Chapter 28

Tuesday, December 6

At seven fifty-five, Jill parked the SUV on the curb, behind three huge buses that lined the street in front of Harbor Square. Despite her and Nana’s request, the nursing home staff did not have Mom ready to leave when she arrived at seven. Though frustrated, Jill had calmly requested the help of an aide to get her mother dressed.

The tight-lipped nurse responded, “We’re short staffed today. You’ll have to do it yourself.”

Jill did, wondering if the aides had all called in sick so they could join the evacuation.

She switched off the vehicle’s engine and peered at the woman in the passenger seat. “We’re here, Mom.”

Mom was having a good day, despite the rocky beginning. She’d enjoyed the short drive over, watching the sights through the window with more attention than Jill had seen her display for days. At the moment, she stared through the windshield at the activity in the small community park. Her expression displayed, if not comprehension, at least interest.

Jill followed her gaze. The scene in Harbor Square was certainly interesting.

A mob double the size of the one at the press conference crowded the small square. An invisible barrier divided them. Signs floated high above the heads of both halves. On one side she spotted, “Evacuate the Crazies from Seaside Cove,” and others with similar sentiments. Wincing, she tore her gaze from them. The crowd on the other side of the park included the man with dreadlocks who had made the front page of the Metro News this morning. His sign, waving proudly above his head, proclaimed the end of the world at 10:05 this morning. Police officers paced between the two groups. Two white vans sporting the logos from CBC and CTV Halifax, both with satellite-shaped antennae sprouting from the top, had actually pulled up on the sidewalk, and she caught a glimpse of a giant video camera weaving its way through the crowd. Apparently, the news had decided to go for live coverage of the event.

A small group separated themselves from the supporters and approached the SUV, Nana’s shining red head among them.

“Here’s Nana, Mom.”

Jill stepped out of the vehicle and the Sign Brigade rushed to circle her, their excited chatter a jumble of words.

“Guess what?” Mrs. Fontaine elbowed Mrs. Cramer out of the way and planted herself in front of Jill. “My son and daughter-in-law took the kids out of school for the day and went to Halifax.”

“You mean they finally came around?” Considering Becky’s abrupt removal of Kaylee from piano lessons, Jill could hardly believe the woman had changed her mind.

Mrs. Fontaine clasped her hands, eyes gleaming. “No, of course not. They tried to tell me they’d planned this day as a family outing for weeks, but I know better. They’re not willing to risk us being right, but they don’t want to admit it.”

“I suspect a lot of people have done the same,” Mrs. Montgomery said. “They believed us, but they don’t want to become targets. The cowards.”

A smirk settled on Mrs. Cramer’s face. “My family is all here.” She waved a hand behind her, toward the crowd.

“How did it go at the nursing home?” Nana peered through the window, where Mom sat in the passenger seat watching them.

Jill grimaced. “Don’t ask.”

She got the wheelchair out of the back and wheeled it around to the door while Nana helped Mom out of the car. When she was seated, Jill straightened and scanned the crowd.

“Where’s Greg?” She’d expected him to be here already.

“I haven’t seen him.” Nana busied herself tucking a warm blanket around Mom’s legs. None of the other ladies would meet her gaze.

Worry nibbled at her mind like a mouse on a piece of cheese. Had something happened to him? An accident, maybe? Or what if he changed his mind? A sick feeling settled in her stomach.

“I’d better call him.”

She leaned into the SUV and grabbed her purse, then fished out her cell phone. The screen informed her that she’d missed a call from Greg. He must have called while she was inside the nursing home. With trembling fingers, she punched in the numbers to listen to his message.

“Hey, beautiful.” At the sound of his voice, some of the tension left her knotted muscles. “The roads are awful out near the orchard. I’m going to be later than I thought. It’ll probably be nine thirty before I get there, and then I need to take care of something quick. But don’t worry. I’ll meet you at Harbor Square into time to get out … own … by ten.” Static interrupted, and broke up the rest of the message. “… charger at home … battery … then …” The message ended.

“Greg’s going to be a little late.” She slipped the phone back into her purse.

Concern drew deep creases in Nana’s forehead. “We can’t hold up the buses. Call him back and tell him you’ll meet him in Halifax.”

“I can’t. I think his battery died at the end of the message.” She poured confidence into her smile. “Don’t worry. We’ll follow you as soon as he gets here. Now let’s get Mom on the bus before she gets chilled.”

Nana didn’t look convinced, but she wheeled her daughter toward the front bus, which had been fitted with a ramp. The driver wheeled her inside and helped Jill secure the chair in a special section on the front row designed for wheelchairs. When she was settled, Jill arranged the blanket snugly around her legs, then squatted down on her haunches so she could look into Mom’s face.

“There. You’re all set. I’ll see you at the mall in a couple of hours. You can help me pick out Nana’s Christmas present.”

She started to rise, but Mom’s right hand shot out toward her. It waved erratically for a few seconds before coming to rest on Jill’s arm. Fingers clutched at her coat sleeve.

Startled, Jill looked into her mother’s face. “What is it, Mom?”

Her lips moved, but no sound came out. The eyes closed for a second, then opened again. Intensity gleamed in their brown depths as she tried again.

“Tthhhhhaaaank ooo.”

The whisper came out harsh, and it was the most beautiful music Jill had ever heard. Emotion clogged her throat as tears rushed to her eyes. She knew. The moments of clarity may be few, but Jill was grateful that this was one. She gathered her mother into a hug.

“I love you, Mom.”

If only she could stay and prolong this moment. But the minutes were ticking away, and there weren’t that many left. She wiped away tears as she descended the bus steps to the street.

“All right, everybody!” Nana’s bellow projected over the noise of the crowd and echoed off the side of the brick building at the far end of Harbor Square. “We’re ready to load.”

A cheer went up from the evacuees, and was matched by jeers and boos from the protesters’ side of the park. Photographers rushed to the buses ahead of the others and positioned their cameras to broadcast the sight of people boarding. The Sign Brigade divided themselves into three pairs and took up sentry duty by each bus.

Mrs. Tolliver beamed like a gray-headed lighthouse and waved her hands above her head. “Over here to my bus, everyone! I brought games to play on the road.”

Mrs. Mattingly rolled her eyes heavenward.

“Ms. King!”

A child’s shout drew Jill’s attention to the line of people ready to board the bus on the end. She picked out Mariah standing beside her mother and a man who bore a startling resemblance to Mrs. Cramer. She returned the child’s wave.

A few people ahead of the Cramers, another familiar face looked her way. Jill’s mouth fell open when her gaze connected with Doreen’s. The therapist gave a sheepish smile and a slight shrug, then hefted a small suitcase and climbed on board.

“Jill, look who’s here.” Nana’s voice drew her attention to the line nearest her.

She stood beside Reverend and Mrs. Hollister.

Jill went to shake their hands. “Reverend, don’t you have a car?”

“Yep.” His eyes twinkled. “I just wanted to join in the fun.”

Jill’s delighted laughter rang in the cold morning air. “Well, we’re glad to have you along. We sure could use your prayers today.”

“Already done, my dear.” He patted her hand before releasing it. “Already done.”

With a wide smile for the hovering television camera, Reverend Hollister disappeared into the bus.

Loading took longer than expected. Nana marched between the buses barking like a drillmaster, to the delight of the media. Judging by the way she paused every so often to turn a broad smile toward the cameras, she didn’t mind one bit. Jill did her best to ignore them. Though they prodded her with questions and thrust cameras in her face, she remained tight-lipped. She’d already said everything she needed to say. Eventually they gave up.

By the time every evacuee found a seat and got their belongings settled, the clock read almost nine o’clock. Nana, wearing a worried frown, hurried across the street to where Jill stood beside the loaded SUV.

“Are you sure it’s wise to wait for Greg? What if he doesn’t come?”

The same thought had occurred to Jill several times. She’d listened to his message a second time, just to reassure herself, but worry nagged at her. What if he had car trouble and couldn’t get word to her?

“He’ll come.” She poured more confidence into her voice than she felt. “I’ll meet you at the mall.”

With obvious reluctance, Nana hugged her and climbed onto the front bus. Jill waved as the buses pulled away, leaving the air full of exhaust fumes. Hands waved back from dozens of windows.

When they were lost from view, the media cameras turned toward her. Jill ducked into the SUV and locked the doors before they could approach. Greg wouldn’t arrive for half an hour, but she couldn’t wait here or they’d plague her the entire time. As she pulled away from the curb, the crowd of protesters began to wander away in twos and threes.

She followed the bus route to the main intersection of Harbor and Elm. There she sat at a stoplight and watched the progress as they curved around the wide bay that marked the south end of town. A heavy wind off the main harbor whipped the waters against the giant black rocks that lined the semicircular shore. Spray rose in the air like a thousand fountains. When the buses turned away from the bay at the far end, it looked as if they were disappearing behind a moving wall of mist.

The traffic light changed, but Jill didn’t take her foot off the brake. What to do for half an hour? She didn’t want to go home. She’d said her good-byes there. Either she’d see Nana’s house tonight, or she wouldn’t.

A car behind her honked. She made a snap decision and took her foot off the brake. The lighthouse stood sentinel over the northern edge of town. Before the accident she used to go there and sit on the rocks, watching the ships go by on their way to and from Halifax Harbor. She’d never learned to swim. While all the other kids her age had been swimming and fishing and otherwise enjoying the benefit of living near the ocean, she’d devoted her time to practicing her piano. But that didn’t stop her from losing herself in the mesmerizing motion of the constantly moving water. That’s what she’d do. The lighthouse was a great place to think.

Greg parked his car outside the café and gathered the papers he’d gotten from his office on the way into town. Icy roads had taken much longer to navigate than he thought, and he was late. If he hadn’t called Rowe and the others last night to arrange this meeting, he would have left without following through with his plan. But it was important that he do it today, now, before he left town. It was the statement he wanted to make.

As he jogged toward the door, he passed what he at first thought was an empty car. At the same moment he recognized Pat Allen in the passenger seat, Carl rounded the corner from the front of the building.

The B&B owner stopped short. “Greg. We’d decided you weren’t coming.”

“Sorry. I got held up. Roads are awful.” He pointed in the direction Carl had just come. “Do you have a minute? I have something important to say.”

The man glanced at his watch. “Uh, not really. We’re late as it is. The others are still in there, though. Why don’t you give me a call tomorrow?”

“All right.”

Carl took a step toward his car, then hesitated. “I want to tell you something. Probably should have told you before.” He glanced over his shoulder. “I know how Samuels got his hands on that video he sent to the news.”

That pricked Greg’s attention. “Oh, yeah?”

He nodded. “Rowena gave it to him.”

“Rowe?” Greg felt as if he’d been delivered a blow to the head.

“Yeah. Not directly, but I was there when it happened. Samuels was in the café and she made a big show of saying how you hadn’t been by to pick up the video she made of your meeting. Everybody saw her write your name on that envelope and put it up on the shelf by the register. When Samuels left, he slipped that envelope in his pocket when he thought nobody was looking. But I saw. And so did Rowena. I saw her watching, and then she turned her back and ignored it. I knew she’d put it there on purpose. Practically handed it to him with a bow on it.”

Greg’s mind worked to process that information. He’d been betrayed. Sabotaged.

Correction. Not him. Rowe wouldn’t betray him personally, because she liked him. Too much, in fact. She’d been trying to sabotage his relationship with Jill.

A bitter laugh forced its way out of his lungs. “Turns out Jill was right after all.”

“Speaking of that,” Carl glanced at his watch. “Me and the missus have got to get going. You too, don’t you think?”

The reason for Pat’s presence in the car became clear. This time Greg’s laugh was genuine. “You’re evacuating.”

A dark red flush stained the man’s cheeks. “Yeah, well. Never hurts to be cautious, you know?”

“Go.” Greg waved him toward the car. “I’m right behind you.”

“You’d better hurry,” Carl said as he rounded the front bumper. “You don’t have much time.”

Greg entered the restaurant at a jog.