“What?”
There wasn’t time to explain. “Where are you?”
“We’re just tying up.”
“Get home. Move things inside. I’ll call.” He screeched to a stop outside the park and leapt out of the car, his leg twinging. Don’t fail me now. He adjusted the prosthesis and yelled, “Jordan!” The plaque stood in the centre of the park surrounded by a gabled wall. No one was there.
The wind whisked his words away and rain pelted him in a barrage of drops.
He stumbled through the wind, praying his instincts were right. “Jordan!”
This time a head popped up from behind the wall, followed by a second one. Relief flowed through him. He waved the boys over and they ran to meet him. Jordan yelled something at him, but the wind was too loud. Arthur placed a hand around both of them and steered them back to the car, helping them inside.
“I’m sorry,” Jordan said, tears running down his face.
“It’s fine. Let’s get you home.” He passed his phone to Jordan. “Call your mum.”
He drove as fast as he dared, stopping to drop Cody at his house to a relieved Holly and then continuing to Gretchen’s. She had the garage door up and he drove straight in and she lowered it behind them.
“What were you thinking?” Gretchen exclaimed, dragging Jordan into her arms.
“Inside,” Arthur ordered. This was no ordinary storm. It was almost as dark as night and the windows were bowing under the pressure of the wind. “Have you got torches?”
“I’ve got a cyclone kit.” She pointed to a tub on the shelf.
Arthur grabbed it and hustled them further into the house, locking the door behind him. He called Sam while he checked the windows and doors and made sure nothing outside could become a projectile. “You safe?”
“Yeah, Penelope and I are at my place. Have you got my car?”
“Yeah. Will the Ridge hold up?” That farmhouse was ancient.
“They’ve got the cellar to shelter in.”
Not reassuring. “Take care.” He hung up and looped through the house to make sure it was secure while Gretchen towelled Jordan. “Let’s get you into dry clothes.”
Arthur exhaled as he checked the cyclone kit; a small gas cooker, tins of food, water and a first aid kit, torches and other essentials. The house shuddered as the wind roared around them.
Gretchen sent him a worried look as she handed him a towel. “It’s wild out there.”
He nodded and switched on the radio. It was tuned to the emergency station, where a broadcaster was urging people to prepare for the worst. The storm was predicted to rage until the morning. While they might be safe in their bedrooms, he preferred to be away from the windows.
The walk-in robe. It had no windows, was in the centre of the house and would be the most secure. They wouldn’t have to worry about flying glass or projectiles from outside.
Arthur strode into Gretchen’s room. She didn’t have a lot of clothes, but he moved any long items to one side.
“What are you doing?” Jordan asked. They’d both followed him.
“Making a shelter,” he explained. “This is the safest place for us to stay during the storm.” He had to shout to be heard. “Let’s drag a mattress and some rugs in here.”
Jordan smiled. “We’re camping in Mum’s closet?”
“Yep.”
Gretchen was already around the other side of her bed, ready to lift. They carried it into the room and it just fit. “Everyone go to the toilet and then gather supplies,” Arthur said. The less they had to leave the room, the better.
He carried the cyclone kit in, along with his bag, and he grabbed Jordan’s bunny rabbit from his room. Gretchen brought in snacks and Jordan fetched some games. They made a pile, and he surveyed it before going to the fridge to get two bottles of water. He might be overreacting, but he would keep his family safe.
Though the clouds blotted out the sun, darkening the day, there was still enough light to see, and he didn’t want to run down the torch battery and candles until he had to. He sat by the door, ready to slam it shut if necessary.
