as she baked. It was a comforting and inviting smell that made him feel cozy and at home.
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“A Pie for you” she placed it before him, a knowing smile on her face as he sought to take a peek at the whiteness beyond her neckline.
“Angus!” There was a sudden pounding on the door.
“What's going on?” her pretty face was instantly filled with alarm. He shook his head and rose with his mouth full, peeking at the keyhole in the door.
“Angus, I know you're in there. Open up, quick!” It was McMarrel, the blonde kid who worked with him on the fire team.
“What's wrong, dude?”
“There's been a fire….entire family house burnt….” Angus took one look at his Kirstie, winked at her, and followed McMarrel out before she could protest.
It was just as he heard, there were ashes all over the grounds that was once a proud mansion, housing almost 40 people. There were some familiar faces so he waved and called at them as he passed but once he was inside the house, he dared not open his mouth.
Everything had been blackened; picture frames, furniture, rugs, trash cans, stoves, everything was gone. There was nothing to salvage.
He was just ascending the stairs when he heard something that made him stop. It was the soft cooing of a baby. He could see thick smoke wafting from under the door so he couldn't imagine how a baby could be in there and alive. Still, he knew what he heard and turned the door to the Master bedroom.
The fire seemed to have begun from there because he couldn't see through the amount of smoke that hit him. He held his breath in and concentrated on looking through the room. The bed was completely charred with just bits of the frame left to recognize.
There was nothing in the room that suggested a baby could be in there. Angus turned around and began to make his way out when he heard it again. A baby fussing softly.
This time, he headed straight for where the sound came from. He could not see clearly but he was certain his light was illuminating the face of an infant.
Gasping for breath at this point, he reached out, grabbed her from her cot, and hurried down the stairs.
“Medic!” He yelled from the stairs, he was coughing intensely now, trying to call the word ‘medic’ in between as he coughed.
“What in God's name, Angus?” McMarrel asked wide-eyed.
“Get the medics. I found this baby in there”
McMarrel made a run for it as Angus struggled to catch his breath. The baby in his arms cooed softly from time to time, stirring only to rub her nose with her clenched fist and sneeze afterward.
Not long after, two ladies and a guy ran up to Angus and took the child from him. He followed them.
“We need to get her to the hospital as fast as possible. Get away from her, she needs air!” Angus yelled at the people who were gradually crowding around the baby, trying to get a peek.
He jumped into McMarrel’s Honda as the medical team left the premises, driving alongside to ensure he knew exactly where they were taking her.
“You think that kid would survive? She was in there for more than 10 minutes after the fire was put out” McMarrel whispered, Angus could identify fear in his voice.
“I knew I heard a baby call out to me.” He didn't care when McMarrel sneered at him. “I heard her in my heart before I heard her tiny voice call” He couldn't tell why his hands were trembling at the wheel.
They arrived at the hospital exactly 20 minutes after they left the house. They must have requested backup because a medical team was waiting outside to receive them.
Angus prowled the waiting room restlessly as they took her in for examination. He looked up at the clock above the counter and saw that it read 11 pm. Kirstie would be worried but he couldn't reach her now. He had forgotten to take his phone.
At 11:30 pm, one of the nurses emerged with a pink bundle fussing endlessly in his arms.
“She’s perfectly fine. The doctor on duty asked me to hand her to you since you're the one who found her”
And true to her words when the pink bundle (all washed up now) got into his arms, the big, blue eyes stared up at him and cooed gently. For a moment there Angus thought he saw a smile on her face.
When he wanted to speak, tears poured down his eyes. This was definitely a miracle.