Law enforcement is asking that you stay away from any remaining flooded roadways until the rest of the water can recede. Flash flooding is still a problem. Tree limbs and branches cover the roadways due to high winds and they are causing hazards, along with other road debris. As you can see behind me, stoplights are swinging into the water, and the wind is still blowing hard, making clean-up and repairs difficult. I urge you to use caution upon return. The mayor has issued a mandatory curfew of nine p.m. I’ll update you every hour on the hour, right here, on Channel Six.
Luke came in and sat down. He’d just taken the last of the things to the car and everyone was nearly ready to leave, all of them completely exhausted from staying up last night. Luke had tried to see Edward again, but he’d checked out already, so he let him go, promising his mother he’d call him after they’d all gotten settled back home. After everyone had gone to bed, Frederick had returned quietly, and he hadn’t said a whole lot this morning, clearly immersed in his own thoughts.
The storm wasn’t as devastating as they had predicted but there was still quite a bit of damage and everyone was eager to get home to see things for themselves. Luke had had room service bring up breakfast and coffee at five a.m., and he’d insisted all the ladies stay and have their coffee while he packed, telling them they needed to watch the news so they could update him if they heard anything that might inhibit their return.
“What have they said?” he asked his mother, as Frederick left to take a dolly down to the car.
“It’s just a mess down there, like it always is after a hurricane.”
Callie had seen pictures on the news in other years, but she hadn’t experienced the complete worry that the residents faced every time it happened. It had always been a tragedy, but by the time she’d returned for vacation, the entire place was rebuilt, open for business, ready for the tourists who flocked down and settled on those glorious beaches. Once the damage had been reported, the media moved on to the next story, and the rebuilding process every time went unmentioned. But now, seeing the damage, and knowing it could be like that at her new home, where her life was now, it filled her with fear.
The news program had focused mostly on the villages further north of Callie’s, the major tourist locations where the rest of the country would relate, so she hadn’t been able to see the fate of Waves.
“Did you secure your surfboards?” she asked suddenly.
Luke nodded. “I tied them up in the rafters of the shed. Unless it was blown away, they should be just fine.”
“Okay,” she said with an exhalation, apprehension still assaulting her.
“We’d better get a move on,” he said.
Twenty-Three
They were forced to stay on the bypass when they came across the bridge from the mainland, having only gained access by proving they were permanent residents. Portions of Beach Road had crumbled into the ocean. The water had receded mostly back into the sea, leaving puddles and pockets of flooding in the residential areas. They carried on, hoping they would have solid road all the way to Waves. The car was silent as they drove past the damage.
“I’ll take you home first,” Luke said quietly, both hands gripping the wheel intently. A power line dipped into the road beside them as he pulled to a stop to yield to any traffic, the stoplights out. He looked both ways, but unless it was by boat, no one would be coming from either direction, as the side street was flooded. He carried on. “It’s bad up this way,” he said. But he didn’t say anything more. Callie wondered if it would be this bad in Waves.
All of a sudden, Luke pulled over. “There’s a tree blocking the road over there and that car can’t get down it.”
Callie saw the driver. He’d exited his car and was pulling with all his might on the trunk of the tree, trying to move it. It would budge just a little and he’d lose grip. There were kids in the back of his car.
“Stay put. I’m going to help him,” Luke said.
Before she or Frederick could say anything, he jumped out and ran down the street. Frederick went out after him, leaving Callie. She could see them talking to the man as he gestured toward one of the cottages. Then the three men strained and pulled until the tree had shifted. All three of them got on one side of it and in a unified effort, moved it to the side of the road. The man shook Luke’s hand.
“They rode out the storm,” he said, slightly winded, when he got back. “His wife is pregnant and on bed-rest. He was worried about the tree blocking their way if they needed to get to the hospital. She’s due any day. They thought the storm would’ve brought on labor, but they were lucky.”
Callie shook her head, the enormity of the situation overwhelming her to the point of speechlessness. Luke and Frederick got back into the car and there was a hushed anticipation as they made their way home.
The further down the road they went, the more hopeful Callie became, the storm having spared parts of the Outer Banks. The road was cracked in places, making it difficult for Luke to maneuver the large vehicle without hitting major dips, but he was a skilled driver and he made it through. Every time she saw some damage, Callie’s heart sank, but she knew she couldn’t expect the storm to have skipped over her part of the barrier islands completely.
They passed a cottage that was missing part of its front porch and a bit of the roof on the left side. An elderly woman was standing alone in the yard, struggling with a load of bags. Callie shot Luke an apprehensive look. He slowed the car.
“Do you think she’s okay?” he asked.
Callie shook her head. “No, we should help her.”
He glanced over at her. “But you need to check your own house.”
“Getting there sooner won’t change anything.” It was quite obvious that people around them were struggling and she felt compelled to help after hearing about the man and his wife that Luke had helped.
He pulled the car over and got out, taking his phone from his back pocket. “Let me just text Juliette, and let her know.”
The woman, who was carrying bags of debris in her tiny arms, stopped and watched them advance toward her. By the look on her face, and the growing roundness of her eyes, she recognized Luke.
“Hello,” he said as he approached her. “Luke Sullivan.”
She looked around and set the bags down beside her. Probably trying to decide if she was on some sort of hidden camera show.
“Do you need help with anything?”
The woman’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, relief on her face. “Yes!” she said, throwing her hand to her chest, her voice almost giddy. “I live alone and I’m trying to move all that.” She pointed to a pile of debris by the porch.
“Well, we’ve got it from here. What’s your name?”
“Paula.”