Lib Novel Page 26
Just then, Luke, Joshua and Finn joined them.
“Oh, my goodness, Finn. I didn’t know you were home,” Maggie said.
“I couldn’t let my brothers and father stay here without me. Maybe we can do some good by staying.”
“Any idea how many islanders plan to ride out the storm?” Paolo asked Crawford.
“No idea. I can guess but I don’t know for sure. Based on the people I’ve talked to, I know of at least eight families who are staying. I’ve got to assume the number is higher than that.”
Paolo shook Crawford’s hand. “You take care. Don’t try to be a hero. Do what you can but stay safe.”
Ciara wrapped her arms around Crawford and Maggie could see her blink back tears.
“Hey,” Crawford whispered to her. “Everything is going to be fine. I promise you.”
Ciara squeezed him tighter, then let go and quickly got inside the truck.
As Paolo drove away, Maggie waved and prayed for everyone’s safety. She reached back and took Ciara’s hand, squeezing it. “They’ll be okay, Ciara. I know it.”
* * *
It normally took three and a half hours to reach West Palm Beach from Captiva, but the backup on the bridge went on for miles.
“You know, I always wondered what was wrong with people who waited until the last minute to evacuate down here, and now I’m one of them,” Maggie said.
It took them two hours just to get off the island, and another three and a half hours to Devon and Eliza Hutchins’ West Palm Beach home. The entire drive was slow and painful, and the skies looked ominous the entire way.
As the sun peeked through the clouds the further away they got from the west coast of Florida, the safer they all felt.
They reached the Hutchins home and as they drove up the driveway, Maggie was shocked at the large estate in front of her.
“I thought their home in Cape Coral was huge, this is insane. Why does anyone need a house this big?”
“So that when a hurricane hits, people can stay here,” Chelsea teased.
“I wonder if they have tons of people sleeping over all the time. Who needs ten bedrooms and a bunch of bathrooms?”
“Apparently, the Hutchins family does,” Chelsea answered. “And here you were worried about a tiny kitten showing up on their doorstep. I bet if we never mention Penny, they wouldn’t even know she was visiting.”
There were already several cars in front of the three-car garage. Paolo parked in front of one on the far left.
Standing at the front door, Devon Hutchins welcomed his guests.
“You made it! Welcome to your home away from home,” he announced.
Noah came running out to greet them. “Grandma!”
“Hey, Noah. You beat us here. Give your grandmother a big hug.”
“Let’s get everyone settled in their rooms first, Noah. You can show your grandmother the chicks after that,” Devon said.
The French contemporary residence sat nestled on several acres of pristine landscape that extended far beyond what Maggie could see.
They followed Devon inside and the moment Maggie stepped across the threshold she was captivated by the high ceilings and open floor plan.
Devon’s wife, Eliza met them in the great expanse that was the front foyer. “Maggie, dear. How lovely to see you again…and you, Paolo. Who are your friends?”
“Hello, Eliza. This is Ciara, Paolo’s sister, and this is Chelsea, my best friend. I’m afraid when you invited us to stay with you, we added a couple more. This hurricane threatens their homes as well, so we felt you wouldn’t mind.”