Page 113 of What Remains True
Lowering herself to the steps, she thought about all the things that had happened since she arrived in Antler Creek.
Frogs croaked, sending out banjo-like twangs even longer than normal, pulling her into a trance until a clap of thunder startled her back. She jumped up and went inside to close the windows. A storm was brewing, inside and out.
—
The next morning, Tara called and woke Merry Anna.
“Hello?” Merry Anna answered without even opening her eyes.
“Did I wake you?” Tara asked.
“Yes.” Merry Anna felt like she had cotton in her mouth. “It’s okay.”
“I can’t believe you’re sleeping through this storm. Thatthunder shook my house so hard it made the glasses clink together to the tune of ‘Jingle Bells.’ I wanted to check on you.”
“I didn’t hear a thing.” But she heard it now. Merry Anna turned on her bedside lamp.
“Thought I’d come up and have you help me search for the perfect bathroom hardware,” Tara said.
“I’m not going to be able to do that today.”
“Are you okay?” Tara asked. “I really didn’t call about hardware. I’m worried about you.”
Merry Anna felt herself choke on a tear. She didn’t want to worry Tara, but she also couldn’t make herself get up this morning. Funny how she never felt this low when her marriage ended but that today it was hard to even breathe. “I’m fine. Yesterday was a long day.”
“I saw the sheriff. Figured that good-for-nothing ex of yours had shown back up.”
“He did, but I’m okay.”
“Want me to bring you some lunch? Or ice cream? A good pint of chocolate always does me good.”
“No, it’s a messy day. You don’t need to be out there in it. Thank you, though. That’s really sweet of you.”
She moved from the bed to the couch, but that was about as far as she got all morning. Krissy texted her.
KRISSY:Weather is going to be crazy tomorrow. We won’t have many customers.
MERRY ANNA:Thank you.
KRISSY:You let us know if you need anything.
MERRY ANNA:I’ll see you Monday.
It rained through the afternoon, gusts making the bunkhouse walls creak. The weather seemed fitting for what shewas going through. The words from last week’s sermon popped into her mind.
“The Father is with you and will keep you anchored until this storm passes.”
And although the wind battered the side of the building and the thunder crashed almost in time with the lightning, meaning the storm was right over her, she wasn’t afraid.
The lights flickered. She gathered the candles she’d bought and put them together on the coffee table. All were decorative, not likely to cast much light. The sky was dark, clouds so close she felt as if she could stand on the roof and grab one or, better yet, shoo it away.
She brought up the weather report on her phone. She’d never even thought about getting a little emergency radio. Flash flooding and more rain. Several counties were under weather alerts, and Wiles County was right in the crosshairs.
Something crashed against the back door. She ran to check. Thank goodness it hadn’t broken the window, but her plants, even though they were on the porch, were getting pummeled. All her perfect tomatoes were scattered in the bottom of the boat, some out on the patio decking.
She ran outside, grabbing a plant or two at a time and setting them inside until she’d rescued them all from her boat garden. They were heavy from the water and dripping everywhere, so she grabbed towels and transferred the plants to the bathtub and the sink, carefully draining the water and propping up the waterlogged stems.
She pushed towels against the back door where the water had blown in. Chilly from the cold rain, she changed clothes and blew her damp hair dry.
