of Harriet’s numerous questions about it. The naval base he worked from was also home to several nuclear- powered submarines. She knew the navy preferred its ships ride out storms in open ocean so he was very likely out to sea, but she wasn’t going to mention that to Carla.
“I’ll grab my bags then go pick up Mavis,” Beth announced and looked pointedly at Lauren.
“I guess I’ll be going by the homeless camp before I go get Carter,” Lauren said. “Unless you all want to go to the church, which is what I’d do.”
“Our camp will be fine,” Joyce said firmly.
“I’m going to stop by the vet clinic after I drop Tom back here,” Harriet announced to no one in particular.
“It’s kind of spooky in here without all the fabric,” Carla said and shivered, pulling her sleeping child closer to her chest.
The group filed out in silence, Robin locking the door and returning the key to Carla when the last person was out.
“Take care, everyone,” Harriet said as they parted.
Chapter 8
“I couldn’t help but notice that Aiden hasn’t checked in all day,” Tom said when he and Harriet were driving back to the fabric store. “I know it’s none of my business, but-”
“It isn’t your business,” Harriet agreed. “And we aren’t going to discuss my relationship with Aiden.”
“I’m sorry. I said I wouldn’t pressure you, and I won’t. I’m just surprised he isn’t checking to be sure you’re okay, or have a plan or anything.”
“He knows I’ll be with my aunt and we’ll be okay.”
“If it were up to me, you wouldn’t be riding out a major storm with only your aunt for protection.”
“Now, that’s insulting,” Harriet said. “My aunt and I can take care of ourselves, thank you very much.”
“I’m doing this badly. I’m just saying, if I had the chance, I’d be there to make sure you were okay. I know you can take care of yourself, but you don’t have to always do that alone. You can let someone else help sometimes.”
A gust of wind hit the side of the car, causing it to swerve before Harriet fought it back to her lane.
“Can we not do this while I’m driving?”
“Okay. Just don’t be surprised if I come calling. The people I’m staying with live near you, I think. Don’t you live on the hill above town?”
Harriet sighed and gripped the steering wheel tighter.
“Okay.” Tom pulled a card from the pocket of his jacket and wrote something on the back of it. “Here’s my phone number and the name of the people I’m staying with. Your aunt knows them. If you need anything call… please.”
She sighed again.
“Thank you, I do appreciate your concern, but we’ll be fine.” She pulled to the curb in front of Pins and Needles.
“I guess I’ll see you on the other side, then,” Tom said, and got out.
She watched until he had turned on his lights and started the engine before she drove to the vet clinic.
“Are you looking for Aiden?” Shannon, the receptionist, asked when Harriet entered the waiting area.
“Yes, and I wanted to check on Scooter one last time, if that’s okay.”
“Sure,” the young woman said. “I think he’d like that. We’re closing down early so we can all get home before the winds pick up.” The plate glass front window rattled hard in its frame. “Well, before they get worse.” She gave a nervous laugh. “Do you want to go ahead and go back to the socialization area?”
Harriet followed her to the converted storage room and sat in one of the rocking chairs, shrugging out of her coat as she lowered herself to the seat. Shannon brought Scooter and set him in her lap.
“The vet techs all took off already,” she explained as she draped a soft blanket square over him. “I told Aiden you’re here. I’m going to be leaving, so he’ll have to let you out.”
Scooter shivered in that way little dogs do, more a nervous reaction than from a lack of warmth. Harriet carefully settled him closer to her chest.
“Don’t worry about all the noise outside,” she told the little dog. “It will all be over before you know it. You’ll be all set. Aiden said they have a generator here so you’ll have all the heat and lights you need. Don’t expect that when you come to live at my house. We’ll be using oil lamps and wearing sweaters.”
“Did Carla go home?” Aiden asked without preamble as he came into the room.
“Yes, Tom drove her and Wendy home a little while ago.”
“What’s he doing hanging around here in this weather?”
“He’s hardly ‘hanging around.’ He was visiting friends of his mother and got trapped by the slide.”
“And he just happened to take Carla home?”
“If you must know, he and a number of other people helped us move Marjory’s fabric up to her attic. The weather people are predicting the Muckleshoot will jump its banks within the next twenty-four hours and that could flood Marjory’s store.”
“Convenient.”
“What is wrong with you? Everything was fine, and then all of a sudden you’ve got an excuse every time I want to see you, and now you pull this jealous routine? You’re giving me whiplash.”
“I’ve been busy. You know how my job is.”
“It’s never caused you to freeze me out in the past. Something else is going on. I can feel it. This isn’t you.”
“You don’t know me. You may think you do, but you don’t. I’m not who you think I am.”
“Where is this coming from? Is it your sister? What has she done to you?”
“Are you done with Scooter? I need to lock up and get out of here.”
“That’s it? We’ve spent almost every day together for nine months, and now I don’t know you?”
The muscle in Aiden’s jaw pulsed with tension. He picked Scooter from her lap and was out the door almost before his intention registered. She waited a few minutes, but he didn’t reappear. She knew employees left by the back door when the clinic was closed.
She put her coat back on and went into a hallway, through the employee locker room and out into the storm again.
Harriet drove around to her garage and pressed the button on her automatic door opener. She was surprised to find two cars already in the large space. She carefully guided her car into the remaining spot.
Fred meowed loudly when she entered the kitchen.
“Oh, good, you’re here,” Mavis said. “We were starting to worry about you. A big branch fell onto my car as I was driving home. It like to scared me to death.”
“I hope you don’t mind, but we told Lauren she could park in the garage, too,” Beth said.
Lauren was at the kitchen bar, talking on the house phone.
“With all the trees around this place, we didn’t want anyone’s car getting damaged,” Beth continued. “There are branches and debris all over the road between here and Mavis’s.” She pulled her sweater more closely around her ample body and shivered.
Mavis rifled through the junk drawer in the kitchen then triumphantly held up a box of wooden matches.
“I want these to be easy to find,” she said.
“Jorge says he’s coming by with more food,” Lauren said and hung up the phone. “I should have asked him to bring nachos.”
Harriet went to the closet and hung up her coat. She could tell already this was going to be a long night.
The phone rang, and Lauren answered it.
“Yeah, hang on. It’s Carla. She wants to talk to Harriet.”
Harriet crossed the room and took the phone, turning her back on her audience. She listened for a
