7. Tessa #2
“Oh, thank you,” Maggie drawled, but tempered it with a smile. “Honestly, Jo and I are quite capable of managing our schedules, safety, and evacuation plan. I’ll tell you all about it later, Eli.”
He studied her for a moment, glanced at Kate, then moved on.
“Okay, then. That leaves Tessa, Dusty, and Olive, of course.”
“We’re fine,” Dusty said. “Embassy Suites in Tallahassee, leaving Friday morning.”
“I’d rather stay with you in Rock Hill,” Tessa murmured to Vivien.
“Well, there’s room now with our mothers’ mysterious exit,” she whispered back.
“How’s your house?” Eli asked Dusty.
“We’re boarded as well as we could and I was able to finish up with Anthony before he and Crista left,” Dusty said. “Both places are as fit as they could be to weather the storm.”
Eli nodded. “We’ve got Connor, Peter, Viv, Meredith, Kate, and me. Oh, and Jonah and Atlas who will—”
Jonah blew in that very moment, the front door slamming behind him. “Sorry I’m late!”
He came in with his chef’s jacket open over a T-shirt, his hair pulled back, his eyes a little tired and a lot alive. He set his knife bag on a console table, scanned the room, and went straight to Atlas.
He scooped the baby up without breaking stride and pressed his nose into Atlas’s peach fuzz hair the way a man did when he had been thinking about that head since two o’clock.
Then he opened his eyes and looked right at Pepper, the two of them smiling at each other like…well, yes, like he’d been thinking about her, too.
Tessa gripped Vivien’s forearm. “Oh,” she breathed.
“Oh, yes,” Vivien breathed back.
It was like Jonah found the one person in the crowded room who seemed to matter almost as much as Atlas. And as for Pepper? She seemed to freeze, flush, and stare…just like that.
Kate made a little whimpering sound. The exchange might have happened in the blink of an eye, but not one of the aunties in the room missed it.
“What’s up?” Jonah said, folding onto the floor next to Pepper as he held happy little Atlas in his arms. “Old Norm’s a three, I hear, and sliding east like a spitball. Gonna cream Mexico Beach just like Michael did in 2018.”
When they all looked surprised at his knowledge, he shrugged. “It’s all we talked about at work and closed early because—who knew—no one in Florida goes out to eat before a hurricane. Apparently, everyone is emptying the freezers and eating their saved steak before the power goes out.”
“No surprise,” Eli said. “Especially because Destin is still very much in the possible landfall path.”
“The ice cream cone of uncertainty,” Jonah sang in a thriller movie voice, tapping Atlas’s nose.
Eli looked a little bit irritated with his son’s humor. “We’re just discussing evacuation plans. Grandma Maggie and Jo Ellen have, uh, made other arrangements.”
That got the expected undertone of surprised laughs, the loudest from Connor, who got glared at by Maggie so hard it was a wonder he didn’t melt.
“Ooh,” Tessa said under her breath, just loud enough for him to hear. “You got your first Maggie Lawson Death Stare. Be strong, son. It doesn’t leave much of a scar.”
Connor looked suitably chastised as Eli continued. “Jonah, we have you and Atlas at the Airbnb in Rock Hill.”
Instantly, he looked at Pepper. “Where are you going to be?” he asked.
“At home, my dad’s house,” she said. “He’s been roped in to stay as a faculty member at the campus shelter, so I’ll be with our dogs.”
“Alone?” Jonah asked.
“It’s a brick house way up in Crestview. Not near the water, no trees close to the house. I’ll be fine.”
He looked at her like she was out of her mind. “And I’ll be with you. With Atlas.”
She inched back, a flicker of surprise and maybe a little glow of color on her face. “Are you sure?”
“You’re not staying alone in a storm,” he said. “Anyway, Atlas is always happiest with you.”
“Only Atlas?” Vivien mouthed, turning to Tessa.
“Seriously,” Tessa whispered, then, louder, she asked, “Does that mean you have room in Rock Hill for Dusty, Olive, and me?”
“Absolutely,” Eli assured her.
“Expect the three of us,” Dusty said, looking at Tessa with a smile that said he knew what she wanted and would move mountains to give it to her. She winked her love back in return.
“Then everyone is accounted for,” Eli announced. “Now, let’s go over how we’re all driving because there will be no vehicles here. And no exposed windows—that is, if I can scare up someone, anyone, to help me hang plywood tomorrow.”
“I’m here, Dad,” Jonah said.
“Same,” Connor said. “Although…” He held up his broken wrist. “I might be more moral support than hammer handling.”
“You and Meredith should spend tomorrow at Lakeside,” Eli said, referring to the major architectural project that kept them all busy. “And we’ll figure it out,” he added, with a little less confidence than Tessa was used to hearing from him.
“‘Figure it out’ means the two of them will be hanging plywood until the first storm band hits,” Vivien murmured, obviously noticing her brother’s tension, too.
Well, he was worried about the house he designed and built with his brain and sheer willpower, a few families, his satellite business, and a smattering of beach houses owned by people he loved.
Just as Tessa was about to say that to Kate, her sister rounded the island, arms out toward Eli. She saw the stress, too, of course, and hugged him because he needed it.
Next to her, Vivien watched it unfold.
“You know what this is?” Vivien said softly to Tessa.
“A mix between a nightmare and an impromptu party?” Tessa guessed.
“The beauty of the Summer House,” she replied. “Look at us, rallying and uniting. Giving support and love and respect and…whatever is needed.”
Tessa almost cracked a joke, but Vivien’s eyes were shimmering and far too serious.
“Yes,” she said on a sigh. “That’s the definition of found family.”
“Right?” Vivien hugged her impulsively, pressing her mouth to Tessa’s ear. “There’s love in the most unexpected places, too. C’mere, Kate.”
Kate joined the group hug, laughing softly. “What are we secretly whispering about now?” she asked into their private circle.
“Us,” Vivien said. “How strong we are.”
“Oh, please,” Tessa snorted. “We all want to know where the heck Crawfordville is and why our mothers are bugging out.”
“With motorcycle riders.”
Vivien choked. Tessa snorted. And they drew back and looked at Kate who, holy cow, was not kidding.
“Hey, babe.” Dusty broke into the circle, reaching for Tessa. “My buddy dropped off more sandbags. Let’s get home and put them out. Maybe I can finish the rest of the windows early tomorrow and come to help Eli.”
“Absolutely.” She smiled at Vivien and Kate. “More on that during our hurricane party in Rock Hill.” She blew them a kiss and left with Dusty, flinging goodbyes on her way out.
In the driveway, she paused at the passenger door of Dusty’s truck and looked back at the Summer House. Every light on. Sliders glowing. The Gulf behind, the sun down now, the water still and pewter-bright.
“C’mon.” He opened the door and helped her climb up, stealing a kiss on the way.
They drove home past houses with their plywood up and sandbags out and lawn furniture stored and patio plants taken inside.
And another freshly painted message—No vacancy in Destin, Norman!
No, there wasn’t. The town was full of family and friends and neighbors and shops and too much love to be wiped off the map.
Go away, Norman.