Page 39 of Seventeen Years Ago

“Aiza, you were in the meeting. Even though the full force of the storm will not have made landfall yet, we will feel the high winds and rain coming in. New Hope was built to withstand such weather. I’d really prefer you to know that you are here, safe,”Where I don’t have to worry about you.

“My cottage hasn’t fallen down yet,” she replied defensively.

Reesa interjected. “No one should be traveling on the roads tomorrow. The police are going to drive throughout the night to all the remote homes that do not have a cell phone or internet service to contact for help. They are making sure the people understand we are in a state of emergency, what actions to take and where the emergency shelters are if they want to go to one The only ones on the roads will be me and our emergency response team. Is that understood?”

“Yes. But I can’t leave my grandmother alone at the cottage,” she replied.

“Of course not. Have her stay with you here at the resort,” Reesa said.

“Is Finn staying with you?” Aiza questioned.

“Trust me, I wish he was, but his place is at the hospital with the patients and his staff. And mine is here at our ‘command center’. If we all do our part, hopefully, we can all return to our homes in a few days.”

I thought I’d already be there by now.

Aiza turned to me and said, “We will need to stop by the cottage so I can grab some clothes for a couple of days.”

Good. You’re finished arguing about something that no way in hell was I going to let you do. You might not like me, but damn it, I like you a whole lot and care deeply about what happens to you.

As long as I am here in Tabiq, I am going to do my best to make sure she was safe.

Wish I could also make sure you are happy, but I fucked that all up years ago. Sorry, Aiza.

“Finn was thoughtful and stopped by our home and brought me more than I need when he came for the meeting. I don’t know if anyone else feels this way, but I can’t wait to get out of this business attire and into something comfortable,” Reesa said. “Get used to seeing me in jeans for a while,” she warned.

“Works for me,” Aiza said.

We stopped by and Allyson had already packed up a travel package for us. Reesa took care of everything despite being as busy as she was. But I noticed that even though Reesa was probably only a couple of years older than Aiza, she had a different kind of protectiveness towards her. It’s as though she’d adopted her as a younger sister or something. I was glad to know that even though her parents were no longer alive, Aiza had others watching out for her.

You mean a lot to so many people. They must all see how special you are, just like I do.

I hadn’t realized how far her grandmother was from the resort. Two hours on the bumpy and winding roads at night definitely wasn’t a place any woman should be on alone at night. We had traveled almost fifteen minutes without even seeing a house before we entered the next town. The thought that she had been willing to do this on her own, and probably had before, didn’t sit well with me. I knew better than to bring it up again. Right now we were talking, even if it was not about what I wanted to.

I could tell by her chatter that her focus was on her grandmother. We were going to have the next couple of days for us to talk. And I was going to make sure we did.

With me driving, and Aiza giving directions, we arrived in record time, and were already retrieving her grandmother. Everything had gone smoothly till we encountered our first issue as I watched her grandmother trying to get into the SUV. It was the conversation between the two that held my attention. They were equally stubborn and not willing to give in.

“Grandma, let me get a ladder,” Aiza said.

“No. I can do it. I’m not an invalid,” she snapped. “I just need a boost.”

“I’m trying, but I’m not much taller than you are,” she replied sighing heavily.

They weren't making any progress and if we wanted to make it back to the resort before daybreak, then they needed assistance, whether they liked it or not.

I stepped in and said, “Let me help.”

As though she had read my mind, Aiza said firmly, “My grandmother isnotgoing to let you pick her up and put her inside.”

“Why not?” I asked.

“Because she is a very proud woman and does not accept help,” Aiza replied.

“I do, when there is a strong muscular man offering it,” Grandma said.

I gave Aiza a wicked smile, maybe even a little flex of my biceps, before turning to her grandmother. “Just slip your arm around my neck and I’m going to scoop you up into my arms.” I bent down and she did as I asked.

“Oh my. You are strong. You make me miss my husband. He was big and rugged like you,” she said and squeezed my biceps. I wasn’t sure if I was blushing or not, but definitely a little embarrassed. I looked at Aiza who was beet red and mortified. She mouthed,sorry.I just gave her a wink and deposited her grandmother, gently and safely, onto the back seat.

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