Lib Novel Page 23
Chelsea went off to the kitchen and Maggie dialed Millie’s cell phone.
“Hey, Maggie. Looks like the island’s got a bit of excitement going on. How are you coping?”
“We’re fine. We’re evacuating to my daughter in-law’s in-law’s place in West Palm Beach. We’ll stay there until it’s safe to come back. How about you?”
“Me? I’m going to stay with friends who are a bit north and east of us,” Millie said.
“Oh, that’s great. I wanted to give you a call to let you know where we’re going. We’ve boarded up the windows and secured the property as best we can. There isn’t much more to do but wait and pray. I’ll get in touch with you when we return. Hopefully, there won’t be too much damage.”
“Thank you, for letting me know, Maggie. You all stay safe.”
Maggie ended the call and joined Chelsea in the other room. “How’s it going?”
“Great. You know I’d forgotten how awesome these photos are. I remember you showing me some of these when you first bought the place.”
“Yeah, there is quite a lot of history with the inn. That’s why I wanted to make sure we take these and the journals and books with us. I’ll be heartbroken if anything happens to them.”
Maggie ran her fingers over a 1960 photo of the inn when it was a profitable business for Rose Johnson Lane and her family.
Chelsea smiled. “If these walls could talk.”
Maggie nodded and looked around the room, her heart heavy with sadness. “I feel like I’m saying goodbye. I know it’s crazy to imagine that it will float away into the Atlantic, but I’m scared, Chelsea. This inn has become so important to me. It’s not only my home, but the place where I found myself. I can’t lose it.”
Chelsea put her arm around Maggie. “You won’t lose it. This building has withstood years of storms, both human and natural ones. It’s strong, just like its owner. It will still be here long after we’re gone.”
Maggie walked out onto the porch and looked up at the gray sky. The clouds were moving faster than she’d seen since living on the island. She wrapped her arms around her shivering body. Gone were the wind chimes and hanging plants which Paolo had taken down along with the porch swing.
Chelsea joined her on the porch. “Do you hear that?” she asked Maggie.
“What? It sounds like a cat’s meow.”
Chelsea walked down the stairs and looked under the porch. “It’s a kitten.”
“What?” Maggie ran down to get a look under the porch. “Oh, my goodness. Where did you come from?”
Maggie looked around for any sign of the mother or even another kitten but didn’t find any other cats. She lay on the ground and moved closer, taking care not to scare the kitten.
Moving her hand in front of the kitten, she said, “It’s okay. I won’t hurt you.”
The kitten never moved, so Maggie reached out as quickly as she could and pulled the kitten into her body. She slid back out from under the porch and cradled the baby in her arms.
“She’s a little dirty but seems to be okay. Let’s get her inside.”
Maggie carried the kitten inside and looked at Chelsea. “Now, what do we do?”
“Good question. Most of the businesses have already closed down. Let’s call the animal hospital. I have to assume they’d stay open right to the last minute.”
Chelsea dialed the hospital and was relieved when a person answered the call. Explaining the situation, the woman instructed Chelsea to bring the kitten into the vet as soon as possible.
Handing Chelsea a towel to wrap the kitten in, she then grabbed her car keys. “Come on, I’ll drive.”
“I’ll keep her warm and hold her close.”
“How do you know it’s a girl?” Maggie asked.
“I don’t, but I can tell that she’s a fighter. That makes her a girl in my book,” Chelsea answered.
* * *