Page 17 of Hot Chicken

“Just stay safe out there.”

Hanging up the call, I drive slowly with my high beams on, hoping to catch sight of her mailbox when I finally spot it. Turning into the drive, I pray she’ll come along without an argument. Harry’s right. I need to focus on Pops.

Pulling up in front of this catastrophe of a mobile home, I reach for my umbrella before exiting the truck. It does little to protect me from the elements as the rain is practically coming down perpendicular to the ground with the wind gusts. I carefully reach for the door to the screen porch, worried the damn thing will come off in my hand. Once inside, I make my way to the front door and bang as hard as I can to be heard over the rain beating down on their roof. If it’s in a similar shape to this screen porch, they probably need umbrellas inside.

I begin to pound on the door again when it swings open, and Ellie stands before me with a stunned expression on her face.

“Get your stuff. You two are coming with me.”

“What?”

“Do you have a generator?”

“Well, no. But-”

“But nothing. You said your grandpa was on oxygen around the clock now. You need power for that. And don’t give me any crap about him having a portable canister. Those things don’t last long. You willing to risk it?”

Her head drops.

Stepping inside, I grab her arm. “Baby, there’s nothing to be upset about. You can’t help this weather. Before he needed oxygen twenty-four seven, you could stick it out. But not anymore.” I activate the flashlight on my phone. “Show me where he is so we can get him and his unit into the truck.”

“Okay.”

I follow her down the dark, narrow hallway to the bedroom, where her grandfather sits on the edge of the bed.

“Hi. I’m Matt. I’m a friend of Ellie’s. She’s going to pack some things for the two of you, and you’re coming to The Sugar Plum Inn with me. They have a generator.”

He looks as shocked as she did when she came to the door. “I’m a firefighter EMT. I’ll grab your oxygen unit and get it into the truck so you can sleep well tonight. We can come back after this storm blows over.” He remains sitting like a statue, and I start to panic. I don’t want Ellie to have to beg him to go now that I finally convinced her it was the right thing to do. She might change her mind.

Squatting down on one knee, I try to make eye contact with him. “Sir, please? Do it for Ellie. She won’t get a moment’s rest worrying about you. You know that.”

It’s with this statement his head rises, and I can see I’ve gotten through to him.

“Thank you,” he says. Despite the storm, I can hear the fragility in his voice.

“It’s no more than you’d do for someone else,” I reassure him. This garners a smile, and I start to relax.

Once I’ve got Ellie and her grandpa settled in the inn, and he’s resting in bed with his oxygen on, I tell her I’m going to see if I can find something to eat. Luckily, she doesn’t argue, and I head down to the lobby.

I approach the kind lady at the counter who registered us earlier. “Hi. Thank you again for accommodating us on such short notice.”

“Oh, I’m happy to do it. Harry told me what was happening with the Albrights, and I’m glad I had room tonight. You be sure to tell them to call anytime they lose power. As much as they’ve done for this community, it’s the least I can do for them.”

This makes me smile. “I’ll be sure to tell them. But those two are pretty stubborn. Do you happen to have anything left over from dinner? I hate to ask. But I doubt they’ve eaten, and I hate to go back out there if I can help it.”

“We only did sandwiches and fruit due to the generator. Is that okay?”

“It’s more than okay. What do I owe you?”

“Not a thing, son. You just wait right here, and I’ll bring enough for the three of you.”

I pace the lobby while the kind Innkeeper prepares dinner for the three of us. The room Harry secured has one bedroom for Pops and a sitting room. I’ll gladly sleep on the floor or head back to Mom’s house if need be. Ellie will need to take the couch.

“Here you go, Matthew. There’s bottled water in the bag along with some potato salad.”

“You’re a gem. Thank you. Are there extra sheets in the room for the couch? Ellie’s grandpa is settled in the bed.”

“Yes. It’s a pull-out sofa. There are sheets, extra pillows, and a blanket in the closet.”

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