“It’s not safe,” I growled. Didn’t she understand how close she was to danger?
She fell forward, collapsing to rest her chest on mine. Her gaze moved over my face.
“Leo. It’s okay.” Her voice had softened with whatever she saw written on my features.
I frowned and squeezed her closer. This maddening woman.
“It’s okay. I can wait,” she said.
She’d barely finished speaking when we heard the groan and crack of a massive tree ripping in two.
Our heads snapped in the direction of the sound, and we watched, as though in slow motion, as the top half of the tree seemed to separate itself from the base. A branch—more like another tree—the length of a car and just as thick had detached. It fell down and down until it landed with a crash on the roof of Mari’s car.
The unexpectedly loud sound caused us to flinch into each other as bits of debris flew at us. My arms cradled her head and her rib cage. When the dust settled, so to speak, Mari stared agog at what had been her car but was now considerably less car.
She blinked rapidly, water dripping off her lashes and off her nose. Her blond hair looked dark, plastered with rain. Her whole body convulsed with a shudder.
“My...car.” She looked back at me, mouth parting. My hands were still wrapped tight around her as her head came to my chest, and a wail escaped her.
Had I imagined an outpouring of gratitude and “You saved my life!”? Maybe. Yes, it was harrowing, and I was still in shock that I had acted without thinking and the right thing had happened.
But if I had imagined that scenario, however brief, I was wrong.
“I could have moved my car!” Mari thrashed loose of my grip and scrambled, slipping and crawling to her feet.
“I saved your life.”
“My car is pulverized!”
She ran to her car and attempted to tug free the new Christmas tree decal, but it wouldn’t budge. Her hands slipped off soaking pine needles, cursing me. Cursing nature. Cursing me again when I got to her.
“Mari, we have to go inside. It’s still dangerous out here.”
Her shoulders slumped, but she let me drag her inside.
My mother met us immediately with towels. “Oh my goodness, are you okay?”
“Yeah.” I didn’t add that Mari had lost her mind since Janice could clearly see that for herself.
I kicked out of my shoes and then bent to pull off Mari’s. She’d stopped fighting me at least but stared straight ahead, water still dripping off her blue lips and shivers racking her.
Janice fussed and made sure we warmed up.
“I’m going to get fresh towels. Why don’t you get some dry clothes for the two of you, and I’ll wash what you’re wearing?”
I looked down at both of us covered in mud, bits of grass, and pine needles.
“Good idea.” I stripped out of my clothes and down to my boxers so I wouldn’t drip on the stairs. When I glanced at Mari, she still shivered in her towel and stared straight ahead.
“I’ll be right back. Don’t move,” I demanded.
She made a sound, and I ran to change and grab her some extra clothes.
Less than a minute later, back in the kitchen, I was relieved to find she’d listened to my instructions.
I handed her the clothes I brought. “You can change in there.” I gestured to the half bath off the kitchen.
She nodded and shuffled away, leaving a trail of water behind her. While she changed, I cleaned up the remaining mess and reset the kettle for tea. My hands shook as the adrenaline slowly seeped away. That had been sodamnclose. I couldn’t fully process just how close that had been.
