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Doris hung up the phone and turned to me, then burst into tears. “We’re snowed in!”
“What?” I said, my tears stopping instantly as doom pierced my gut, and a rage to reach my daughter caused my eyes to narrow. “We can’t be snowed in. They just said the airport is open. I need to get to Rachel.”
Doris shook her head. “I just got off the phone with Johanna. The snow tank is the only thing that could make it out of here. And it’s broken. There’s no other way to get to the airport because the roads aren’t plowed, and we’ve gotten a foot of snow already. The airport can keep the runways plowed, but the roads to get there are unpassable. Since none of us are in a life-threatening medical emergency, the police or emergency vehicles won’t come for us with a special plow. There’s no way there until the storm stops.”
My pulse thrummed through me, pounding in my ears as my blood pressure rose. “I am leaving. Now.”
“We’re stuck!” Doris sobbed.
“No, we’re not.” Marge lifted her chin, straightening her shoulders. “I’m going to find a way out of here. Even if we have to take the freaking dogsleds, we’re going. You ladies get packing. I’m going to the lodge to figure this out. There must be some way to the airport. Just need to grease a few wheels.”
Marge grabbed her giant parka and pulled it on then headed for the door.
“Marge?” I said, and she turned to face me. “Please find me a way home.”
She gave one sharp nod then opened the door. The snow flew in with the winds, and when the door closed, I stood in silence staring at the empty space.
“Come on, sweetie. Let’s get your stuff packed.” Alice slid an arm around my shoulder and guided me over to the coats by the door. She helped me put on my coat, then she and Doris guided me back to my dome to pack.
Time seemed to crawl while I shoved all my belongings into my suitcases. Every few seconds, I flicked my gaze to the digital clock beside the bed.
Twenty minutes.
Marge had been gone for twenty minutes and it felt like hours.
With our flight leaving in three and a half hours, and a blizzard standing in our way, I started to lose hope we’d make it out tonight. And if we didn’t leave tonight, it would be another full day before I could reach Rachel.
Plenty of time for something horrible to happen without me by her side.
Alice and Doris had run off to their domes to pack as well, and the quiet surrounding me only amplified the anxiety nearly dropping me to my knees. But I couldn’t fall apart. Iwouldn’tfall apart. Rachel needed me, and the only way to get home to her was to hold it together and keep moving.
I stuck my bathroom supplies into the bag then looked around. Everything was packed. As soon as Marge secured us a ride, we could hit the road. A gust of wind blew inside my dome as the door opened. Doris and Alice stumbled inside, snow clinging to their coats and hats.
“Holy crap! It’s bad out there!” Alice slammed the door shut.
“Did it get worse? Does that mean we aren’t going to be able to leave?” My voice cracked.
Alice noticed my reaction and shook her head. “No. It doesn’t mean that at all. Marge is out there somewhere working on things, and if we know Marge, she’s going to find a way to get us to the airport tonight.”
I nodded. She was right. If there was anyone on this planet who could figure out how to get us out of here, it was Marge.
“Try not to worry, dear.” Doris took off her coat then sat on my bed and patted for me to sit beside her. “There’s no use in worrying. All we can control is what we can control. Then we need to trust God to handle the rest. I’ve been praying hard ever since you got the call. It’s going to be fine. You’ll see.”
Her comforting words soothed me, and I sat on the bed beside her and laid my head on her shoulder. “I’m just so worried. I hate that I’m not there.”
“I know, dear. I would be a wreck too.”
“Same,” Alice said. “We’re all mothers. We understand how awful this must be for you.”
“It’s really horrible.” I sniffled back the tears. “I feel terrible I’m not there.”
“Rachel is a strong woman, and she’s surrounded by doctors and her husband. And Tom will be there soon. I’m sure she misses you, but she’s in good hands.”
I nodded. “You’re right. It’s not like I’m a doctor. All I could do is hold her hand and comfort her. She must be so scared.”
“Blake is holding her hand, and soon you will be too. Just try to relax, hon.” Alice tossed an arm around my shoulder, and she and Doris squeezed me between them.
Another gust of wind whipped through the dome, and I jumped up to rush to the door. “Marge? Is that you?”
