She nodded, trying to stay positive. The TV footage now showed waves crashing over a seawall, spraying the surf high up into the air. The ticker at the bottom of the screen reported storm surges of eight to twelve feet in some areas. Her stomach tightened.
“I need some air,” she said suddenly, setting the remote down and sliding off the bed. “Want to go down to the lobby for some coffee?”
“Hotel coffee?” Maxine raised an eyebrow. “You’d drink that?”
“Desperate times,” she replied with a half-smile.
They took the elevator down to the lobby, which was busier than she expected. Other evacuees milled about, some glued to their phones, others gathered around the large television mounted on the wall which was tuned to the same weather coverage they’d been watching upstairs.
The coffee station in the corner offered self-serve carafes and foam cups. She poured herself a cup and grimaced at the first sip. “Well, that’s not Coastal Coffee’s brew.”
“Told you.” Maxine laughed and opted for hot tea instead.
They found seats in a quiet corner, away from the television but with a view of the rain through the large glass doors. The trees outside bent in the wind, though Fort Lauderdale was only getting the outer bands of the storm.
“Remember that hurricane when we were, what? About sixteen?” she asked, staring out at the rain.
“I do.”
“The damage was terrible. But we all came together afterward. Everyone helping everyone.” She stared down at the coffee cup in her hands. “That’s what I love about Magnolia Key. When it counts, people show up for each other.”
“You think they will even with all the fighting lately? All the disagreement about Cliff’s development?”
She considered that for a moment. “Maybe especially because of that. We might disagree, but it’s because everyone cares so deeply about the island.” She paused. “I just hope…” She couldn’t finish the thought.
“The island will still be there,” Maxine said firmly. “It might look different, but it will still be there.”
An older couple sat down nearby, the man’s phone to his ear as he spoke urgently. “Nothing yet from your brother? Well, keep trying. The news says the barrier islands took a hard hit.”
She and Maxine exchanged glances, both thinking the same thing. Magnolia Key was one of those barrier islands.
Dale came walking up to them, interrupting their thoughts. “You’ll never guess who I just saw.”
“Who?” Maxine patted the seat next to her, and Dale sat down.
“Miss Eleanor, Jonah, and Cliff.” Dale laughed. “Oh, and Winston.”
“I’m glad they got off the island safely.” Maxine leaned against Dale.
“Well, Cliff told quite a story about Winston running off, and while they were trying to find him, the last ferry left.”
“Oh, no. How did they get to the mainland?” Beverly asked.
“A very rough ride across the bay on Jonah’s boat.”
She stood up, and unease flooded through her, as pounding as the storm surge. “I can’t just sit here.”
“Maybe we should try to get some rest,” Maxine suggested. “There’s nothing we can do right now except wait.”
“I know you’re right. But I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep at all tonight.”
“We’ll come up to your room, and we’ll stay up together.” Maxine glanced at Dale, who nodded. “Watch storm coverage and raid the vending machine. At least until you get tired of us and throw us out.”
She smiled gratefully at her friend. “I’m glad you’re here, Maxine. I don’t think I could handle this alone.”
“Where else would I be?” Maxine stood and hugged her. “We’ve weathered worse storms together.”
They headed back upstairs, passing more worried-looking evacuees in the lobby. In her room, she turned the TV back on but muted it, watching the images of the storm’s aftermath begin to come in from the hardest-hit areas.
