The Road Home by Krista Sandor

Author:Krista Sandor
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Candy Castle Books

17

“We need to get home,” Ben said, wrapping an arm around Jenna while Kate cowered in her arms.

“Isn’t your office closer?” she asked.

“No basement. We need to go home.”

“What about Zoe and Sam and your mom and Neil?”

“They’ll be okay. I’m sure they’re on their way home right now. We need to get Kate home. She doesn’t do well with storms.”

Jenna tightened her grip on the little girl. “All right. Let’s go.”

They walked down the slick pavilion steps and were met with sharp wind and biting rain as the sirens added an extra layer of urgency to their movements.

Walking with Ben’s arm wrapped around her, Jenna turned into him hoping to shield Kate from the relentless wind. Police officers were directing the anxious crowd, but Ben and Jenna found themselves at a standstill, huddled with other families trying to leave the gardens.

“I know a better way,” Ben said, ushering them away from the crowd and onto a narrow stone path. “We’ll come out right across the street from the firehouse.”

The firehouse was off Prairie Rose just a block or so from Baneberry Drive. From her morning runs, Jenna knew it would take them less than ten minutes to get home from there.

A bolt of lightning illuminated the layered clouds hovering ominously above them, followed by a palpable rumble of thunder. The stone path narrowed and changed to one of packed gravel, giving Jenna an opportunity for better footing compared to the slick stones. But with the rapid downpour, each step was like trudging through the shallow end of a pond with mud and water splashing up on her calves.

She glanced up at Ben. He was navigating the twisting path, doing his best to pull the branches, dancing deliriously in the wind, out of their way. Kate was uncharacteristically quiet through the whole ordeal, but Jenna could feel her little heart beating a mile a minute.

Finally, they made it to the north gate leading out of the botanic gardens and onto Prairie Rose Drive. The old wooden door, barely used, creaked loudly, and Ben had to give it an extra shove before it opened wide enough to allow them to pass through.

Jenna was glad to be out of the gardens. But out on the open sidewalk, they were without the dense, protective foliage and had to endure the full force of the storm.

“Let’s cross over to the firehouse,” Ben said, shielding his eyes.

Soaked to the bone, they stood under the firehouse awning taking a brief respite from the pelting rain. Ben stroked Kate’s back, looking her over, then turned his gaze to Jenna and tucked strands of wet hair behind her ear.

“Do you want me to take her?” he asked, raising his voice over the gusts of wind.

“I don’t think she’s going to let go.”

“We just need to get her home. We’re not far. Can you make it?”

Jenna nodded, and Ben wrapped his arm around her. They walked up Prairie Rose past the community center and then headed north on Baneberry Drive.

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