The Reality of Everything - Rebecca Yarros Page 0,155
we don’t see over ten.”
Ten would put water in her first floor.
“Are you willing to gamble Fin’s life?” I asked, keeping my voice quiet so Fin couldn’t hear.
Vivian startled. “You really think it’s going to be that bad?”
“Do you think I would have driven down from D.C. if I thought you’d be okay? Your leg is broken. Fin is five years old. What would you do when water gushes in your door? I can’t leave Fin here. She is coming with me. But I won’t leave you here, either.”
Her mouth pursed as fear skated over her face. “But where would we go?”
“My house can take a fourteen-foot storm surge. It can probably take eighteen. I remodeled to hurricane proof it this year. It’s supposed to stand through a cat four, and this is just a strong three. But we have to go now. The water is rising, and if we don’t make it to the shore in time, we’ll be stuck here.” I scratched Juno’s head and mentally started counting. If she wouldn’t come with us in the next five minutes, I was going to have to knock her out and drag her.
“Imagine heading toward the shore and not inland.” She humphed. “Let’s go, then.”
My shoulders sagged with relief, but I couldn’t afford the time to savor it. We had to move quickly.
I found a shorter length of two-by-four by the door and used belts to splint the area under her leg the best I could. I apologized the whole time she screamed.
Finley’s eyes were wide as she watched.
“Are the animals all packed up?” I asked, watching the clock. The house moved with a groan.
Fin nodded. “Except Cousteau.”
Right. The fish.
“Okay. Get everybody by the door and put on your raincoat.” I patted her on the back, and she ran off.
Five minutes later, I had Cousteau in a water-filled Tupperware container. Phillip and Barnaby were in separate carriers at the bottom of a large beach bag. I slid Cousteau in on top and met Finley in the entry, where she had Juno in her carrier.
I got down to her eye level. “Okay, Fin. It’s windy and rainy and really scary out there, okay?”
She nodded, but her mouth trembled.
“We have to go because Grandma’s house isn’t high enough to keep you dry. So we have to get to my house. Understand?” I zipped up her raincoat.
She nodded.
“I need you to listen really carefully and do exactly as I say, and sometimes it might be scary, but we’re going to be okay. I’m going to take Grandma to the truck, and I want you to wait right here until I come get you.” I needed Finley in the safest place, and right now, that was the house. In an hour, it wouldn’t be.
“My mommy left,” she whispered, tightening her grip on Juno’s carrier.
I bit back the anger that saturated my tongue when I thought about Claire heading to an audition. That was the last thing Finley needed.
I cupped her cheeks in my hands. “I. Will. Not. Leave. You. Not now. Not today. Not ever. I promise.”
“Because you love Daddy?” Her eyes filled with tears.
“Because I love you. I came all the way back—that’s how much I love you. I even made a policeman very mad to get to you. I won’t leave you, Fin. You’re the only reason I’m here.” I wiped her tears with my thumbs. “Are you ready?”
She nodded, and I pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“You wait right here with Juno. Promise.”
“I promise.”
The winds blew impossibly harder, and the rain fell in driving sheets as I took Vivian out of the house, dragging her by her armpits. “Hold onto the bag,” I ordered her, and she pulled Fin’s pets closer. Then I walked backward down the steps, dragging her along at an angle so that the two-by-four slid instead of thumped.
“Hold on!” I shouted once we made it to the bottom.
A trampoline flew by, flipping end-over-end down the road.
Don’t even think about it. Just keep moving.
I got the back door open, and with Vivian hopping, we managed to get her across the backseat. “Buckle up! I’m grabbing Fin!” I shut the door, which was no easy feat, even given the shelter from the garage.
I raced up the stairs and looked out over the neighborhood from the top of the deck. The surge was here. Water pushed in with each wave, and it had already overtaken the houses up the block.
The dune will protect your house. You can get there.