Page 37 of One Sultry Summer

After everyone had left, we cleaned up the discarded coffee cups and napkins and headed over to the Skybrook Inn. As we made our way up the steps, we ran into Abby. Her face was stricken with worry.

“Em! Emily!”

“Abby, what’s wrong?”

“I lost Emily.”

“Where do you think she’d go?”

“The cemetery.”

It was a strange place for a four-year-old to go, but I didn’t question it. “I know where that’s at. Let me go find her.”

“Are you sure?”

I nodded my head andran downstairs. I hopped in my car, pulled up the cemetery address on my GPS, and proceeded to drive. I needed assistance finding it, especially since the first time I passed it, I was riding on a horse from a trail. I turned on the wipers to keep up with the steady trickle of rain that came down.

A few minutes later, the cemetery came into view. I parked in the lot, turned off the ignition, and ran to the gates. My heart pounded. I still had no idea why Emily would be at a cemetery, by herself, let alone, during a storm. I yelled her name and ran up and down the rows, looking for her. Then, I spotted a bright yellow romper.

She was on her knees, her hands covering her face, her shoulders shaking. I took a step closer and read the headstone.

Lauren Woods, wife and loving mother, gone too soon. Jacoby Woods, son and brother, taken before life began. I grasp my chest and finally understand Wyatt’s heartache. I pushed aside my thoughts for the time being.

“Emily?”

She looked up and wiped her eyes, although it didn’t do much good with the rain coming down. “Pretty lady. What are you doing here?”

“Everyone is looking for you, and I think you gave your grandmother a scare. Let me take you back, okay?”

“Okay.” She wiped her eyes again from the tears, not the rain, and it broke my heart. I held out my hand, and she took it. As we got to the gate, there was a crackle in the air. The sky lit up, and there was a loud booming sound. Emily covered her ears; it was so loud.

I was comforting Emily from the loud thunder, and the next thing I knew, lightning struck nearby, and a tree crashed down onto my rental car. “Holy shit!? That was a close one.” I dialed up the phone number for the inn. “All circuits are busy, please try your call again later.” I tapped Devin’s number on my cell phone and it rang once. He picked up immediately.

“Valerie. Where are you?”

“Thank god I got through. I tried calling the inn, but all circuits were busy. I found Emily. Looks like we’ll have to head back to Wyatt’s house on foot. Please let Abby know Emily’s with me.”

“Why aren’t you driving?”

“Small problem. My car got hit by a fallen tree.”

“That’s crazy! Wait…hold on.” I could hear someone in the background. “Valerie! You’ve got to find cover now!”

“From the rain? It’s no big deal. We’ll get dry once we get to Wyatt’s.”

“Nooo! They’re talking about a severe weather event. You know, a tornado warning?!?”

Fuck! How could I forget we were in tornado alley? The last thing I wanted to do was freak out Emily. I spoke in what I hoped was a calm voice since Emily was holding on to my leg. “I understand, but there is nowhere to take cover. We’re just going to head back to Wyatt’s. Pleaselet Abby know. And if you see Wyatt, tell him as well.”

I know Devin understood why I wasn’t freaking out and he calmly replied to me, just in case Emily could hear. “Valerie, be careful.”

“Will do.” I slipped my cell phone into my back pocket. I took my jacket off and tried to cover Emily’s head. “Okay, Emily. Time for us to run back to your daddy’s house.”

I didn’t know how many miles it was, but I was determined to make it there. “Hey, sweetie, how about I give you a piggyback ride?” I squatted down, and she jumped on my back. Somehow, she held on to me while keeping my jacket over both our heads.

My boots hit the path, and I ran as fast and as far as I could. Emily’s assistance was greatly appreciated as we made our way back toward the house. Especially at one point when I was about to go the wrong way. I’m so glad she knew her way back to her house!

I knew we were close when the apple orchard came into view. Then, an ear-piercing siren sound came out of nowhere. The sound could be heard from miles around, I was sure. Even though I was not from this area, I knew from watching movies that it was a warning that a tornado was nearby.

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