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She squeezes me tighter and then lets me go
“What can I do?” I ask.
“The Red Cross volunteers just arrived to aid us with overnight shelter for the residents who were evacuated. They’re bringing in cots and linens and setting up in the ballroom. The best thing we can do right now is help here in the banquet room to care for these tired and terrified people. Restaurants are going to start bringing in hot food for everyone, and Hilton and I donated all these cases of water and soda. I’m trying to get them into coolers and iced down.”
I watch her shaky hands try to open a case of cola.
Laying my hand on top of hers, I offer to take care of it.
Taeli, Erin, Ansley, and Jena come in, carrying trays of coffee and pans of pastries from the café. Leona and Mayor Gentry follow with boxes filled with paper plates, plastic utensils, and paper towels.
The eight of us work together to get everything ready for when the food arrives. All of us have quiet tears streaming down our faces.
I help Taeli deliver coffees to a table where the spouses of the Valley Fire and Rescue firefighters are sitting.
Susanna is seated in the middle. Her face is pale, and she’s clearly upset.
I hand her a Styrofoam cup.
“Thanks,” she says.
I give her a tight smile.
“Do you have any decaf?” Mike’s very pregnant wife asks.
“I’ll get you some,” I tell her.
“You need to eat something too, Anna,” one of the other wives suggests.
“I’m too nervous to eat,” she says.
The other woman leans over and places a gentle hand on her round belly. “Try,” she pleads.
Anna nods.
“I have some pastries. I’ll just bring a variety over for you guys to munch on until other food arrives,” Ansley says.
I go in search of decaf coffee and have to run across the street to the diner to find it. The owner tells me she’ll be right over with a couple of pots of decaf and some cream and sugar soon.
I take Anna the cup, and I notice she hasn’t touched the pastries.
“It’s going to be okay. They know what they’re doing,” I say as I place her cup in front of her.
“I know,” she says.
The food starts arriving, and I work with the girls and several other volunteers to get it out for the evacuees. We set it up buffet-style and let them make their plates; however, we make plates for the firefighters’ families.
It helps to keep busy.
Langford, Weston, and Morris gather around their mother in the prep area.
“I need you guys to help get the cots set up. These people were up all night and they need a place to rest,” Sara-Beth instructs.
They go off to do her bidding, and we begin cleaning up and storing the leftovers.
“Girls, once the boys have the cots up, can you help me and Leona get them made up with linens and blankets?” she asks.
“Of course. Anything you need,” Taeli answers for us.
