“The sirens means a funnel was sighted,” Kate informed Jasmine, taking her arm. “We don’t get many tornadoes but just the possibility terrifies me.”
“Is there a cellar?” Jasmine asked, going down the stairs quickly. After a quick dinner she had gone straight to the guest room. She had been so exhausted and had fallen asleep to the sound of the rain hitting the windows.
Kate nodded and stopped in the kitchen and grabbed a small black radio sitting on the counter.
“Dale insisted we built one.” Kate pointed to a door on the floor. “It’s small but safe.”
Jasmine opened it. It was dark but she could see the steps going down. She went down first so she could make sure her aunt didn’t trip on the steep stairs.
As soon as they reached the bottom and closed the door, Kate turned on a flashlight and sat on a wooden bench. She tuned the radio to the weather station. A funnel had been spotted headed toward Red Hook. Everyone was asked to take immediate cover. The words brought a tension to the small room.
Jasmine sat next to her and held her aunt’s hand. “We’re safe, Aunt Kate, thanks to Uncle Dale.”
Kate made a small sobbing sound but stifled it with her hand. “I miss him so much, Jazz.”
Kate had the same blue eyes as Jasmine and Jasmine’s mother Hilary. Hilary had lost her battle with cancer years ago and Kate was Jasmine’s last living relative. “He was raised in Nebraska and they had plenty of tornadoes. He always knew what to do. I leaned on him to take care of me and now I feel so lost without him.”
“I know they say time heals all wounds. We have to believe the pain will dull somewhat, Aunt Kate.” Jasmine wasn’t sure what else to say but she was glad she had arrived early. She’d hate to think of her aunt going through this moment all alone and frightened.
Kate and Dale had a strong love between them. It had been the only relationship Jasmine had ever seen succeed and be happy. It gave her hope. Her own mother had been single, never marrying the man who fathered Jasmine. She had men drift in and out of her life until she got sick. Jasmine’s biggest fear was that she would end up like her mother and never find anyone who could love her and be faithful. Grant’s unfaithfulness only confirmed her fears. She tried not to think of that right now. She put Grant and her sadness out of her mind.
“You’re not alone anymore. I’m here now, Aunt Kate,” Jasmine said firmly. “We need to keep busy and active. I have so many exciting ideas. It’s all I have thought about since I knew I was moving here.”
Jasmine looked around the dim room. There was a shelf filled with water and crackers. A few flashlights, batteries, and blankets sat on the second shelf. Jasmine grabbed one and put it around her aunt’s shoulders.
The wind howled loudly and it was scary but Jasmine tried to be strong for her aunt’s sake. They sat close together and waited, listening to the broadcast coming from the small battery-operated radio. It helped drown out the sounds of the storm outside their walls.
Jasmine put her arm around her aunt’s shoulder. Her stomach was tight with tension. Thank God she had arrived here ahead of the storm. What if she had still been on the road? Her poor car was
still out there. She loved her small red car. It was temperamental and old, but she’d had it for a long time. She had two suitcases filled with clothes. Would she lose those too? Luckily she had mailed a few things ahead of time.
* * * *
Drake and Noah hunkered down at the sheriff station. According to the Weather Channel, a funnel had been spotted at the edge of town. Drake was worried about Jasmine and Kate. They had some pretty strong winds outside. Hail was falling and hitting the windows and roof. It echoed in the quietness of the room. The wind howled angrily outside and they could hear loud noises outside. Drake prayed people were smart and ran for cover. The phone lines were down and Drake could see Noah was worried but trying his best to hide it. If Noah had a choice he would want to be with his family. Drake had checked on his parents, who were taking shelter with Eva and Dylan. Eva’s and Dylan’s house was larger and sturdier than his parents’ small cottage-style house. The kids would help distract them.
“Ray is at the house with Alana, too. You know he will take care of them,” he assured Noah. Ray was Alana’s older brother. Noah and Drake were sitting in Noah’s office since it was the middle room of the sheriff’s station. Drake thought the building was sturdy since it had been around for a long time.
They were the only two on duty. Noah had sent Helen and the rest of the deputies home to be with their families. There was nothing they could do until the danger was over. Then it would be a busy night and morning, calculating the damage the storm caused. Drake’s only hope was for no deaths or serious injuries.
“I know Ray will be level headed and keep them safe. They were prepared. I just don’t want her to be scared. You know Alana. She will be sitting there worried about me. She knows Adam and Liam are with Faith and the baby,” Noah answered. He glanced at a picture on his desk of his dark-haired wife. Her dark hair was loose and her brown eyes were filled with happiness. Drake had grown up with Ray Garcia and his two sisters, Alana and Alicia. He thought of them as family. Alana and Noah had a rough road to happiness, but now they had been married for more than two years and expecting their first baby. Drake was happy for them and wondered if maybe he was being stubborn in not wanting to settle down. It was lonely but he filled the hours with his job. He liked his job but maybe it would be nice to have someone waiting at home for him instead of going to an empty house. An image of Jasmine popped into his head. He dated occasionally, but never with any serious intention. He thought of Jasmine and said a silent prayer for her safety along with Kate. Maybe he should get to know her. It could be that their personalities would not fit at all.
“Kate lives on the edge of town. Her niece Jasmine arrived in town a few hours ago,” Drake told Noah. He opened the box of sweets Faith had given him. He picked out a raspberry tart and handed the box to Noah. Drake bit into the soft bread and munched the sweet treat.
“Well, at least Kate is not alone. She has been so lost without her husband.” Noah looked at all the choices and finally settled on a banana muffin. He took a bite. “Faith sure can bake.”
Drake laughed. “Good thing. Adam couldn’t bake or cook to save his life.”
Noah agreed with a laugh. “It’s good to see him finally happy. After he lost Josie in that car accident with our parents I worried about him. Now I only have to worry about Liam. He takes nothing seriously.”
“Give him time. He is young still.” Drake sighed, realizing he was thirty-three years old and had never taken any relationship seriously either. He didn’t even have Liam’s excuse of youth. Liam was still in his mid-twenties and had no interest in family life or marriage.
“I suppose,” Noah agreed, finishing his muffin and ignoring the sounds of the storm. It sounded loud and scary. There was no way they could go out there until it was over.
“So what is this Jasmine like? I have heard Kate mention her but I’m not sure I remember her. She was at the funeral but I missed meeting her,” Noah said. He winced when they heard a window break in the other room.
Drake shrugged, trying to sound casual. He pictured Jasmine’s pretty bright eyes and sweet smile. She was tall and slim but still had womanly curves. He was not going to tell Noah all of that, of course. “Not what I expected. Kate said she was highest in her class in high school and college and loves to study. I expected someone studious with thick glasses and dark suits.”
“I take it that is the wrong image.” Noah ignored the rattling of the windows outside the room. They had closed the office door and placed the heavy wooden desk against it. They had placed their chairs in the middle of the room.