Page 14 of Love in the Storm

“Hey. Is Jacob in bed yet?”

“Fast asleep. The storm kept him up for a bit, but he finally settled down.”

Jacob was a tough kid, but he didn’t like too many changes in his life. Asa being gone tonight no doubt threw a wrench in the way Jacob had anticipated the night going.

“It looks like I won’t make it home tonight. I had a wreck coming down the mountain. I’m okay, but the truck isn’t.”

“Oh no. Asa, I’m so sorry. It’s my fault you’re out in this mess. I should have gotten Mrs. Grant’s food to her earlier.”

“No one knew this storm was going to be this bad.”

“I know. I’m trying to accept the things I can’t control, but it’s tough.”

Asa knew all about that scary lack of control in every part of his life. His wife’s death, unpredictable criminals, raising a son–it was a lot to juggle.

“I’m at a rental cabin. A woman helped me inside and bandaged me up.”

“Bandaged?”

“I hit my head on the window. Just a scratch, but it bled quite a bit. It’s fine now.”

“That’s good news. No concussion?”

“Probably not. Just a headache.”

“Who got you out of the storm?” she asked.

Asa looked around, searching for the woman he was sharing the safe space with. “Her name is Lyric.”

“That’s good. I’m glad you’re not alone. I’ve been so worried.”

“No need to worry.”

His mother hummed. “Lyric. That’s a pretty name.”

“It’s different.” Asa rolled the name around in his head, but he still couldn’t place it to anything else he knew.

“Oh, she’s the girl Kendra talks about,” his mom said cheerily.

“Kendra Bates that works at Deano’s?” Asa asked.

“Yes, I’ve heard her mention meeting a woman named Lyric for lunch before.”

Asa glanced toward the hallway where Lyric had disappeared. “What do you know about her?”

“Kendra says she’s a sweetheart. They’re pretty close. She helped out when Kendra’s daughter and son-in-law had to move back in with them recently.”

A helper. That sounded like a solid description of the woman who’d been catering to him all evening. “She seems nice.”

Lyric walked in carrying a folded stack of Asa’s clothes. As much as he hated putting her out, she was doing a great job of taking care of him.

He sat up and watched her as she moved throughout the space. “I’ll call you in the morning, Mom. Thanks for everything.”

“Don’t worry. We’re fine here,” his mother assured. “Love you.”

“Love you too.”

He stood to meet Lyric, and she handed over the clothes, carefully keeping her chin tucked to her chest. “Here you go. Looks like the blood came out too.”

---