Page 109 of Wandering Souls

Water rained down on them. Hollywood didn’t seem to notice, but Ray felt it slam into his shoulders. It smashed against the metal with an almighty crash.

“Over here!”

The call from a fellow volunteer almost gave Ray a heart attack but when he turned, he couldn’t believe his eyes. Emerging from the rubble, Gabe and Kate carried their twin boys. Though completely unharmed and safe, they looked weary.

Ray broke into a run. Hollywood bounded passed and pulled the family into a group hug. The reunion slowed Ray’s legs. Relief poured through him as he joined them.

“You had us worried.” Ray shook Gabe’s hand.

Gabe simply shook his head and stared lovingly at his wife. “No need. My GI Jane had everything under control.”

Looking around them, Ray couldn’t figure out how they’d survived the firestorm that annihilated their home. “How?”

Gabe pointed at the ground. “We built an underground bunker last year. We were fine, if a little hot.”

“Here, let me.” Hollywood took both of the twins from their parents and cuddled them, talking to them in cutesy baby-talk.

With their hands free, Gabe and Kate turned to each other. Watching the strong, muscular Gabe wrap his wife up in a hug reminded Ray of Abi and what it felt like to hold her. Jealousy and grief welled up in his gut. She’d been gone a week and he’d managed to distract himself with work and volunteering and keeping Millie busy—anything to avoid time alone. For the most part, it had done the trick, but seeing the couple stare into each other’s eyes as if nothing else mattered rammed home the sense of loneliness.

How he’d survive the next few months without her was beyond him. He could keep himself busy but working himself into an early grave seemed unhelpful. On the bright side, he’d managed to convince Grace and Millie to stay in the Crossing until Easter. At least he wouldn’t be on his own, even if loneliness threatened to make him go insane.

Chapter Twenty

As night fell, Abiset the chopper on the ground and glanced across at Damien. The lights of the instrument panel caught his blue-gray eyes. They sparkled with joy. Flying with him today had been more of a privilege than she could have imagined. His knowledge of the aircraft exceeded that of a man who flew fixed-wing planes and his instinct of where to drop the buckets of water proved invaluable.

While the rotor blades slowed and the whir of the engine slowly died down, he removed his head set and hung it on its hook.

“We make a great team,” he said with a smile.

And to think she almost turned her back onthis.“We do.” She wanted to kick herself. All along, everyone kept telling her she was right where she was supposed to be but tunnel-vision prevented her from seeing what was really important. “Thank you.”

He blinked and shook his head. “No, thank you. Your skills today have been amazing.”

Abi reached across and set her hand on his. “Thank you for coming to the base. Your support means the world to me.”

“Do you regret it?”

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