his wheelchair. He was aware as he walked that Olivia was following behind, her camera ready again.
Even though Pete Gallegos’s voice was weak and his hand holding the mic trembled, his words were heartfelt as he talked about how difficult it was for a proud man to accept help, but how very grateful he was for everyone’s efforts.
When he finished thanking everyone and the crowd responded with huge applause and a standing ovation from those who were seated at the long tables, Pete handed the microphone back to Cooper.
“We have loved doing it. From what I understand, we’ve raised more than enough to modify the bathroom of your house, with several thousand dollars left over for other modifications.”
Pete beamed, his smile somewhat lopsided now.
Daisy Davenport, an accountant and artist in town who had volunteered to handle the financial details of the fund-raiser, took the microphone. “We have one more announcement. Because of the generosity of the people of Cape Sanctuary, a couple of last-minute large donations and in cooperation with a dealership in Redding, we now can tell you that there are enough funds to purchase a ramp-equipped van for you.”
Pete and Sheila began to cry and hugged each other. Cooper felt suspicious emotion in his chest, too, but managed to stay in control while they expressed their gratitude once more before handing back the microphone.
Cooper loved seeing people come together. Like Olivia had said, people were mostly good. They just needed an excuse to show it.
“Thank you again.” Sheila Gallegos hugged him.
“You know I didn’t do much. It was a whole community effort.”
“Not just the fund-raiser. Everything. You have no idea what you’ve done. It’s a great comfort to Pete to know you’re here.”
“That’s right,” the former chief said. “I can’t do the job anymore, but at least I know it’s in good hands.”
“It’s my honor and challenge to try filling your shoes,” he said, taking the man’s outstretched and trembling hand in his once more.
“I knew you had the makings of a fine firefighter from the time you were seventeen years old, when you risked your life and tried to save Steve Harper.”
Cooper saw Olivia pale at the mention of her father.
“I’ll never forget the sight when we rolled up on scene after you called in the report of the fire. I don’t know how you did it, a skinny seventeen-year-old kid, pulling out a man who probably weighed fifty pounds more than you did. By the time we got there, you had started CPR and wouldn’t stop, even after we tried to take over. I’ll never forget the sight of you, your face black and your hands burned, tears rolling down your face from the pain, but you still didn’t stop.”
Cooper didn’t want to talk about this. Not ever, but especially not right now in front of Olivia. It had been the single defining moment of his life and he hadn’t discussed it with anyone, not even the woman he was coming to care for so deeply.
“He was a man I admired and respected.”
“Darkest day in the history of this department,” Pete said. “Your father was a hero, Olivia. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of him.”
“Thank you,” she mumbled, not looking at Cooper.
“We should get you home,” Sheila said to her husband, giving Cooper an apologetic look.
“Thank you again,” she said, then pushed her husband through the crowd toward the door.
“I’m sorry,” he said to Olivia.
“You called in the report of the fire. I never knew that.”
“Yes. I was, uh, driving past and saw smoke, so I called it in.”
Her gaze narrowed. “You’re lying,” she said flatly.
His mother used to tell him he was a lousy liar. Apparently, age and maturity hadn’t improved that.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“I’ve always wondered why my dad went into that burning building without gear or without waiting for the rest of the department to come. It didn’t make any sense. Now it does. He didn’t just randomly run in. All this time, everyone said you ran in after him, but that’s not what happened, is it? He ran in after you.”
Cooper felt sick, the smell of syrup and bacon congealing in his stomach. He couldn’t have this conversation with her here, in a crowded fire station.
“It wasn’t like that, Olivia,” he said.
He was going to have to tell her. He didn’t want to but Cooper could see no way to avoid it. He should have told her a long time ago. She had lost her father