Ever since they’d left Heidi’s house around one, Denise had tried unsuccessfully to engage her daughter in conversation. It was probably for the best, since she needed to keep her focus on the road now that the rain had increased and the storm was overhead.
Denise had never liked driving in bad weather, and today was no exception. Since the wind had picked up, at times the rain came down sideways. Up ahead, she caught sight of a flapping plastic grocery bag caught on a tree branch. Dark clouds raced across the sky, and a jolt of lightning split the skies. Pools of dirty water quickly formed in low spots in people’s yards and along the shoulder of the road.
Denise turned on the radio in time to hear a flash-flood warning. Oh great. She gripped the steering wheel, mentally calculating where all the creeks and streams were on the way home.
Denise glanced in the rearview mirror and saw her daughter flinch when a boom of thunder sounded so hard the car windows rattled. The windshield wipers slid back and forth in a futile effort to keep up with the pelting rain. Turning them on the highest speed didn’t seem to help.
A vehicle coming toward them sent up a spray of water as it passed through a low spot quickly filling from the intense downpour. Denise pushed hard against the seat, as water hit the windshield with such force it sounded like a million pebbles.
“Did it break the window?” Kassidy screamed above the noise.
“Everything’s okay. It just sounded bad. Stay calm.” Inside, Denise was nothing but calm, but she didn’t want to upset her daughter. “Just a little ways to go, and we’ll be home.”
Denise felt relief when she drove her car through the open gate at the entrance of their expansive driveway. They were almost there. She couldn’t wait to put the car in the garage and get into the house, where she could relax with a cup of her favorite tea.
As she pulled her vehicle into their three-car garage, she was surprised to see Greg’s parking spot empty. He certainly couldn’t be out on the golf course in this horrible weather, with lightning and thunder all around. Then she remembered he’d mentioned having lunch with his lawyer friend after they finished golfing. Most likely Greg was still at the clubhouse, waiting out the storm.
After she’d parked the car in her bay, Denise followed Kassidy into the house. “Thank goodness the garage is attached to our home. Even with an umbrella, we’d both be soaked to the bone if we had to come in from outside.”
Kassidy was silent.
“Did you get enough to eat at Heidi’s, or would you like me to fix you a snack?” Denise tapped her daughter’s shoulder.
“No, thanks. I’m goin’ to my bedroom to watch TV,” Kassidy mumbled without turning around.
“I’m not sure I’d put the TV on with the lightning this close.”
“If I hear it thunder real loud again, I’ll turn it off.” Kassidy disappeared down the hall.
Denise made her way to the kitchen. Along with her beverage, she might indulge in a chocolate brownie.
After fixing a cup of chamomile tea, and placing a succulent-looking brownie on a plate, she took a seat at the bar where she often sat to eat breakfast. Should I or shouldn’t I? She pondered the thought. Oh, why not?
Denise went to the refrigerator and got out a can of whipped cream. What’s a brownie without a little sweet cream? Denise shook the can and squirted a layer over top of her treat. Now I’m ready to indulge.
Even though the rain was still coming down hard, she felt relaxed inside her cozy, well-equipped kitchen. Denise watched as water poured over the edge of the clogged gutters outside the window.
She took a bite of the whipped-cream-covered brownie and closed her eyes. “Yum… This is so good.”
Taking a sip of tea, Denise read the recipe card for meatballs Heidi had given Kassidy today. She turned it over. Sure enough, a Bible verse had been written on the back. “‘Pray without ceasing.’ 1 Thessalonians 5:17.” She read the scripture out loud and pondered it a few seconds. Would God listen to me, even though I’m not a regular churchgoer? Does He care about my marriage, our daughter, the struggles we face? Maybe so. Maybe not. I don’t know. We probably should attend church more often.
Denise finished her brownie and was deliberating about whether to eat another one, when Kassidy rushed into the kitchen, wide-eyed and trembling.
“Kassidy, what’s wrong?”
“I just heard on the news that a man got struck by lightning on the golf course—the one near our home. I think it’s the place Dad belongs to.” She sucked in a breath as beads of perspiration formed on her upper lip. “Oh, Mom, what if it’s him who got hurt? People who get hit by lightning can die, you know.” She clung to Denise’s arm. “I don’t want to lose you or Dad, like Jeremy lost his mom.”
Denise pulled her daughter close and patted her back. “Calm down, Kassidy. Did the news reporter give the name of the man who was hit?”
“No, but Dad’s not home yet, and that’s why I think it could have been him.”
“If it was, I’m sure we would have received a call.” Denise patted the stool next to her. “Take a seat, and I’ll get you a brownie with whipped cream and a glass of milk.”
Kassidy flopped down and Denise went to get the milk and a brownie, which she set on the bar in front of her daughter.
Kassidy took a few nibbles, and then put the brownie back on the plate. “Are you and Dad gonna separate, like Debbie and Kevin’s parents did?”
“Of course not. Why would you ask that?”
“Because I heard you two arguing this morning before we left for class.”
“Parents sometimes have disagreements, but it doesn’t mean we’re going to leave each other.” Denise reached for the phone and punched in Greg’s cell number. A few seconds later, he answered.
“Hey, I was getting ready to call you. Things got pretty bad on the golf course today when the storm blew in.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, but one of the guys I don’t know well was slightly injured while playing golf.”
“Oh, my! What happened?”
“Lightning struck a tree close to where he was playing. From what we were told, the man started back to get the clubs he’d left under the tree, and that’s when the lightning hit.” Greg went on to say that the power of the strike knocked the man to the ground, but other than ringing ears and tingly arms, he wasn’t seriously hurt.
“That’s good to hear. Kassidy and I were worried about you.”
“Well, you can set your concerns aside now, because I’ll be home soon.”
When Denise hung up, she turned to Kassidy and smiled. “It wasn’t your dad who got hurt, and the man who did is going to be okay.”
“I’m so glad.” Tears pooled in Kassidy’s eyes, and she hugged Denise. Maybe today had been a turning point for her daughter. For all of them, really.
Miranda couldn’t get over Trent’s generosity toward Velma and her family. She’d invited him over for supper to spend time with her and the children and as a way of saying thank you for his selfless deed. Although she still wasn’t ready to invite Trent to live with them again, Miranda felt as if they might be headed in that direction.
She glanced out the kitchen window. The storm they’d had earlier had died down, but a steady rain continued. Tomorrow, if the sun came out, it would no doubt be humid.
“Well, that’s what summer often brings,” she murmured, turning on the water to fill the teakettle. At least the yards in the area were nice and green, unlike some years when they didn’t get much rain at all.
“Who are ya talkin’ to, Mom?” Kevin skipped into the kitchen and tugged on her arm.
Miranda tickled him under his chin. “I was talking to myself.”
He giggled. “Do ya answer yourself too?”
“No, but sometimes I’m tempted to.”
“Is Daddy still comin’ for supper?” Kevin asked.
“Yes, and I’m trying to figure out what to fix. What do you think he would like?”
“Hot dogs and potato chips!” Kevin gave a thumbs-up.
Miranda lifted her gaze to the ceiling. “Tell the truth now, Kevin. Hot dogs and chips is what you’d like to have, not what you think your dad wants, right?”
He moved his head quickly up and down.
“Daddy likes hot dogs too.”
“You’re right, so maybe if the rain lets up we can sit outside around our portable fire pit and roast hot dogs. We can also have potato chips, and I’ll make a yummy macaroni salad to go with it. How’s that sound?”
Kevin’s smile stretched wide. “Okay!” He turned and started out of the kitchen, but turned back around. “Is Daddy movin’ back with us?”
Miranda bit the inside of her cheek. “I don’t know, Son—maybe. But not tonight. Your dad and I still have some things we need to work through.”
Kevin grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “I’m goin’ to tell Debbie the good news.”
Miranda shook her head. “Please, Kevin, don’t say anything about the possibility of your dad moving back home. I’ll tell you both if and when anything is decided.”
He looked up at her and grinned. “No worries, Mommy. I was only gonna tell Debbie we’re havin’ hot dogs tonight.” Kevin darted out of the room.
Miranda set the teakettle on the stove and turned on the burner. She hoped things would work out between her and Trent, for it would be difficult to disappoint the children.