Labor of Love by Kristen Ethridge

Author:Kristen Ethridge
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Laurel Lock Publishing
Published: 2021-10-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

After staying awake long enough to watch the moonlight creep through the blinds and across the ceiling, Gloria finally drifted off to sleep in the pitch-black that stole in just before dawn. Although she could not see the stars they’d watched together, their images filled her mind’s eye and the soft touch of Rigo’s kiss still lingered on her lips.

Gloria started awake at the sound of a large thump, followed by a low buzz. Turning her head, through groggy eyes she saw red blinking lights on the clock on the nightstand.

The electricity had come back on, just like that. Water would follow shortly, or so the word around the island said yesterday. Then the causeway would be opening around noon, bringing an army of curious residents and likely a few looky-loos out to see the aftereffects of a natural disaster for themselves.

Today would be the day when everything changed. People would return to Port Provident and begin to repair their homes and businesses. They’d see the curtain pulled back. Surely most residents who’d evacuated had seen the reports on TV, but even an HD picture couldn’t replicate seeing face-to-face the two-by-fours turned to toothpicks across Gulfview Boulevard, the boats from the marinas across town now scattered on streets and in parking lots, the palm trees upended at the roots in the esplanades of the historic avenues, the black spots of insidious mold blooming on every wall that got touched by the brown sludge and water.

A lot of her friends and family would find their worlds rocked today.

Just like her own world shifted on its orbit last night.

Gloria sat up and ran her hands over her face, trying to head off her remaining urge to yawn uncontrollably. A slight, sleepy dizziness reminded her just how off-kilter things had become.

She stretched, feeling the pull of muscles that hadn’t moved in a long time. Again, her thoughts turned back to last night. Gloria raised her arms over her head again and let her mind linger on the memory. And as her shoulders and her arms and her back all felt the warmth and tug of impending activity, so did her heart.

Her lips curved upward in a smile of acknowledgment. It was time to face the changes in the world around her without fear. Thinking about it too much would keep her from progress.

A knock sounded at the sturdy wooden door. “Gloria? Did you hear that?” Inez’s voice echoed a bit in the hallway.

“I did. I think the power is back on.” She scooted off the bed and wrapped the old bathrobe she’d borrowed around her. The early dawn light stained the floral pattern with a pink glow.

Gloria opened the door. “Did the city come by yesterday to check the breakers and such like they said?”

“Yes. After lunch. The tag they left is on the table Rigo put by the door.”

“Is Rigo here?”

Inez shook her head, her hair still pinned tightly in curls. Even the hurricane’s inconveniences couldn’t shake decades-long bedtime rituals. “No. He left for his shift just before eleven last night.

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