I crested the hill and nearly dropped to my knees there.
The school had been hit head-on.
The front was all smashed in, and so was the back. Cars were flipped and turned in the parking lot, and a few were on their sides and roofs across the street.
No, Lord. Oh please, no. Please, please, no.I slowed at the edge of the lot, not sure how to proceed.
Or how to go on. Because if Jade and Jessie were gone…
The faint sound of crying reached me just as I stumbled closer. My heart picked up speed with my feet as I began to run again. And just as I reached the lawn, a side door that I hadn’t seen opened. And a relief that nearly broke me flooded my senses as the principal, who I recognized from Jessie’s talent show, began leading children out in two straight lines.
He saw me and gestured wildly. “Help us get them out!”
I was already running toward them, my training kicking into gear. “Jade and Jessie?” I asked breathlessly as I reached them.
He nodded behind him. “At the far end of the building. But their door isn’t working, so we have to get everyone out this way.”
I wanted nothing more than to dart down the hall at top speed and fetch them. But he was right. The school was already in shambles. It would be safer to get everyone out in an orderly fashion.
“Do you need me to call—” I started.
He shook his head. “Call’s already been made.” He pointed out to the far corner of the parking lot. “Let’s get them started over there. The teachers will keep them organized. Once the hall is clear, I’ll need your help with first aid.”
I thanked God that the Air Force required emergency training once a year. And though it killed me not to rush straight in to look for the two people I loved most in the world, I knew I would have to be patient.
Loved.
It was the first time I’d really thought of it this way. I’d been sure I loved Jessie back when I proposed to her. And I did. But whatever it was I had then was different from what I was feeling now. That affection had been as sweet and innocent as Jessie was. But this devotion I felt inside now was as passionate and ardent as the sun. It had survived a six-month deployment, Sam Newman, Amy’s return, and a tornado. I’d been kidding myself when I thought I could just give her up and move back to Amy. Jessie was in my heart, and she was there to stay. And no amount of my pig-headedness could change that. I just desperately hoped now that she would be in the shape to receive that kind of love. Because if something had happened…
Focus. I had to focus.
Five minutes later, most of the inner hall, which had been miraculously spared, was cleared. My uneasiness grew again, however, when I realized that the last class I helped to lead out to the parking lot was Jade’s, but they emerged with neither Jade nor Jessie. Then a familiar scream echoed from down the hall.
Blowing by the principal, I sprinted toward the sound. Several people were lying in the hall, other staff members kneeling at their sides, but I headed straight for the sound.
Relief brought tears to my eyes as I saw Jade standing near the broken door. Aside from a few cuts, there was no blood. I scooped her up and squeezed her to my chest. She fought me until she realized who it was. Then she clung to me and screamed harder.
“She won’t come with us,” one of the other teachers said…Madison, I think. Her hair was wet and wind-whipped, but she looked like she would be okay as well. Then she looked pointedly at the ground, and I followed her gaze.
Jessie lay on the ground. Her eyes were fluttering, and there was a small puddle of blood under her arm.
“What happened?” I asked, putting Jade down and kneeling at her side. Jade continued to cry, but she stopped screaming at least. “Jessie.” I raised my voice. “Jess, can you hear me?”
For a moment, I thought she might focus on me, but her eyes didn’t focus as she moaned.
“I think it’s from the blood loss.” Madison’s voice shook. “She had the cut when she came back from getting Jade. She didn’t even notice it at first, I just saw it because I glanced up when she slammed the door shut.” She broke into sobs. “She should have wrapped something around it, but it all went so fast, and the winds hit, and—”
I didn’t hear the rest of what she said as I unlaced my left boot. Grabbing the knife out of my pocket, I cut part of the lace off and wrapped it around her arm as quickly as I could. It wasn’t the most beautiful tourniquet in the world, but it should stop the majority of the blood loss.
“We need to get her out of here,” the principal said, coming to stand behind me. “I’m not sure how long the building will hold.”
I frowned. It would be best not to move her until the paramedics arrived, but he was right. The building was already groaning as it was. Gently, so gently, I picked her up, and we began the long trek down the darkened hall, small beams of sunlight filtering in through the holes in the roof. Jade followed, much to my relief, letting Madison take her by the hand this time. I hugged Jessie as tightly as I dared to my chest, thankful for the warmth still emanating from her. In spite of the rain and wind, she still smelled familiar and reminded me of home.
“Hang on, baby,” I whispered into her hair, my throat threatening to close on the words as I spoke them. “I’m going to get you out of here.” Despite my rush, I couldn’t help but press one small kiss against her temple. It would probably be the last time I could ever pretend she was mine.
A medical helicopter arrived as we made our way out to her class. Teachers shooed their children away from the small space someone had cleared as it landed. Jessie was in the worst condition, so I was waved forward. I went as fast as I could without bouncing her too hard, praying every step of the way.
“Are you her husband?” the medic asked as I approached.
