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“No phone signals.”
I handed Kim more clothes for Tamar. I entered the room where Tamar was lying and opened the suitcase I’d brought back with me. It was full of tree branches. “They’re damp, but they might not take long to dry.”
Despite our frugality, the stack of wood was almost gone. We only had enough for a low fire for a few more hours. The irony, we were surrounded by trees and barely had wood.
“Don’t worry. I’ll start burning furniture before I let this fire go out,” Kim said.
I stepped back out the room and signaled Kim to join me.
“I’m going to have to go try to get some help.”
“It’s so cold and you’re already freezing.”
“I know, but she can’t stay here. You see what I see. She’s bleeding out.”
“But if you leave and something happens to you and then something happens to her, I’m alone here with her and the baby.”
I took her hands. “Shhh...stop panicking. I can’t sit here and watch her bleed. I’m not a guy who waits. You’re brave. Remember that. So is Tamar.”
Kim wrapped her arms around my neck and squeezed. I closed my eyes and took in every inch of the comfort she offered me. “Let me at least warm up some hot water for you. Take off your coat for a minute.”
I needed to use the restroom anyway, so I did as told and waited for her to bring the water back. She also had a plate of beans.
“I hate beans.”
“You need protein.”
I ate a few bites because she insisted and drank the water before putting my coat on again.
“It hasn’t even been ten minutes. You’re still cold. You won’t get far if you don’t defrost yourself.”
“I’m strong. I’ll be okay. And you’ll pray for me, right?”
She nodded. A tear fell down her cheek and she raised a hand to wipe it. “Right.”
“Stay close to Tamar. You both need each other’s body heat.” Kim nodded and followed me to the door. I paused for a moment. “I have to tell you something.” I hesitated again. “I’m sorry about everything. I could have done better. Been better.”
“Tamar made videos for her family and now you’re saying things you had no intention of saying earlier.” She sucked in a heavy breath and released it. “You’re scaring me.”
I raised my hands to her face, stepped to her, and kissed her lips. “I’m not trying to scare you, but I want you to know...I love you.”
She wrapped her arms around my neck again. “I love you too.”
“We’re going to make this right between us.”
She pressed her head deeper into my chest. “First, you have to make it back here.”
I peeled her off me and with firm conviction promised, “I will.”
I opened the door and stepped out into the cold again. I took a deep breath and looked up at the sky. Snow drifted down in a slow lazy pattern of flakes and landed on my face.
“God, I’ve been avoiding you for years, but you’ve shown yourself to me over and over again today. Even this place, this church is evidence that you’re taking care of us.” I swallowed, closed my eyes, and reopened them. “I know people do this all the time, but you’re supposed to know everything. You’re supposed to know my heart, so you know this promise is real. If you save her, I’ll serve you for the rest of my life.”
I reached into my pocket for the note I’d written earlier. “That is if I have one.” I used the packing tape I’d tucked in my pocket to tape the note down on the front of my jacket.
My name is Clyde Stowe. My friends and I got stranded in the storm.
My friends are in North Bethlehem Church. Please call an ambulance and rescue them.
I walked down the steps and prayed no one would find my body, but if they did, they would help the women I loved.
