“About six hours from what they’re predicting. It’s increased in speed and winds.”
“OK, get back to the hangar. Back up the computers and make sure you make two copies. One I’ll keep with me when I fly down to Miami, and put the other in the safe.”
“I’ve already done that.” I pull the external hard drive from my purse and hold it out to him. “What are you going to do? What else can I do?”
“I have to make sure these kids get home. Most of their parents get off late, and I usually stay here with the staff until seven.”
I look at my watch; seven is over two hours away.
“I’ll stay here. You go to the hangar and start prepping to leave,” I say but he’s already shaking his head.
“Brinn?” A stocky guy, wearing a similar gi but his belt is a dark purple, steps through the door. ’
“Charlie,” Brinn says. “We need to get these kids home. The hurricane has shifted its trajectory.”
“That’s what I was coming to say. Kim,” he says, pointing behind him, “is calling as many parents as she can to come now.”
“The city will be shutting down soon,” Brinn tells me. “They don’t mess around with hurricanes, especially as Cat four.”
“Cat five,” I say. “They think it’ll hit as a Cat five.” I try not to tremble.
My experience with hurricanes is limited to what I’ve seen at the Jersey Shore, devastation nonetheless, but it wasn’t a first-hand experience for me. I was also able to go back to an intact home, electricity, and everything where I left it.
“You need to go inland. Can you go to Will’s? Don’t stay in your apartment. It’s likely that area will be evacuated anyway.” He starts walking down the hall but turns back and takes two large strides back.
“Or come with me. Either way, go home, grab some clothes and anything of value to you. Text me and let me know if you’re going to Will’s.” He slips an arm around my waist and pulls me close, planting a quick but meaningful kiss on my lips.
“Be careful driving, Josie. Once those rains start coming in the roads get covered quick.” He rests his forehead on mine for a brief moment before he lets go and starts walking toward the gym.
“OK, you be careful too. Can I—” But he’s gone into the gym and is starting to organize the delivery of thirty plus kids.
Where did he go as a child when the hurricanes came? Was he solely responsible for Vann during those scary times? To shelters? He’s right, there’s no way I would understand what he experienced other than to experience it first hand, and driving around the country trying to find myself while I have my grandfather’s trust fund waiting for me in an account makes me wholly unable to comprehend even a smidge.
I do the fastest walk to my car that my heels will allow and dial Will’s number as I slip into the driver’s seat. I leave a voice mail when prompted and send a text, as if that might reach him.
Where R U? Can I come stay with u? Hurricane.
I wait but there’s no response. It’s not lost on me that the night Will’s car caught air off the bridge was a night similar to this. Torrential rains and unpredictable weather patterns.
Twenty-Four
Zach’s scooter is resting against the side of the hangar. The air is muggy and heavy with moisture. There’s no sound of anything but twin engines and propellers spinning. Occasionally a horn sounds through the air but the leaves barely rustle, the birds have long flown away from the impeding storm.
I stare at the long line of planes waiting to take off and worry Brinn won’t get out in time.
I glance at my phone, looking for some word from either Will or Brinn. I press the link that will dial Will directly and wait for it to ring through. Nothing happens so I try again. I still can’t get the call to connect and decide to try Brinn and get the same response. Nothing.
After leaving Brinn, I dashed home for a quick change of clothes, throwing my laptop, a change of clothes, and my hematite stones in a bag. Don’t ask me why I grabbed them. They were sitting in a bowl on my counter and I snagged them on the way out the door. I’ve changed into jeans and a tank top and tied a hoodie around my waist. To keep the wind from owning my hair I’ve pulled it back into a low ponytail.
Back at the hangar, Zach is trying to get Brinn’s plane ready for takeoff.
“Is he here yet?” I ask Zach.
“No. He better hurry because he might miss his window out.” He looks toward the runway.
I retreat back to the offices to make sure I’ve stored, backed up, and protected all the important stuff and anything else. Then I wander aimlessly around the room trying to call them both.
“You coming with me?” Brinn asks as he walks into the office.
A sigh of relief escapes me. One accounted for. One to go.
He’s changed into jeans and a T-shirt with his flight vest. He does a quick scan and follows it with a brief nod before signaling me to follow him. I try Will again. Nothing.
“When are you leaving?” I walk behind him to the hangar doors.
“About forty minutes. Why, what’s wrong?” He looks out toward the runway and then back at me.
“Nothing. I can’t get a hold of my brother.”
“Leave him a message and come with me.”
“If I could just get a hold of him,” I mumble and chew my lower lip.
“He’s probably fine. He’s far enough inland.” Brinn glances at his watch and a fat drop of rain lands on its face.
I look up at the sky. The green is mixed with the fading yellow of the sun and clouds are rolling in, thick and heavy, holding back the weight of flooding rains.
“We’ve got to go,” he says. “Smitty, how are you getting home?”
Zach is pulling his scooter into the hangar. “My mom is picking me up.” He nods toward the entrance of the aviation park.
“Go now,” Brinn says and takes the scooter from him. “Where are you going?”
Zach grabs a backpack that’s lying against the hangar wall. “To the high school shelter.”
“Here, take some cash.” Brinn hands him a wad of bills. Watching the struggle on Zach’s face makes me want to turn away. “You’re going to need it.”
“Take it from my pay,” Zach says, taking the bills.
“Sure.” Brinn clasps him on the back. “Now go.”
Zach takes off at a run, and I start chewing my other thumbnail, having worked the first one down to nothing.
“You look worried,” Brinn says. “Try calling him again. Call his girlfriend.” He rubs my arm, sliding his hand to mine, taking the thumb from my mouth.
“Daanya! Why didn’t I think of that?” Relief that Daanya had had the foresight to give me her numbers blows through me. Now if only the call will connect. As I wait for the ringing sound, I step closer to Brinn and lean against him.
“Daanya,” I nearly cry into the phone. “It’s Josie. I’m sorry to call you at work but I’ve been trying to get a hold of Will. The hurricane is headed for us and—”
“Will is in Daytona,” she cries. “He wasn’t feeling well this morning when I left for work. I asked him what he was going to do, and he said make sure you’re leaving town because of the weather. I didn’t think he would drive there.”