His Holiday Family. Margaret Daley
brother and him growing up in foster homes—until one day a family had adopted Zach, leaving Gideon alone. It was obvious she needed help with her sons, and for the next seven weeks or so, he would have more time on his hands than usual while he recovered from his injuries and finally could return to full duty.
He pivoted toward her, transfixed by the soft blue of her eyes. Run. The one word set off an alarm bell in his mind. His chest constricted.
“Is this right, Gideon?”
In the distance he heard Kip speaking to him, but Gideon couldn’t tear his eyes from Kathleen, her delicate features forming a beautiful picture that could haunt him if he allowed her to get too close. But he wouldn’t do that.
Run. Now.
He wrenched his gaze away and glanced down at the last problem. “Sure. You did great. I’d better be going. I imagine you need to go to bed early with school tomorrow, and I have a lot to do in the morning. I…” He clamped his jaws closed before he made a fool of himself with his ramblings.
“I’m going to show Gideon out, Kip. You stay in here. Do not go to your bedroom until I get back.”
“Can I have some ice cream? I finished my homework, and it’s all correct. Gideon said so.”
“One small bowl.”
As Kip jumped up and went to the refrigerator, Kathleen swung around and exited the kitchen.
“See you soon, sport. I’ll see about that tour of the station.” Gideon left and found Kathleen in the foyer, waiting for him. “I told Kip I’ll arrange a tour of Station Two for him—for all of you. But only if you say it’s okay.”
“He wants to be a firefighter or a doctor. He hasn’t made up his mind.”
“I’d say he has a few years to do that. How about Jared?”
She shrugged. “He hasn’t said anything. But the way he’s going, I could see him being a test pilot or some other kind of job that is daring. Danger means nothing to him while I’m getting gray hairs at the young age of thirty-two.”
“How about professional mountain climber?”
“Please don’t mention that. Sides of houses are enough for me,” she said with a laugh.
He liked seeing her two dimples appear in her cheeks when she laughed. Her eyes lit with a bright gleam that transformed her. “I enjoyed tonight. Of course, I’m not sure what I’m going to do until they allow me to work behind the desk at headquarters.”
“Read a good book.”
“I’m more an action kind of guy. Reading is too sedate for me. I tried today to circumvent procedures by reporting for desk duty and was told by the chief in no uncertain terms to stay away until I get the go-ahead from the doc. That should be in three days.”
“Does that mean your ribs aren’t hurting? That’s quick.”
“I didn’t say that.” As he stood in the foyer, his cracked ribs were protesting all the activity he’d done that day, but he wasn’t going to let that stop him.
She shook her head. “Men. You and Jared are too much alike. I wouldn’t be surprised if he tried climbing the house again with his cast on.”
He crossed to the door and opened it. “I wouldn’t be surprised, either.”
“I was hoping you would disagree with me.” Kathleen came out onto the porch. “Now every time the phone rings, I’ll wonder what else he has gotten himself into.”
“My little brother used to be the same way. I had to get him out of a lot of scrapes.”
“Does he live here? New Orleans?”
This was the reason he didn’t like to talk about himself. So often it led to questions he didn’t want to answer. “I haven’t seen him since he was four.”
The front door swung open and Kip, with his eyes huge, thrust the phone into Kathleen’s hands. “It’s Nana. She says Hurricane Naomi has made an almost one-hundred-eighty-degree turn and picked up speed—lots of speed—and is heading straight for Hope. It should be here by tomorrow night.”
Chapter Four
Kathleen clutched the phone with a trembling hand, hoping somehow Kip hadn’t heard her mother right. “Mom, what’s going on?”
“Exactly what Kip told you. The hurricane is coming right for us. It has picked up speed. This time I don’t think we’re going to dodge the bullet.”
Kathleen’s eyes closed, and she drew in a deep, fortifying breath. “He said tomorrow night—early or late?”
“It will start by early evening, and the eye should be going over us right after midnight if it continues to move at the same speed it is now.”
“I guess you don’t have to put up those supplies after all. We’ll take care of this house and come over to help you after that.”
Kathleen hung up and passed the phone to Kip. “You and your brother need to go to bed. First thing tomorrow, we’ll have to board and tape up this house then help Nana.”
Kip’s eyes widened. “How bad will it be?”
Gideon stepped forward. “A lot of wind and rain.”
“Like a bad thunderstorm?” Her son gripped the phone tighter.
Gideon settled his hand on Kip’s shoulder. “Yeah. You’ll be okay.”
“Does this mean we don’t have school tomorrow?”
“Yes. We’ll be busy getting ready as will everyone else.” Kathleen opened the screen door.
“Cool. Wait till Jared hears this.”
“I don’t want any more fighting between you and Jared. We have other things to deal with right now. Okay?”
Kip spun around and charged back into the house, saying, “Yes.”
Turning to face Gideon, she let the screen door bang closed. “The last time I was in a hurricane was over twenty years ago. I’ve forgotten what to do. I remember Mom filling the bathtub and other containers with water. Getting candles, lanterns, batteries for a radio and flashlights…” With memories racing through her mind, it went blank.
“Stock up on food you don’t have to refrigerate. We will most likely lose our electricity. Bring indoors everything that can be picked up by high winds. Since this house doesn’t have hurricane shutters, tape or board the windows. Then pray. Are you going to stay here?”
“I don’t know. I might go to Mom’s.”
“I think that would be better. If there is a big storm surge, this house could be flooded. It’s nearer the beach than your mom’s.”
“Then that’s where we’ll be.”
Gideon stared down at his cast. “If it wasn’t for this, I’d be at the fire station.” Frustration edged his voice.
“I’m on the B team at the hospital. I work post-hurricane. I’ll contact work tomorrow morning and see when they want me to come in. There’s so much to be done. This house isn’t prepared.”
He took her hand. “Get a good night’s sleep, and I’ll come over and help tomorrow morning first thing.”
“Only if you’ll let me help you.”
“I have hurricane shutters, which will cut down on what I have to do. Let’s get your house and your mom’s prepared first. There shouldn’t be too much to do with mine.”
“I’ll have breakfast ready at 6:30. At least let me feed you before you work.”