Page 54 of A Mommy for His Daughter

“We were called for a transfer?” said Dan, one of the paramedics, from the door.

Evelyn came out. “Yes, Martha Washington. You have the address. But she needs to lie flat for a bit longer.”

Dan nodded and they followed her in with a stretcher.

It wasn’t long before they were bringing Martha out. She didn’t have an IV anymore and looked better.

“Don’t try to come out if there’s a hurricane. When it’s all clear drive her over to the clinic and I’ll do an ultrasound,” Evelyn warned.

“Thank you, Dr. Saunders,” Jocelyn said, not looking at her.

When Martha was loaded into the ambulance Evelyn came back inside.

“Okay, what do we have to do to get ready for this hurricane?”

“Supplies. Food and water. All of us are going to crash here tonight. I’m going to drive out to my place and secure it, also grab as much bottled water and food as I can, and Tim will help you with your apartment.”

“Okay.”

“Planes are grounded, as you know, and ferry service has stopped. All the roads out of town are closed except for emergency services. It’s a complete shut-down.”

“Yeah, we used to have hurricanes in Boston. I remember. I’ll take what I can and we’ll meet back here in a couple of hours.”

“Sounds good.”

* * *

Janet called to say she was delayed. The wind had picked up and there were trees that had been knocked over, blocking the road back into town.

Edna, Mo and Janet were at Janet’s place while the trees were cleared by the volunteer fire department.

Derek was stressed, but he knew Mo was safe with Edna and Janet, so he focused on battening down the hatches at the clinic. They would need the generator when the power went out, so he took stock of the supplies he could grab and other essential items—including another generator.

Lives depended on those generators.

By the time he’d finished unloading everything into the storeroom Evelyn and Tim were bringing down boxes of food from her place.

The apartment was on higher ground, but it had more windows. The clinic didn’t have as many interior windows and they would be safer there. He was glad that the clinic was high above the sea walls that surrounded the lower part of town and the downs. They were perfectly situated on the hill.

It was then that the rain hit. And it was heavy.

“What time is this hurricane coming?” Derek asked.

“I’ll check the weather network.” Tim pulled out his phone. “Two hours it’ll make landfall. It’s large. So when it makes landfall in Sitka it’s going to hit us.”

“This clinic has back-up generators, right?” Evelyn asked worriedly.

“Of course. We’ll be fine. You seem agitated? I thought you were used to hurricanes.”

“I have a bad feeling,” she muttered, and she was twitching nervously.

Derek wanted to comfort her, but not in front of Tim. Besides, he was worried about Mo and hoped the road would be cleared soon.

He had to keep his distance from her. That was what they’d agreed upon. It was for the best. If he comforted her now, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself. She’d draw him in again. Get through his defenses.

Who are you kidding? She already had. Evelyn had a way about her that just drew him in and he was a lost man.

“Where’s Janet? I thought she’d be back with Mo,” Evelyn asked, and there was concern in her voice.

“Tree fell, blocking the road. They’ll be here as soon as it clears.”

Evelyn still looked worried and it melted his heart, seeing her concern for his daughter.

She loved Mo too. It was obvious.

He wrapped his arm around her and gave her a hug. She rested her head on his shoulder. It was comforting, sharing this burden with someone else, with her. He didn’t feel so alone.

Only you are.

He broke the connection.

“Come on—let’s finish boarding up the windows of the clinic,” Derek said.

They worked together in uneasy silence. Then Derek made a preliminary check on the generators. Outside it was growing dark, which was unusual it being summer time in Alaska.

It was eerie. He could hear the rain pelting the metal roof and the sides of the clinic. It was harder than it had been before. Once that gale force wind picked up it wouldn’t be safe for anyone out there on the street.

What was that old saying? It wasn’t that the wind was blowing, but what the wind was blowing around? He glanced at the clock.

How long did it take to clear a tree from a road anyway?

“Help!”

Derek ran from the back as he saw Joe Jr. come in, supporting Jennifer. On her other side was Joe Sr.

Evelyn came rushing from the back room. “Jennifer!”

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