4. Chapter 4
Chapter four
“Every man, woman, and dog, for himself.”
The ringing phone woke Abe, and he was still half asleep when he answered the call.
“Abe?”
“Yeah. Maggie?”
‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have called.”
He sat up. “Are you okay?”
“I just got an evacuation notice.”
“Damn.”
“And since I don’t have my car…”
Abe swung his legs over the side of the bed. “Do you need a ride?”
“It’s too much. I’ll catch a ride with a neighbor or something.”
“Maggie, I’ll come and get you.”
“Are you sure?”
“I just need to get dressed.” He stood up and headed for the bathroom.
“Thank you.”
“I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Have whatever you’re bringing with you ready.”
“Okay. Be careful driving here.”
“See you soon.”
Abe ended the call. The rain was coming down hard, and every few minutes the room would light up with a flash of lightning followed closely by a crash of thunder. With a storm like this, it wouldn’t be long before they’d lose cell phone service.
Abe dressed warmly, then put on his coat and covered it with a rain slicker. He put on a ball cap, then pulled the hood of the slicker over it.
Even though it only took a few seconds to run from the front door to the truck, Abe was soaked when he got behind the wheel.
He pushed the hood back and turned his cap around backward, then started the truck.
The wipers barely kept up with the rain sheeting down the windshield, so he drove slowly along the two-lane road, through town, and on toward Maggie’s mobile home park.
Two sheriff’s department vehicles with flashing lights were parked at the entrance.
Three cars pulled out of the neighborhood and passed Abe as he turned in and waved to Deputy West. The deputy stood in front of a barricade, wearing a raincoat and rain pants, with a plastic covering over his cowboy hat, which peeked out from under the hood of his coat.
Mikey walked over to Abe’s truck. “Abe?”
“Yeah.”
“What are you doing here? This area is closed.”
“I’m here to pick up Maggie. She’s stranded without a car.”
“Damn. Maggie lives here?”
“Yeah.” The rain was falling sideways in the direction of Abe’s window, but since he was inside and Mikey was out in the rain, he refrained from rolling the window back up.
“Make it quick. Most everyone has left.”
“In and out.”
“I’ll see you in a few, then.”
Mikey moved the barricade, and Abe drove past it. This time, he didn’t make a wrong turn. He drove to Maggie’s mobile home and parked in front of it. After turning his hat around and pulling the hood up, he left the truck and ran to the door. Maggie opened it as he reached it.
He stepped inside. “Are you ready?”
“Donovan is under the bed and won’t come out.”
Abe removed his slicker and dropped it on the floor. “Where is he?”
Maggie headed down a hallway, and Abe followed her. He’d never been inside her house, and it was hard to see anything with only the flashlight bobbing ahead of him in Maggie’s hand. So he tried not to run into anything or knock anything over.
She went into the bedroom and shone the light at the bed, revealing a purple bedspread, several pillows, and two stuffed animals.
“I’ll lift the bed up. You grab him.”
Maggie looked at him for a moment. “You’re going to lift the bed?”
“Not all of it. Just one side.”
“Still.”
“Just be ready.” He slid his hands under the metal frame and lifted the box springs and mattress high enough for Maggie to crawl under and grab the dog. Once she was clear, he set the mattresses down with a bang. Donovan growled at Abe.
“Hey, dude. I just possibly saved your life.”
The dog growled again, and Maggie cuddled him. “It’s okay. Abe isn’t going to hurt you.”
“Is that it? Are we good to go?”
“Yes.”
They left the bedroom and returned to the front door. Two bags sat next to it.
“Is that all you’re bringing?”
Maggie looked at the bags. “It’s so hard figuring out what to bring.”
“Last chance to grab anything else.”
“It’s fine. Let’s go.”
Abe picked up the slicker. “Here, put this on.”
“Then you’ll get soaked.”
“Just take it, Maggie.”
She put on the slicker and tucked Donovan inside, as Abe picked up the bags. They left the house and ran for the truck. Abe set the bags on the seat, and Maggie moved them to the floor by her feet.
She looked at him. “You’re really wet.”
“It’s not the first time, and it won’t be the last.” He started the engine, then drove through the empty neighborhood.
The road was covered with a couple of inches of rainwater, and some of the small yards had puddles in the low spots.
A bolt of lightning lit up the sky, and Maggie reached for Abe’s arm.
She glanced at him, then let go. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine.”
Thunder rattled the truck, and Donovan whined. Maggie tucked him back under the rain slicker as the flashing lights of the sheriff's department vehicles cut through the dark night. Abe slowed down, and Deputy West came to the window again.
He peered in at Maggie. “How are you doing, Maggie?”
“Okay, I guess, considering.”
“Drive straight home, then stay off the roads.”
Abe nodded. “Will do.”
Mikey backed up a step, and Abe pulled away and onto the main road heading to Bridgeport.
There were no other cars on the road, but he drove slowly to give the wipers a chance to stay on top of the rain hitting the windshield.
When he drove past the road to the high school where the evacuation center was set up in the gym, Maggie said, “You just passed the road.”
“I’m not taking you to spend the night on a cot next to a bunch of other displaced evacuees.”
“Where are you taking me, then?”
“My place.”
She was quiet for a moment, then faced forward again. “Oh. Okay. Are you sure?”
“Yeah. Unless…”
“No, I do. I mean, it’s fine. Thank you.”
He continued to his house and parked as close as he could to the front door. “Hand me your bags.”
Maggie set the bags on the seat between them.
“Okay. Every man, woman, and dog, for himself.”
They both left the truck and ran for the door. Abe opened it and went inside with Maggie right behind him. He closed the door, then looked at her. “Damn.” He turned on a battery-powered lantern.
She smiled. “Yeah.” She put Donovan on the floor, and he stood and shivered for a moment before running off to explore.
She started to remove the slicker, and Abe stepped behind her to help.
She glanced over her shoulder at him. “Thanks.” He hung it on a rack, and she turned to him. “You’re even wetter than you were.”
“I guess I should change. If you need the bathroom, it’s right there in the hallway.” He handed her the lantern. “Take this. I’ll grab a flashlight.” He kicked off his boots, then headed for the bedroom.
He hadn’t really thought about where he would take Maggie after picking her up. But once they started driving, bringing her to his place seemed like the only option. Was it weird? Maybe. But it was the right thing to do.
When Abe returned to the living room wearing jogging pants and a clean T-shirt, Maggie was sitting on the edge of the chair with the lantern on the military locker that served as a coffee table. She had changed into plaid pajama pants and a T-shirt, looking quite cozy and pretty damn cute.
When she shivered, he went to the woodstove. “I’ll crank this thing up a little.” He added two pieces of oak, then took a blanket from the back of the couch and handed it to her.
“Thank you.” She wrapped it around her shoulders.
He stood by the chair for a moment. “I can make some coffee or pour you a shot of something.”
“I’m fine.”
Lightning lit the room, followed by thunder, and Donovan ran under the couch.
Abe smiled. “I’m not sure how much sleep we’re going to get tonight.”
“I know it’s late, but can we talk for a little while?”
“Sure.” He held up a finger. “I’ll be right back.” He returned a few minutes later with two cups in his hands, and he handed one to her.
She looked at the amber liquid. “What is it?”
“Cider.”
“Like hot cider?”
“Um…no. Just take a sip. A small sip.”
Maggie smelled it, wrinkled her nose, then took a tiny sip. She grimaced, then coughed. “Oh my gosh. It’s spiked.”
“It’s hard.”
She set the glass down. “No, thank you.”
Abe took a sip from his glass, then exhaled sharply. “Awesome. Warm you right up.” He sat on the couch. “Come sit over here. It’s warmer.”
Maggie stood and picked up her glass, then moved over to the couch and sat next to Abe, leaving a foot of space between them. She took another sip of the drink, then set the cup on the trunk next to the lantern.
Abe turned toward her. “That night Gentry and I were a little tipsy, and you brought us home…”
“A little tipsy?”
“Fine. We were drunk. That night you said you were saving your money for something.”
“After you dissed my car.”
Abe cleared his throat. “Can I just ask the damn question?”
“Go ahead.”
“What are you saving your money for?”
“Don’t make fun of me.”
He raised a hand. “I won’t.”
“The Mayhew place.”
“What about it?”
She pulled the blanket tighter across her chest. “I want to buy it.”
“Why?” It came out sounding a little more incredulous than he meant it to.
She shook her head. “See. That’s why I didn’t want to tell you.”
“I’m not judging. It’s a serious question.”
“I love it. I’ve always loved it.”
Abe smiled. “It’s been empty for years. A lot of people have tried to buy it.”
“Mr. Mayhew will sell it to me.”
He leaned back on the couch. “How do you know?”
“I’ve talked to him about it. I worked for him when I was in high school. He likes me.”
“I’m sure he does. You’re very…likable.” He cleared his throat. “So you’re saving up until you can afford the place?”
“I’m saving for a down payment big enough to convince the bank to give me a loan.”
“Ah. Okay. How close are you?”
“Um…not very. Another year or so might do it.”
Abe drank some more cider. “What is it that you love about the place?”
She leaned back and smiled. “The house. I love the Victorian architecture. The view is wonderful. Two spring-fed meadows. The apple orchard.”
“Those apple trees are…”
“I know. Overgrown and in need of some TLC. The whole place is. But I can’t wait to get to work on it.”
“Are you going to become an apple farmer?”
“With twelve trees? No. Don’t worry, I’m not leaving Rocco’s anytime soon.”
Abe sighed. “Good.” She raised an eyebrow, and he added, “I’d hate to have to train another waitress.”
Maggie swung an arm and hit him on the shoulder.
Abe laughed. “Just kidding. You are irreplaceable.”
She looked at him for a moment. “Do you mean that?”
“Yeah. Have I not conveyed that to you?” He laughed. “Like every day, on a regular basis.”
“Not so much, no.”
“I guess I haven’t been the best boss.”
“You’re terrible.” She smiled. “But it’s okay. Gentry makes up for it.”
“I just…” He shook his head. “I don’t know why. I can’t seem to stop myself.”
She patted his arm. “It’s fine. You are being you.”
“A jerk?”
“No. Charmingly disagreeable.”
Abe raised an eyebrow. “Charming?”
Maggie laughed. “Of course that’s the word you pick up on.”
“Interesting. You find me charming.”
She nudged him. “Stop.”
He drank some more cider. “It starts to grow on you after a while.”
“It’s burning off your taste buds.”
“You could be right.”
Lightning struck again, followed by a crash of thunder that rattled the house. Maggie reached for Abe’s hand. “What if it hits the house?”
“This house has been here for thirty years. I think we’re fine.”
The lightning and thunder came again, and Maggie moved next to him. “I’ve never heard thunder this loud or this close.” It hit again, and she buried her face on his shoulder. “Or this close together.” She looked up at him. “Can we talk for a while longer?”
“We can talk all night if you want.”
She laid her head on his shoulder again, and it felt like the most natural thing in the world.