Chapter Twelve
Rosemary was so happy to see the sun that she could barely contain herself. It looked like the rain might finally be gone. It wasn’t easy to be cooped up in a house during a storm with someone you barely knew, and she didn’t really know why she’d thought it was going to be like a slumber party, because she and Kathleen didn’t really run in the same circles in high school. She hadn’t even realized that until they went through the yearbooks together. She didn’t remember half the people Kathleen did.
Kathleen carried a wilted plant into the kitchen and set it in the sink.
“In the dark, I didn’t even really notice I’d forgotten to water this poor thing.” She turned on the faucet and let it run. “Hopefully we can resuscitate it.”
“It should spring back to life.” Rosemary leaned against the counter. “I think I’m going to go take a walk over to Paws Town Square. I talked to that nice young lady I met on my way here. She hasn’t heard from her guy, and she’s worried. He owns Paws. Want to walk over there with me?”
“Oh, that sounds like heaven. I’m so tired of these four walls. Paws is not far. I’ll come with you.” Kathleen turned off the water. “Let me go put on my shoes. Wouldn’t it be great if a restaurant was open? I’d give anything for a hot meal. There are a couple of little ones on the way.”
“We might get lucky. I’ll wait for you on the front porch.” Rosemary was hungry for something good too. They’d lived on peanut butter and crackers and leftover charcuterie since the night she’d arrived. Kathleen might know how to host one heck of a party, but she hadn’t planned any further out. No bottled water, no extra propane for the grill. They’d run through the whole tank cooking oysters the other night. She didn’t even have a flashlight, but it had worked out fine.
Rosemary thought about her phone call with Nina. She felt bad about the rift between them. Somehow they had to figure out how to navigate their changing roles as mother and daughter. Family is family, and nothing else should ever get in the way of that. But she would think on that more later. It was time to get out of the house and breathe in the fresh ocean air.
Kathleen walked out in a vibrant peach jogging suit with navy-blue piping and matching tennis shoes and earrings.
Two different worlds. That pretty little outfit was going to come back with mud spatters, but she wasn’t about to call Kathleen out on it.
Rosemary walked down the stairs. “Feels so good to get out.”
“It’s sticky.” Kathleen plucked at her jacket.
They walked in silence to the end of the street.
“This way.” Kathleen turned to the right. “There’s a few shops up this way.” She took a few steps forward. “Uck!” she shrieked, lifting her tennis shoe from where she’d just sunk in the sand almost to her ankle. “What the heck?”
“Careful.” Rosemary stretched out her arm and helped Kathleen get her footing.
“It’s like quicksand.” She sloshed forward. “Oh great, and we can’t get through this way. Look. It’s flooded.”
They turned and went down to the next block, which appeared to sit higher. Kathleen finally shed the matching jacket and tied it around her waist.
The roads were fine in this direction. A small shopping center with a deli, ice cream shop, bait shop, and convenience store was just ahead.
The entire canopy over the gas pumps had lifted and lay upside down on the other side of the parking lot. Each of the businesses still had their windows boarded up.
“Doesn’t look like they are in any hurry to reopen,” Kathleen said.
“I wonder if they know about the damage. I’m guessing a lot of these folks evacuated.”
“Probably. I think next time they are calling for a storm, I will too.” Kathleen brightened. “Look. People!”
She picked up the pace, and Rosemary was practically jogging to keep up with her friend’s long strides.
“This is perfect,” Rosemary said. “I was hoping we could get to Paws Town Square from your house.”
“Yeah, it’s right here.”
“Looks like they fared well.”
“Thank goodness. It’s like a ghost town,” Kathleen said.
They walked toward the guys standing near the front entrance.
Kathleen waved from fifty yards out. “Hello!”
The tallest of the three waved back. “Y’all okay?” he called out.
“Yes,” Rosemary said as they got closer. “We’re fine. Just needed to get out of the house. It’s tough being cooped up for that long, but you have a generator. That’s what I hear, right?”
“It is. You’re welcome to come hang out. We’ve got the televisions on, water, snacks.”
“Air-conditioning?” Kathleen asked.
“Yes, it’s quite comfortable inside.”
“It’s so muggy out here,” Kathleen complained.
“Make yourself at home.” He reached out his hand. “I’m Paul.”
The name struck Rosemary. “Paul, as in Amanda’s Paul? Paul, who owns this place?”
His smile was toothpaste-commercial perfect. “Yeah. That’s me.”
“You’re not even going to believe this. I know this is going to sound nuts, but I met Amanda and her kids when they were leaving town. They were at a truck stop in a lime-green stretch limousine truck.”
Paul’s eyes sort of bugged out. “Yes! That was her.”
“I was on my way to visit a friend.”
“You didn’t exactly pick the best time to vacation here,” he remarked.
“No, I did not, but is there really ever a bad time to rekindle a friendship?” Rosemary noticed Kathleen had stepped closer, as if on a stage cue. “This is my friend Kathleen.”
“Hi.” Kathleen shook Paul’s hand. “We haven’t officially met. I board my cat here, pretty often actually. I’m Kathleen Callahan.”
“I’m sorry we hadn’t met before.”
“I love what you’ve done for this town. I’ve walked your trails a few times. Promised my friend here that I’d bring her over to check them out at some point.” Kathleen turned to one of the other men and smiled. “I know this guy, though. Hi, Tug.”
“Kathleen, it’s good to see you.”
“Tug?” Rosemary looked at him. “Oh my gosh. I feel like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, with the tin man and the scarecrow. Amanda mentioned you too. She said you’d keep us fed if the need arose. I didn’t realize you were you !”
“That’s me. It’s good to see you again. I believe I owe you some pancakes.”
“You remember. Yes, we’ve already met, and I didn’t even realize it. Thank you, by the way, for the other night. That burger hit the spot.”
“Good. I didn’t catch your last name.”
“Palakiko.”
“Right. You mentioned you lived in Hawaii. Pau-pokey-kikkoman…Sorry—that’s a pathetic attempt to say it. I’ll practice.”
“Well, I was married to it for fifty years. I’d like to think I’ve mastered it.”
“I’m sure your husband will appreciate that.”
“She’s widowed,” Kathleen blurted out.
Rosemary glared at her.
“I’m sorry,” Tug said.
“Thank you.” She shifted her attention to Paul. “When I met Amanda and the kids, we exchanged numbers. I talked to her last night. She said she’d lost contact with you. She was really worried.”
“Your phone is working?” Paul looked shocked and then very excited. “None of our phones are working. Can I use your phone to call her?”
She handed him her phone. “Just press Send. I already brought up her number.”
Relief flooded Paul’s face. “I don’t know how I can thank you.”
“Press Send already. She’s going crazy not knowing,” Rosemary said. “I tried to assure her things seemed okay here. I’m so glad everyone is fine.”
“Put her on speaker,” Tug said.
“Yeah. Okay.” Paul made the call, grinning as he shifted nervously. “Amanda. I’m standing here with your new best friend. I’m so glad to hear your voice, babe.”
“Thank goodness. I’ve been so worried.” Amanda’s voice shook.
“Yes. I wish I could’ve called you. There’s no cell service. Everyone is still surveying the damage. We couldn’t get out of the parking lot. When the water subsided, we realized the tide had swept in tons of sand. We’re digging out, but there’s going to be a long cleanup ahead of us.”
“It’s hard to picture. I’m just thankful everyone is okay. You called from Rosemary’s number! So she found you?”
“She sure did. I’m sorry you were worried.”
“I was trying not to be,” she said. “It’s great to hear your voice. I don’t want to ever be apart during something like that again.”
“I’m here too,” Tug said. “Don’t go getting mushy. You’re on speaker.”
“Tug. Love you. We’re all fine. I’m so glad to know y’all are okay too.”
“The guys had to break out the skid steer to clear a path for us to get out of the lot,” Paul said. “I’m getting ready to take Tug over to the diner, and it’s the first time any of us are getting out. I can’t wait to see you.”
“I wish I’d driven myself. I don’t want to wait on Travis to come pick us up.”
“I’m anxious, too, babe, but there’s no power, and we’re not even really sure what all we’re facing yet. We’ll get a plan of action in place. Just relax. Enjoy the visit with your parents. There’s nothing left to worry about. I promise.”
“This is Rosemary, Amanda.” She leaned in to the phone. “I’ll keep you updated until the others get their phones going. My friend literally lives less than a mile from Paul’s business. I still can’t believe we crossed paths and it’s worked out like this. It’s certainly a Godwink, isn’t it?”
“I’d say so. Thank you, Rosemary. I love you, Paul. Tug, we’re all missing you and The Wife too.”
“It’s not the same around here without you and the kids,” Tug said. “As soon as you get home, I’ll fix all of you your favorite meals. Tell Jesse I’m going to throw him an after-the-hurricane party.”
“He will love that. I’ll tell him,” Amanda said. “As soon as Paul can get me there, we’re in!”
“I love you, babe. I am missing you like crazy. In case the phone issue doesn’t get resolved, I’ll get Rosemary’s address and stay in contact with her so we stay in sync.”
“That would be wonderful. I tried not to worry, but I—”
“It’s okay. I never want to worry you, but love has a way of making us do that sometimes.”
“Yes, it does.” Her voice was soft. “And that’s good in so many ways. I’ll talk to you soon.”
He handed the phone back to Rosemary. “We’re going to let you go, Amanda,” Rosemary said. “You’ve got my number. Call as you need to. Bye now.” She tucked the phone in her back pocket.
“You’re an angel just showing up like this,” Paul said. “Thank you.”
“I’m so glad I could help. It was so funny how we crossed paths that day. Hailey and Jesse are wonderful children. I enjoyed talking to them so much. I hope I’ll get to see them again while I’m in town.”
“You can count on it. You’re invited to the party,” Tug said.
“Why don’t you ladies go inside? There are tables of snacks and water. Kathleen, you can show Rosemary the trails and take a load off. We’re getting ready to run up the road and check on some things. Make yourselves at home. Chase here, he’s my right-hand man. And the left, come to think of it. He can help y’all with anything you need.”
Kathleen let out an exaggerated sigh. “Thank you. I feel so sticky and icky. A little AC sounds like heaven.”
“Enjoy it. I’m going to take this guy to see if we can get down to the north end of the beach and see how things look at the diner and his house.”
Rosemary raised her hand and crossed her fingers. “Good luck. It was so good to meet you, Paul and Tug. This is great. Who knew?”
A Godwink in so many ways.