Contents
Chapter 70
Overview
As the house fire erupts, Veronica fails to reach Jeremy and must convince a terrified Teddy to unlock his door. She leads Teddy out through a window onto the roof to await help. The rescue cements Veronica’s resolve to protect him while foreshadowing legal fallout over the bodies in the cellar.
Summary
Veronica sprints upstairs amid blaring alarms and repeatedly calls Jeremy, but he does not answer. Flames breach from the cellar and start climbing the stairwell, forcing Veronica to focus on reaching Teddy, who is barricaded in his bedroom and sobbing.
Realizing time is running out, Veronica pleads through the door and promises to stay with Teddy, urging him to trust her. When Veronica nearly reveals her identity as his mother, Teddy unlocks the door. She rushes inside, embraces him, and shuts the door as smoke begins seeping under it.
With sirens still distant, Veronica opens the window to vent smoke and scouts the slanted roof as a possible escape point. She explains the plan and, despite fear, climbs out first, bracing herself and then helping Teddy over the sill when he hesitates.
Veronica steadies them both on the roof and holds Teddy close as the sirens grow louder. She prepares to face the consequences of whatever authorities find, including the two bodies in the cellar, but refuses to let Teddy be taken from her protection. Teddy, still shaken, notices Veronica’s cropped hair, and she laughs through tears, clinging to him as they await rescue.
Who Appears
- Veronica (Ronnie)Races through the burning house, calms Teddy, and leads him onto the roof to safety.
- TeddyTerrified child who unlocks his door and escapes onto the roof with Veronica.
- JeremyAbsent father; repeatedly called by Veronica but doesn’t answer during the fire.