Page 29 of Landon (In Safe Hands)
“No…we…whatif the house collapsed on us? What if we’re buried?” She stands up and shovesthe door.
“Stop.”I wrap my arms around her middle. “Listen to me. There’s plenty of snacks andwater in the fridge. Even if it takes a bit for rescuers to dig us out, we’llbe fine.”
“We’retrapped,” she mumbles.
“Withfood, water, lights, and even a bathroom. There’s no reason to be afraid.”
Takinga deep breath, she swallows her panic and says, “I don’t have coverage. Can youget a signal down here?”
Goodquestion. I grab my phone from my back pocket and am greeted with one bar. WhenI walk down two steps, it disappears. Returning to the top of the stairs, Idial Jeremy. “Landon! You make it home okay? They said a tornado came throughyour side of town.”
“Yeah,listen, we’re trapped in my basement. I heard the windows break and…” My handsdrag through my hair. “Shit, I’m not sure the house is still standing.Something’s blocking the basement hatch.”
“Holyfuck! Are you hurt?”
“No,we’re fine.”
“Whois we?”
“Zoe’shere.”
“Okay,don’t worry. I’m calling 911 and letting them know where you are. I’ll try toget to your house and call you back. Just stay put.”
“LikeI have a choice, asshole,” I snort, and he chuckles. “Let it ring until Ianswer. I have to leave the phone on the top step where it has a signal.”
“Understood.I’ll let you know as soon as I know something.”
“Thanks,man.”
“Let’sgo back downstairs,” I suggest, disconnecting the call. We settle on the sofaand before she can resist, I pull her into my arms. Her head rests against mychest and I tighten my hold on her trembling body. It tears me up to see her sofrightened. “It’s over. We just have to wait for rescuers to get to us. Don’tbe afraid.”
“I’mnot. I just can’t stop shaking.” She cuddles into me, warm and soft.
“It’sthe adrenaline. It’ll wear off.” We spend nearly an hour cuddled there,waiting.
“SorryI freaked out,” Zoe says, breaking the silence.
“Youdidn’t freak out. We just survived a tornado. You’re allowed to be afraid.”
Herfingers trace my collarbone. “Were you scared?”
“Terrified,I knew you were here alone and I didn’t think I could make it in time.”
“Youcame back for me?” Her voice is incredulous.
God,she really has no idea. “Of course I did. I didn’t think you knew about thebasement hatch.”
“Ididn’t. I’d have stayed in the bathroom if I’d heard the siren.”
Ithread my fingers through her hair, and she responds with a low hum. “No sirenshere, they’re too far away to hear.”
“Oh.”She’s quiet as she considers what could’ve happened.
Myringtone shatters the silence and we rush up the stairs. “Jeremy, what’s thenews?”
“Areyou sitting down?” His voice is thick with emotion.
“Isthe house gone?” Zoe sits beside me on the step and slides her arm around mywaist.
