Out of the Flames by Cheryl Wyatt is a novella about whether a relationship will develop between the two protagonists, Lilah Rose McLaughlin and Scott Cohen. Lilah runs a marine animal rescue and rehabilitation centre right next door to the Coast Guard watch station at Haven Bay, Florida. Scott is a Chief Coastguardsman who has just transferred into his position from Chicago. The two first meet at the Soggy Sandwich Diner where Lilah is enjoying lunch out with close friends who want to help her find love. When Scotty enters the diner, they lock eyes...and the rest doesn't quite immediately become history. It's a mystery to Lilah's friends, Memaw, Tilly, and Monique, who make up three generations of the Audet Family who have adopted Lilah as an honourary granddaughter, daughter and sister. This is because everyone in the diner noticed how Scotty's gaze stopped and lingered on Lilah. However, their first encounter ends with Scott blowing her off, averting his gaze and slighting her. Lilah knows that this isn't her imagination; her friends noticed Scott's behaviour too. It hurts because it reminds her too much of her failed relationship with her ex-fiancé.
Scott can't walk away quickly enough from Lilah. He is instantly attracted to her, but sees the hurt in Lilah's soul when he looks into her eyes. He doesn't have time for a relationship with a woman right now because of the Coast Guard fire squad safety program that he is in charge of organizing and putting together. Getting this program off the ground is something that he is driven to do because of his past. Scotty can't allow himself to get distracted by Lilah. He feels that if he gets into a relationship with her, it will keep him from achieving his goals with the program. He feels guilty about slighting her, and decides that if he sees her again, he will apologize.
However, the Audet Family closes rank around Lilah to protect her. This includes Tilly's husband, Roy, who is Scotty's supervisor, who tells Scotty that he won't apologize to Lilah on Scotty's behalf; Scotty will need to do it himself. Ron then prays for Scotty's and Lilah's paths to cross again...and they do. Scotty can't help but be drawn to Lilah, but he blows hot and cold towards her. His behaviour confuses and hurts Lilah who keeps remembering how her ex-fiancé said that she wasn't good enough.
Will Scotty be able to come to terms with his past and let go of it so that he can move on to a future with Lilah? Will Lilah work through her insecurities so that she can be the friend that Scotty needs while he works through the guilt that he feels from his past?
I liked Scotty. He is a good guy, although he seems to be unable to keep from hurting Lilah with his ambivalent behaviour while he is working through his issues. Lilah seemed to be a tad bit oversensitive about rejection, but that is explained by the hurt inflicted upon her by her fiancé. She is strong enough to take a risk in being there for Scotty while he is struggling with his guilt even though he has hurt her. The author makes a note about Lilah's character in her acknowledgements: that if people ever feel invisible or meaningless like Lilah, they should know that they are loved by God and matter to Him.
I especially liked the character of Memaw Audet. She's the grandma who you wish had a sensor for her mouth to keep her from saying embarrassing things, but who you can't help but love, quirks and all. It was funny reading about the scuffle that she got into with another senior lady over the affections of an eligible man of suitable age. Actually, the woman has outrageous behaviour toward eligible men regardless of their age. She even told Scotty to his face that, "...I could sit here and look at you allll day." In fact, her first reference about him was, "A hot man!" while the Audets and Lilah were sitting in the diner. I like Memaw; she's hilarious.
Out of the Flames is a fairly quick read at eight chapters. This story touches on the issues of grief and survivor's guilt, and on self worth. If you enjoy reading about characters in the Coast Guard, this may be the novella for you.
