She started to cough as she walked back into the smoke-filled room. She had to be fast. She saw that Kate had made it all the way to the hallway but collapsed there. The fire was raging in the living room, and now it was spreading out to the hall. She grabbed Kate under her arms and began to drag her toward the front door. The flames were licking at the wallpaper in the foyer. Blaire could feel the heat on her face as she backed out of the house with her sister. Suddenly Kate’s outstretched legs bumped against a table near the wall, sending a large vase crashing to the marble floor. Blaire felt a sharp sting on her wrist.

When she finally got Kate outside and into the yard, Blaire dropped her hands and began CPR. Blaire’s wrist was bleeding where a shard of glass had made a deep cut.

Surprised to see a police car pull up the driveway, she stood, waving her hands. As the two officers ran to her, she yelled out, “Call the fire department! Hurry, she’s passed out. I think she’s inhaled too much smoke.”

One of the officers knelt down next to Kate and checked her breathing. The other one looked at Blaire. “What happened here?”

“I don’t know how it started. I got home, and the house was on fire! I ran in and found her. Thank God I got back in time! When I walked in the house, the flames had almost reached the hallway.”

“It’s a lucky thing you did,” the officer said.

Kate still hadn’t come to. Suddenly Blaire was seized with panic. What had she done? What if Kate didn’t make it?

Minutes later she heard the wail of the fire-truck sirens approaching.

29

When Kate opened her eyes, her father was standing over her. She blinked, unsure of where she was, and turned her head against the pillow. The strong smell of smoke hit her, and it started to come back. The fire. Blaire saying crazy things. It got hazy after that.

“Kate,” her father said, the relief obvious in his voice. He sat on the edge of the bed, holding her hand.

Her body ached, but she sat up as quickly as she could. “Dad, what happened? How did I get here?” She could hear the panic in her own voice.

“Easy, easy. Calm down.” Her father tried to soothe her. “You’re in the hospital. There was a fire.”

How long had she been here? “You were all the way at the beach. When did you get back?”

“You’ve been in and out for the last few hours. I came as soon as Anderson called me.”

Kate shook her head. “Blaire.” She began to cry.