outside. “I’ll keep the doors open just in case someone needs shelter. You go on.”
Outside a strange calm settled, and Jed knew then they were in for real trouble. Grabbing Clarissa’s hand again he said, “Come on, show us where the walk-in is.”
Indecision played across her face for a second, but finally, taking her hand from his again, she led them to the fridge, opened the door and followed them in.
A few seconds later, Pete was there, sweaters and the battery operated weather radio with him.
He settled a sweater around Mack’s shoulders and handed the others to them.
Mack, shivering, pulled her sweater tight. “Thank you, Mr. Pete. Is this a real tornado like in the movies?”
Pete, no longer gruff, patted her on top of the head. “It sure is. But we should be safe.”
Mack snuggled deeper into Jed’s side. The walk-in freezer kept the sound of the storm out, but the constant warning alarm on the weather radio told them the danger was very real. Clarissa wrapped her arms around her stomach, shivering, and Jed didn’t ask, just pulled her in close to him and Mack.
When he did, Mack grabbed Clarissa’s hand, anchoring her to them, then turned to him. “Can we pray, Daddy? I’m scared.”
Clarissa’s hand trembled in his, proof of her fear and the chill from the fridge.
Pete scooted in closer to them and put the radio on the floor.
“That’s a good idea, Miss Mackenzie,” Pete said.
The knelt in a tight circle and held hands as Jed started the prayer. “Dear heavenly father, Lord, we know you’re in control, God. We ask you to keep us safe. We ask that you give us peace as…” he stopped as the weather radio alerted that a tornado spotter reported a tornado on the ground near Stearns.
“Father, we ask you to protect us,” he continued, wishing he felt the peace he prayed for. The adults gathered close, making sure Mackenzie was protected as much as she could be as the storm raged around them, and Jed was so thankful for Pete and Clarissa right then.
“Jesus, I love you,” Mack prayed. And then as the weather alarm rang, she started singing Yes, Jesus Loves me, and before long, all of them were singing right along with her. Clarissa’s soft almost whispered voice joining in last.
When the motor stopped on the walk-in, Clarissa knew they were in trouble. More than anything she wanted to protect Mackenzie.
“God, please, please, please.” She said the prayer silently, begging for everything and nothing, not even sure for what.
Pete’s strong bass started singing her grandmother’s favorite song then. A song about Jesus and His name. Clarissa wondered if it was a sign. She tried to sing along with him, but suddenly she was crying, and she couldn’t stop. She bit her lip trying to control the tears. God, she didn’t want to scare Mackenzie. Didn’t want to make this worse than it was.
They could hear the storm now that the power was out. It sounded horrible. Terrible and mighty and destructive.
Something crashed, and she jumped, and Jed brushed her shoulders told her it would be okay, and all along, Pete kept singing, and she wondered if anyone had ever told him he’d missed his calling. No way should he be running a diner. He should be on the radio.
Almost as suddenly as the storm started, it stopped.
The alarms they heard now were the ones outside the diner.
Pete stood first. “Hold up a sec, let me check,” he said and then he opened the door.
When the door opened, Clarissa knew something in her had fundamentally changed in those minutes in the walk-in fridge. She didn’t try to get up, just continued holding Mackenzie’s hand, thankful, so thankful they’d made it through whatever had happened outside.
Sirens sounded even louder outside, and smoke filled the air.
Pete waved them out, and Jed helped her to her feet, then grabbed Mackenzie, pulled her into his arms. When they left the shelter, they were met by approaching red flashing lights and destruction.
Water splashed over the kitchen floor. Clarissa didn’t know if it was from the sprinkler system or the rain coming in through the hole in the ceiling where the vent used to be.
Volunteer firefighters helped them through the kitchen and into the seating area because they said it was too dangerous to use the back door. Shattered glass littered the floor. The windows were gone. Strangely enough the salt and pepper shakers sat as if nothing had happened in the center of every