Lib Novel Page 16
“Absolutely. Where is it?” he said.
“We’ve got to find it. I think somehow it landed amongst the board games and toys in the closet. If you want to help us find it, you can be the big hero for the day.”
“Oh, that’s a title I’d love to have. Let’s see what I can do.”
Michael took Lilly’s hand and Brea watched the two of them search through several piles of toys and stacks of board games in the bookcase.
She was happy to have had her husband home these last months, but now, the dreaded day would arrive before she was prepared. She knew the day was coming but pretended not to think about it.
They’d get through the holidays, and the wedding trip to Captiva, and then reality and fear would start all over again. There was no place to hide from the anxiety that grabbed her throat and made it difficult to breathe. What made it worse was that she couldn’t tell anyone how she felt.
Michael was so looking forward to returning to work and she didn’t want to spoil the excitement with her concerns, but one thing was abundantly clear. She needed to talk to someone about her fears, and soon.
CHAPTER 6
Five Weeks Before the Wedding
“Well, that’s another one,” Maggie said to Chelsea, who was making a Key-limetini drink in the kitchen.
“Another one what?” Chelsea asked.
“Another cancellation. This potential hurricane is becoming a real concern for everyone.” Maggie lowered her reading glasses below the bridge of her nose. “Everyone but you it would seem.”
“Hey, I’m concerned, I just don’t see how not making my favorite drink will change the trajectory of the storm. This is my way of getting prepared.”
“Uh-huh,” Maggie responded. “Well, I’m thinking that I shouldn’t wait for more cancellations. The weather forecast has me convinced that I better close the inn and get into preparation mode. Have you even looked at the news?”
Chelsea shook her head. “I try not to watch the news most of the time. It depresses me.”
Paolo came inside and dropped a basket of Swiss chard, tomatoes, zucchini and basil onto the kitchen island.
“Have you heard the news?” he asked.
“No, what?” Maggie answered.
“Charlie Trainor just told me that there’s going to be a Town Hall meeting tomorrow morning at ten. He and several others have been getting the word out by going around town and letting the businesses know. He said there will be information on the Town Hall website but also they’ve sent out an announcement about the meeting on our cell phones. Did you get one?”
“I left my cell phone in the carriage house. Chelsea, do you have anything on your phone?”
Rummaging through her purse, Chelsea looked for her phone.
“I wondered what that weird alarm was earlier,” she said.
Maggie stood next to Chelsea so that she could see the announcement.
“What’s that?” Maggie said, pointing to the screen.
Chelsea quickly swiped up on the phone and the app closed. Shocked, Maggie asked, “Was that a dating app?”
By the look on Chelsea’s face, Maggie knew she was right.
Coming to Chelsea’s rescue, Paolo asked, “What about the Town Hall announcement?”
Chelsea found the text. “Yes, here it is. The meeting is scheduled for tomorrow morning at ten. It looks like there’s every indication that the storm is going to hit Captiva and Sanibel. The meeting is to discuss preparations and evacuations.”
“Evacuations? My heavens, this is serious,” Maggie said. She looked at Paolo and then at Chelsea. “Do you think we should leave? Is there any possibility that we could ride out the storm?”
“Ride out the storm? Maggie, are you crazy? Have you never experienced a hurricane before?” Chelsea asked.