Page 107 of Welcome Home to Ivy Falls

‘Not that I know of, but we got word that all the local cell towers are damaged.’ He pointed to the walkie-talkie clipped to his belt. ‘Deputy Ben is supposed to contact me if there are any issues.’

‘Is Isabel okay?’ Torran asked.

‘Yes, my staff checked in with her. Everyone at the bank went into the vault.’

I walked back to the coffee bar to survey the damage. In my rush to get to the bathroom, I set the glass mugs too close to the edge of the counter. With the bookstore shaking, they must have tumbled to the ground.

‘Dad, how are the roads? I need to check on the girls and Manny,’ Tessa said.

‘And I have to get a hold of Beck,’ Torran added.

‘Trees are down all over town. Let me reach out to Deputy Ben. See if he can get over there. I’ll ask him to check on Nashville too.’

Tessa gave an absent nod and I handed her a dustpan, encouraging her to help me clear up the glass from the broken window. When we were finished, I suggested making tea again.

Mr Wright inspected the rest of the bookstore while Torran went back to her stool.

‘Peppermint this time. No arguments,’ I said.

‘If you insist,’ she grumbled.

The crackling static of the walkie-talkie moved through the P&P. Mr Wright walked toward us as Deputy Ben confirmed that Manny and the girls were safe. That the storm didn’t hit Nashville.

Ben’s voice warbled in and out, and Mr Wright walked outside for better reception. He paced outside for a few minutes before pushing back through the front door. I didn’t like the worry pinching the corners of his eyes.

‘Dad,’ Torran said. ‘What was that about? Is someone hurt?’

‘No. Ben was telling me about Huckleberry Lane.’

‘What’s wrong at the house?’ I gasped.

He scrubbed a hand over the white whiskers on his jaw. ‘That massive magnolia in the backyard is uprooted and lying in the middle of the street. There’s dirt everywhere and it’s taken out the entire back fence.’

‘Beck loves that tree.’ Torran’s voice shook. ‘We were supposed… to get married under it.’

‘I’m sorry, honey. Ben says it’s bad. That it’s probably going to take a few days before a crew can come in and clear away the debris.’

‘But the wedding!’ Torran cried.

‘Everything will be all right. We’ll figure out another plan.’ He wrapped an arm around her trembling shoulders while Tessa shot me a devastated look.

Four days until the wedding.

There was no time left for another plan.