Page 66 of The Baxters
Yes, this was the ominous moment Elizabeth haddreaded. She could feel it. “John?” Her voice sounded shrill, desperate. “Hurry!”
He jogged back down the stairs, Luke and Erin behind him. John motioned to the basement door. “Everyone get down to the corner.” He looked at Elizabeth. “I’m going after Ashley and Landon.”
It was what she wanted him to do, but at the same time she was terrified something would happen to him. “Hurry. Please.” She hesitated. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” He waited till they were safely at the bottom of the basement stairs, and he shut the door behind them.
They had pillows and a couple old mattresses set up in the corner of the storage room, the safest place for storms like this. The area had cement-block walls and room for a dozen people.
Luke went ahead of the others and adjusted a few pillows. “Here, Mom. You and Cole sit here.” He and Erin took the spot next to her. “I don’t like Dad being out there. Landon and Ashley could be anywhere.”
Her son was right.Lord, please be with them. Bring them back, Father. Keep them safe.
A few minutes passed and Elizabeth heard the basement door open. “They’re here,” John yelled down. “We’re on our way.”
She could hear the sirens, still loud and constant. Warning of the danger ahead. Ashley and Landon came into view first, and then John. Landon had hold of Ashley’s hand as they found spots in the storm room.
Before Ashley sat down, she took Cole from Elizabeth’s arms. “Thank you, Mom.” She gasped for air. “We… we got here as quickly as we could.”
“Thank God you made it!” She watched her daughter take a spot on the opposite wall, Cole in her arms, Landon at her side.
The picture they made was perfect, and Elizabeth wondered if life would ever really look like this for Ashley. If she would find it in herself to let her guard down long enough for Landon to love her. The way he so clearly longed to do. At the same time, Elizabeth was plagued by a pang of guilt. She had worked too hard to get Landon here tonight. Ashley had to make her own decisions.
Elizabeth had never wanted to meddle, but tonight she’d done just that. She would apologize to Ashley later.
Lord, I was wrong tonight. Inviting Landon here. I’m sorry. But here we are, and You’ve saved us again.Elizabeth closed her eyes. Whatever happened next, at least they were safe. She thought about Brooke and Peter and Maddie.Lord, keep them in Your hands, too. Please.
In the quiet of the cellar, Elizabeth felt something special happening, something deeper than the seven of them fleeing from a storm. Luke had his arm around Erin, and Landon still had hold of Ashley’s hand. With his other hand, he ran his fingers over baby Cole’s soft hair.
The child was falling back to sleep, and Landon was helping.
Beside Elizabeth, John took a slow breath. “I don’tknow if we’ll get hit by a tornado tonight.” He looked around the small room at each of them. “But I know this. We’re going to be okay.” A half smile lifted his lips. “Since we don’t have anywhere to go, maybe we can makethisa family meeting.”
Groans and laughter came from Luke and Erin and Ashley. But mostly laughter. And suddenly Elizabeth had one hope for this moment. That by some miracle this terrible night might become a time of healing. Because of God’s grace there would not be a disaster inside or outside the walls of the Baxter home tonight.
But rather, a disaster averted.
ASHLEY’S CHEEKS FELThot and she wondered if her face was still red. Whatever had happened out there by the rock, it had only left her more confused. Confused and infatuated all at the same time.
She nestled in close to Landon and listened to her father. Earlier this evening when everyone was fighting, Ashley never could’ve imagined the night ending this way. Her baby son had nearly died and in the hours since Landon saved his life, things between them had changed.
Between all of them.
“We’ve been through a lot tonight.” Her dad leaned back against the cement wall. “Landon. We will never have enough words to thank you. For saving Cole.”
Landon nodded. “Glad I was here.” He narrowed his eyes. “I keep thinking, what if I hadn’t just taken thatclass?” He looked at Ashley. “What if I would’ve been halfway down the street when you called my name?”
“We can’t think of the what-ifs.” Her father sounded strong, confident. “But about the fight that happened earlier.” He turned to their mom. “Your mother and I were crushed. We’ve never…” He looked at Luke and then at Ashley. “Never heard you talk that way to each other.”
“It was my fault.” Luke was quick to speak up. He caught Ashley’s eyes. “I’m sorry, Ash. The things I said… you could hate me forever for that.”
“I don’t.” She cradled Cole a little closer to her chest. “It was like… we both forgot who we are.”
Her response resonated through her heart. Wasn’t that her problem, after all? She sighed.I’ve forgotten who I am. In every area of life.But tonight… tonight in this basement shelter she remembered. And for this one moment of clarity she felt like the girl she’d left behind.
“I guess I just wanted to remind all of you of the truth. Who we are.” Her dad put his arm around their mom. “Being a Baxter means something. To us, as your parents, and to each of you. Because you alone know what it was like growing up in this family.”
This wasn’t a lecture. It was her dad baring his heart, reminding them of what he and their mom had spent a lifetime teaching them. Ashley liked that. She appreciated that her dad would make the effort. Even though on so many levels Ashley no longer believed the way her parents did.
