Sara nodded.
Jay whirled toward the door. “I’ve got to find her.”
“Jay, you can’t go back out there.” Lillian reached out to stop him. “Not now. It’s gotten too dangerous out there.”
“I have to.” He had no choice. He had to find her. Make sure she was okay. Why had she gone out in this storm? Why?
He knew why. There’s was no way she’d let Barney fend for himself out in the storm.
His heart pounded in his chest, strangling him, as he rushed back out into the furious storm.
Robin raced through the wind and rain, drenched, as she chased after Barney. The dog managed to keep about a half-block ahead of her no matter how hard she struggled to catch up to him.
Then suddenly, she lost sight of him.
No!
She pulled up short and looked to the left and the right, uncertain which way to head. She couldn’t just leave him out here in the storm, but how could she find him when she could barely see through the pouring rain? She swiped at the water rolling down her face. Her clothes stuck to her like a second skin.
She called out to him. “Barney. Barney, where are you?” Not that she really thought the dog would turn around and come to her…
If he could even hear her.
She had to find him, though. Mrs. Gleason.
She couldn’t bear to think of telling Mrs. Gleason she’d lost the dog. And if truth be told, even if the dog annoyed her with his uncanny ability to destroy her shoes, she had grown pretty fond of him.
Then, suddenly she knew…
She twirled around and raced off through the rain.
Chapter 14
Jay darted under an overhang by a storefront on Main Street and tried to call Robin. No cell service. Not surprising in a storm like this, but annoying. He shoved the phone back in his pocket. He had to find Robin.
But how was he going to find her? Barney could have gone anywhere, and Robin was out there somewhere racing after the dog. He never should have left Barney with Robin. He never should have left Robin’s side during the storm. But then, he had to go look for Etta for Lillian.
Pure frustration surged through him mixed in with a healthy dose of fear.
He peered through the sheets of rain, straining for any sign of Robin. Any sign of Barney. A broken branch skipped down the street in the violent wind, dancing a jig with a smashed and tattered box. It was dangerous out here with debris whipping around in the wind.
Fear knotted his insides as he swept a hand up to shove his dripping hair from his face. If anything happened to Robin…
He took off at a steady jog but afraid he might be going in the exact wrong direction. “Robin!” He yelled against the howling wind, but the wind just tossed his call back to him, mocking him. Hammering home how hopeless it was.
Then it came to him.
He knew where Barney would have gone. He spun around and headed back in the other direction, praying that he was right. Hoping he’d find both Robin and Barney there.
Robin bent over against the wind as she fought her way along the street. She screamed when a palm branch flashed past her, whipping her with its fronds. But she couldn’t stop now. She couldn’t.
She struggled along the sidewalk on the last half block, doubled over against the wind, and prayed she was right. She almost cried in relief as she battled her way up to the front of Mrs. Gleason’s bungalow.
And there he was.
Barney. Huddled against the front door.
Thank goodness.
She dropped to her knees beside the dog and hugged him. The dog shook in her arms. “Sh, it’s okay. I’ve got you now. It will be okay.” Grabbing hold of the leash—very firmly—she looked over at her bungalow, then out at the storm.
There was no way she could make it back to the community center now. The winds were too strong and it was too dangerous. They needed to seek shelter. She’d have to take cover in her bungalow and hope for the best.
She scooped Barney up in her arms and slowly made her way against the wind and over to her front porch. Even just going that far exhausted her. She set him down by the front door, the leash still firmly wrapped around her hand. Twice.
She didn’t have her key but knew that Charlotte had hidden one under a rock in the heavy planter beside the door. Charlotte was always forgetting her keys. Thank goodness for good old forgetful Charlotte.
She grabbed the key, all the while making sure to keep a firm clasp on Barney’s leash. She unlocked the door and hurried inside with Barney, tugging the door closed behind her.
She flipped on the switch… but nothing. She let out a sigh of frustration. The electricity was out. Not surprising. “Come on, Barney, let’s find the battery lantern and get some light in here.” It was somehow comforting to hear her voice and have someone… even Barney… to talk to.
She went to the kitchen, found the lantern, and flipped it on. That was better. Then she went to grab towels and dried Barney… who surprisingly let her do it. Then she wrapped a towel around herself, shivering. Whether from the chill or the edge of fear, she wasn’t certain. With Barney in tow, she headed to her closet for dry clothes, all the while ignoring the howling wind and the fact that she was here in her bungalow. All alone. Riding out the storm with only Barney for companionship.
What if the roof blew off?
Or the bungalow flooded?
She ignored those thoughts and concentrated on getting into dry clothes.
She pulled on dry sweatpants and a sweatshirt, hoping they would chase away the chill. “Okay, Barney. What do you say we go out in the front room?” Somehow talking out loud to
