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“No way.” April’s jaw fell to the floor. Even as Rose turned up the volume on the news, she didn’t want to believe it.
“Local officers are insisting everyone stay indoors and seek shelter immediately, preferably in a basement or somewhere away from windows.”
April opened the patio door. “I have to go. I need to get to Georgia and my mom.”
Rose pleaded with her to stay. “You can’t. It’s a hurricane. This is insanely dangerous. Who knows when it’ll pick up and be right on top of us. You can’t go back out there.”
There wasn’t a choice in April’s mind. She had to get back to the house to make sure Georgia was safe. If she was out in the storm, April would never forgive herself for not searching the island until there was nothing left.
“I’ll call you when the storm is done. I’ll be okay. I promise! Thank you, I can’t say enough about what you’ve given me today.”
They shared a smile that said it all.
April walked out of the patio doors and began to make her way back to the house, praying that her child was waiting inside.
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
It took ten minutes to walk back to the house. She felt like it was longer than it was when she came out this way. Going back felt like an eternity, even though she was trying to rush even more than she was before.
This time, she wasn’t looking for Georgia because all her hope was that she was inside the house. She had to have gone back. Otherwise they would have found each other by now. Right?
Rain poured now, streaming down April’s already wet clothes, and forcing them to cling to her skin. There was nothing that April hated more than wet clothes in the wind and rain.
When she finally saw the house on the horizon, she began running up the wooden steps and onto the path. The house creaked, like it did when it settled at night. Now she slowed, wondering if she was able to face the answer that was held within the walls of the home.
The door opened slowly and she looked around the living room to find no sign of Georgia. Caroline walked down the steps and glared at her. “I hope you’re happy. This whole thing has been upgraded to a hurricane and we can’t do anything until it stops.”
April ignored her and said, “Mom, have you seen Georgia? She didn’t come back here?”
She shook her head. “Nope. Haven’t seen her come back in. I thought you would have found her by now.”
Panic began to fill her. There’s nowhere Georgia would feel comfortable enough on this island to go. The only place she knew how to get to was the house. Where could she have gone and how was she not headed home this instant?
Then April thought about it. She had only learned of the hurricane ten minutes ago at Rose’s house. And only now did the rain start to pour down. Maybe her daughter didn’t understand the severity of what was to come. “We need to find her. Now,” April said.
They ran to the beach, April more quickly than her older mother. “Georgia!” Caroline called from the stairs. “Georgia!”
It was hard for even April to hear, but if they screamed together, maybe someone would be able to understand their pleas. “Georgia!” April began to yell in sync with her mother. “Georgia! Come back!”
Two minutes of screaming did almost no good. April began to wonder how much longer they could stay outside before needing to head closer to the house. Something strong was coming towards them; they wouldn’t survive out here if they stood on the beach. Neither would Georgia, but maybe someone had taken her in once they learned about the storm.
April felt like she couldn’t chance it. If she needed to wait on this beach until the very last second, she would.
“What is that?” Caroline yelled down to April from the stairs. Her hand was up to her face as if to shield her from the rain that pelted them from all directions. “There’s a shadow out there. I think it’s moving this way!”
She squinted, trying to find what her mother was seeing. But nothing came into focus. “I don’t know what you’re…”
Then she saw the most beautiful sight she’d ever laid eyes on. It was Georgia, running down the beach towards them. Without another thought, April took off after her. The sand made it hard to run, but April pushed through the pain in her calves to reach her daughter. She would do anything to get to her.
They met in the middle, happy to see each other alive. April pulled her into her open arms, snuggling her head tightly to her chest. She kissed the top of Georgia’s head. “Thank God you’re okay.”
“I’m okay, but we have to get inside. Somebody down the beach said there’s a hurricane coming!” Georgia yelled over the winds.
April nodded and held her daughter’s hand as they jogged back up the beach. Caroline was still waiting on the stairs, slowly moving up as she watched the family come back to the house.
It was hard walking against the storm, but they managed to walk as fast as they could back into the safety of the house. Though they knew it wouldn’t be safe much longer. They had to head down to the basement, bringing a few supplies with them like flashlights, large bottles of water, and some cans of food. They brought down bundles full of blankets, towels, and pillows. And one first aid kit that had only half of what it originally came with.
They were all for emergencies only, which it obviously was. But it felt like they were prepared for the most extreme case. They hoped it wouldn’t come to that. April had heard of storms like this, but she’d never seen one in real life. It was much scarier facing it head on.
