Libby stood up and hugged Viv again. This was not the way she had thought this day was going to go.
As she stepped back, she quipped with a grin, “You forgot to mention you’re feeling flirty with Tag. I think you might be in love.”
Viv laughed. “Yeah, that too.” Then she became serious again. “Libby, bad things happen. But here, we’re only a pontoon boat float away from figuring it all out. Okay?”
“Okay.”
They hugged again. There was a lot of hugging going on in their small town lately. Hugs had replaced handshakes. Sometimes hugs were the only thing, no words seemed adequate.
Libby wiped her tears. Viv was still recovering from cancer and her broken rib, and yet she’d walked in, picked Libby up, and set her right.
Viv left Libby to her millions of phone calls and details.
Libby was in awe of her friends and confident they could do this. They could rebuild the town again, but it was because of their strength, not her own.
She went back to her desk.
They had several festivals and special events set for the summer. They’d have to regroup for at least a few weeks. They’d lose most of July, but maybe August could still work.
Libby did what she did best. She surveyed her lists. What was next?
Even though Libby had no idea how to finance all the repairs they’d need after the tornado, Viv had reminded her that she’d figure it out.
There was insurance, but they needed more than that.
They’d need to have a grocery store before anything else. She had to find out what was next with the land Barton owned. He was gone, but were the kids going to rebuild?
That was on the list, plus calling contractors and securing the dance pavilion until they could get to repairs. She also needed someone to cut the trees out of her driveway and on and on. She could do it.
Viv had reminded her that with her Sandbar Sisters, most things were possible.
ChapterTwenty-Seven
Viv
One Month After the Twister
Summer. It was still summer. And the summer was still beautiful in Irish Hills.
Residents, vacationers, and the entire county seemed determined to remember that fact. Even though they’d been hit hard.
It was classic Irish Hills. They were going to boat, bum around downtown, ski, get sunburned, and fill the cooler with beer, tornado be damned.
And today, was a day to celebrate their resilience.
Irish Hills was throwing a party, of sorts. With Libby working on a million other things, Goldie had stepped in and taken the reigns as town cruise director and party planner.
Goldie had spearheaded a summer concert fundraiser.
She’d booked pop band Burgundy Four and country superstar River Ann for a live performance in the town square.
While insurance covered destruction and damage for some things, the tornado had done more than what was covered. All proceeds were going to The Irish Hills Recovery Fund.
Half the town was still gorgeous and like a postcard. Aunt Emma and her seniors had worked their magic with their flowerpots and baskets. You’d think the tornado had never hit.
Goldie had rallied all the businesses to come out on the sidewalk with booths and displays.
Hope’s Table was packed with customers.
