Page 95 of Home Tears

“Bubba—”

“We’re not on elevated land at all. Robbie’s is probably the best place to go, but that’s a ten-minute drive. Is there already flooding out there?”

Hurrying past her, he pushed through the crowd to the back door. He opened the door, and they had their answer. The front lawn was already filled, and water rushed inside. “Fuck!” And then, for a muscular bodybuilder who was man enough to be called Chimp Two, he froze.

Dani didn’t. She rushed to close the door.

“Okay.” Dani shoved him back, away from the door, and said firmly, “We need boats, and we need shiners. Aiden’s gathering blankets and flashlights for everyone, but we need the kind that you’d use to shine deer or portable headlights.”

“We don’t have any.” His eyes were still rooted to the door.

“Neighbors. Who would have them?”

“Eddie would have some. He’s a big hunter.”

“Good. Do you have waders at all?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“Put them on, and go find Eddie. Grab a pair for him. Get all the lights and boats you can.”

“Okay.” Bubba jerked to reality and surged past her.

Dani hauled him back. “Make sure to come back.”

Bubba nodded. “I will.”

Kate was heading their way, her arms filled with blankets. “Okay. This is weird. Can you hold these? Aiden dumped them on me and said to bring them to you, but my phone is buzzing like crazy. I need to answer it. What is going on?”

There was no time to mince words. “We’re going to flood. No one knows, and I have to get Jonah away from that table without alarming people.”

“What?” But then Kate transformed in front of her. Her buzzed/probably drunk friend suddenly became a police officer. The glaze was gone from her eyes, and she nodded, alert. “What do you need from me?”

“Aiden’s getting blankets and flashlights for everyone. I sent Bubba to the neighbor’s for a boat. It’s going to be too late for people to drive their cars home.”

“Okay.” Kate pulled her phone out. “I’ll call our location in. You go and get Jonah.” She eyed the water that was leaking in under the door. “People will have to start going upstairs soon.”

“I know, but only a few at a time. We don’t want a stampede.” A round of clapping broke out from the basement. They were wasting time. She had to tell him. “I’m going to get Jonah.”

Kate was already talking on the phone, heading to the garage.

They broke for another pot when the third guy left the table. Jonah stood up, and a group of people swarmed him, but Dani slipped through. She caught his hand, and tugged him with her. Once upstairs, Jonah’s hands found her waist. “What’s going on?”

She pulled him into the first private corner they came across. “There’s flash floods, and the water is already coming into this house. I’ve sent Bubba to get boats and headlights from his neighbor. Aiden is getting blankets and regular flashlights, and Kate went to call the station.” She paused, sucking some air into her lungs. “We can’t stay in this house. We can start moving people upstairs, but not everyone will fit. What do we do?”

Jonah didn’t say anything. He only stared at her.

She took a breath.

And waited.

Then she opened her mouth, but his mouth was on top of hers. His hands cupped both sides of her face, and he half pulled her to him as she stretched to meet him. One moment. That was all they needed. She felt him, reminding herself that he was there. He was solid, and the water coming for them couldn’t take him away.

Then he pulled away, rested his forehead to hers, and gazed down into her eyes. “I think I fucking love you.”

“I—”

But he stood back, and just like that, the transformation happened right in front of her. He wasn’t her Jonah. An authoritative air came over him, and he was now a professional. “Aiden’s got a few canoes. We could use them. They’ll rock over with the first blast of wind that comes flying, but we’re in the middle of summer. The water won’t be hypothermia cold, not at first. It will be safe for them in case a canoe tips. They can hold on to it. It’ll keep them adrift, if it gets bad.” He took her hand and led her through the crowd, heading to the garage. “They built in the worst possible spot. All the water’s going to slide down and pool by this house. We’re right in the middle of any current that picks up.”

---