She laughed. “You know me too well. I still need to drag the outside planters in. I have a few more shutters to put up. I hate not having any natural light inside, so I left off the two in the kitchen.”
“You both stay safe.” Dale gave Maxine another kiss and hurried down the street.
“I’d almost forgotten about all the prep for possible hurricanes. Pushed it from my memory, I guess.” Maxine fell into step beside her.
“It’s been a while since we’ve had a big one. But Magnolia Key has weathered the storms before. We’ll get through this one.”
As they reached the cottage, she pulled out her keys and opened the front door. She flipped on the light in the dark room. “See, I hate this about the shutters. So dark inside.”
Maxine helped her put up the last shutters, and they hurried to bring in everything from outside. They carried in the porch furniture and planters and set them in the entranceway.
“Do you have your to-go bag packed?”
“I do. Important files. A photo album from Mama. I keep meaning to scan the pages in so I’d never lose the photos, but I haven’t made time. And I have a few mementos that I’d hate to lose.”
Maxine grinned at her. “Did you remember to pack clothes?”
“Yes, those too.” She grinned as she rubbed her back, exhausted. “I have some tea in the fridge. Want a glass and a quick sit before you head home?”
“That sounds wonderful.” Maxine sat down with a sigh. “All this preparation has me thinking about when we were kids during that one hurricane. Mabel? Carol? Whatever the name. We were just in grade school and so scared. Do you remember how your mother made us play cards and drink hot chocolate to distract us?”
She brought the glasses to the table and sat next to her friend. “How could I forget? You cried the entire time, convinced the storm surge would sweep us all away.”
“I was a dramatic kid,” Maxine admitted, a sheepish grin spreading across her face. “But you have to admit, it was a pretty scary storm. Remember the old oak tree near Miss Eleanor’s? It split right down the middle, and I thought it was the end of the world.”
“Miss Eleanor was annoyed. Said the tree had been there for years and the storm had no right to destroy it.” She smiled, remembering. “I think Miss Eleanor was offended it dared to split like that. In her yard.”
“But it came back, didn’t it? Stronger than ever.”
“It did.” She nodded, thinking of how beautiful the tree was in front of Miss Eleanor’s house now.
“I wonder how Miss Eleanor is doing with this hurricane.”
“I’m sure Jonah is helping her secure her house.”
Maxine leaned forward. “Isn’t that great that they found each other again after all this time?”
“It is. And have you heard him call her Ellie?” She grinned. “I think that’s adorable.”
Maxine took one last sip of tea and stood. “I should get home. Dale helped me get everything secured already, but I’d like one last look. I think we’ll head out on the first ferry tomorrow.”
“That’s my plan too. They’ll probably run extra ferries, but they’ll have to stop when the bay gets rough from the approaching storm.”
She walked her friend to the front door and stepped outside with her. The sky was still a crystal clear blue with just a few clouds dotting the expanse. She hugged Maxine. “Stay safe. I’ll catch up with you on the mainland.”
Maxine hurried off down the street. As she turned to go inside, she caught sight of a familiar figure hurrying up the path, his face etched with concern.
“Cliff.” He was the last thing she needed now.
“Beverly, hi. I just wanted to make sure you heard about the mandatory evacuation orders.”
“I did.” Her words were clipped.
“Can I help with anything? Carry things in? Hang shutters?”
“It’s all done.” Not that she would have accepted help from him anyway.
“You sure? There’s nothing I can do?”
