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Esther
“Zoe!” Esther cried when the kids and Derek returned.
“Emma!” Tonya cried, right behind Esther as they hurried to the door.
Esther looked around madly for something to wrap around the kids, but there was nothing in sight. “We need to get you next door to change.” Esther tried to spin Zoe around.
“You too, kiddo. Let’s go home and change,” Tonya said.
“No way!” Emma said. “That will take forever!” This was an exaggeration. It wouldn’t take forever, but they did live outside of town so it would take longer than walking next door. “I’ll borrow some of Zoe’s clothes.”
Zoe snickered. “Are you insane?”
Emma looked at her, her eyes wide. “What? No, I’m not insane. I’ll roll the legs up.”
Esther wasn’t sure it this was a good plan. Zoe was nearly two feet taller than Emma. “I’d offer my clothes, Emma, but I don’t have enough belts.”
Zoe sighed. “Come on. I’ve got some sweats that might stay on your tiny little body.”
“Great!” Emma slid out of her mother’s grasp.
“Fine. I’ll make more hot chocolate.” Tonya turned back toward the kitchenette in the back of the sanctuary.
Emma looked at Jason. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going to go change.”
“But you’ll come back for us?”
Esther was impressed with how seriously she was taking this.
“Of course.”
“And you won’t start another section without us?”
Jason gave her an incredulous look. “Of course not.” He looked at Derek and tentatively asked, “Do you have any other clothes, Derek?”
Derek had just taken a bite of a doughnut, so he answered through a mouth full of sugar, “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be ready when you get back.”
“All right. I’ll be right back.” And Jason was out through the door.
“Come on, girls. Let’s get you dry.” She ushered them out the door and across the lawn. By the time they’d reached her building, she was soaked too. She ducked into the warm foyer. “So we’ll change our clothes, but I’m not sure we can get back to the church without getting soaked again.” She didn’t want to stop these kids from searching, but it occurred to her that this might be the prudent thing to do, just until the rain let up.
“I’ve got a raincoat.” Zoe stepped into the elevator. “Do you have one that Emma could borrow?”
Yes, she did. Emma would swim in it, but she had one. “Sure. And I have an umbrella too.” She stepped into the elevator and pressed her floor’s button. “Too bad I didn’t have a dozen of them.”
The girls changed in record time, and Emma came out of the bathroom looking absolutely ridiculous. She had Zoe’s sweatpants cinched up around her armpits, and Zoe’s sweatshirt nearly reached her knees. “I am so warm,” Emma said, sounding so happy to be out of her wet clothes. “And you can’t even tell I’m not wearing a bra.” She giggled mischievously.
Esther still hadn’t located her raincoat. “Give me just a second, girls.” She rifled through her closet, looking for the old standby, and in the process, stumbled onto an incredibly ugly yellow rain hat. No way would Zoe be caught dead in such a thing—under normal circumstances. She finally found the raincoat and then she carried both finds out into the living room. “Here’s a coat for you, Emma, and do either of you want to wear this hat?”
The girls exchanged a look. “I’ll flip you for it,” Zoe said.
Emma giggled. “Nah, go ahead. It’s your grandma.”
“Then you get the umbrella.” Esther grabbed it from its hook beside the door. “Once we get back to the church, that is. Until then, we’re going to share.” She opened the door.
“But you didn’t even change yet,” Zoe said.
“I’m all right. I’ll come back and take care of myself once we get you guys back in action.” She didn’t want to rush anyone, but daylight was fading. Even though no one had mentioned it lately, she knew it was on everyone’s minds.
The sun would set eventually. And then what would they do?
