The Discovery, A Novel by Walsh Dan

Author:Walsh, Dan [Walsh, Dan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC042040, FIC027020
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2012-04-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

After Ben dropped Barb off at her place, Claire reminded him about Hank. Sure enough, he was standing in line at the theater for the afternoon matinee. Ben double-parked just long enough to tell him they weren’t coming.

When they pulled into Claire’s driveway on Ridgewood Avenue, the rain had temporarily halted, but the wind was blowing harder and now the whole sky was dark and threatening. “Let’s hurry before it starts coming down again,” Ben said.

Claire’s mom must have seen them coming. She had the front door open as they stepped onto the porch. She closed the door behind them; the house was nice and warm. “I’m freezing,” Claire said. She walked over to the radiator and stood as close as she could. Ben took his coat off and draped it around her shoulders, then rubbed her arms.

“I’m thinking, Ben, that you should put that coat right back on,” Mrs. Richards said.

“Why, Mom?” Claire said.

“I just got off the phone with your father. He said this storm is going to be pretty bad. The winds are getting so strong, they have all their crews tying down the airplanes at the base. They get the latest weather reports out there. He also said the rain’s going to come down in buckets off and on the next few days. Some low-lying areas on the beachside are expected to flood. He suggested Ben should head over to his house and pack a bag, maybe stay here until it passes.”

“Oh, I like that idea,” Claire said.

“We have a number of nice guest rooms upstairs, Ben.”

Claire shot her mother a look, as if that point needed to be clarified. “You could stay in Jack’s old room,” she said. “Right across the hall from mine. It will be so much fun.”

“I think I’ll do that,” Ben said. “You still cold, Claire? I can get your coat out of the closet.”

“No, I think I’m warm enough now. Want me to go with you?”

“I wish you’d stay here,” her mother said. “I could use some help with dinner. Your father is coming home early, as soon as the base is secure.”

“I’ll be fast,” Ben said, putting on his coat. “I pack light.” He leaned over and gave Claire a kiss. “Thanks, Mrs. Richards, for the offer to stay here. And thank your husband for me.”

“You’re welcome, Ben. But you can thank him yourself. You’ll probably be back here before he will.”

“Right, well, I’ll see you both in about twenty minutes.”

Claire walked him to the door. As she opened it, they both heard a loud crack. It startled Claire. They watched as a palm frond dropped on the front lawn. Instantly, the wind whipped it down the street. “Be careful,” she said.

“I will.”

Ben zigzagged through the downtown area, then crossed the Broadway Bridge toward the beachside. At one point, a wind gust hit him broadside, actually caused him to swerve and hit the curb. The wheels screeched. He pulled back to the left and just barely missed a car coming head-on in the other direction.

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