Page 51 of Crash Over Us
“What about food?” she wanted to know.
If it wasn’t for Caleb, I probably wouldn’t have any, but he kept the pantry stocked and cooked dinner most nights. I had plenty of food to last.
“You could stay with us,” Stella offered. “It’s your first hurricane. That might be the best idea.”
Adam walked over. He had overheard the conversation. “I think that’s a plan. You don’t need to be here by yourself.”
I didn’t know what to say. I was worried about leaving the Blue Heron. What if something happened? What if I was cut off from everyone? The more I thought about it, the more the offer seemed like something I couldn’t refuse.
“Okay. But I have a few things to do tonight. I’ll pack up and come in the morning. Is that okay?”
“Of course.” Stella smiled. “Get a good night’s sleep, and we’ll see you tomorrow.”
The group started packing up the equipment and gear from the day. The extra plywood was hauled back into the truck. Jacob loaded the saws and drills. I watched them work as a team.
Josie came over. “I’m sorry about Caleb.” I hadn’t seen her much since the day she had delivered the news to me about Caleb going missing.
“I can’t talk about it.” My voice cracked. “Him. I just can’t.”
“Stay safe in the storm, okay?” She turned to go.
I nodded. “Josie?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you for coming over and helping.” I wanted to be a better friend to her. To show up for her, too. “Thank you.”
“Next time, you can help me board up the Clean Queen.” She laughed as she hopped in her SUV.
“I will. I think I’ll have this figured out before the next storm.” My heart sank at the words. Everything about Marshoak Island was Caleb. I wanted to be here because of him. I wanted to stay and experience all of it with him. Picturing myself immersed with everyone he knew and grew up with didn’t make sense without him.
Josie drove off, followed by Nan and the others. I promised Stella and Adam I would see them tomorrow.
We’d worked the entire rest of the day. I was sore and exhausted. I checked my phone. He hadn’t responded to any of my texts. Not a single voicemail. Nothing. The devastation had spread from sadness to anger, back to sadness.
I climbed the stairs and went straight to the shower. I had to shower off the grime and sawdust. By the time I got in bed, I was too tired to text Caleb again.
TWENTY-SIX
Margot
I awakened to the wind howling. What was that? I looked at my phone. It was late morning. I must have been more exhausted than I realized. This was the latest I had slept in in weeks. When I looked outside my window, the rain was coming in sideways. There were white caps crashing up over the bulkhead. What was happening? The hurricane wasn’t supposed to land until tonight. Fear shot through me. I raced downstairs. I had left the TV on last night.
The meteorologist explained that the hurricane had increased in speed and was coming in faster and harder than projected. She kept telling everyone to evacuate now.
I called Stella.
“Hi, honey. Are you packed? I think you should come over now and not wait. If the water washes up on the roads, you won’t be able to get here.”
“I’m going to pack right now. I had no idea it was going to happen so fast. I slept in, and it just caught me off guard.”
“It caught all of us off guard. You aren’t the only one. Adam’s gone to the boatyard. Do you need him to come pick you up? I can call him if you would feel safer in his truck.”
“No. I can drive. I’m fine.” I was rattled, but I knew once I packed and locked up the cottage, I’d feel better. “I’ll see you a little later.”
“Don’t take too long,” she warned.
I had done everything I could do to protect the Blue Heron and the cottage. It was with the help of my new Marshoak family, but they had swooped in and taught me how to prepare for a hurricane. I learned that the category levels didn’t mean one storm would be less damaging than another. I had to treat them all as if they were a category five and guard my property and my life the best I could.
