Page 106 of Welcome Home to Ivy Falls

TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR IVY FALLS AND SURROUNDING AREAS.

SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY!

I set the mugs onto the back counter and followed Tessa to the bathroom. She pounded on the door until Torran yanked it open, wiping her mouth with a paper towel.

‘What the hell, Tess?’

‘Tornado emergency. Get back against the wall. This bathroom is closest to the center of the building.’

I pushed in behind her and sat next to Torran on the floor.

‘Tessa, where are Manny and the girls?’ Torran’s voice edged on panic.

‘At home. He’ll get them into that secure little closet we have.’ Her shaky voice rattled me.

‘And Beck?’ I traced the outline of my tattoo, trying my best to stay calm. At least I knew Ford was safe a world away.

Torran glanced at her phone. ‘He’s at work. If the storm moves toward Nashville, their building has a basement.’

A loud boom blasted overhead followed by a screech of wind that sounded like Satan’s fingernails clawing against the roof. Tessa scooted in closer and the three of us huddled together.

The building shook like it was on rollers. Outside the bathroom the crash of glass, thud of books, echoed against the walls.

‘Tessa, you okay?’ Torran held out her hand and her sister grabbed it.

‘I have insurance. Right now I’m worried about the other folks in Ivy Falls.’

The storm continued to rattle the building. Monstrous groans overhead warned the P&P’s roof was losing shingles. The ground shook like an eighteen-wheeler was barreling through the center of town.

That slow creep of terror did a maddening waltz up my spine. Black dots crept into the corners of my vision like ink splatters. My heart rapped against my chest, and I gasped, chasing the next inhale of breath.

I closed my eyes and searched for that elusive place I could never quite picture. My bones went icy starting with my toes and spreading up my legs. I begged for any kind of relief until one vision slowed the throttle on my racing mind. Ford squeezing my fingers, whispering reassurances, anchoring me to the earth while we sat outside the clinic, stood on the shore of the lake.

It wasn’t a place I needed to picture but a person. Him.

I let my mind play like a movie in slow motion, recalling every laugh, smile, kiss. How he gently threaded my hair between his fingers. Whispered intimate promises against my bare skin. Spoke so lovingly to my anxious brain.

Once my breaths slowed and my heart stopped pounding like it wanted to rocket out of my chest, I reached out and gripped on to these two women who had become my family. Who had seen me at my lowest and still believed in me. Still loved me. I’d been through hell and back but it was times like these I was reminded how lucky I was to have them. To have all of Ivy Falls behind me.

The storm continued its blood-curdling scream for another minute and then everything went church-on-Sunday silent. A few breaths later another blare sounded on our phones, making us jump.

Emergency alert expired. Storm picking up speed and headed south toward Maury County.

We helped Torran to her feet and walked into the bookstore. A jagged branch jutted through a small window. Dozens of books were strewn across the floor.

The sky was a neon shade of green that reminded me of too many creepy science-fiction movies. As if some angry giant had marched through town, wrought-iron benches from the square laid in pieces across the street. One even dangled from a nearby tree. Canopies on more than a few businesses resembled shredded paper.

Tessa pulled out her phone to check on Manny and the girls. She let out a panicked squeak and turned the screen toward me and Torran showing it had no service.

‘The storm must have disrupted the cell towers,’ I said.

‘I should go and check on them.’ Tess started toward her office until the front door flew open and Mr Wright shot toward us.

‘Oh, thank goodness you’re all okay. I was trapped in town hall and they wouldn’t let me leave.’ He rushed toward all three of us and gave us a broad bear hug. As soon as he let go, he focused on Torran. ‘You okay? The baby?’

‘Cool your jets, Grandpa. We’re all in one piece,’ Torran said even as she smoothed a hand sweetly down his arm.

‘How’s the rest of town? Any injuries?’ I said.