Chapter Eleven
Hurricane Edwina’s pounding on North Carolina was all over the news, even up in Ohio, and Amanda couldn’t pull herself away from it. The storm made landfall and bounced offshore and bumped back into the coast like a ball at the hands of a pinball wizard. None of the models had predicted this. Edwina maintained power and kept battering the coast even after landfall, with mounting rainfall.
The meteorologists kept repeating that although the winds had lost strength, the prolonged rains could wreak just as much havoc with flooding and that could be more dangerous.
It was all Amanda could do to shield her children from the devastation and concern.
She didn’t want them getting caught up in all the speculation. She and her parents had agreed there’d be no news on the television where the kids could see it until they received word from Paul that things were okay.
Amanda left the house under the guise of getting ice cream, to bring up the news and weather channel on her laptop and get the most recent updates. It was almost impossible for her to do that in the house. The kids were right at her side every moment.
She sat in her car in the supermarket parking lot and watched.
National coverage flashed pictures from up and down the East Coast, flipping so quickly between Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas that at any given moment she wasn’t sure where the images were coming from, only that she was searching for anything familiar but praying she wouldn’t recognize a thing.
Images of rising water from unprecedented storm surge, roofs ripped from buildings, and people wading through waist-high water filled the screen. On one channel, they showed a sailboat parked lopsided in front of a strip mall. She didn’t recognize the area, but one had to wonder just how far from the marina that boat had sailed through the storm. It seemed more like something you’d see in a movie than in reality. They also showed homes dangling over crashing waves, the water littered with household items.
That’s someone’s lifelong memories. Their safe home sweet home washing away in the tide. Being sucked out to sea. Maeve, you told me how angry and unforgiving a stormy sea could be. It’s terrifying.
She tried to concentrate on the softer words Maeve had said too. “These storms wash ashore all the best treasures. They bring items from the depths that have hidden in the sand for centuries.”
Posts about the storm filled social media. #HurricaneEdwina was trending, and it wasn’t pretty.
Another home had lifted right from its foundation and settled over ten feet away. Amanda tried to remind herself that people on the internet often exaggerate updates. Surely there was good news too.
She prayed The Shell Collector had withstood this storm like it had so many others, according to Maeve.
She pressed redial on her phone. Each unanswered call to Paul added another layer of worry to her already-frazzled nerves. Her mind was fixated on her house, on Paul and Tug, and on the friends who called Whelk’s Island home.
“Ring!” She glared at the phone. “Yes, I’m talking to my phone.”
The phone buzzed. She snatched it up, but it was just an alert that she had an upcoming appointment.
“Seriously? It’s like you’re playing a game with me now. Buzzing like that and getting my hopes up.”
Now I’m going crazy. I’m complaining to my phone. An inanimate object.
She stared at it, willing it to ring, but it didn’t.
“Fine, be that way. But just so you know, if I find out you’re the one not working and that is why you aren’t ringing, I’m going to toss you in the ocean.”
Her phone buzzed again.
“Is this a trick?” She picked it up. “Seriously. A reminder to water the plants? The last thing they need is water. They had a hurricane. Haven’t you been listening to the news?”
The tiny number next to Paul’s name showed how many times she’d tried to reach him, with no luck. Each attempt went straight to voicemail. She tried Tug again, but he didn’t pick up, either, so she left him a message. The silence stretched, tightening the knot of anxiety in her chest.
She rested her face in her hands. Soft tears fell at first. Trying to act like she wasn’t worried for Hailey and Jesse’s sake was wearing her down. But it wasn’t just for them. She felt a panic to her core that Paul wouldn’t be there when she got back. She couldn’t go through that again.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she allowed herself to let the emotion ride. When she finally lifted her head and took a breath, she felt calmer.
It was the top of the hour. She brought up the live feed from the local news affiliate near home.
The familiar face of Cindy Farmer in the station logo raincoat, her hair blowing in the wind, brought her a little comfort.
“Friends and neighbors are working to assess damages in this area. As you know, it’s peak tourist season on the coast and seasonal increases in population and limited access on and off the barrier islands can be difficult even without a weather event. Over the last few days, there have been major traffic delays, as some locals evacuated. There was not a mandatory evacuation for most of our viewing area, and of course, many of the lifetime residents wouldn’t have left even if there had been.”
“Cindy, what is the situation? Power, water, phones—all the necessities,” Amanda said to the screen, not caring that it was also an inanimate object.
“Tom, we’re receiving reports that one of the cell towers sustained damage, and the entire county is without power. When nightfall comes, it’ll be another long one for the folks that stayed to weather this storm. And while the few people that stayed are toughing it out, others are in a line, trying to get back to see if their homes are still there.”
“Is there a lot of damage to homes?” Tom asked.
“We’re still gathering reports of damage. You can see from our footage here, there are broken windows, gas station awnings twisted, and the entire roof on this beach house behind me was lifted off. Interestingly the storm surge has brought an unexpected amount of sand across the main roads. We’ve never seen anything like this, but the emergency teams turned us around so we couldn’t get you any pictures of that. We’re staying close to the situation. Reports are just beginning to come in. What I can say is, despite the devastation by the hurricane in our area, it is a miracle that we’ve had no reports of loss of life.” She pressed her hand to her heart. “I just have to take a moment here to share what’s on my heart. Where there are miracles, angels are around.” She shook her head, clearly emotional.
“The storm is tracking east in the Atlantic now. Good news for the coast.”
“It is, Tom. As the water subsides, the county is at the ready to plow the sand covering the roads. We’ve seen vehicles engulfed in sand. One had sand clear up to the dashboard. Digging out will not be quick in this state of disaster. We’ll have further updates as we’re able to gain access to more of the area, but I think we can be thankful that this community will come together to get through it.”
Amanda let out a long breath. “Okay. Not good, but not horrible.” Nothing really specific, either, but she felt at least more hopeful.
Suddenly, panic bubbled inside her. Paul must not have cell service. Worst-case scenarios played in her mind. What if he was hurt? What if Paws Town Square wasn’t as hurricane-proof as he believed? The thoughts made her sick to her stomach.
She slapped down the cover on her laptop and went inside the store to buy the ice cream the kids would be expecting. Adding to the mix, she threw in a can of whipped cream and some chocolate sprinkles.
As she stood in line to check out, a woman with a British accent spoke to someone behind her.
Immediately, her mind went to their trip here when Hailey and Jesse were talking to Rosemary, pretending they were the children of a British princess. It made her smile, and the smile felt good.
The cashier rang up her purchase, and she couldn’t get out of there quick enough. As soon as she stepped outside, she scrolled to Rosemary’s cellphone number.
Please answer.
The phone rang twice before she got behind the wheel of her car. She started the car, then moved the phone to her shoulder so she could pull the seatbelt across her lap.
“Hello?” The voice was crystal clear.
“Oh my gosh. Hello?” Amanda could barely speak. She was so excited to have someone answer. “Rosemary? We met at the truck stop. I was the lady—”
“Amanda. Yes, I remember. I’m so glad you called. I wondered how you and the children were coping. I hoped you weren’t worried.”
“I’ve been so worried. I can’t get through to Paul, and I’m not sure what to believe in the news. Plus, nothing is specifically Whelk’s Island. We’re such a tiny map dot in that area.”
“Yes, it is a wonderful little town. I got to see some of it before the storm hit.”
“How is everything there?”
“We don’t have power, and we haven’t gotten out yet, but spirits are good, and people are trying to stay connected and help one another. It’s kind of a mess. I bet Paul doesn’t have cell service. My friend’s phone has been out. Someone said two towers nearby got damaged. Not sure how I got lucky to have service. I have one of those cheap networks.”
“Well, I’m so glad you do.” Amanda swallowed back the emotion. “I’m just so relieved to talk to someone back home. Are you safe?”
“My friend’s house is fine. We had a lot of rain and crazy wind, but no damage at all here, but she’s not right on the water. We’re still getting rain, and some places are flooded. I hope we can get out tomorrow and really see what the state of affairs is. Paws is literally up the street from where I’m staying. If we can’t drive, I can walk that far to check in on Paul.”
“Oh my gosh, would you?”
“Of course,” Rosemary said. “Honey, don’t worry. There’s cleanup—no question about it—but what we’re hearing is there was no loss of life, and that’s what is important.”
“Yes. That brings me peace. Surely if something as huge as Paws Town Square had been damaged, that would have made the news.”
“Definitely. My friend knows all about your guy’s business. It sounds quite spectacular. I’m sure you’re very proud of Paul.”
“I can’t even put into words how amazing he is.”
“You relax. Everything is going to be okay. I’ll call you tomorrow with an update.”
Part of her wanted to beg Rosemary to go find Paul right then, but if the roads weren’t passable, it was ridiculous to put Rosemary in danger just to soothe her concern.
Please, Lord, I know the seasons follow Your plan. The tides swell and release at Your predetermined touch. You are always with us. I place my concerns and anxiety over the damage brought by Hurricane Edwina to our hometown, our family, neighbors, and friends in Your hands. Please wrap them in Your care and keep them safe.
Bring me back home to Paul. Bring our little family safely back together. I am so thankful You brought Paul into my life. Help me know how to help others, to be Your hands and feet during the rebuilding and recovery, and to help others see the faith that will see us through this storm. I know You are in the boat with us, that the waters may be choppy but You will lead us to a safe landing always.