The Weight of Small Things (30 page)

60

“B
oys!” Bob yelled, staring at the television screen. “Basement! Now!”

He grabbed Cody and took Micah’s hand, running for the basement stairs and slamming the door behind him.

“Is it a tornado, Daddy?” Cody’s eyes were wide with fear.

“I’m not sure, buddy. But it looks like it might be.”

They crouched in the corner of the basement farthest from the windows. Bob pulled a camping tarp over them and wrapped his arms around the boys. The house shook and a sound like a freight train crashing filled their ears.

“Don’t worry,” Bob shouted above the noise. “I’ve got you. Don’t be scared!”

 

Corrie and Kenetha stood in a basement hallway with several other people, holding hands. Above them, they heard glass breaking, things crashing, wind howling. Then, suddenly, silence. It was over in an instant.

A cheer went up and people began walking toward the stairs.

“Are you okay?” Kenetha stared at Corrie as she sank to the floor.

Corrie’s face was white, and her hands shook.

“I think my water just broke.”

 

After the noise stopped, Bob cautiously walked up the steps and opened the basement door.

“Daddy! Is it okay?” Micah called from the basement.

“Stay there!” Bob yelled back. “Don’t you guys move!”

He stepped tentatively into the kitchen and looked around, then sighed deeply, feeling his muscles relax. The windows had shattered and rain poured in through them. But the house was standing.

Outside the sirens still wailed. Bob looked into the living room. Amazingly, the television was still on. They still had electricity. A newscaster was standing in front of a weather map, showing a huge storm moving north and east, away from Middlebrook.

“Boys,” he called downstairs. “It’s over. You can come up. But watch out for broken glass.”

Cody appeared first, staring in disbelief at the shattered windows. Then Micah came, stepping over glass shards to hug his father tightly.

“It’s okay,” Bob said, hugging them both to him. “We can fix the windows. The storm is over, and we’re safe.”

“Is Mommy okay?” Cody asked softly.

“I’m calling her right now,” Bob said, pulling his cell phone from his pocket. He dialed Wendy’s parents and nearly cried with relief when her mother answered.

“We’re fine,” she said. “No damage here. How about you? Are the boys all right?”

“We’re fine,” Bob said. “Broken windows and some minor damage, but—”

“Daddy!” Micah screamed from the living room.

Bob followed his stare to the television screen.

“That’s Bryn’s street!” Micah sank to the floor, shaking all over.

“I have to go,” Bob said into the phone. “I’ll call you later.”

He sat down on the floor by Micah and wrapped his arms around the child, still staring at the television. The tornado had ripped through the park, twisting trees from the ground and throwing them like so many matchsticks into houses and cars. The camera panned down the street to reveal several houses that weren’t there. They had simply been swept away.

“Daddy?” Cody stood behind him. “Is Bryn okay?”

Bob stared at the screen, shaking.

“Daddy?”

“Come on,” Bob said, standing and pulling Micah to his feet. “Let’s go.”

They drove through a scene from a horror movie, turning back from one route to try another. Trees lay across roads and houses, power lines lay sparking in yards, debris scattered everywhere.

“Don’t worry, guys,” Bob said softly. “It’s going to be okay.”

In the backseat, Micah sat quietly hunched over, his arms around his knees, his back shaking.

After what felt like a month, Bob finally turned onto the street where Bryn and Corrie lived. A police barricade blocked the street; flashing lights from two patrol cars glared.

Bob parked where he was and got out, staring down the street toward Bryn and Corrie’s house.

“Daddy?” Cody stood beside him, staring with wide eyes.

“It’s okay, buddy,” Bob said.
Please, God, let it be okay
.

Then he saw her, standing in the middle of the street, gazing around herself as if in a daze.

“Bryn!” Bob yelled. “Bryn!”

He edged around the barricade but was immediately blocked by a policeman.

“Sorry, sir. You can’t go in there. It’s not safe.”

Before Bob could argue, a small figure darted under his arm and was running down the street toward Bryn.

“Micah!” Bob yelled after him. “Micah, come back!”

“Is that your kid?” The policeman let go of Bob’s arm. “You’d better go after him.”

Bob clutched Cody’s hand and began jogging after Micah.

“Bryn!” Micah called as he ran. “Bryn!”

She turned at his voice and stood gaping as he threw his small body at her.

“Hey, Micah, it’s okay,” she said softly, wrapping her arms around his shaking shoulders. “I’m okay, you’re okay, everybody is okay.”

“I’m sorry I was mean to you.” Micah was sobbing into her stomach. “I’m sorry I made you go away.”

“It’s okay,” Bryn crooned. “It’s okay.”

She raised her eyes to Bob’s and smiled. “It’s okay,” she repeated.

“Are you all right?” Bob panted.

“I’m fine. Just really glad to see you guys.”

“Thank God!” Bob wrapped his arms around Bryn and Micah and let the tears of relief stream down his face. “Thank God! We saw your street on the news and we thought . . . God, Bryn, I’ve never been so scared in my life.”

“I’m sorry, folks, but you need to move away from here.” The policeman touched Bryn’s shoulder. “Are you all right, ma’am? Do you need to see a doctor?”

“I’m fine,” Bryn said. “Really, I’m fine.”

“I think a doctor is a good idea,” Bob said. “Just to make sure everything is okay.”

Bryn started to argue, and then stopped. She smiled at him. “All right,” she said. “Let’s go.”

Walking back to the car, Bryn held Micah’s hand. Bob carried Cody in one arm, his other around Bryn’s waist.

He’d just started the car when his phone beeped.

“It’s a text,” he said, clicking on the icon. His eyes widened.

“What?” Bryn said. “What is it?”

“It’s from Kenetha. She’s at the hospital with Corrie.”

“Is Corrie okay?” Bryn reached for the phone.

“She’s in labor.”

“Let’s go!”

61

T
hey drove toward the hospital, swerving around fallen trees and power lines.

“Almost there,” Bob said. “Damn!”

They could see the hospital two blocks in front of them, but another barricade blocked their route. Bob sat still a moment, staring at the road ahead, and then began inching around the cones. Immediately, the police car on the other side of the barricade flashed its lights. A police officer, a woman, got out of the car and walked toward them, waving her hands.

“I’m sorry, you can’t come through this way. There’s a line down.” She pointed to a live wire snaking across the road.

“We have to get to the hospital!” Bob shouted. “My wife . . .”

He pointed toward Bryn, who immediately began puffing and moaning.

“Hurry, please,” she said. “The baby’s coming.”

“Oh, for Christ’s sake!” The policewoman walked to the edge of the barricade and waved them around, onto the sidewalk. Bob drove cautiously past the wire, then pulled back onto the road.

“Did you just lie to a cop?” Micah’s eyes were wide.

“Well, technically, I guess we did,” Bob said.

Micah grinned, then began to laugh.

“That’s the best sound I’ve heard all day!” Bryn laughed, too.

Bob pulled into the parking lot and they ran into the hospital. The lobby was filled with people. Bryn walked straight to the front desk, patted her stomach, and said, “Maternity.”

Immediately, a young man arrived with a wheelchair and began pushing her down a hallway toward the elevators. Bob and the boys followed them.

On the fourth floor, they wheeled into the maternity ward. The attendant stopped at the front desk and called, “Here’s another!”

He turned to Bryn and smiled. “Someone will be with you in just a minute. It’s kind of a madhouse today.”

Then he walked back to the elevator. As soon as he’d stepped inside, Bryn got out of the wheelchair. Micah was grinning from ear to ear.

“Can I help you?” A nurse appeared, carrying a clipboard.

“Corrie Philips,” Bryn said. “She’s in labor, but she’s not due for two months.”

The nurse looked at Bryn’s belly, then at her face. “You look like you’re due any minute.”

“I’m fine,” Bryn said. “I just have to see Corrie Philips.”

The nurse checked her chart. “She’s in room 416.” She pointed down the corridor.

“Thank you!”

Bryn took Bob’s hand and squeezed it.

“Maybe you and the boys should wait here.”

“Give her our love.”

Bryn walked fast down the hallway and into the room where Corrie lay, hooked to monitors and an IV. Kenetha sat beside her, holding her hand.

“Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”

Corrie smiled at her weakly. “I’m sorry,” she said. “My water broke and then I started labor. It’s too soon, Bryn. It’s too soon for this baby to come.”

“It’ll be okay.” Bryn sat on the edge of the bed and took Corrie’s free hand. “Are they giving you something to stop the labor?”

Corrie nodded toward the IV.

“Is it working?”

“I think so.”

“The contractions aren’t as strong or as frequent,” Kenetha said, pointing to a monitor.

“Good! Just lie there like a good girl and relax and do what the doctors tell you.” Bryn patted Corrie’s hand. “You’ll be fine.”

“I’m really glad you’re here.” Corrie’s face was pale, her hair damp with sweat.

“Me too.” Bryn smiled. “Did you get here before the storm hit?”

“No, we were in the basement when I started having contractions.”

“How did you get here?” Bryn asked. “It seems like half the streets in town are blocked.”

“Kenetha called an ambulance.” Corrie smiled at Kenetha. “Thank you.”

“Stop thanking me,” Kenetha snapped, still staring at the monitor. “I told you you’re gonna owe me big-time. Next time I want a day off, I’ll remind you of that.”

“How did you know I was here?” Corrie asked. “We tried your cell, but you didn’t answer.”

“Bob got a text from Kenetha.”

“Bob’s here?”

“Outside with the boys. They came to check on me after the storm.”

“Are you all right?” Corrie’s eyes widened. “Is our house still standing?”

“Actually, it’s kind of a miracle,” Bryn said. “The house next door has no roof, and the one behind us is just completely gone. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“What about ours?” Corrie asked.

“That’s the miracle,” Bryn said, smiling at her. “Other than some shattered windows, ours is in good shape. I mean, I didn’t do an inspection or anything, but it looked fine.”

“And Bob is okay? The boys?”

“They’re good. They’re in the lobby. They’ll be glad to know you’re okay.”

A nurse walked into the room, checked the monitors, and wrote on Corrie’s chart.

“You’re doing great,” she said, smiling at Corrie. “Just relax and let those meds do their work.”

She turned to Bryn. “How are you?”

Bryn laughed. “I’m fine. Not due for another four weeks.”

“Well, this one”—the nurse nodded at Corrie—“is going to be on absolute bed rest for a while. We’ll keep her here until we’re sure the contractions have stopped. If we’re lucky, she can go home tomorrow, or the day after.”

“And if we’re not lucky?” Corrie’s voice quavered.

“If we can’t send you home, then you’ll have to be here for the duration.”

Corrie dropped her head onto the pillow and squeezed her eyes closed.

“Have you reached your husband?” the nurse asked.

Corrie simply shook her head.

“Do you want me to call him?”

Corrie shook her head again.

“It’s okay,” Bryn said. “I’ll take care of it.”

The nurse bustled out of the room and they were quiet for a minute.

“Have you called Daniel?” Bryn asked softly.

“No.”

“Do you want me to?”

“No.”

“I think you should call him,” Bryn said. “He wants to be here when the baby comes, right?”

“That could still be a couple months away,” Corrie said. “What is he going to do, stay here for eight weeks?”

“I don’t know,” Bryn said. “But I think you should let him know what’s going on.”

As she spoke, Corrie’s phone began ringing.

Corrie looked at the caller ID and closed her eyes tightly. Then she answered.

“Hi, Daniel. . . . Yes, I’m fine. We rode it out in the basement. . . . Yeah, they’re okay, too. Our house apparently survived, so that’s a blessing.”

“Tell him,” Bryn mouthed.

“Um, Daniel, I am okay, but I’m in the hospital. . . . No, I’m not hurt or anything, I’m just having some contractions and they want me to stay here until they’re sure I’m not going to deliver early. . . . No, that’s okay, you don’t need to come. . . . Really, Daniel, I’m fine. You don’t need to . . . well, if that’s what you really want to do. But seriously, I’ll probably be home and fine by the time you get here. . . . Okay, well, I guess I’ll see you soon.”

She hung up the phone and closed her eyes again. “He’s coming.”

“I told you he’d want to be here.”

Kenetha rose and stretched. “If you’re okay here, I think I’ll head home and see if my house is still standing.”

She bent over and kissed Corrie’s cheek. “You call me if you need anything, all right?”

“Thanks, Kenetha.”

They watched Kenetha leave, smiling as she swaggered out of the room.

“She’s so great.” Bryn smiled. “Now . . . really, how are you? Any pain? Do you need anything?”

“I’m fine,” Corrie insisted. “Scared maybe, but fine. I just hope I can go home!”

“Do you want to see Bob and the boys? Or would that be too much right now?”

“I’d like it if they came in,” Corrie said.

“I’ll go get them.”

Bryn walked back to the lobby, where Kenetha was filling Bob in on the situation.

“You want to see her?” Bryn asked.

“Okay,” Bob said. “Come on, guys.”

Cody grabbed his hand, eager to go along. Micah sat in his chair, looking at the floor.

“Come on, Micah. Don’t you want to see Corrie?”

Micah raised his eyes and shook his head.

“Why not?” Bob dropped to one knee by the chair.

Micah shrugged his shoulders.

Bryn dropped into the chair beside him. “You guys go on. I’ll stay here with Micah.”

Bob and Cody walked toward Corrie’s room. Bryn took Micah’s hand.

“Pretty scary day,” she said.

“Yeah.”

“But we’re all safe.”

“Yeah.”

“Do you want to tell me what’s wrong?”

Micah stared at the floor. After a long pause, he said, “I thought maybe you died. We saw your street on TV and the houses were all messed up. I thought maybe you died.”

“But I didn’t,” Bryn said, squeezing his hand. “I’m here and I’m fine.”

They sat quietly for a minute, then Micah said softly, “I’m glad you’re okay. I didn’t want you to be dead.”

“I’m glad you’re okay, too.”

“Bryn?” His voice was so low she had to lean down to hear him. “I’m really sorry I went to Dillon’s and didn’t tell you.”

“I know, Micah. Don’t worry.”

“I didn’t want you to be like my mom.”

“Oh, honey, I know I’m not your mom. You’ll always have your mom. But it’s okay to have someone else love you, too. Right?”

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I mean, I didn’t want you to be around and then leave, like Mommy did.”

Bryn sat a moment to let that sink in. “So it was easier to just push me away. Is that it?”

Micah nodded, not looking at her.

Bryn wrapped her arm around his shoulder. “I’m not going away, Micah. I will always be in your life.”

“But if you and Daddy get married, what will happen if you get divorced?”

Bryn sighed. “I don’t know if your daddy and I will get married. But I promise you, I
promise
you, I will always be in your life.”

“Even after you have a baby of your own?”

“Always, Micah. Always and forever.”

He leaned into her then and sighed heavily. She kissed his head and rocked him gently.