The Rest of the Story(112)

“Apparently, there’s a huge tree down on the highway,” Roo said as he leaned forward, trying to see through the windshield. The wipers were going full speed, but only pushing the water around. “So Trinity can’t get to the hospital.”

“She’s not in labor, just scared,” I said. “And Gordon—”

“Is going to be in so much trouble once I find her safe,” he finished for me. My dad glanced at him, saying nothing. “Okay, we’re almost there. Once we are, you go find Trinity. I’ll look for Gordon.”

“You take cover,” my dad said. “I’ll handle looking for Gordon.”

Roo jerked the wheel to the right, suddenly, to dodge a branch that was in the road, and I almost slid off the cooler, catching myself at the last minute. The music made it sound like a wacky caper, not an emergency.

Finally, we were at Calvander’s, where all the windows facing the water were boarded up, debris from the beach—a shovel, a plastic bag, a beer can—blowing across the yard. Roo jerked to a stop and we all jumped out, running to the main house. The tree that had so scared Trinity was across the porch, water pouring in the one window it had hit, reminding me how serious this actually was.

“Trinity!” I yelled as I came up the steps, throwing the door open. The house was quiet except for the wind, wheezing through any and all cracks. “Where are you?”

“In here!” she said.

I pushed open the door to the TV room to find her on the couch, holding a pillow, tears streaming down her face. “She’s not anywhere!” she said. “I’ve looked all over the goddamn place.”

“It’s okay,” I said, going to her as Roo and my dad took off to the kitchen and the rest of the house. I heard them yelling Gordon’s name as I grabbed a blanket from the couch, shaking it out over Trinity, who was trembling. “We’ll find her.”

“Don’t leave me!” she yelled, but I had to, running down the hallway to the kitchen, where the windows were all rain: I couldn’t even see the lake. Outside, I could still make out the tinkling music of the Yum truck, or at least I could until another sound grew loud enough to drown it out: a humming, like an engine. Growing closer.

My dad, coming back down the stairs, heard it too. “Tornado,” he said. “Into the middle room, both of you. Now!”

I hadn’t even realized Roo was there, behind me, until he said, “I can’t. We have to find Gordon.”

“I will find Gordon,” my dad told him. “GO.”

I looked at Roo, who nodded and then ran back down the hallway, me following. In the TV room Trinity was rocking back and forth, her eyes squeezed shut.

“Oh, my God,” she said as I sat down beside her, taking her hand. Her grip was like a vise, tightening with each boom of thunder from outside. “Where’s Gordon? If she’s outside, she’ll—”

“Shh,” Roo said, taking her other hand. “Emma’s dad is on it.”

He said this so confidently, as if he had all the faith in my father, despite what had happened between them. My dad would handle this. He had to.

Before, the wind had been howling; now, it sounded different. Trinity whimpered, twisting my fingers, and I sucked in a breath, trying to stay calm. Then I heard a crack just outside, followed by a crash.

“Shit,” Roo said.

“My dad.” I stood up, running to the door. “I should—”

“Saylor!” Roo yelled. “Don’t open that!”

I did; I couldn’t help it. Nothing can happen to him, I thought, as I ran to the front door and opened it as well, feeling the wind push back against me, hard. “Dad!”

But I couldn’t see him. And I knew there was no way he could hear me, over the wind and the howling and the rain smacking the windows. I turned, looking down at the shore: the water was rushing over the dock, foam stuck to everything, and I couldn’t make out a single thing. The howling was getting louder.

“Dad!” I yelled again, into the storm. No answer. I stood there, tears in my throat, thinking of the last time I’d seen my mom. That white lace shirt, the way she touched my face. The elevator doors closing as she watched me disappear. Was this another ending I’d remember forever? Where would I imagine him?

“Saylor!” Roo came running up behind me. “Come back inside.”

“My dad is out there!” I said, my voice breaking, and then I was crying. “He’s—”

There was a whoosh, pushing me back from the door, and I felt Roo grab me, his arms around my waist. The rain was pelting us sideways as I buried my face in his chest, eyes tightly closed, just wanting to hold on to something, someone, as the world seemed to come loose all around me. He put a hand on the back of my head as I turned, looking out in the storm again, and I could hear him speak but couldn’t make out the words he was saying. Still, I strained to hear them, holding on tight, and then finally, there was this.

“I see them.”

I opened my eyes. He was looking at the shore, so I did too, squinting into the rain and bending trees. At first, I saw nothing, but then, after a beat, then one more, movement in the distance at the dock. I blinked. Twice. And then there was my dad, carrying Gordon as he walked away from the water.

“Oh, my God,” I said. She had her arms looped at his neck, legs locked around his waist, as he jogged up the grass, head bent against the storm. In one of her hands, Gordon was holding her Allies book.