“I want to be with you,” I cried out as I felt the building shake all around us.
He climbed off the shelf and came to sit on the floor in front of me. “I don’t want you to move off the shelf. Stay where you are, and I will sit in front of you. If it makes you feel better, give me your hand.” He reached around behind himself and extended his hand to me.
I did as he ordered, and he held my hand and stroked it as he spoke to me in calm, soothing tones. The warmth from his hand enveloped mine. His back was to me, but it made me feel secure, locked in, and hidden from any danger.
He encouraged me to talk about my dreams for the bakery’s future and my personal dreams. He encouraged me to talk about my relationship with my family and my friends. Before it was all said and done, my voice was barely above a whisper, and the stress and panic that had taken hold of me before no longer existed.
It felt like an hour or more had passed, but I knew no more than ten minutes had passed. He stood and walked to the door. “Stay right there, Baby.”
“Okay,” I mumbled, too afraid to stay but even more afraid to get up and leave.
Harlem opened the door and stepped outside for a while. The entire time he was gone, I whispered prayers and tried to ease the knot of tension and fear in my belly. He returned a few minutes later.
“You can come on out now. It’s over.”
I glanced up at him with watery eyes, and he helped me to climb off the shelf. I immediately threw my arms around him while I broke down crying. Standing there in his arms, with him holding me as I cried and whispering it was okay made me realize that I had never felt safer and more comfortable than I had at this moment.
I stood in his arms for several minutes before I pulled back. Harlem wiped my tears before he brushed his warm, soft lips against my forehead.
“Thank you, Harlem.”
“Come on. Let’s go check out the damages to see what’s been lost, what can be recovered, and all that.”
“Did you see damage?” I asked as he walked toward the door, holding my hand.
“Yes.”
My heart sank in my chest, because I could tell by his dull tone that a lot of damage had been done. An entire tree crashed against my window.
The moment that I saw the broken window and the small tree resting on my pastry case, I broke down crying again.
The windows were broken, there were upended tables and chairs, and destroyed items on my counters and shelves. All the damage had occurred to the front of the bakery, and the rear was intact. The kitchen, break room, restrooms, and the storage areas were all intact.
“I wish that I had superpowers,” I confessed.
“What do you mean?” His voice was thick with emotion.
“Superpowers to fix everything that’s been broken and to cause the sun to shine again,” I whispered.
He squeezed my hand. “I know that it’s a stretch, and we’re only two days out, but I promise you’ll still be able to open on your expected date with the help of the community.”
“There is too much damage, Harlem. There’s no way that we’ll be able to put it all together, even with the community’s help.”
“Baby, don’t underestimate the power of this community.”
I sobbed, and Harlem just pulled me closer.
No matter what he said, I knew in my heart that my dream was ruined. How could I recover from this?
Harlem pulled back and stared at me, and I wished that he could make it all go away.
His eyes softened, he lowered his head, and I felt him draw nearer to me.
“You’re so beautiful, Tegan. Every little freckle, your gorgeous light eyes, your curly hair, and your cute little nose, and downturned lips, everything about you is so beautiful, but especially your heart. People with hearts like yours will always be rewarded.”
I wanted to believe him, and I wanted more of him. Harlem was a good man who I wouldn’t mind having around. I wasn’t sure if it was the emotion of the storm or something else, but I wanted everything that he was bringing to my life.
I felt myself weakening in his arms as his soft lips met mine. His kiss wasn’t explorative, but reassuring, comforting, and confirmation. Confirmation that he would be there, and I could rely on him in my hour of need. The kiss grew deeper and more thorough. His lips were sweet, warm, and comforting. I had no power to break away from him, and I found that I did not want to. In his arms and underneath that kiss, I vowed that I wouldn’t push him away. I would trust him to show up and be who he said he was; I would lean into this.
