Still, Ellen willed it to go down, just a bit, so she could leave and make sure her own family was safe.
“I’m going to call home, tell them what I’m doing and when to expect me.”
“You can’t stay?”
“I’ll stay for a while, but I need to get back before I can’t get back.”
“Oh. Yeah, I’m sorry—I know you have kids. You didn’t have to come.”
“I wanted to,” Ellen assured her. Then she stepped out onto the porch and phoned home. She was grateful to hear a ring. Cell service was always spotty during storms, but with the Suttons on a hill, it helped.
Penny answered on the third ring. “Hello!”
“Grandma, it’s Ellen.”
“How is the Sutton girl?”
“She’s good. Elevated blood pressure. Worried about her husband, who she hasn’t spoken to in two days. I’m going to stay for another hour or so.”
“Keep the radio on. The weather reports are coming in fast and furious.”
“I will,” she said. “Are Avery and Bobby back yet?”
“No, I haven’t seen them.”
Ellen looked at her watch. It was one thirty. “Like I told Jake, if they’re not home by two…”
“I’ll call over there, have them come home right now.”
“Thank you.” She breathed a sigh of relief. She should have done that herself, but she also knew how much Carl and Rose appreciated Avery’s help with the sheep, and her friendship with Gianna. After the accident, most of Gianna’s friends stopped talking to her. It was as if they thought paralysis would rub off on them. Andhaving to leave college had been so hard on the young woman. Growing up, Avery had adored Gianna, the pretty older girl who always had friends and dates and got a scholarship for college. Gianna was kind, but Avery wasn’t in her peer group. Then after the accident, Gianna realized that Avery was the only friend who had stuck. Ellen hadn’t had to tell Avery to stay in contact, she’d done that all on her own.
Ellen then asked, “Has Jake finished in the barn? He and Lyla need to eat.”
“Everyone’s still in the barn. I popped Millie’s shepherd’s pie into the oven to warm. It doesn’t smell as good as mine, just saying. But I have stew for tonight, and I baked an apple pie.”
“Grandma—”
“I can’t sit still. Storms make me antsy. Oh, and the Pritchards called. What’s the wife’s name again?”
“Abigail.”
“Right. Abigail. She wanted to know if we knew of someone who would come out to fix their generator, which they can’t seem to get working. They called everyone in the phone book and no one will come out until Monday.”
That didn’t surprise Ellen, locals knew that this area would be cut off because Mule Run always flooded during storms.
“Can you ask Mateo to go over there? They have three little kids; they’re going to need the generator tonight.”
“They don’t know what they’re doing,” Penny grumbled, her admonition of “city folk” moving into the rural community loudly unspoken.
“They want a simpler life for their kids,” Ellen said. “I like them. They just need a year or two to get used to it.”
“I’ll talk to Mateoafterhe and Jake are done with the barn.”
“Thank you. I love you, Grandma.”
“Love you, too. Drive carefully.”
“I’ll call when I’m heading back.”
