That Day, Karen Deen [early readers .txt] 📗

any more children, not at their age. So, sucks to be you.”

“The support I’m feeling here is overwhelming.” Both of us laugh out loud. This is how we’ve always been with each other, the teasing banter between us, and that is our way of showing how much we care.

“How bad was your shift last night? Any major issues or just some mild incidents?” Checking in on my sister is what I do. Being single, she doesn’t really have anyone to go home and debrief with after those hard shifts. Death and trauma are part of her everyday job, but it takes a toll on her mentally too.

“You know the drill in storm weather. A couple of MVA’s that thankfully weren’t too bad, and sadly a heart-attack victim we couldn’t save, which is always tough.” Her silence for a minute lets me know how tough it really is. “But the one bright spark in the night was delivering a baby girl in the back of the rig on the way to the hospital. That little girl wasn’t waiting. Just like the storm, she arrived with a bang. Beautiful little Crystal.”

“Aww, Jodie, that sounds so great. I know you don’t get many births. I can’t believe you didn’t convince them to name her Jodie.”

“One day someone will see the beauty of it. They just want all these fancy, cute names, but there is nothing wrong with Jodie, a good strong classic, I say.”

“Because you’re not biased at all.”

“Whatever.”

Taking a swig of my beer, I drop down into my deck chair again, while the rumbles of the storm are getting closer and the darkness of the night has crept up on us.

Hearing bells and voices through the phone, I’m reminded that Jodie will be back on shift shortly.

She sighs. “No rest for the wicked, they say. I need to shower and eat, ready to take over when these guys get back from their call. Promise you’ll behave tonight, no little ‘friendly’ visits.”

I hear the noises of her blankets moving and her getting up. “I should be so lucky. Stay safe tonight and talk later.”

As I’m hanging up, I hear Jodie shout into the phone, “So, I was right, you were—”

Nice try, big sister!

There is nothing better than sitting on the deck watching a storm that’s out to sea but not on top of us. The light show is spectacular, and the rumble of the thunder vibrates through your chest. The power of nature being unleashed. It’s like the heavens are angry and need to let it all out.

Although I usually find it hard to sleep, when I finally get to the point it’s about to claim me, the noise of the ocean is what I drift off to every night. But during storms, that sound is so much louder, with the waves crashing against the sand and rocks. I don’t know how I survived for so many years away from the ocean. It’s like it’s part of my DNA.

The rain starts again, big drops splatting down on the deck around me. Time to head inside and read a book, try to distract my thoughts from that little house on the point that I can see in the distance. The lights are on and it’s just sitting up there on its own. I know that’s the whole point of privacy, but it doesn’t sit well with me that Asha is up there by herself, her only security being an out-of-date security system and Coco, which is the biggest joke of all. I’m not sure how tough Coco would be in protecting Asha if needed.

I didn’t ask her on purpose about her fear last night that hit her when the storm struck. Most people don’t like storms, but there seemed to be something bigger with her. The way I found her in the bedroom, cowering in the corner, it was a look of terror I saw in her eyes. I try to think when the last time a hurricane storm cell hit us, and it was probably over a year ago, so Asha has never been here to experience one.

It just seems odd for a grown woman to be so petrified.

The noise of the rain lashing against the windows draws my thoughts to how she must be feeling right now. Is she scared and worried it will get worse? Or because the lights are still on, will she be okay?

My fingers again hover over her name on my phone.

Don’t do it!

Stay away from her.

You know you can’t afford to fall any further down the rabbit hole.

Be selfish and think of yourself first.

Self-preservation, then there can be no regrets.

“Fuck it!”

The ringing echoes in my ears.

Don’t pick up. Don’t pick up. Don’t pick up!

“Kurt?” Her little voice tells me what I already know.

I’m doomed!

Chapter Five

ASHA

I feel like I’ve been awake for more than a day, yet I know I won’t be able to sleep with another storm forming out at sea. I’m sitting on the couch with Coco at my feet while I try to concentrate on my writing, but the words just aren’t flowing tonight. I’ve got the TV on and the volume loud so it covers the noise from outside—well, sort of, as much as it can.

Laying my head on the back of the couch, I try to think of happier times. Like in The Sound of Music with Julie Andrews and all the kids singing through the storm. I’m a grown adult, yet it still sounds like a good plan to me. Just proves I’ve been a true romantic since I was a child, when you look at my reading content and favorite movies growing up.

My happier times tonight are visions of my mom and dad pushing me on the swing in our backyard in the summers. The sound of laughing and Mom’s voice always telling Dad to stop pushing so hard. I’m screaming to push me higher, and my mom is worrying I’ll fall.

I don’t remember her letting me be very adventurous.